A Holidailies prompt from a couple weeks ago asked how each person got his/her start in blogging online. I'm pretty sure I told this story a couple years ago, but it's lost somewhere in the Diaryland backup of my defunct Diary-X journal...
I opened my first online blog account in 1999 on Diaryland. It was just before the turn of the new year, and like everyone else hyped up about the year 2000, I figured I'd start being good about keeping a record of my life for absolutely no reason other than to write. Three days later, I forgot about it. It sat there until I discovered it about three years later.
In the meantime, I began using a paper journal in late 2000 to vent some frustrations I was having with a friend. I found, however, that my brain was trying to rush through a lot more than my hands could keep up with... so I decided to try my computer. If I recall, I was looking for some downloadable software to make it feel more like a book as I typed on-screen. Somehow, I was led to Diary-X. I opened an account immediately and began my online journal on March 29, 2001.
In 2002, I decided to start a backup mirror of my journal on Diaryland (when I discovered my original account over there) based upon a bad experience with the owner of Diary-X on another website he was running called Nervousness.org. From that point forward, I kept an updated mirror of my journal running on both sites-- and thankfully because I did that, I didn't lose anything but unpublished drafts during the fatal Diary-X crash in early 2006.
Despite griping about it and its elitism invite-only format at the time, I gave in and joined Livejournal after attending Arisia in 2003, mostly to keep up wtih many of my friends who used the service. I never really cared for the layout of the site. The most valuable part of it to me was the friends' lists. But it was handy.
And suddenly, I was posting to three accounts at a time, which was stupid. After a few months, it was time to pare down.
Starting in 2005, I started posting at my own webspace, using Blogger as the formatting engine. Issues with both owners of Diary-X had led me to move on from the forms two months prior, and I couldn't continue to use the service in good faith due to the ethics and behavior I experienced as a customer(which turned out to be a very good choice, based on what ultimately happened to DX). With few exceptions, I've also stopped posting on LiveJournal, only popping in to catch up on friends' pages from time to time.
I kept my archive at Diaryland, although I haven't posted to the site since I stopped posting at Diary-X. It remains my journal archive for my older entries. I plan to slowly bring everything over to my personal webspace... but it takes time to go through entries, delete dead links, and add tags to the posts for archiving. It's definitely an "as I have time for it" project, which lately has been mostly non-existent.
Over the years, my blogging has recorded my entire relationship with my fiance, the adoption of four cats, two apartment moves, purchasing my first home, buying my first car, my experiences on 9/11, a big job move, and all of the little stuff in-between. It transitions between triteness and deep thought, almost always written freeform with little editing (I prefer "raw" writing). I can see how I've changed and how I've stayed the same as I look back through my archives. It's a good thing-- I'm glad I found the outlet online. :)
27 December 2006
26 December 2006
Addictions not needed
So for the past three hours, I've had the Doctor Who theme stuck in my head. Add to that a rather late night (*shitfaced grin inserted here*), and I'm a tad cranky this morning. More tired than cranky, actually. And I'm definitely NOT interested in having the Doctor Who theme whistling through my brain all day.
But I have a feeling it's here to stay today. I'm the only admin at work today. No one to chat with to take my mind away. More than likely, not a lot of work to divert my concentration, either.
Dammit.
The problem is, I know exactly why it's here, too. The 2nd season finale of the show was on Friday night, and despite being a very casual viewer of the show... I was roped in, and then VERY PISSED OFF at the ending (in both a good and bad way). Then my brain, being pissed off, kept mulling it, kept thinking about it... and then we watched it again on Christmas Day with Erich's dad and Matt... and then it firmly stuck.
Crap. I really don't want to start mulling a show over again and getting addicted to it. I thought I'd learned my lesson after nine years of the X-Files, seven years of Star Trek:TNG. Getting invested in characters, begrudgingly (and then not so begrudgingly) getting interested in fanfic.
What is it about Sci-Fi, anyway? Despite watching a lot of the series, I don't get addicted to Law & Order like this. What the hell?
*sigh*
In any case, share my pain-- get the Doctor Who theme stuck in your head for a while.
Grrrr....
But I have a feeling it's here to stay today. I'm the only admin at work today. No one to chat with to take my mind away. More than likely, not a lot of work to divert my concentration, either.
Dammit.
The problem is, I know exactly why it's here, too. The 2nd season finale of the show was on Friday night, and despite being a very casual viewer of the show... I was roped in, and then VERY PISSED OFF at the ending (in both a good and bad way). Then my brain, being pissed off, kept mulling it, kept thinking about it... and then we watched it again on Christmas Day with Erich's dad and Matt... and then it firmly stuck.
Crap. I really don't want to start mulling a show over again and getting addicted to it. I thought I'd learned my lesson after nine years of the X-Files, seven years of Star Trek:TNG. Getting invested in characters, begrudgingly (and then not so begrudgingly) getting interested in fanfic.
What is it about Sci-Fi, anyway? Despite watching a lot of the series, I don't get addicted to Law & Order like this. What the hell?
*sigh*
In any case, share my pain-- get the Doctor Who theme stuck in your head for a while.
Grrrr....
24 December 2006
The Evolution of Christmas
The weather outside belies the fact that it's Christmas Eve-- it's sunny. The grass on our lawn is still half green. It's surprisingly mild out. Two nights ago, we slept all night with the windows wide open. In December. In freaking New England.
So I admit that I just don't feel like I'm in the holiday spirit this year. It feels like Easter, to be honest. Yet here we are, the day before Christmas. Granted, Christmas hasn't been a religious holiday for me for over a decade now. But I still view it as a separate holiday from Yule and still important to me. Yule is for personal reflection. It's a quiet spiritual retreat. Often I celebrate it in little moments throughout the day-- even in the middle of holiday parties where I'm surrounded by coworkers or friends. Christmas, on the other hand, I see as a celebration of community. For me, it's not just the 25th-- the 24th was always more important to my family. So now Christmas has evolved into a two day celebration of love and connection with others. I honestly need people around me at Christmas.
As a child, Christmas Eve began with two yearly traditions. The first was the luminaries that every house in our neighborhood used to display on Christmas eve. The day before Christmas Eve- my father would grab his wheelbarrow (on snowless years) or empty white buckets left over from the pool chlorine and head up to the northern street of our neighborhood to get a hefty amount of sand, candles, and paper lunch bags. He'd then come home, bring my brother and I into his workshop, and we'd help him pour a measured portion of sand into each bag. Then we'd help him carry them and place them along our property-- one would help with the bags. The other would place a candle into the center of each bag. And my father would finally follow, adjusting the spacing and lighting the bags just before nightfall. On Christmas Eve, no one in our neighborhood would turn on their Christmas lights (other than the tree inside). Only the luminaries lit up the night. Every house had them, lining the gutters along every property line, creating a candlelit runway (which was my parents original explanation... we were creating a runway for Santa to come).
The other happened at six o'clock exactly every Christmas Eve. Dinners were planned to make sure the kids were all outside about five minutes before to witness Santa flying around Billings on his sleigh. It was a fantastic sight-- he'd make two huge circles around Billings so all of the children could see that he'd be coming that night... and then would disappear (we children presumed he was heading elsewhere to show other kids he was coming, too). In reality, Santa was a big wire framed light display, hooked onto the side of a helicopter. It was one family's treat for the city every year.
Still this year, I'm finding it very hard to get in the spirit. Something's not right... and I think my blaming the weather is just a cop-out.
Maybe it's because I have an itch to fill luminaries...
So I admit that I just don't feel like I'm in the holiday spirit this year. It feels like Easter, to be honest. Yet here we are, the day before Christmas. Granted, Christmas hasn't been a religious holiday for me for over a decade now. But I still view it as a separate holiday from Yule and still important to me. Yule is for personal reflection. It's a quiet spiritual retreat. Often I celebrate it in little moments throughout the day-- even in the middle of holiday parties where I'm surrounded by coworkers or friends. Christmas, on the other hand, I see as a celebration of community. For me, it's not just the 25th-- the 24th was always more important to my family. So now Christmas has evolved into a two day celebration of love and connection with others. I honestly need people around me at Christmas.
As a child, Christmas Eve began with two yearly traditions. The first was the luminaries that every house in our neighborhood used to display on Christmas eve. The day before Christmas Eve- my father would grab his wheelbarrow (on snowless years) or empty white buckets left over from the pool chlorine and head up to the northern street of our neighborhood to get a hefty amount of sand, candles, and paper lunch bags. He'd then come home, bring my brother and I into his workshop, and we'd help him pour a measured portion of sand into each bag. Then we'd help him carry them and place them along our property-- one would help with the bags. The other would place a candle into the center of each bag. And my father would finally follow, adjusting the spacing and lighting the bags just before nightfall. On Christmas Eve, no one in our neighborhood would turn on their Christmas lights (other than the tree inside). Only the luminaries lit up the night. Every house had them, lining the gutters along every property line, creating a candlelit runway (which was my parents original explanation... we were creating a runway for Santa to come).
The other happened at six o'clock exactly every Christmas Eve. Dinners were planned to make sure the kids were all outside about five minutes before to witness Santa flying around Billings on his sleigh. It was a fantastic sight-- he'd make two huge circles around Billings so all of the children could see that he'd be coming that night... and then would disappear (we children presumed he was heading elsewhere to show other kids he was coming, too). In reality, Santa was a big wire framed light display, hooked onto the side of a helicopter. It was one family's treat for the city every year.
Still this year, I'm finding it very hard to get in the spirit. Something's not right... and I think my blaming the weather is just a cop-out.
Maybe it's because I have an itch to fill luminaries...
22 December 2006
Points with the fiance
I just became the best fiancee in the world-- Erich has a gleaming new XBox360. :)
This was a Christmas present that he knew he was getting. He doesn't know what games he's getting yet-- those will be under the tree on Monday morning. But in the meantime, he can play Halo and any of his other XBox games (of which I don't think there are many... he just plays a LOT of Halo online with the guys...).
The reason he got it early was because I traded in his old XBox and his Gamecube toward the purchase of the new system-- with his blessing. He bundled everything up for me this morning. But he realized over the course of the day that his XBox Live account would still be on the old box. To make sure everything was transferred safely, I gave it to him tonight.
(talk about acting like a kid in a candy store... he even did that excited little bodance)
It was a good day overall. I dropped Erich off at the commuter train this morning, and then went about enjoying the first day of my four day weekend. I have all but one gift bought. I just need to wrap presents, but I won't do that until Sunday morning-- with five cats who are in love with playing under the tree, wrapping paper would be shredded by Monday. So for now, things are tucked away.
Tomorrow morning I'll finish writing out my cards and get them dropped off at the post office. They're all going to points in the USA, so hopefully they'll arrive by New Year's at this point. *sigh* Still, it's better than some years, where I'm debating whether I'm just entirely too late and then just don't wind up sending them at all.
My hopes for a snowy Christmas are completely gone. We're going to have an Easter-like Christmas this year in New England, complete with April showers tonight through tomorrow. It's supposed to be about 50 degrees on Christmas Day. Global warming? Never heard of it. Maybe we'll grill ribs for Christmas dinner this year. :)
This was a Christmas present that he knew he was getting. He doesn't know what games he's getting yet-- those will be under the tree on Monday morning. But in the meantime, he can play Halo and any of his other XBox games (of which I don't think there are many... he just plays a LOT of Halo online with the guys...).
The reason he got it early was because I traded in his old XBox and his Gamecube toward the purchase of the new system-- with his blessing. He bundled everything up for me this morning. But he realized over the course of the day that his XBox Live account would still be on the old box. To make sure everything was transferred safely, I gave it to him tonight.
(talk about acting like a kid in a candy store... he even did that excited little bodance)
It was a good day overall. I dropped Erich off at the commuter train this morning, and then went about enjoying the first day of my four day weekend. I have all but one gift bought. I just need to wrap presents, but I won't do that until Sunday morning-- with five cats who are in love with playing under the tree, wrapping paper would be shredded by Monday. So for now, things are tucked away.
Tomorrow morning I'll finish writing out my cards and get them dropped off at the post office. They're all going to points in the USA, so hopefully they'll arrive by New Year's at this point. *sigh* Still, it's better than some years, where I'm debating whether I'm just entirely too late and then just don't wind up sending them at all.
My hopes for a snowy Christmas are completely gone. We're going to have an Easter-like Christmas this year in New England, complete with April showers tonight through tomorrow. It's supposed to be about 50 degrees on Christmas Day. Global warming? Never heard of it. Maybe we'll grill ribs for Christmas dinner this year. :)
21 December 2006
Thursday Thirteen #15: Holiday Movies
Blessed Yule, all! :)
My original plan for this week's T13 was to share thirteen of my favorite ornaments on our tree, but I tend to misplace things-- and my digital camera has gone on walkabout for the week. I figure it disappeared on vacation before the craziness of the holidays.
So instead, I'm using yesterday's Holidailies prompt about required seasonal movies... Here are thirteen that I think are requied viewing sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Thirteen Required Holiday Movies
1. A Christmas Story- Not to difficult to find the past few years, is it? But seriously, it was an instant classic, even if it did take the world several years to discover this sleeper hit. Fah-rah-rah-rah-rah...
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas- How many things about Christmas, both good and bad, are summed up here? And the music? It's not Christmas until I hear that soft jazz of the Charlie Brown special float from my TV speakers.
3. Home Alone- This was overplayed for a few years and I got sick of it. But I found myself watching it a couple weeks ago and enjoying it once again. But the mystery still remains- what boy would ever clean up that mess? And how would he really get it all cleaned up so quickly? (but forget to fix the shelves in his brother's room...)
4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer- Remember how tragic it was if you missed the airing of Rudolph in any year? It was only shown ONCE per season, and as a child, it often wound up being on the night I had dance class. Thank goodness for the Betamax and later the VCR.
5. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas- I haven't seen this in years and I don't think it's well-known anymore, but it was one of my favorites as a child. It was a sweet story about a little otter who wanted to make Christmas special for his mother. He and friends want to compete in a talent contest as a jug band. But in order to enter, he'd have to ruin the washtub that his mother uses to make all of the money their family has. At the same time, Ma Otter has a similar idea to make Christmas special for her son by entering the same contest.
6. The Nutcracker- There are a dozen versions of the Nutcracker out there, but the one I always watched as a child- and still prefer today-is the 1977 version with Mikhail Baryshnikov, broadcast every year on PBS among their year-end fundraising drives... By the end, I was usually twirling along with the Flowers. :)
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas- The original Dr. Seuss version. Still blows Jim Carrey out of the water, in much less than half the time. :)
8. It's a Wonderful Life- It's funny, but I always prefer to watch this after Christmas, but before New Year's. It's so heartwarming at the end-- the perfect way to ring in a new year.
9. Moonstruck- Not usually thought of as a holiday movie... but the references are quietly in the background everywhere. The decorations, the first snowflakes of winter, the connection and celebration of family... it's a story of falling in love over the holidays, and love her or hate her, Cher is absolutely stunning when she meets with Nicolas Cage in front of the Met. Each time I watch it, I'm just a bit older... and I "get" more of the jokes.
10. Mickey's Christmas Carol- My favorite version of the classic... :)
11. A Mom for Christmas- It's actually a very corny movie. But it came out the year after my parents were divorced, and it was just the sappiness that my teenager heart needed. And I was (and still am) a big ONJ fan.
12. Miracle on 34th Street- Again-original version. It's never, ever Christmas without watching this. :)
13. Rudolph's Shiny New Year- This one's always been a bit more obscure, but it always signified the LAST holiday special of the season. I always got a kick out of Happy and his big ears... and loved how they visualized the progression of Time...
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
My original plan for this week's T13 was to share thirteen of my favorite ornaments on our tree, but I tend to misplace things-- and my digital camera has gone on walkabout for the week. I figure it disappeared on vacation before the craziness of the holidays.
So instead, I'm using yesterday's Holidailies prompt about required seasonal movies... Here are thirteen that I think are requied viewing sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
1. A Christmas Story- Not to difficult to find the past few years, is it? But seriously, it was an instant classic, even if it did take the world several years to discover this sleeper hit. Fah-rah-rah-rah-rah...
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas- How many things about Christmas, both good and bad, are summed up here? And the music? It's not Christmas until I hear that soft jazz of the Charlie Brown special float from my TV speakers.
3. Home Alone- This was overplayed for a few years and I got sick of it. But I found myself watching it a couple weeks ago and enjoying it once again. But the mystery still remains- what boy would ever clean up that mess? And how would he really get it all cleaned up so quickly? (but forget to fix the shelves in his brother's room...)
4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer- Remember how tragic it was if you missed the airing of Rudolph in any year? It was only shown ONCE per season, and as a child, it often wound up being on the night I had dance class. Thank goodness for the Betamax and later the VCR.
5. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas- I haven't seen this in years and I don't think it's well-known anymore, but it was one of my favorites as a child. It was a sweet story about a little otter who wanted to make Christmas special for his mother. He and friends want to compete in a talent contest as a jug band. But in order to enter, he'd have to ruin the washtub that his mother uses to make all of the money their family has. At the same time, Ma Otter has a similar idea to make Christmas special for her son by entering the same contest.
6. The Nutcracker- There are a dozen versions of the Nutcracker out there, but the one I always watched as a child- and still prefer today-is the 1977 version with Mikhail Baryshnikov, broadcast every year on PBS among their year-end fundraising drives... By the end, I was usually twirling along with the Flowers. :)
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas- The original Dr. Seuss version. Still blows Jim Carrey out of the water, in much less than half the time. :)
8. It's a Wonderful Life- It's funny, but I always prefer to watch this after Christmas, but before New Year's. It's so heartwarming at the end-- the perfect way to ring in a new year.
9. Moonstruck- Not usually thought of as a holiday movie... but the references are quietly in the background everywhere. The decorations, the first snowflakes of winter, the connection and celebration of family... it's a story of falling in love over the holidays, and love her or hate her, Cher is absolutely stunning when she meets with Nicolas Cage in front of the Met. Each time I watch it, I'm just a bit older... and I "get" more of the jokes.
10. Mickey's Christmas Carol- My favorite version of the classic... :)
11. A Mom for Christmas- It's actually a very corny movie. But it came out the year after my parents were divorced, and it was just the sappiness that my teenager heart needed. And I was (and still am) a big ONJ fan.
12. Miracle on 34th Street- Again-original version. It's never, ever Christmas without watching this. :)
13. Rudolph's Shiny New Year- This one's always been a bit more obscure, but it always signified the LAST holiday special of the season. I always got a kick out of Happy and his big ears... and loved how they visualized the progression of Time...
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
20 December 2006
Aaaaaaand... the pace picks up
It's been a very, VERY busy couple of days at work. I'm thankful I started during a slow couple of weeks, otherwise I would have gone insane yesterday and today. The admin department has had more individual projects brought our way in the past two days than in the past week and a half combined.
If I hadn't had the time to learn how to format the different styles of documents at a more relaxed pace, I would have really been freaking out today. Gah.
But all is well, and I continue to do very well here. I've been getting a lot of compliments about my work and my attitude, which is great to hear. I already feel like I've been here forever, and it's only actually been less than a month.
Tomorrow's the office party at a nearby pub. Then I have Friday off as part of my holiday weekend, in which I'll celebrate Yule and get the rest of my Christmas shopping done (whee... Multi-Holiday-Tasking!) It should be a fun, relaxing holiday weekend. Our friend Matt confirmed that he'll be coming down on Sunday to spend the two days. Erich's dad will also be coming down, but I don't know his schedule.
Perhaps tonight I'll be able to write the two entries I've actually been working on (as opposed to free-versing). It would be nice to use them to catch up on my Holidailies count. :)
If I hadn't had the time to learn how to format the different styles of documents at a more relaxed pace, I would have really been freaking out today. Gah.
But all is well, and I continue to do very well here. I've been getting a lot of compliments about my work and my attitude, which is great to hear. I already feel like I've been here forever, and it's only actually been less than a month.
Tomorrow's the office party at a nearby pub. Then I have Friday off as part of my holiday weekend, in which I'll celebrate Yule and get the rest of my Christmas shopping done (whee... Multi-Holiday-Tasking!) It should be a fun, relaxing holiday weekend. Our friend Matt confirmed that he'll be coming down on Sunday to spend the two days. Erich's dad will also be coming down, but I don't know his schedule.
Perhaps tonight I'll be able to write the two entries I've actually been working on (as opposed to free-versing). It would be nice to use them to catch up on my Holidailies count. :)
19 December 2006
Sending out the cards
With the exception of family, all of my cards are done. I need one more book of stamps, and I'll have the last batch out at lunchtime.
How is it that I always wait until the last minute to send these things? And why is it that I feel more inclined to send holiday greetings to complete strangers from my internet travels, rather than send them to my own family?
Is it because I see my family as stability- that they'll always be there? Do I take them for granted? Or do I just find more satisfaction spreading cheer through cards to random people than I do for the people I know and love, who know that I love them.
There's a weird disconnect here, and it's annoying me today.
I have a couple meaty entries in progress... but have some work to get done. Hopefully I can actually get my thoughts to make sense later today.
How is it that I always wait until the last minute to send these things? And why is it that I feel more inclined to send holiday greetings to complete strangers from my internet travels, rather than send them to my own family?
Is it because I see my family as stability- that they'll always be there? Do I take them for granted? Or do I just find more satisfaction spreading cheer through cards to random people than I do for the people I know and love, who know that I love them.
There's a weird disconnect here, and it's annoying me today.
I have a couple meaty entries in progress... but have some work to get done. Hopefully I can actually get my thoughts to make sense later today.
18 December 2006
Holidailies Recipe Swap: The Turkey
I made this turkey for Thanksgiving for the past two years... and have had a lot of email & comment questions about it...
So, as a response to a Holidailies prompt, here's the recipe for the turkey. This is based upon the recipe from Alton Brown's Good Eats. I highly recommend it-- you'll get an exceptionally juicy turkey-- even when it's a few days old and has been in the fridge!
15-20 lbs turkey
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 gallon water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup kosher salt
Peel of one navel orange.
1 tablespoon whole allspice
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Canola oil
One can chicken broth (optional)
1 large red apple, quartered
2 medium white onions, quartered
2 cinnamon sticks
2 sprigs of rosemary
2 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)
In a large pot stir together the stock, water, brown sugar, salt, all spice, black pepper, cinnamon, orange peel, and thyme. Bring to a boil, turn to medium heat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. (this will take a while-- give yourself at least 3 hours before the next step).
Place the turkey in a clean 5 gallon bucket and pour the brine over it. Cover and let sit over night. Flip the turkey in the morning, a few hours before cooking. Remove it from the brine, rinse it gently to remove any excess salt, pat dry and place it in its baking pan. Rub the entire bird liberally with canola oil.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, place the red, onions, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary (and/or fresh thyme). Sprinkle with about 1/4 cup water and microwave on high for 7 minutes.
Place the apple, onions, cinnamon sticks, and thyme or rosemary inside the turkey cavity. If desired. place a long stalk of rosemary resting along each leg for additional flavor.
Preheat oven to 500F. Roast the turkey for 30 minutes until it gets a golden brown color. Turn heat down to 350F. Tent a piece of tin foil over the breast of the turkey. Add can of chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan (for help making gravy from drippings). Bake for 2 1/2-3 hours more or until the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 161F.
Remove turkey form the oven and allow to sit for 20 minutes or so before carving.
So, as a response to a Holidailies prompt, here's the recipe for the turkey. This is based upon the recipe from Alton Brown's Good Eats. I highly recommend it-- you'll get an exceptionally juicy turkey-- even when it's a few days old and has been in the fridge!
15-20 lbs turkey
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 gallon water
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup kosher salt
Peel of one navel orange.
1 tablespoon whole allspice
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Canola oil
One can chicken broth (optional)
1 large red apple, quartered
2 medium white onions, quartered
2 cinnamon sticks
2 sprigs of rosemary
2 sprigs fresh thyme (optional)
In a large pot stir together the stock, water, brown sugar, salt, all spice, black pepper, cinnamon, orange peel, and thyme. Bring to a boil, turn to medium heat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. (this will take a while-- give yourself at least 3 hours before the next step).
Place the turkey in a clean 5 gallon bucket and pour the brine over it. Cover and let sit over night. Flip the turkey in the morning, a few hours before cooking. Remove it from the brine, rinse it gently to remove any excess salt, pat dry and place it in its baking pan. Rub the entire bird liberally with canola oil.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, place the red, onions, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary (and/or fresh thyme). Sprinkle with about 1/4 cup water and microwave on high for 7 minutes.
Place the apple, onions, cinnamon sticks, and thyme or rosemary inside the turkey cavity. If desired. place a long stalk of rosemary resting along each leg for additional flavor.
Preheat oven to 500F. Roast the turkey for 30 minutes until it gets a golden brown color. Turn heat down to 350F. Tent a piece of tin foil over the breast of the turkey. Add can of chicken broth to the bottom of the roasting pan (for help making gravy from drippings). Bake for 2 1/2-3 hours more or until the turkey has reached an internal temperature of 161F.
Remove turkey form the oven and allow to sit for 20 minutes or so before carving.
It's what date?
Ah yes, I'm alive! I know I was silent for a few days... I'm sorry. Insomnia kicked my ass last Wednesday night, carried through Thursday night, and by Friday I had a massive fatigue headache. It was bad enough that we had to cancel going to a friend's holiday party that night because I was just fighting to stay upright. Headache meds barely touched my pain... so it was a night to stay home. I was in bed (not exactly asleep... but pseudo-conscious) by ten.
Errands kicked off Saturday, in which we had a fabulous lunch of messy subs at Quiznos, followed by a trip to the liquor store that always has cops directing traffic. Seriously-- what could be so fantastic about a liquor store? Well... this one had EVERYTHING and then some. We now understand. Fruity drinky things (Smirnoff Ice drinks), fixings for blueberry cobbler martinis (including graham cookie rimmer), and 3 bottles of mead later, we understand the attraction to this place. For the basics, we'll hit the one close to home. But for those serious shopping trips, we know where to go.
The traffic getting there was hellish, due to the road layout. I think every single moderate-sized city has one of Those Roads. You know-- the ones that have every. single. commercial. property. on them. Everything. Two lanes on each side with the left turn lane in the middle (often sans lights, which means you sit there forever). The traffic is crawling because everything's so close together and everyone's out shopping. I wouldn't doubt that half of the population of Rhode Island was on Route 2 in Cranston/Warwick on Saturday. It's not like anyone in the state lives all that far away from it. But we survived, got our booze, and headed home.
On Saturday night, we drove up to Brighton, Mass in the neighborhood I used to live in during my final years at BU. Michelle and Maria, two of my sorority sisters, threw a holiday party. It was a nice little intimate gathering with lots of food & drink. We had a great time. I want Michelle to come decorate my tree next year-- or at least do my lights- because I clearly am not a master of tree lighting. I'm in envy. Anyway, in true collegiate fashion, the party went into the wee hours of the morning. Erich and I crawled into bed around 4:15 or so. We were not happy when Noby and Gus informed us just before 9 a.m. that we really needed to get out of bed because we were stealing their morning sunbeams.
Sunday was an amazingly warm day (as it has been recently) in the mid 50's. We took advantage of the sunshine in the morning and put up our Christmas lights outside. We were late in buying them-- so we're one of Those Houses this year. The front steps look pretty- we wrapped the two front columns in some lovely sheer red ribbon so each pillar looks like a candy cane. But our lights on the bushes are a little scary. Eh... 'tis the season. We put up lights. We're festive. :) Next year we'll improve on them.
So as I got up this morning, I realized that maybe I should get some shopping done.. since Christmas is a week away. Eep. Guess I know what I'm doing in the evenings this week!
- Mel.
Errands kicked off Saturday, in which we had a fabulous lunch of messy subs at Quiznos, followed by a trip to the liquor store that always has cops directing traffic. Seriously-- what could be so fantastic about a liquor store? Well... this one had EVERYTHING and then some. We now understand. Fruity drinky things (Smirnoff Ice drinks), fixings for blueberry cobbler martinis (including graham cookie rimmer), and 3 bottles of mead later, we understand the attraction to this place. For the basics, we'll hit the one close to home. But for those serious shopping trips, we know where to go.
The traffic getting there was hellish, due to the road layout. I think every single moderate-sized city has one of Those Roads. You know-- the ones that have every. single. commercial. property. on them. Everything. Two lanes on each side with the left turn lane in the middle (often sans lights, which means you sit there forever). The traffic is crawling because everything's so close together and everyone's out shopping. I wouldn't doubt that half of the population of Rhode Island was on Route 2 in Cranston/Warwick on Saturday. It's not like anyone in the state lives all that far away from it. But we survived, got our booze, and headed home.
On Saturday night, we drove up to Brighton, Mass in the neighborhood I used to live in during my final years at BU. Michelle and Maria, two of my sorority sisters, threw a holiday party. It was a nice little intimate gathering with lots of food & drink. We had a great time. I want Michelle to come decorate my tree next year-- or at least do my lights- because I clearly am not a master of tree lighting. I'm in envy. Anyway, in true collegiate fashion, the party went into the wee hours of the morning. Erich and I crawled into bed around 4:15 or so. We were not happy when Noby and Gus informed us just before 9 a.m. that we really needed to get out of bed because we were stealing their morning sunbeams.
Sunday was an amazingly warm day (as it has been recently) in the mid 50's. We took advantage of the sunshine in the morning and put up our Christmas lights outside. We were late in buying them-- so we're one of Those Houses this year. The front steps look pretty- we wrapped the two front columns in some lovely sheer red ribbon so each pillar looks like a candy cane. But our lights on the bushes are a little scary. Eh... 'tis the season. We put up lights. We're festive. :) Next year we'll improve on them.
So as I got up this morning, I realized that maybe I should get some shopping done.. since Christmas is a week away. Eep. Guess I know what I'm doing in the evenings this week!
- Mel.
14 December 2006
Thursday Thirteen #14: Fun Addresses
For the past couple years, I've involved myself in some seasonal card exchanges-- it's always nice to receive some friendly cheer in the mailbox among the bills. :)
This year, I'm writing out a bunch of cards-- and I've come across some names of streets or towns that just strike me as interesting, unusual, cool-- or strange... all in a good way. :) So I'm sharing a few of them (no person's name attached) as this week's Thursday Thirteen:
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
This year, I'm writing out a bunch of cards-- and I've come across some names of streets or towns that just strike me as interesting, unusual, cool-- or strange... all in a good way. :) So I'm sharing a few of them (no person's name attached) as this week's Thursday Thirteen:
 |
1. Olive Branch, Mississippi - The name of the town just makes me think of "Old South..." one of those quiet little towns with live oaks draped in Spanish Moss. I'm probably completely wrong about the image... but that's what it makes me picture. :) 2. Cricklewood Drive - Is it a sound that the wood makes? Wood doesn't crinkle... but I guess it must be close. 3. Dyngley Close - It just sounds amusing to me. Dyngley... Granted, I'm pronouncing it "Ding-ley." Maybe it's "Dighn-ley" and I'm just being a stupid Yank. 4. Little Deer Isle - I really want to know how it got that name. It's in Maine. Which means there's a story behind it-- because everything has a story behind it in Mane. :) Next time I'm up there, I may just have to investigate. 5. Knotts Landing Drive - Wasn't this a TV show? 6. King James Way - based on where this is located, I wonder if it's in relation to anything to colonial Jamestown... 7. Fire Trail Road - again... is there history behind this? 8. Snoqualmie - I love funky town names. Native American influenced, I imagine? 9. Atascadero - One of the things that always amuses me about California is the Spanish (or Spanish sounding) town names. I honestly wonder how many are real, and how many are just sounds thrown to gether to sound Californian. :) 10. Pacific Avenue - located in a town that is over a thousand miles from the Pacific Ocean... 11. Manassas - Manassas, Virginia... I always envision molasses. 12. Lolita Street - The young girls on this street are probably kept on the straight and narrow by their parents, no? :) Still... I'd love to say I lived on Lolita Street... with a bat of the eyes, of course. 13. Babbling Creek Place - Is it accurately describing the road? Is it by a babbling creek? Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
13 December 2006
SBQ catch-up
So I figured... hey, I have some quiet time. Let me catch up on the couple of Stitching Blogger Questions I've missed... and eep! There are nine of them.
Where has this year gone?
In any case, here's my catch-up!
9/28/06- When you find yourself making a lot of mistakes in various stitching projects do you find it better to muddle your way through or do you take a brief break from stitching? If you do take a break, how long do you take?
I usually muddle through, but I will take a break from the project with which I seem to be having difficulty. If it's just a row or two of miscounts, I'll just pick them out and redo. If it's something god-awful, then I do a ceremonious hoop toss across the room (no... really), unhoop the project, and move onto the next in my rotation.
Granted-- it all depends on my general life state, too. Lately, anything that stressed me out was just punted away for a while.
10/11/06- As we all know, stitching in the winter can really be rough on the hands. What do you do to treat your hands well in the cold winter months? Do you have any suggestions for creams or soaps? Or perhaps a special regimen that you would like to share?
I'll confess- I have none. I'm horrendously rough on my hands, and generally hate the feeling of creams or lotions. I've had friends recommend ones that they claim are great, non-greasy, "soak right in," etc... and I just hate them. The only lotion I generally use at all is the Aveeno oatmeal stuff that comes in a big tub-- it works well on my skin when I'm sensing I'm close to a hives outbreak. Otherwise, I'd much rather deal with dry skin than lotion.
10/18/06- Which way do you stitch, i.e. do you stitch /// followed by \\\ on top, or the other way around \\\ followed by ///? Are you left- or right-handed and do you think that this affects the way that you stitch?
I'm right-handed, but I don't think it affects the way I stitch. I've actually switched directions-- as a child, I stitched every-which way (because I didn't know better). As I started figuring out that they should all face one direction, I stitched \\\ then ///. When I picked it back up in college, somehow I switched to the other direction, /// followed by \\\. My guess is that I probably was thinking about what I was supposed to use, saw the diagram on a chart I was stitching from, and it said to stitch that direction. I stitch /// \\\ on all of my projects currently.
10/25/06 - If you were to come across a sampler chart that caught your eye and
appealed to you, would you or would you not stitch it if it had a
morbid or "creepy" saying on it? If not, why?
To be honest, I find almost all of the samplers that have sayings a bit creepy. Some are downright morbid. I guess it really depends on how weirded out I am. Some of the replica samplers from the 17th and 18th centuries can get VERY morbid. I still would love to try stitching them because of the historial aspect, though. So I guess my answer is yes, I'd still stitch it. Justifying the expense is another matter...
11/1/06 - How did you decide on the title of your stitching blog? Was it random,
or does it have a special meaning to you or about you?
It's dull and boring, I admit. I've never really been... happy... with it. I just never put the energy into a better title. (should I open this up for a debate? Start the new year with a new title?)
11/8/06 - How many different brands of "complete" embroidery floss sets do you own? How do you keep track of it? (i.e., spread sheet program, index cards, palm pilot, etc.)
None. I have a pretty good collection of DMC standard thread, but it's definitely not complete. I also have a decent collection of Dinky Dyes and Sampler overdyed threads, but not complete. I don't have any method of tracking it-- the different kinds are kept together, but that's about it. When I have to gather threads for a new pattern, I go to the overflow box first, then purchase anything missing from the overflow. As I finish projects, I put the remainders back in the overflow (unless there's really none to speak of).
11/16/06 - Do you stitch Christmas ornaments? If so, how many do you stitch each year and for whom? If not, why not?
I have not stitched any ornaments to date, but I do have some that I want to do. With the exception of perhaps my mom or Erich's mom, I would only stitch them for our tree, so I can do them on my own time.
11/29/06 - How do you secure your thread when you begin a new one? Specifically,
do you or have you ever used a waste knot?
I don't use waste knots-- I was taught to never, ever knot the thread (and to this day, I feel guilty knotting my backstitching thread, but can't figure out how else to secure it). If I'm stitching with a single color, I use one strand, fold it in half, and then loop through to start it. If I'm stitching with two colors at once, I just pull the thread through until I have about a five or six stitch-long tail, and stitch over the tail.
Where has this year gone?
In any case, here's my catch-up!
9/28/06- When you find yourself making a lot of mistakes in various stitching projects do you find it better to muddle your way through or do you take a brief break from stitching? If you do take a break, how long do you take?
I usually muddle through, but I will take a break from the project with which I seem to be having difficulty. If it's just a row or two of miscounts, I'll just pick them out and redo. If it's something god-awful, then I do a ceremonious hoop toss across the room (no... really), unhoop the project, and move onto the next in my rotation.
Granted-- it all depends on my general life state, too. Lately, anything that stressed me out was just punted away for a while.
10/11/06- As we all know, stitching in the winter can really be rough on the hands. What do you do to treat your hands well in the cold winter months? Do you have any suggestions for creams or soaps? Or perhaps a special regimen that you would like to share?
I'll confess- I have none. I'm horrendously rough on my hands, and generally hate the feeling of creams or lotions. I've had friends recommend ones that they claim are great, non-greasy, "soak right in," etc... and I just hate them. The only lotion I generally use at all is the Aveeno oatmeal stuff that comes in a big tub-- it works well on my skin when I'm sensing I'm close to a hives outbreak. Otherwise, I'd much rather deal with dry skin than lotion.
10/18/06- Which way do you stitch, i.e. do you stitch /// followed by \\\ on top, or the other way around \\\ followed by ///? Are you left- or right-handed and do you think that this affects the way that you stitch?
I'm right-handed, but I don't think it affects the way I stitch. I've actually switched directions-- as a child, I stitched every-which way (because I didn't know better). As I started figuring out that they should all face one direction, I stitched \\\ then ///. When I picked it back up in college, somehow I switched to the other direction, /// followed by \\\. My guess is that I probably was thinking about what I was supposed to use, saw the diagram on a chart I was stitching from, and it said to stitch that direction. I stitch /// \\\ on all of my projects currently.
10/25/06 - If you were to come across a sampler chart that caught your eye and
appealed to you, would you or would you not stitch it if it had a
morbid or "creepy" saying on it? If not, why?
To be honest, I find almost all of the samplers that have sayings a bit creepy. Some are downright morbid. I guess it really depends on how weirded out I am. Some of the replica samplers from the 17th and 18th centuries can get VERY morbid. I still would love to try stitching them because of the historial aspect, though. So I guess my answer is yes, I'd still stitch it. Justifying the expense is another matter...
11/1/06 - How did you decide on the title of your stitching blog? Was it random,
or does it have a special meaning to you or about you?
It's dull and boring, I admit. I've never really been... happy... with it. I just never put the energy into a better title. (should I open this up for a debate? Start the new year with a new title?)
11/8/06 - How many different brands of "complete" embroidery floss sets do you own? How do you keep track of it? (i.e., spread sheet program, index cards, palm pilot, etc.)
None. I have a pretty good collection of DMC standard thread, but it's definitely not complete. I also have a decent collection of Dinky Dyes and Sampler overdyed threads, but not complete. I don't have any method of tracking it-- the different kinds are kept together, but that's about it. When I have to gather threads for a new pattern, I go to the overflow box first, then purchase anything missing from the overflow. As I finish projects, I put the remainders back in the overflow (unless there's really none to speak of).
11/16/06 - Do you stitch Christmas ornaments? If so, how many do you stitch each year and for whom? If not, why not?
I have not stitched any ornaments to date, but I do have some that I want to do. With the exception of perhaps my mom or Erich's mom, I would only stitch them for our tree, so I can do them on my own time.
11/29/06 - How do you secure your thread when you begin a new one? Specifically,
do you or have you ever used a waste knot?
I don't use waste knots-- I was taught to never, ever knot the thread (and to this day, I feel guilty knotting my backstitching thread, but can't figure out how else to secure it). If I'm stitching with a single color, I use one strand, fold it in half, and then loop through to start it. If I'm stitching with two colors at once, I just pull the thread through until I have about a five or six stitch-long tail, and stitch over the tail.
If I had to write one...
Thankfully, my family isn’t very big on the generic holiday letters. I do receive them occasionally from friends who haven’t been able to stay in touch due to their busy lives. I admit to having sent them to penpals on occasion, particularly during college, because I just couldn’t keep up with everyone. Generally, though, I’d rather just receive a little email from someone, rather than the “INSERT NAME HERE” mailmerge that often times isn’t even merged. They’re so dry, and despite my writing skills—I can’t make them sound interesting. They’re just… impersonal. Feh. But I guess that’s what makes holiday letters so uniquely un-unique.
However, in the spirit of Holidailies, here’s what I would write if I had to send a generic letter out for this year…
Dear INSERT NAME HERE,
Hey there! Happy INSERT APPROPRIATE HOLIDAY HERE! I hope that this card and letter find you and your family in good health and happiness. Hopefully you’re getting a bit more of a holiday-like December than we are here. It’s been in the low 40s to mid 50s since early December, and both Erich and I are wondering whether we’re looking at Christmas or at Memorial Day as the next upcoming holiday.
I’m sorry for not keeping in touch this year. It’s been horrendously hectic here. Thankfully, though, it’s ended up being a pretty good year despite some large bumps and bruises along the way.
We’ve been to five weddings this year. The first two had us traveling to new and exciting places- first to San Diego in April for my friend Melinda & her (now) husband, Kevin. Then in June, we headed to the Bahamas with the majority of our college crew for a week for Seth (who I used to refer to as Carge in college) and Gina’s wedding. The last four were thankfully closer to home- Frank and Teresa in August, Erin and Marc in October, and Dennis and Lisa in November.
All the while we realized that we really should start planning our wedding, considering that out of that group, only Seth & Gina had been engaged for longer than us. In September, my mother came up for what I now refer to as the “wedding crasher weekend,” where we managed to pick my date, pick a place, pick a caterer, and buy my dress in two days. The official date is September 23, 2007. I haven’t started to freak out yet, but probably will starting in April or so when I realize I really need to get stuff done. You know me—procrastinator? Nah… never.
On the sadder side, Erich lost his two remaining grandparents this year. His paternal grandmother died in early summer after a long illness. His maternal grandfather died suddenly in September. I never had the chance to meet his grandmother, but did meet his grandfather last year. I can only hope to live to 90 years and still have four close friends by my side.
Erich’s mom has been ill or in recovery for a good portion of this year. She broke her leg in late spring and has been in and out of a rehabilitation home due to complications that occurred with her diabetes. She seems to be in better spirits now that she’s able to go home once per week for the day. We’re hoping that she’ll be able to go home for good within the next few weeks—and then hopefully get up to see her, as she didn’t want visitors while she was in recovery.
Being homeowners has been great so far. We’ve now been in the house for over 18 months, and have really only had one major repair so far that needed immediate attention- the roof over the sunroom. We had a bad leak during one of the many severe rainstorms. We do have to replace the plaster on the ceiling and take a look in the nearby wall to seek out any internal damage to the house, but we’ve at least solved the leak problem. We haven’t done much else to the house yet—I’m hoping to be able to get wallpaper down in at least a couple rooms and repaint by the time the wedding comes around.
After six years at OLDCOMPANY, I decided it was time for a big change. In late November, I began a new job at NEWCOMPANY, doing similar work to what I did before. But the switch in industries and surroundings have been wonderful. I already feel like I’ve been here for a long time (except for still not having faces stick with names). I’m still commuting to Boston, but Erich and I can make the commute together. It’s not that bad with the two of us.
That’s about all for here. Please drop me an email at ADDRESS HERE, and I’ll make a point to stay better in touch next year. I’m sure I have your email somewhere, but you know me—always disorganized. Much love to NAME, NAME, and OTHERNAME.
Love,
Mel (and Erich)
However, in the spirit of Holidailies, here’s what I would write if I had to send a generic letter out for this year…
Dear INSERT NAME HERE,
Hey there! Happy INSERT APPROPRIATE HOLIDAY HERE! I hope that this card and letter find you and your family in good health and happiness. Hopefully you’re getting a bit more of a holiday-like December than we are here. It’s been in the low 40s to mid 50s since early December, and both Erich and I are wondering whether we’re looking at Christmas or at Memorial Day as the next upcoming holiday.
I’m sorry for not keeping in touch this year. It’s been horrendously hectic here. Thankfully, though, it’s ended up being a pretty good year despite some large bumps and bruises along the way.
We’ve been to five weddings this year. The first two had us traveling to new and exciting places- first to San Diego in April for my friend Melinda & her (now) husband, Kevin. Then in June, we headed to the Bahamas with the majority of our college crew for a week for Seth (who I used to refer to as Carge in college) and Gina’s wedding. The last four were thankfully closer to home- Frank and Teresa in August, Erin and Marc in October, and Dennis and Lisa in November.
All the while we realized that we really should start planning our wedding, considering that out of that group, only Seth & Gina had been engaged for longer than us. In September, my mother came up for what I now refer to as the “wedding crasher weekend,” where we managed to pick my date, pick a place, pick a caterer, and buy my dress in two days. The official date is September 23, 2007. I haven’t started to freak out yet, but probably will starting in April or so when I realize I really need to get stuff done. You know me—procrastinator? Nah… never.
On the sadder side, Erich lost his two remaining grandparents this year. His paternal grandmother died in early summer after a long illness. His maternal grandfather died suddenly in September. I never had the chance to meet his grandmother, but did meet his grandfather last year. I can only hope to live to 90 years and still have four close friends by my side.
Erich’s mom has been ill or in recovery for a good portion of this year. She broke her leg in late spring and has been in and out of a rehabilitation home due to complications that occurred with her diabetes. She seems to be in better spirits now that she’s able to go home once per week for the day. We’re hoping that she’ll be able to go home for good within the next few weeks—and then hopefully get up to see her, as she didn’t want visitors while she was in recovery.
Being homeowners has been great so far. We’ve now been in the house for over 18 months, and have really only had one major repair so far that needed immediate attention- the roof over the sunroom. We had a bad leak during one of the many severe rainstorms. We do have to replace the plaster on the ceiling and take a look in the nearby wall to seek out any internal damage to the house, but we’ve at least solved the leak problem. We haven’t done much else to the house yet—I’m hoping to be able to get wallpaper down in at least a couple rooms and repaint by the time the wedding comes around.
After six years at OLDCOMPANY, I decided it was time for a big change. In late November, I began a new job at NEWCOMPANY, doing similar work to what I did before. But the switch in industries and surroundings have been wonderful. I already feel like I’ve been here for a long time (except for still not having faces stick with names). I’m still commuting to Boston, but Erich and I can make the commute together. It’s not that bad with the two of us.
That’s about all for here. Please drop me an email at ADDRESS HERE, and I’ll make a point to stay better in touch next year. I’m sure I have your email somewhere, but you know me—always disorganized. Much love to NAME, NAME, and OTHERNAME.
Love,
Mel (and Erich)
11 December 2006
Being a "macoddity"
My new job is going well so far. I'm settling in, and for the most part am finding my way around both the style guidelines that I need to follow and finding my way around the office. I still don't know most people's names, but some are starting to stick. I know that will happen with time.
I did find it amusing that the very night I go out with my old workmates last week for drinks - something I wound up having to avoid doing while I was working at that job due to false accusations about not putting in the correct number of hours - I get both a phone call and an email from my old boss asking me to come in to help in the evenings, since they still haven't hired a new admin. Never mind the fact that I made that offer twice before I left the job and didn't get an answer one way or the other until I contacted my boss during the last day that I was there to see what I should do about my ID and such on my way out the door. She said she'd get in contact with the internal temp agency to send me paperwork-- which wasn't done until the same day she called me last week. It takes three weeks to do that? Sounds like... exactly the kind of crap that I put up with for years.
My guess is that it finally hit that I did, in fact, do a crapload of work at that job. Now no one's there to do the work, and the shit is finally hitting the fan. Which makes me sad in some ways because I do care for the majority of the people I used to work with, and I don't want their lives to be hellish at work because there's no admin there. But then again, with the exception of only a few people... I never felt like I was supported. Appreciation was uncommon. Civility became uncommon over the last four months. I was always fighting from a corner, always on my own, and always at the bottom of the barrel where all of the shit flowed. It made me horribly depressed, both at work and away from it. I really was just going through the motions of life for the past year, trying to survive until my wedding so I could leave. In the end, I just couldn't push myself to endure all of the bullshit. I was sick of going home in tears, crying to Erich about how I just couldn't understand why it had to be this way. But in the end, it just... did. My manager played a lousy hand, and I called the bluff by getting a new job.
Since the week of Thanksgiving, I've realized just how bad my mental state really was at that job. As soon as I got the call last week, I started feeling the anxiety and the panic about dealing with her all over again. I think that was the wake-up call sign about what I should do, not to mention some strong doubts about how this really would work out, and how long in reality such a position would last. I mean-- I gave my notice well over a month ago, and they haven't hired even a temp to come in? Let's just say that I'm not exactly trusting that this would be a temporary position. I'm already trained to do the job. I forsee that I'd be getting dumped with the work for a long time to come-- only this time with no bennies.
Thankfully, I can honestly say that my new job is keeping me too busy. I've stayed late over half of the days I've been working there so far. It's the start of one of the busier seasons in my new industry, and lots of projects are needed to go out the door ASAP. I couldn't guarantee steady hours over there even if I wanted to-- which I honestly don't.
It's great to feel wanted, and that the work that I do is valued-- but in this case, it was way too little, way too late. I've moved on to much better things, and I don't regret it for a single second.
(title reference comes from a rather... odd... cartoon short here. Funny... with some great one-liners that have become very common in our gaming group.)
I did find it amusing that the very night I go out with my old workmates last week for drinks - something I wound up having to avoid doing while I was working at that job due to false accusations about not putting in the correct number of hours - I get both a phone call and an email from my old boss asking me to come in to help in the evenings, since they still haven't hired a new admin. Never mind the fact that I made that offer twice before I left the job and didn't get an answer one way or the other until I contacted my boss during the last day that I was there to see what I should do about my ID and such on my way out the door. She said she'd get in contact with the internal temp agency to send me paperwork-- which wasn't done until the same day she called me last week. It takes three weeks to do that? Sounds like... exactly the kind of crap that I put up with for years.
My guess is that it finally hit that I did, in fact, do a crapload of work at that job. Now no one's there to do the work, and the shit is finally hitting the fan. Which makes me sad in some ways because I do care for the majority of the people I used to work with, and I don't want their lives to be hellish at work because there's no admin there. But then again, with the exception of only a few people... I never felt like I was supported. Appreciation was uncommon. Civility became uncommon over the last four months. I was always fighting from a corner, always on my own, and always at the bottom of the barrel where all of the shit flowed. It made me horribly depressed, both at work and away from it. I really was just going through the motions of life for the past year, trying to survive until my wedding so I could leave. In the end, I just couldn't push myself to endure all of the bullshit. I was sick of going home in tears, crying to Erich about how I just couldn't understand why it had to be this way. But in the end, it just... did. My manager played a lousy hand, and I called the bluff by getting a new job.
Since the week of Thanksgiving, I've realized just how bad my mental state really was at that job. As soon as I got the call last week, I started feeling the anxiety and the panic about dealing with her all over again. I think that was the wake-up call sign about what I should do, not to mention some strong doubts about how this really would work out, and how long in reality such a position would last. I mean-- I gave my notice well over a month ago, and they haven't hired even a temp to come in? Let's just say that I'm not exactly trusting that this would be a temporary position. I'm already trained to do the job. I forsee that I'd be getting dumped with the work for a long time to come-- only this time with no bennies.
Thankfully, I can honestly say that my new job is keeping me too busy. I've stayed late over half of the days I've been working there so far. It's the start of one of the busier seasons in my new industry, and lots of projects are needed to go out the door ASAP. I couldn't guarantee steady hours over there even if I wanted to-- which I honestly don't.
It's great to feel wanted, and that the work that I do is valued-- but in this case, it was way too little, way too late. I've moved on to much better things, and I don't regret it for a single second.
(title reference comes from a rather... odd... cartoon short here. Funny... with some great one-liners that have become very common in our gaming group.)
10 December 2006
Cat-tastic Entry #2: Mephista
So... cat entry #2 is on Mephista, more commonly known as Fizzy.
Fizzy is our littlest cat-- she's all of 7.25 pounds. She appears black in person and in photos, but when the sun shines on her, she's actually a mink brown tabby (with very narrow stripes from head to the tip of her tail). She has one small white stripe of fur on her belly, white fur protecting her ears and a stray white hair here and there all over her coat. Her eyes are pale yellow. Her whiskers, nose, and paw pads are all black. She's five years old and the princess of the household. She needs to know what's going on at all times, but never really wants to be bothered. She is a human's cat, but not a cat's cat. She does NOT play, thank you very much. And don't dare pick her up-- unless you're wearing a full body suit of kevlar. Those claws will be digging firmly into the nearest body part if you try to remove her from solid ground.
Fizzy came to us in August 2001 as the second cat in the household. I'd started dating Erich only three months before. My first cat, Colley, was forced to be home alone more and more, and it was causing some temperment problems because he was so lonely. We decided to start looking for a cat (preferably one of the many "free to a good home" cats) to keep him company.
In early August, I was reading one of the many internet listservs that I belonged to. A woman and her husband belonged to a group that trapped, spayed and released the stray cats that lived around the Yard at Harvard University. One of the cats they'd caught was pregnant, so they waited for the cat to have kittens-- then posted the kittens on the listserv. If I recall correctly, they were a mix of black and grey cats. Some were polydactyl. We asked for a black poly-toed kitten, but by the time we'd replied, they'd been spoken for. They did have a very small kitten (of undetermined sex), however... were we interested?
We said yes, and planned to meet them later in the week at the T stop at Harvard Square. When we got there, Fizzy was latched in a little ball to the woman's shirt (I'm sure the sounds of the MBTA station were scaring the crap out of her). We exchanged the kitten-- Fizzy immediately clung onto my shirt just below my chin and nuzzled there. We managed to detach her and get her into Colley's carrier, wished the couple well and headed back to my apartment on the train.
My long-time readers will remember Fizzy as the cat that confused both Erich and me when she was a kitten. For the first six months, we thought Fizzy was male-- and so "his" full name was Mephisto. That changed during the appointment to have "him" neutered. So... a quick change of name, and Mephisto became an -a. :)
Fizzy definitely seems relieved that we finally clued into the obvious. She was rather dainty from the start, but we are stupid humans, after all. She got back to us by informing me for well over a year that Erich was HER human. She'd nip at his heels as he went from the bathroom to the bedroom after a shower, as well as perch and prance on all of his clothes for him, vying for his attention.
From the start, Colley was extremely gentle with Fizzy. They played together, and Fizzy would flip over on her back and profess how Huge and Vicious (tm) she was by splaying her claws and opening her mouth to show her tiny pointed teeth. This usually confused Colley, who would just stare at her and blink. It was quite cute. :)
Fizzy also imprinted on Colley- until she was nearly a year old, she would "nurse" on Colley. Granted, I was a bit concerned about my older neutered male cat and his gender issues... but he seemed okay with it. To this day, Fizzy will come and nuzzle on Colley for comfort.
Fizzy has the distinction of being the first cat I ever had who retained all of her claws. My parents, coming from both a generation and a social circle who found it acceptable to do front declaws on cats, had always had them declawed. But Fizzy quickly learned how to behave from Colley (who was declawed by my mother before I got him) and never was destructive. I might add that we've never declawed any of the cats since. Each of them has learned from the one before in some way or another, and we don't have that many problems with scratching.
Anyway... getting back to Fizzy...
She's the most high-strung of all of our cats. She tends to hide out when there's a lot of commotion. She's always been a "quiet" cat. She likes quiet places, and loves to perch. She gets frightened and anxious easily. For example, when we moved into our house last year, the stress of moving caused her to have a bout of temporary alopecia. She lost most of the fur on the backs of her hind legs, plus a huge spot on her chest, mostly due to overgrooming from the stress. Thankfully it grew back after a few months (but we were very concerned).
She doesn't like to play-- her least favorite cat is Gus, who has constantly taunted her since he was a kitten. He often wants to wrestle with her-- and pounces her, causing her to scream and hiss as if she were being killed. It's... unpleasant to listen to. Thankfully she's now found spots where she can relax undisturbed. And we also have Noby and Elly to keep Gus busy.
But aside from her aloofness, she is a loving cat one on one. Last night and this morning, for example, she was extremely cuddly. She perched on my shoulder a lot last night as I played computer games. This morning she weaved around both of our heads in bed, purring as we gave her little back scratches.
She's the fearless cat in our group as far as food goes. Her biggest craving is cheese (and not the "real" cheese, either). I found this out when she was a few months old. She would steal pieces of the Hamburger helper or Mac & Cheese that I'd be having for dinner at the time. She LOVED the powdered cheese... and would eat the pasta, too.
I can't fathom how she stays so small with such a love of junk food. :)
Fizzy is our littlest cat-- she's all of 7.25 pounds. She appears black in person and in photos, but when the sun shines on her, she's actually a mink brown tabby (with very narrow stripes from head to the tip of her tail). She has one small white stripe of fur on her belly, white fur protecting her ears and a stray white hair here and there all over her coat. Her eyes are pale yellow. Her whiskers, nose, and paw pads are all black. She's five years old and the princess of the household. She needs to know what's going on at all times, but never really wants to be bothered. She is a human's cat, but not a cat's cat. She does NOT play, thank you very much. And don't dare pick her up-- unless you're wearing a full body suit of kevlar. Those claws will be digging firmly into the nearest body part if you try to remove her from solid ground.
Fizzy came to us in August 2001 as the second cat in the household. I'd started dating Erich only three months before. My first cat, Colley, was forced to be home alone more and more, and it was causing some temperment problems because he was so lonely. We decided to start looking for a cat (preferably one of the many "free to a good home" cats) to keep him company.
In early August, I was reading one of the many internet listservs that I belonged to. A woman and her husband belonged to a group that trapped, spayed and released the stray cats that lived around the Yard at Harvard University. One of the cats they'd caught was pregnant, so they waited for the cat to have kittens-- then posted the kittens on the listserv. If I recall correctly, they were a mix of black and grey cats. Some were polydactyl. We asked for a black poly-toed kitten, but by the time we'd replied, they'd been spoken for. They did have a very small kitten (of undetermined sex), however... were we interested?
We said yes, and planned to meet them later in the week at the T stop at Harvard Square. When we got there, Fizzy was latched in a little ball to the woman's shirt (I'm sure the sounds of the MBTA station were scaring the crap out of her). We exchanged the kitten-- Fizzy immediately clung onto my shirt just below my chin and nuzzled there. We managed to detach her and get her into Colley's carrier, wished the couple well and headed back to my apartment on the train.
My long-time readers will remember Fizzy as the cat that confused both Erich and me when she was a kitten. For the first six months, we thought Fizzy was male-- and so "his" full name was Mephisto. That changed during the appointment to have "him" neutered. So... a quick change of name, and Mephisto became an -a. :)
Fizzy definitely seems relieved that we finally clued into the obvious. She was rather dainty from the start, but we are stupid humans, after all. She got back to us by informing me for well over a year that Erich was HER human. She'd nip at his heels as he went from the bathroom to the bedroom after a shower, as well as perch and prance on all of his clothes for him, vying for his attention.
From the start, Colley was extremely gentle with Fizzy. They played together, and Fizzy would flip over on her back and profess how Huge and Vicious (tm) she was by splaying her claws and opening her mouth to show her tiny pointed teeth. This usually confused Colley, who would just stare at her and blink. It was quite cute. :)
Fizzy also imprinted on Colley- until she was nearly a year old, she would "nurse" on Colley. Granted, I was a bit concerned about my older neutered male cat and his gender issues... but he seemed okay with it. To this day, Fizzy will come and nuzzle on Colley for comfort.
Fizzy has the distinction of being the first cat I ever had who retained all of her claws. My parents, coming from both a generation and a social circle who found it acceptable to do front declaws on cats, had always had them declawed. But Fizzy quickly learned how to behave from Colley (who was declawed by my mother before I got him) and never was destructive. I might add that we've never declawed any of the cats since. Each of them has learned from the one before in some way or another, and we don't have that many problems with scratching.
Anyway... getting back to Fizzy...
She's the most high-strung of all of our cats. She tends to hide out when there's a lot of commotion. She's always been a "quiet" cat. She likes quiet places, and loves to perch. She gets frightened and anxious easily. For example, when we moved into our house last year, the stress of moving caused her to have a bout of temporary alopecia. She lost most of the fur on the backs of her hind legs, plus a huge spot on her chest, mostly due to overgrooming from the stress. Thankfully it grew back after a few months (but we were very concerned).
She doesn't like to play-- her least favorite cat is Gus, who has constantly taunted her since he was a kitten. He often wants to wrestle with her-- and pounces her, causing her to scream and hiss as if she were being killed. It's... unpleasant to listen to. Thankfully she's now found spots where she can relax undisturbed. And we also have Noby and Elly to keep Gus busy.
But aside from her aloofness, she is a loving cat one on one. Last night and this morning, for example, she was extremely cuddly. She perched on my shoulder a lot last night as I played computer games. This morning she weaved around both of our heads in bed, purring as we gave her little back scratches.
She's the fearless cat in our group as far as food goes. Her biggest craving is cheese (and not the "real" cheese, either). I found this out when she was a few months old. She would steal pieces of the Hamburger helper or Mac & Cheese that I'd be having for dinner at the time. She LOVED the powdered cheese... and would eat the pasta, too.
I can't fathom how she stays so small with such a love of junk food. :)
08 December 2006
Big stitching update & goals
I never updated my goals at the beginning of the month, due to all of the craziness that resulted from starting my new job. Here's where I'm at, and where I'm looking to go, both in December and for 2007.
In November, I wanted to..
1) Complete my portion for Autumn's flower RR done!
2) Finish Home is Where the Cat Is nope... still not done. *sigh*
3) Complete 20 hours on Goldie's UFO RR piece done and mailed.
4) Work 10 hours on Apache I did around five...
5) Cook a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy the day with family and friends. definitely done!
So for December, I want to...
1) Finish Home is where the Cat Is... seriously, this time.
2) Complete my flower on Linda's piece for Flower RR
3) Work 10 hours on Gina's piece for UFO RR
4) Finish the sunset & tree band on Apache Wedding Blessing.
5) Put together my stitching plan for 2007.
I had a good year stitching, although I didn't finish any of my stitching goals for 2006. :) They were (just for the record...)
- Finish two TW's I finished one, and another is now moving as part of the UFO RR.
- Complete both Wedding Samplers About 50% on one, haven't started the other. Should be done with #1 over the winter.
- Complete 5 other pieces (any size) I finished one other piece this year. The TW finish took more time than I expected.
For 2007, I hope to do the following:
Finishes
----------
Apache Wedding Blessing (sometime during the winter)
Teresa Wentzler's Floral Bellpull (traveling in the UFO RR currently)
Cats on Staircase stocking
Dragon Dream's elemental dragons still remaining: Spirit, Air, Water, and Earth
Starts
----------
Dragon Dream's Wedding Blessing
(Either) Spring or Autumn Queen
Why I Love New England
One Cat Leads to Another...
I know that keeping a solid rotation is going to be difficult the closer I get to my wedding in September, but I see stitching as my release from the planning stress! :) So I'll do the best I can.
In November, I wanted to..
1) Complete my portion for Autumn's flower RR done!
2) Finish Home is Where the Cat Is nope... still not done. *sigh*
3) Complete 20 hours on Goldie's UFO RR piece done and mailed.
4) Work 10 hours on Apache I did around five...
5) Cook a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy the day with family and friends. definitely done!
So for December, I want to...
1) Finish Home is where the Cat Is... seriously, this time.
2) Complete my flower on Linda's piece for Flower RR
3) Work 10 hours on Gina's piece for UFO RR
4) Finish the sunset & tree band on Apache Wedding Blessing.
5) Put together my stitching plan for 2007.
I had a good year stitching, although I didn't finish any of my stitching goals for 2006. :) They were (just for the record...)
- Finish two TW's I finished one, and another is now moving as part of the UFO RR.
- Complete both Wedding Samplers About 50% on one, haven't started the other. Should be done with #1 over the winter.
- Complete 5 other pieces (any size) I finished one other piece this year. The TW finish took more time than I expected.
For 2007, I hope to do the following:
Finishes
----------
Apache Wedding Blessing (sometime during the winter)
Teresa Wentzler's Floral Bellpull (traveling in the UFO RR currently)
Cats on Staircase stocking
Dragon Dream's elemental dragons still remaining: Spirit, Air, Water, and Earth
Starts
----------
Dragon Dream's Wedding Blessing
(Either) Spring or Autumn Queen
Why I Love New England
One Cat Leads to Another...
I know that keeping a solid rotation is going to be difficult the closer I get to my wedding in September, but I see stitching as my release from the planning stress! :) So I'll do the best I can.
07 December 2006
Thursday Thirteen #13: Redux Entry
It's my 13th edition of the Thursday Thirteen. I really wanted to find something witty, but my brain has fried. :( So instead, I bring you to thirteen years ago, December 7, 1993.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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 |
1. I was 18 years old. 2. I was a freshman at Boston University, planning on majoring in journalism but not allowed to declare it for three more semesters. 3. Classes for the semester had ended, and I was prepping for my first round of collegiate final exams (complete with the infamous blue books). 4. I was a new pledge to Tau Beta Sigma, having joined the organization through Concert Band. I knew absolutely nobody in the organization, but liked the idea of a sorority of bandswomen. Miracle of miracles, they accepted me. It was after I became a pledge that I began participating in Pep and Marching Band at B.U. 5. I wore size 14 clothes. (I'm now in a 24/26 *sob*) 6. I'd gotten a perm over Thanksgiving at my grandparents' house -- I recall it specifically because I had perfect little loose ringlets all winter. It was the last perm I ever had (to the present day). 7. My mom still lived in California at that time, so I spent Thanksgiving with my grandparents in Pennsylvania. They were my closest relatives to where I was attending school. (My mom moved to PA to be closer to my grandparents about a year and a half later). 8. I had just returned from my first ever trip to New York City. I went with a dorm floor mate who grew up in the Boston metro area and his mom. We took a bus to NYC, saw the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (the live nativity actually brought me to tears), went skating at Rockefeller Center, and got our pictures taken with Santa at Saks Fifth Avenue. 9. I lived in Warren Towers, which is a monster of a building on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston-- 1,500+ students in one dorm. My room was a standard double on the northwest corner of C tower, 13th floor. I never saw my roommate, Kathy, again after freshman year. 10. That December was the start of one of the snowiest winters in Boston-- over 100 inches fell in the city that winter. Coming from the eastern side of the Rockies (where the storms fizzled out before reforming over the Plains), I'd never seen so much snow at once. 11. I didn't yet know any of the people I now consider my college buddies. I didn't meet Ivanna until the next year (even though she's older than me), and everyone else was at least a year behind me in school. 12. I had a twice monthly excursion to all of the following places: Salem, Mass. (Pagan browsing), Tower Records (@ the corner of Mass Ave. and Newbury Street), India Quality restaurant (at its original location in Kenmore Square), Pandemonium Books & Games (at *its original location in Harvard Square over the German restaurant), the Harvard Coop (for no reason...except it was near Pandy), Arsenic & Old Lace (Pagan store formerly at Mass Ave between Harvard and Porter Squares), and Gypsy Moon (funky fantasy clothing store across the street from Arsenic). 13. I had never played any Dungeons & Dragons or any other role-playing game at that point. :) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Geek Week
While a mild-mannered administrative assistant at work, I tend to fall into pure geekdom mode once I get home. Weekends generally have some sort of a Dungeons & Dragons-esque game going on- not always one I'm personally participating in, but as we have a house where there are no kids that need quiet time after a particular hour, nor time limits to wrap up due to parking restrictions in the neighborhood, plus a good amount of room (and an accessible grill for making food), it often takes place at our place anyway.
On top of that, there are nightly excursions in the World of Warcrackcraft, where Erich and I play - together - while sitting in our own offices. It's silly and odd, but we do have a good time running around together and causing general mayhem.
Last week, however, was a "beat the game patch" week, where we were constantly playing the same game within the game (Alterac Valley, for those in the know) so I could get some nifty items that would be lost with the patch, due to some major changes in how the game fuctions (it was a large patch-- about 450 megs worth). For a straight week, we got home, we turned on the computers, we'd play WoW for about four to five hours, and then go to bed.
If you've seen the recent World of Warcraft South Park episode? Yeah... it was kind of like that. (sheepish) What can I say? I can be a truly pathetic lifeless loser when Ineed want to be.
I have to admit- I didn't understand the addiction to these online games before I played WoW. I've known several people who were addicted to Everquest when it was at its peak popularity. I've lost friends (and my fiance) to hours of Halo Online. Even when I started playing WoW, I thought it was okay-- a bit cartoonish, a little cheesy. But the detail in the game was so cool. Plus I didn't have to rely on others to play-- if I wasn't in the mood to do XYZ, I could just go run around and explore for a while. Friends who had moved to other states also played, so we could still hang out and goof off together.
In late summer, Erich (alter ego Abudiabudie... because he wants to annoy everyone who tries to spell the damn thing) and I (alter ego Tennetty) joined a guild called Burrito Bandits on our server. They're a fun-loving, wide age range bunch who just like to have a good time. Conversation on the text channel and our audio channel tends to be quite silly. We work well together as a group on some of the more challenging high-level dungeons (which require 20 or 40 people on a team).
It's 21st century social networking at its finest. :)
On top of that, there are nightly excursions in the World of War
Last week, however, was a "beat the game patch" week, where we were constantly playing the same game within the game (Alterac Valley, for those in the know) so I could get some nifty items that would be lost with the patch, due to some major changes in how the game fuctions (it was a large patch-- about 450 megs worth). For a straight week, we got home, we turned on the computers, we'd play WoW for about four to five hours, and then go to bed.
If you've seen the recent World of Warcraft South Park episode? Yeah... it was kind of like that. (sheepish) What can I say? I can be a truly pathetic lifeless loser when I
I have to admit- I didn't understand the addiction to these online games before I played WoW. I've known several people who were addicted to Everquest when it was at its peak popularity. I've lost friends (and my fiance) to hours of Halo Online. Even when I started playing WoW, I thought it was okay-- a bit cartoonish, a little cheesy. But the detail in the game was so cool. Plus I didn't have to rely on others to play-- if I wasn't in the mood to do XYZ, I could just go run around and explore for a while. Friends who had moved to other states also played, so we could still hang out and goof off together.
In late summer, Erich (alter ego Abudiabudie... because he wants to annoy everyone who tries to spell the damn thing) and I (alter ego Tennetty) joined a guild called Burrito Bandits on our server. They're a fun-loving, wide age range bunch who just like to have a good time. Conversation on the text channel and our audio channel tends to be quite silly. We work well together as a group on some of the more challenging high-level dungeons (which require 20 or 40 people on a team).
It's 21st century social networking at its finest. :)
06 December 2006
Commuting is (not) fun!
Ah yes... now that it's winter, the MBTA is showing its stupidity again.
This morning, we had no heat on our car-- and the system was blowing the cold air into the car for the entire hour's ride in. At first, I tried to excuse it as "Oh, it's the first run for this train of the day... it's probably just cold from sitting overnight in the yard." But nope, it was still as cold as when we boarded. I needed to thaw for a few minutes in South Station before trekking over to work.
I could put a complaint in on the MBTA website, but based on the response I got this summer, all I'll get is a generic meaningless "we got your email, now bugger off!" response about a month after the fact. Then they'll add my email to an MBTA mailing list where they send occasional spam messages about how MBTA service is improving (riiiiight) and what they've done to improve things (riiiight).
So if I put in a complaint today about the unheated car-- I'd probably get a response in.. February or so.
I would blow it off for the most part, except that as of January, my monthly commuter rail pass is going from $198 a month to $250 a month. For that much of a raise, I'd like to have cars working properly.
But above all of these fare increases, the MBTA still whines that it's broke. Broke after years of neglect with stations rusting through, platforms pitted and in need of complete structural rebuilding, escalators constantly out of service with permanent "temporarily out of order" signs, and trains that never get cleaned. When I was in college, we were greeted on Monday mornings with recently cleaned trains that had the over-powering scent of lysol within. It was deadly strong, but at least we knew that they'd made some effort to at least mop the floors in the cars.
While some station improvements have been going, the MBTA has wasted its money putting an entirely new fare system in place for the system-- with electronic reader cards (known as Charlie Cards... because the current generation is so familiar with the Kingston Trio's song) to eliminate tokens. It's similar in appearance to the BART system in the San Francisco area of the late 1980's and early 1990's (no idea if it's still the same out there). You get a single ticket, on which you place your desired amount of stored fare money. Each ride, the fare is deducted.
Only problem with Boston's system is that the old one wasn't broken- other than the fact that the token dispensing machines were always broken down. This new system appears to have only been introduced to eliminate booth workers. The sliding glass panes at the fare collection stations are slower than turnstyles. They're a frustration to exit, and I'm just waiting for about a year down the road when they start breaking and the MBTA doesn't fix them.
I realize that for a while, the MBTA was the cheapest train system in the nation- it was 85 cents to ride it the entire time I was in college. I realize that fares have to increase. But if the fares are increasing, justify it with at least comparable service. With each increase, the quality of service goes down. Another increase, and it's quite possibly no longer cost effective for Erich and I to commute by train. Right now, we have two zone eight passes (so... $500 per month, just for tickets), plus $60 for parking (assuming $3 per day for 20 days a month). Parking in Boston is about $15 per day at the cheap lot now located close to both of our offices. It's $24-26 at most other lots. Sure, it's wear and tear on our car... but if the train continues to be a frustration- is it worth it?
I thought mass transit was supposed to encourage people to not drive to work.
(sigh)
This morning, we had no heat on our car-- and the system was blowing the cold air into the car for the entire hour's ride in. At first, I tried to excuse it as "Oh, it's the first run for this train of the day... it's probably just cold from sitting overnight in the yard." But nope, it was still as cold as when we boarded. I needed to thaw for a few minutes in South Station before trekking over to work.
I could put a complaint in on the MBTA website, but based on the response I got this summer, all I'll get is a generic meaningless "we got your email, now bugger off!" response about a month after the fact. Then they'll add my email to an MBTA mailing list where they send occasional spam messages about how MBTA service is improving (riiiiight) and what they've done to improve things (riiiight).
So if I put in a complaint today about the unheated car-- I'd probably get a response in.. February or so.
I would blow it off for the most part, except that as of January, my monthly commuter rail pass is going from $198 a month to $250 a month. For that much of a raise, I'd like to have cars working properly.
But above all of these fare increases, the MBTA still whines that it's broke. Broke after years of neglect with stations rusting through, platforms pitted and in need of complete structural rebuilding, escalators constantly out of service with permanent "temporarily out of order" signs, and trains that never get cleaned. When I was in college, we were greeted on Monday mornings with recently cleaned trains that had the over-powering scent of lysol within. It was deadly strong, but at least we knew that they'd made some effort to at least mop the floors in the cars.
While some station improvements have been going, the MBTA has wasted its money putting an entirely new fare system in place for the system-- with electronic reader cards (known as Charlie Cards... because the current generation is so familiar with the Kingston Trio's song) to eliminate tokens. It's similar in appearance to the BART system in the San Francisco area of the late 1980's and early 1990's (no idea if it's still the same out there). You get a single ticket, on which you place your desired amount of stored fare money. Each ride, the fare is deducted.
Only problem with Boston's system is that the old one wasn't broken- other than the fact that the token dispensing machines were always broken down. This new system appears to have only been introduced to eliminate booth workers. The sliding glass panes at the fare collection stations are slower than turnstyles. They're a frustration to exit, and I'm just waiting for about a year down the road when they start breaking and the MBTA doesn't fix them.
I realize that for a while, the MBTA was the cheapest train system in the nation- it was 85 cents to ride it the entire time I was in college. I realize that fares have to increase. But if the fares are increasing, justify it with at least comparable service. With each increase, the quality of service goes down. Another increase, and it's quite possibly no longer cost effective for Erich and I to commute by train. Right now, we have two zone eight passes (so... $500 per month, just for tickets), plus $60 for parking (assuming $3 per day for 20 days a month). Parking in Boston is about $15 per day at the cheap lot now located close to both of our offices. It's $24-26 at most other lots. Sure, it's wear and tear on our car... but if the train continues to be a frustration- is it worth it?
I thought mass transit was supposed to encourage people to not drive to work.
(sigh)
05 December 2006
Cat-tastic Entry #1: Nobanion
So for the first of my five - yes five - entries to introduce and discuss the true rulers of our household, I figured I'd start with the comedian of the group:
Nobanion (pronounced No-BAN-yon)
But before I start this, you'll notice a theme with our cats-- they all have long, formal names, and then they have daily nicknames. I'm really not sure why. But they all do.
Anyway... Nobanion, or Noby, as we normally identify him, is now just about 18 months old. He's an orange and white tabby - all of his orange patches are very distinctly striped. The spots over his shoulder blades make a perfect Mickey Mouse ears image. He has light copper eyes that are just a couple shades paler than his orange spots. His whiskers are white, and both his nose and his paws are pale pink. He's the twin of Elly, who I'll talk about in my next entry.
His name is the god of cats (and is represented by a lion) in the Forgotten Realms universe. I loved the name, and with his personality... it fit. Immediately.
Noby (and Elly) arrived in our house in September 2005 by pure dumb luck. On our way home, we turned from the main road by our house (a U.S. highway) onto one of several side streets that connect with our street. It was very dark, so it had to be well after seven p.m. As we passed a streetlight, I caught a glimpse of a cat with two kittens stumbling behind her. I just exclaimed "KITTENS!" and we pulled over.
We could tell immediately that all three cats were feral. The mother was quite young and thin. The kittens were not in good health- with a myriad of issues (the first we noticed was the severe conjunctivitis in their eyes). We managed to get the kittens, but couldn't get the mother as she ran off into the darkness. After asking at a couple houses if they knew who these kittens might belong to (if anyone), we were able to determine that yes, they were in fact strays. And they were in dire need of medical attention.
Three hundred dollars in emergency vet bills later, we'd bought ourselves two kittens. The conjunctivitis was a secondary infection to a serious case of herpes-- the cat version of cold sores. They had fleas. They had worms. They had ear mites. They were definitely scummy little kittens. But the vet, after a second checkup about a week later, said they were just fine-- despite being ill, they were romping around like any other kittens, eating well, and doing just fine.
Noby warmed up to us first- that first night at the vet, we were in the exam room with him sitting on the metal table as the vet went to get some flea medication & run the tests for mites. Noby turned around to groom himself, and we could just SEE the fleas run away from the pressure. But as soon as Erich reached to scratch his ear... he purred. Seven weeks old, around complete strangers, and he purred, leaning into Erich's fingers.
He's never changed. Noby is definitely the extrovert of the bunch- he greets anyone who comes over to our house. He tends to be the performer, investigating things or playing with things in front of guests for their amusement. He pounces fingers on the bannister as we head down the stairs. He attacks the wall for no reason as we come up the stairs. And most recently, he made quite an impression with the roofers last Saturday as they worked on the sunroom. The entire time they were there, he hung out in the bedroom window, fascinated with what they were doing - the leader of the crew remarked how "that orange cat was just so friendly."
He's also incredibly affectionate. He comes up between the two of us as we settle down to sleep and generally flops down on my head for attention. He cuddles as close as he possibly can (normally... on my nose). He has specific ways of being held, though-- if you try to pet him when he's not in the mood, he'll start chewing on your fingers and kneading your hands as if he's trying to nurse.
Per the photo above- he sleeps in weird positions. We've wondered whether or not he's double jointed, although the idea of a cat (which is already made of rubber) being double-jointed just seems odd. Then again, so are those angles in which he rests his front legs as he sleeps every day- chin flat down on the chair, front legs splayed out and bent backwards, back legs tucked under him, and tail stretched out long.
He has the most pathetic little mew of a voice-- it sounds like the cry of a tiny kitten needing attention. It's not the voice of a nearly ten pound male cat. Perhaps we snipped him a tad too early? (but really... it couldn't be helped... we had both a male and female kitten of the same age... we had to be extra careful with our dates).
He's our little monkey cat, and I can't imagine life without him.
Holiday Music
Before I can start writing my “here are my cats” entries, I need to decide upon and upload photos of each of them to Flickr. So for now, I’ll use yesterday’s writing prompt:
"Holiday music: essential part of the season, or 'no way, it makes my ears bleed'?"
For me, it depends on the music. I get very sick of “Feliz Navidad” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” over and over. I try to ignore most of the trendy renditions of the songs that appear on the increasingly sucky A Very Special Christmas compilations (ever notice the ones in frequent replay are off the first album only? There’s a reason for that…).
With the exception of Trans-Siberian Orchestra – who I really wish I could afford to see in a couple weeks when they come to Providence – I don’t care for a lot fo the current songs out there. Call me a purist. I want to hear Bing Crosby and Burt Ives. I enjoy most of the renditions off of the first A Very Special Christmas compilation. I’ll happily take some beautiful brass quartet renditions or the non-confrontational muzak or smooth jazz.
The one thing, though, that does make my ears bleed is hearing seasonal music before Thanksgiving. I don’t need Christmas music around Halloween, thanks. Nor do I want to see the decorations up in a store that early. If you have them for sale, well… I think it’s early but I’ll tolerate that. Christmas music shouldn’t be played through store speakers until Black Friday, in my opinion.
I do get tired of it, though, by the time Christmas comes around- and I think it’s because it’s the same stuff played over and over. There is so much Christmas music out there—I wish stores would both play a variety, and play stuff appropriate to the surroundings. When I’m going into the drug store, I don’t need to be blasted by a full choral version of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” or a Josh Groban’s over-enthusiastic rendition of “O Holy Night.” I need to be focusing on reading the warning labels at that moment. On the other side of the coin, hearing the songs from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular while skating at Rockefeller Center is great.
For me, holiday music isn’t so much about creating the atmosphere of the holidays—that’s accomplished just fine by the changing weather, the lights and the crazy schedules as we shuffle from one party to the next. Holiday music helps bring back memories from years past, thinking about loved ones now missed dearly, and enjoying a few more moments with them through those memories.
"Holiday music: essential part of the season, or 'no way, it makes my ears bleed'?"
For me, it depends on the music. I get very sick of “Feliz Navidad” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” over and over. I try to ignore most of the trendy renditions of the songs that appear on the increasingly sucky A Very Special Christmas compilations (ever notice the ones in frequent replay are off the first album only? There’s a reason for that…).
With the exception of Trans-Siberian Orchestra – who I really wish I could afford to see in a couple weeks when they come to Providence – I don’t care for a lot fo the current songs out there. Call me a purist. I want to hear Bing Crosby and Burt Ives. I enjoy most of the renditions off of the first A Very Special Christmas compilation. I’ll happily take some beautiful brass quartet renditions or the non-confrontational muzak or smooth jazz.
The one thing, though, that does make my ears bleed is hearing seasonal music before Thanksgiving. I don’t need Christmas music around Halloween, thanks. Nor do I want to see the decorations up in a store that early. If you have them for sale, well… I think it’s early but I’ll tolerate that. Christmas music shouldn’t be played through store speakers until Black Friday, in my opinion.
I do get tired of it, though, by the time Christmas comes around- and I think it’s because it’s the same stuff played over and over. There is so much Christmas music out there—I wish stores would both play a variety, and play stuff appropriate to the surroundings. When I’m going into the drug store, I don’t need to be blasted by a full choral version of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” or a Josh Groban’s over-enthusiastic rendition of “O Holy Night.” I need to be focusing on reading the warning labels at that moment. On the other side of the coin, hearing the songs from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular while skating at Rockefeller Center is great.
For me, holiday music isn’t so much about creating the atmosphere of the holidays—that’s accomplished just fine by the changing weather, the lights and the crazy schedules as we shuffle from one party to the next. Holiday music helps bring back memories from years past, thinking about loved ones now missed dearly, and enjoying a few more moments with them through those memories.
04 December 2006
Winter arrives
Erich and I woke this morning to heavily falling snow. Only a dusting had settled on the ground and the roads were clear, but it was just heavy enough to give all of the trees a very pretty flocked appearance. It was also one of those snows that I know won't stay very long. It's going to be just warm enough to make anything white disappear by day's end. A bit of the slushy aftermath may remain, but that's about it.
It made me glad that we finished a good chunk of our yard cleanup on Sunday morning, just in time for the snow to fall. We've filled about eight of those large paper leaf bags so far this season and probably have another four or so to go. We also have lost several large limbs from our maple trees this season. Both of us are a bit concerned that the trees may be diseased. Sometime next year, we'll probably get a tree doctor out to check them out. It just doesn't seem right that a 15 foot limb with a 6+ inch span would just come down. It's been windy, but not THAT windy. I'd hate to lose the height of those trees, but at the same time I know it's better to just get rid of them if they're sick trees. We'd just have to replant.
We can make use of the wood from those limbs, however. We bought one of those outdoor fireplaces so we could safely burn off twigs and brush that we need to dispose of (rather than attempting to bundle them). Erich has used the chainsaw to create logs out of the larger limbs for foundation logs in the fire. So yesterday as one person raked and bagged leaves, the other stoked a fire and burned off some brush. We traded off after every couple bags.
It was also good timing because we had our roof over the sunroom replaced on Saturday morning. During one of the recent heavy rainstorms, a good amount of water went through the roof, down the wall, and right into our sunroom. The plaster on the ceiling is now in need of replacement, and we may have to replace part of the wall as well. Erich called our insurance company, and while they said the roof was due to normal wear & tear, they did pay a claim on the interior damage. Thankfully the things that got wet wasn't anything too valuable- mostly our Dungeons & Dragons notebooks, a couple books, etc. I have to rewrite character sheets, but that's no big deal.
In any case, the roofers came on Saturday and put a new rubber roof over the existing asphalt one. Apparently when they took off the lowest siding board, they found the problem- the channel that was supposed to wisk water away from the roof had been covered over during the last resurfacing of the roof, so the water had nowhere to go until it soaked through. (sigh)
In any case, it's done, and unlike the asphalt roof, this one is supposed to last for at least 20 years.
Ah yes... home ownership.
What was that about a money pit? :)
It made me glad that we finished a good chunk of our yard cleanup on Sunday morning, just in time for the snow to fall. We've filled about eight of those large paper leaf bags so far this season and probably have another four or so to go. We also have lost several large limbs from our maple trees this season. Both of us are a bit concerned that the trees may be diseased. Sometime next year, we'll probably get a tree doctor out to check them out. It just doesn't seem right that a 15 foot limb with a 6+ inch span would just come down. It's been windy, but not THAT windy. I'd hate to lose the height of those trees, but at the same time I know it's better to just get rid of them if they're sick trees. We'd just have to replant.
We can make use of the wood from those limbs, however. We bought one of those outdoor fireplaces so we could safely burn off twigs and brush that we need to dispose of (rather than attempting to bundle them). Erich has used the chainsaw to create logs out of the larger limbs for foundation logs in the fire. So yesterday as one person raked and bagged leaves, the other stoked a fire and burned off some brush. We traded off after every couple bags.
It was also good timing because we had our roof over the sunroom replaced on Saturday morning. During one of the recent heavy rainstorms, a good amount of water went through the roof, down the wall, and right into our sunroom. The plaster on the ceiling is now in need of replacement, and we may have to replace part of the wall as well. Erich called our insurance company, and while they said the roof was due to normal wear & tear, they did pay a claim on the interior damage. Thankfully the things that got wet wasn't anything too valuable- mostly our Dungeons & Dragons notebooks, a couple books, etc. I have to rewrite character sheets, but that's no big deal.
In any case, the roofers came on Saturday and put a new rubber roof over the existing asphalt one. Apparently when they took off the lowest siding board, they found the problem- the channel that was supposed to wisk water away from the roof had been covered over during the last resurfacing of the roof, so the water had nowhere to go until it soaked through. (sigh)
In any case, it's done, and unlike the asphalt roof, this one is supposed to last for at least 20 years.
Ah yes... home ownership.
What was that about a money pit? :)
03 December 2006
Weekend Wakeup Calls
I don't generally get to sleep in on weekend mornings. Most of the time, my brain decides that I have, in fact, forgotten to turn on my alarm clock and am about to miss my train. But in the off chance that the internal alarm clock doesn't go off, we have five other alarm clocks that generally start voicing their opinion by about 8 a.m. or so.
Cats really need love, of course. And as their humans, we should be catering to them on their schedules... dammit.
This morning's edition of Feline Alarm was paid for by Nobanion. Around 8:30, he sauntered up the entire length of my body, making sure to walk over my head. He then bit my nose, licked it, and flopped unceremoniously with his flanks on my face with enough force to make me sneeze. He then relaxed, slid down into the hammock formed by my shoulder and outstretched arm, and began to purr.
For a few moments, I thought that maybe he was just going to cuddle up and go to sleep there, and I could doze for a while. I can't think of many things that I love as much as the slow wakeups on the weekends curled up to one of the cats, just being lazy. It's relaxing, it's peaceful. And it's rare.
So I just stayed there, resisting my morning allergies as they started to kick in. But Noby had other plans for me. He decided that he needed further attention, and began chewing on my outstretched fingers.
So much for cuddling.
I got up, used the bathroom, and came back to bed. Noby hadn't wanted my attention at all.
He just wanted the warm spot that I'd leave so he could take a nap.
(sigh)
Cats really need love, of course. And as their humans, we should be catering to them on their schedules... dammit.
This morning's edition of Feline Alarm was paid for by Nobanion. Around 8:30, he sauntered up the entire length of my body, making sure to walk over my head. He then bit my nose, licked it, and flopped unceremoniously with his flanks on my face with enough force to make me sneeze. He then relaxed, slid down into the hammock formed by my shoulder and outstretched arm, and began to purr.
For a few moments, I thought that maybe he was just going to cuddle up and go to sleep there, and I could doze for a while. I can't think of many things that I love as much as the slow wakeups on the weekends curled up to one of the cats, just being lazy. It's relaxing, it's peaceful. And it's rare.
So I just stayed there, resisting my morning allergies as they started to kick in. But Noby had other plans for me. He decided that he needed further attention, and began chewing on my outstretched fingers.
So much for cuddling.
I got up, used the bathroom, and came back to bed. Noby hadn't wanted my attention at all.
He just wanted the warm spot that I'd leave so he could take a nap.
(sigh)
01 December 2006
A Rare Opportunity
The sun is partly hidden. The skies are debating whether to clear or stay in that half-fog haziness that keeps everything feeling just a bit damp. The winds on the seaport are light, giving just a bit of a breeze to freshen the air every few minutes. It’s just shy of 70 degrees- absolutely delightful weather.
No one has a coat on.
In Boston.
On November 30th.
If I didn’t know better, I’d argue that I’m now working in San Francisco. The recent weather reminds me so much of the December weather in the Bay Area as I’d visit my mother for the holidays. Coming from a Rocky Mountain upbringing, to be able to go outside in a t-shirt and jeans on Christmas was such a novelty.
The same novelty applies in New England. Usually this time of year I’m swearing as I try to find where my mittens have run off to during the overnight hours. I’m shivering as I wait on the concrete platform for the train, wincing as that blast of air hits me as the train rolls into the station. And walking through Boston in late November to early December? It’s painful. The street planners made Boston a fantastic wind tunnel. In fact, it’s the windiest major city in the United States. During the winter, residents are reminded of this fact every day as they trudge to work.
Yet the night of November 30th, it was absolutely beautiful. It was downright springlike.
As Erich and I settled down to bed, we watched the Weather Channel to get the morning’s forecast. I knew a big thunderstorm was making its way east, and wanted a sense of what time it would hit. At only a couple minutes to midnight, it was 62 degrees with a low of something high 50s.
We slept with our bedroom windows wide open to catch the breezes. On November 30th.
It doesn’t get much better. :)
No one has a coat on.
In Boston.
On November 30th.
If I didn’t know better, I’d argue that I’m now working in San Francisco. The recent weather reminds me so much of the December weather in the Bay Area as I’d visit my mother for the holidays. Coming from a Rocky Mountain upbringing, to be able to go outside in a t-shirt and jeans on Christmas was such a novelty.
The same novelty applies in New England. Usually this time of year I’m swearing as I try to find where my mittens have run off to during the overnight hours. I’m shivering as I wait on the concrete platform for the train, wincing as that blast of air hits me as the train rolls into the station. And walking through Boston in late November to early December? It’s painful. The street planners made Boston a fantastic wind tunnel. In fact, it’s the windiest major city in the United States. During the winter, residents are reminded of this fact every day as they trudge to work.
Yet the night of November 30th, it was absolutely beautiful. It was downright springlike.
As Erich and I settled down to bed, we watched the Weather Channel to get the morning’s forecast. I knew a big thunderstorm was making its way east, and wanted a sense of what time it would hit. At only a couple minutes to midnight, it was 62 degrees with a low of something high 50s.
We slept with our bedroom windows wide open to catch the breezes. On November 30th.
It doesn’t get much better. :)
Friday Feast #4
I haven't answered the questions in the Friday Feast for a while...
Appetizer
Have you ever flown in a helicopter?
No. I'm honestly curious to do so, but I wonder if my fear of heights would come into play. It doesn't in a plane, but that's a tad bigger than a copter...
Soup
What color is your warmest coat or jacket?
It's a leather jacket with a very plush faux leopard interior. Supposedly the coat is reversable, but I can't imagine wearing the faux fur on the outside... it would be a bit... loud. But the jacket feels like literally wrapping a comfy blanket around you, even on the coldest days. But it's also so thick that it makes me walk a bit like Ralphie's little brother in A Christmas Story.
Salad
What is your favorite rainy day activity?
Playing World of Warcraft on the computer or stitching. I usually do a bit of both.
Main Course
Describe your hands.
I have small hands. I still wear kid sized mittens. My palms are fairly broad, and my fingers aren't that long. I'm a chronic nail-biter, so my nails are severely short. I have a few scars on them from cat scratches, and I'm starting to get the slightest age lines on them. They go through a lot of abuse. :)
Dessert
If you could eat only one nut for the rest of your life, what nut
would you pick?
Honey coated cashews. I swear they're laced with heroin.
Appetizer
Have you ever flown in a helicopter?
No. I'm honestly curious to do so, but I wonder if my fear of heights would come into play. It doesn't in a plane, but that's a tad bigger than a copter...
Soup
What color is your warmest coat or jacket?
It's a leather jacket with a very plush faux leopard interior. Supposedly the coat is reversable, but I can't imagine wearing the faux fur on the outside... it would be a bit... loud. But the jacket feels like literally wrapping a comfy blanket around you, even on the coldest days. But it's also so thick that it makes me walk a bit like Ralphie's little brother in A Christmas Story.
Salad
What is your favorite rainy day activity?
Playing World of Warcraft on the computer or stitching. I usually do a bit of both.
Main Course
Describe your hands.
I have small hands. I still wear kid sized mittens. My palms are fairly broad, and my fingers aren't that long. I'm a chronic nail-biter, so my nails are severely short. I have a few scars on them from cat scratches, and I'm starting to get the slightest age lines on them. They go through a lot of abuse. :)
Dessert
If you could eat only one nut for the rest of your life, what nut
would you pick?
Honey coated cashews. I swear they're laced with heroin.
The Gratuitous Introduction Entry
It’s Holidailies, which means that several people who don’t commonly read me may be visiting. To the newcomers- welcome! I hope you’ll enjoy my writing, want to share comments and hopefully read after January 1st has passed us by...
With the beginning of Holidailies, I thought it best to start with introducing myself. It’s been five years since I wrote my original bio for my blog. I’ve cut and pasted new info, but it’s due for an overhaul. So…
My name is Melissa. I usually go by Mel (with both co-workers and friends), or by Measi (a childhood nickname that stuck). I’m on the cusp of age 32, a double Capricorn (if you’re into astrology), lazy-about-practicing Pagan, geek, cat lover, and craft-aholic.
I’ve lived in New England for 13 years. I originally came to Boston to attend Boston University, fell in love with my new surroundings, and have settled in to a life I love.
I’m engaged to a wonderful man named Erich. He’s a native Massachusetts boy, with the slightest bit of the accent that has made the region so famous. He’s about 6’3”, giving him nearly a foot of height over me. I don’t even reach his shoulder. We’ve been a couple since 2001, living together since 2002, and homeowners since 2005. We live in the Providence, Rhode Island metro area in a pretty old colonial house with a decent yard. Both of us still commute to Boston for work, so we’re close friends with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, also known as “the T.” Driving our commute daily would be a nightmare. Erich works in IT. I work as an Admin. Assistant.
One of the biggest reasons Erich and I clicked so well is our mutual geekness (geekitude?). We both enjoy computer games immensely. He tends to go for the first person shooters and more violent games. I tend to lean toward the Sims, Myst, and other simulation/strategy games. We both play World of Warcraft a lot, and often together. We also enjoy Renaissance faires, tabletop gaming (think Dungeons & Dragons), fandom conventions, and all of the nerdy things from our youth that led into such interests. I have additional geekness coming from years of marching and pep band membership.
We are owned by five loving but very weird cats, who have come into our lives at an oddly clockwork 2-year interval. Colley is 7, Fizzy is 5, Gus is 3, and the twins, Noby and Elly, are 1. Photos and details about each of them will follow in later entries this month.
The major hobby I talk about in my blog (other than blogging) is my stitching. I’m an avid cross-stitcher, and tend to have about a half-dozen projects in the works at any given time. I originally learned when I was in 5th grade through a class art project. I enjoyed it so much that I kept on going. It helped me feel a bit more connected to my mother, who sewed all the time when I was a child. She loved that I was interested in embroidery, too, and helped me select materials and such until I was out of college. I went through a few years of disinterest, but found myself really getting into it again about two years ago. I tend to work larger pieces, so completions are few and far between. But I find that the journey of stitching is honestly more fun than the completion. Most of my current projects and all completed projects are located in my Flickr account (on the right hand bar).
So what do I normally write about in my blog? It depends on my mood. I tend to write about what happens during my days. Lately I’ve been on a bit of a meme streak due to an inability to sit down, think and do quality writing. When I do have the time to really think and write, I’ll talk about topics that are personal- adoption, faith, lukewarm attempts at politics, etc.
So who’s reading? Drop a note and say hi!
With the beginning of Holidailies, I thought it best to start with introducing myself. It’s been five years since I wrote my original bio for my blog. I’ve cut and pasted new info, but it’s due for an overhaul. So…
My name is Melissa. I usually go by Mel (with both co-workers and friends), or by Measi (a childhood nickname that stuck). I’m on the cusp of age 32, a double Capricorn (if you’re into astrology), lazy-about-practicing Pagan, geek, cat lover, and craft-aholic.
I’ve lived in New England for 13 years. I originally came to Boston to attend Boston University, fell in love with my new surroundings, and have settled in to a life I love.
I’m engaged to a wonderful man named Erich. He’s a native Massachusetts boy, with the slightest bit of the accent that has made the region so famous. He’s about 6’3”, giving him nearly a foot of height over me. I don’t even reach his shoulder. We’ve been a couple since 2001, living together since 2002, and homeowners since 2005. We live in the Providence, Rhode Island metro area in a pretty old colonial house with a decent yard. Both of us still commute to Boston for work, so we’re close friends with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, also known as “the T.” Driving our commute daily would be a nightmare. Erich works in IT. I work as an Admin. Assistant.
One of the biggest reasons Erich and I clicked so well is our mutual geekness (geekitude?). We both enjoy computer games immensely. He tends to go for the first person shooters and more violent games. I tend to lean toward the Sims, Myst, and other simulation/strategy games. We both play World of Warcraft a lot, and often together. We also enjoy Renaissance faires, tabletop gaming (think Dungeons & Dragons), fandom conventions, and all of the nerdy things from our youth that led into such interests. I have additional geekness coming from years of marching and pep band membership.
We are owned by five loving but very weird cats, who have come into our lives at an oddly clockwork 2-year interval. Colley is 7, Fizzy is 5, Gus is 3, and the twins, Noby and Elly, are 1. Photos and details about each of them will follow in later entries this month.
The major hobby I talk about in my blog (other than blogging) is my stitching. I’m an avid cross-stitcher, and tend to have about a half-dozen projects in the works at any given time. I originally learned when I was in 5th grade through a class art project. I enjoyed it so much that I kept on going. It helped me feel a bit more connected to my mother, who sewed all the time when I was a child. She loved that I was interested in embroidery, too, and helped me select materials and such until I was out of college. I went through a few years of disinterest, but found myself really getting into it again about two years ago. I tend to work larger pieces, so completions are few and far between. But I find that the journey of stitching is honestly more fun than the completion. Most of my current projects and all completed projects are located in my Flickr account (on the right hand bar).
So what do I normally write about in my blog? It depends on my mood. I tend to write about what happens during my days. Lately I’ve been on a bit of a meme streak due to an inability to sit down, think and do quality writing. When I do have the time to really think and write, I’ll talk about topics that are personal- adoption, faith, lukewarm attempts at politics, etc.
So who’s reading? Drop a note and say hi!
29 November 2006
Thursday Thirteen #12: Holidailies Topics
On Friday, I begin my entries for the annual Holidailies project, where I'll make a point of posting once per day between December 1st and January 1st. If you look through my records lately... that's going to be a very tough job to tackle for me. But I'm up to the challenge.
Here are thirteen topics I'm planning to write about next month (got any more that I should add? Throw them in the comments!)
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Here are thirteen topics I'm planning to write about next month (got any more that I should add? Throw them in the comments!)
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1) The first snowfall, whenever that happens 2) My current stitching projects 3) Reflections on my job, once I become a bit more situated there 4) Yule recap 5) Christmas recap 6) New Year's Eve recap 7) Thursday Thirteen entries 8) A photolog of a "day in the life" for me 9) Holiday foods 10) Christmas carols-- particularly the ones I either don't like, or don't make sense 11) Holiday TV specials of my youth (and why it's still necessary to watch them) 12) My annual Closing Down the Year entry 13) Hopes and dreams for 2007 Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
28 November 2006
Finding my new routine
Yesterday I started my new job. The commute is the same, and so are my hours. I do have to go an extra stop on the commuter rail to South Station (i.e. downtown Boston), so it's throwing off our train schedule a bit now-- we're on the earlier train.
So far, I'm enjoying it. I have a clear sense of what my little administrative department does, which is something I haven't had in six years. There's a well-organized system in place for work requests. It's thankfully been very slow this week, allowing the other two admins I work with to spend a lot of time showing me the programs I'm unfamiliar with, helping me get macros set up on my computer, and finding my way around. I've already completed two fairly large projects on my own, including one that was a "miracle worker" project this morning in Acrobat... so I'm feeling quite good. Tomorrow our group has a massive printing and binding project to do which will probably keep me at work after hours.
But I honestly am looking forward to it-- it's nice to feel like I'm part of a team again. I'd grown so isolated in my old position, and as independent as I am, I really do prefer to at least feel like I'm contributing to a team effort.
My dress code is thankfully virtually the same-- I can't wear jeans or sneakers, but that doesn't concern me at all. I'm just thrilled I don't need to rush out to buy an entirely new wardrobe. What I have will suffice until I get caught up on bills and such after the holidays.
I do have to admit that I miss most of the people I worked with already... but I think a lot of that is due to the familiarity. I traded email addresses with most of the people that I would love to keep in contact with, so I'm not too concerned. And I know I'll see them in about a week when they gather for the monthly social gathering after work.
Only three more days until Holidailies starts. I need to start coming up with writing ideas... anyone have suggestions?
Happy Tuesday...
So far, I'm enjoying it. I have a clear sense of what my little administrative department does, which is something I haven't had in six years. There's a well-organized system in place for work requests. It's thankfully been very slow this week, allowing the other two admins I work with to spend a lot of time showing me the programs I'm unfamiliar with, helping me get macros set up on my computer, and finding my way around. I've already completed two fairly large projects on my own, including one that was a "miracle worker" project this morning in Acrobat... so I'm feeling quite good. Tomorrow our group has a massive printing and binding project to do which will probably keep me at work after hours.
But I honestly am looking forward to it-- it's nice to feel like I'm part of a team again. I'd grown so isolated in my old position, and as independent as I am, I really do prefer to at least feel like I'm contributing to a team effort.
My dress code is thankfully virtually the same-- I can't wear jeans or sneakers, but that doesn't concern me at all. I'm just thrilled I don't need to rush out to buy an entirely new wardrobe. What I have will suffice until I get caught up on bills and such after the holidays.
I do have to admit that I miss most of the people I worked with already... but I think a lot of that is due to the familiarity. I traded email addresses with most of the people that I would love to keep in contact with, so I'm not too concerned. And I know I'll see them in about a week when they gather for the monthly social gathering after work.
Only three more days until Holidailies starts. I need to start coming up with writing ideas... anyone have suggestions?
Happy Tuesday...
23 November 2006
Success
The 20 pound turkey was a fantastic success... and oddly only took about 2.5 hours to cook (no... really. We're shocked too, but it's true). We've eaten, are now passed out around the living room, waiting to make room for the pie.
So safe and happy Thanksgiving to all. :)
And Happy Birthday to Ivanna, who reads my journal.. and to my cousin Marya, who doesn't.
So safe and happy Thanksgiving to all. :)
And Happy Birthday to Ivanna, who reads my journal.. and to my cousin Marya, who doesn't.
22 November 2006
Thursday Thirteen #11: Turkey Trimmings
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
I brine my turkey for Thanksgiving, and it tastes fabulous. When I'm preparing the brine, the entire kitchen smells of a wonderful blend of spices. So here is everything that's in the recipe.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
I brine my turkey for Thanksgiving, and it tastes fabulous. When I'm preparing the brine, the entire kitchen smells of a wonderful blend of spices. So here is everything that's in the recipe.
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1) Kosher salt 2) Light brown sugar 3) Vegetable stock 3) Black peppercorns 4) Allspice berries 5) Candied ginger 6) Water 7) Apple 8) Onion 9) Cinnamon stick 10) rosemary 11) Sage 12) Canola oil 13) One 20 lb turkey. :) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! Cheryl - Laughing Muse - MommyBa - Michelle - Wendy - Jen - Sanni - Moogie - Brony |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
20 November 2006
Last day
My personal stuff is removed from my office. It's definitely not bare-- the work of an administrative assistant requires that there's a ton of paper everywhere. But by five, I'll have the last remaining things on my desk tidied and labeled. It feels very, very weird to be leaving here. My emotions are a bit mixed today. I honestly consider that to be a good thing. I'll put of my thoughts to writing tomorrow during my downtime. I have a few topics to roll through in my head before I type them out. I may not finish them. I might not write them all down, depending on the tone they take. Some may be too trivial and fleeting to really consider noteworthy.
I'm happy that I'll have the next few days to decompress, regear myself, and enjoy the holidays. Erich and I bought our turkey yesterday (in case we had to buy frozen, since we didn't order one). We decided on a large turkey to ensure leftovers. Last year's 14 pound bird just didn't have enough for our liking. I think I maybe was able to scrape out one good batch of turkey salad from the leftovers. So this year we're going on overkill- a 22 lb turkey for four people.
Heh.
As of now, the group will be Erich, his dad, our friend Matt, and me. Quiet and cozy.
Tonight I'll be making my shopping list for the rest of the supplies needed, plus food for the weekend. We're going to the annual LAN party on Cape Cod, starting Friday night and running through Sunday. Lots of soda, snacks, and coffee are needed.
Other little mentionables...
I signed up to participate in Holidailies again this year. I'll be posting at least one entry per day from December 1-January 1. If there's anything specific you want me to write about (read: I need some ideas!!!), toss a comment my way so I can start scribbling. This includes odd memes, Thursday Thirteens, and any random topics.
I also was accepted into the Thursday Thirteen blogroller this past week-- for anyone stopping by... Hi there! :)
If I haven't already done so, I'll be dropping anyone who requested a card a little confirm email & to swap addresses where requested. If you're interested in one, go here. :)
Okay, I'll stop. Seven more hours... :)
I'm happy that I'll have the next few days to decompress, regear myself, and enjoy the holidays. Erich and I bought our turkey yesterday (in case we had to buy frozen, since we didn't order one). We decided on a large turkey to ensure leftovers. Last year's 14 pound bird just didn't have enough for our liking. I think I maybe was able to scrape out one good batch of turkey salad from the leftovers. So this year we're going on overkill- a 22 lb turkey for four people.
Heh.
As of now, the group will be Erich, his dad, our friend Matt, and me. Quiet and cozy.
Tonight I'll be making my shopping list for the rest of the supplies needed, plus food for the weekend. We're going to the annual LAN party on Cape Cod, starting Friday night and running through Sunday. Lots of soda, snacks, and coffee are needed.
Other little mentionables...
I signed up to participate in Holidailies again this year. I'll be posting at least one entry per day from December 1-January 1. If there's anything specific you want me to write about (read: I need some ideas!!!), toss a comment my way so I can start scribbling. This includes odd memes, Thursday Thirteens, and any random topics.
I also was accepted into the Thursday Thirteen blogroller this past week-- for anyone stopping by... Hi there! :)
If I haven't already done so, I'll be dropping anyone who requested a card a little confirm email & to swap addresses where requested. If you're interested in one, go here. :)
Okay, I'll stop. Seven more hours... :)
16 November 2006
Thursday Thirteen #10: Things to do before New Year's Eve.
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1) Reclaim my office. I really haven’t been up there much since May, originally due to the summer heat… and now just because it’s a disaster area. 2) Redo all of my character sheets for all of the various Dungeons & Dragons style games we play. We had a roof leak in the sunroom last month, and my binder of character sheets was directly under the water flow. 3) Wash, iron, and fold (or hang up) all of the laundry that’s piling up. 4) Get caught up on my credit card bills. 5) Write out and mail all of my Christmas cards. 6) Order my Save the Date cards for the wedding (that won’t be mailed until January, but I want to make sure they’re ordered and enroute). 7) Go through my closet and do some serious clothes weeding. 8) Purchase new clothes appropriate to the new job scene. 9) Rake up all of the leaves and prepare my flower pots for winter. 10) Cook a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner. 11) Cook a fabulous Christmas dinner. 12) Take all of the cats to the vet for their annual checkups. 13) Visit Newport and take the holiday mansion tour. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
14 November 2006
What a difference a week makes
The reality that a week from today, I'll be done working at my present position started to seriously hit me today. I was oddly shocked by the sadness that hit me, despite all of my frustration for the past... oh, eighteen months or so.
I'm just going to miss a lot of the people I work with. For six years, I've been at the low-end of the totem pole as far as title goes. But as a single administrative assistant for almost fifty people, I still felt like a lot of things circulated around me and that I was important in the grand scheme of things - even if I felt that my managers didn't agree with that idea.
There are over a dozen people within my department that have been working with me the entire six years. They've shared in my life as things have changed in incredible ways.
Since starting my job, those people have watched me as the following things have happened:
- Worked through the death throes of a nasty relationship
- Lived in three places (The Beast, Randolph, and Providence)
- Met Erich (nearly a year after starting this job)
- Acquired four cats
- Turned 30
- Lost my grandmother
- Had the huge falling out with my father (still unrepaired)
- Participated in NaNoWriMo four times, winning twice
- Got engaged
- Bought a house
- Acquired my first car
And probably other things that I can't recall off the top of my head.
My mother's constant "Melissa hates change..." addage from my childhood is laughing at me. I don't agree with the sentiment that I hate change. I actually do enjoy change. I'm excited to start my new job. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
But what does throw me off is a sense of instability. Mom and I have discussed this at length, and I do agree with her that part of it comes from being - and knowing at an early age - that I was an adopted child. It's not a fear of change so much as an underlying need for stability.
Yet at the same time, I feel really good. The past week is the first in a long time that I can remember waking up without the sharp pains in my shoulders due to stress. My shoulders are still somewhat tense-- they always have been because I'm generally just a walking stressball. But they don't hurt. For the past year, my shoulders always hurt. I often had to physically try to force my shoulders down from a hunkering position that they tended to rootch into throughout the day - to the point that when I would lie down to sleep, they'd literally be scrunched up by my ears.
I feel like myself again-- I can laugh and joke around. I'm smiling a bit more at work.
I wonder what a week off between jobs will do for me...
I'm just going to miss a lot of the people I work with. For six years, I've been at the low-end of the totem pole as far as title goes. But as a single administrative assistant for almost fifty people, I still felt like a lot of things circulated around me and that I was important in the grand scheme of things - even if I felt that my managers didn't agree with that idea.
There are over a dozen people within my department that have been working with me the entire six years. They've shared in my life as things have changed in incredible ways.
Since starting my job, those people have watched me as the following things have happened:
- Worked through the death throes of a nasty relationship
- Lived in three places (The Beast, Randolph, and Providence)
- Met Erich (nearly a year after starting this job)
- Acquired four cats
- Turned 30
- Lost my grandmother
- Had the huge falling out with my father (still unrepaired)
- Participated in NaNoWriMo four times, winning twice
- Got engaged
- Bought a house
- Acquired my first car
And probably other things that I can't recall off the top of my head.
My mother's constant "Melissa hates change..." addage from my childhood is laughing at me. I don't agree with the sentiment that I hate change. I actually do enjoy change. I'm excited to start my new job. I'm looking forward to the challenge.
But what does throw me off is a sense of instability. Mom and I have discussed this at length, and I do agree with her that part of it comes from being - and knowing at an early age - that I was an adopted child. It's not a fear of change so much as an underlying need for stability.
Yet at the same time, I feel really good. The past week is the first in a long time that I can remember waking up without the sharp pains in my shoulders due to stress. My shoulders are still somewhat tense-- they always have been because I'm generally just a walking stressball. But they don't hurt. For the past year, my shoulders always hurt. I often had to physically try to force my shoulders down from a hunkering position that they tended to rootch into throughout the day - to the point that when I would lie down to sleep, they'd literally be scrunched up by my ears.
I feel like myself again-- I can laugh and joke around. I'm smiling a bit more at work.
I wonder what a week off between jobs will do for me...
Holiday Cards!
It's that time of year again... :)
Next week, I'll start writing out the cards. And this year, I have a bunch of address labels to use up, since by this time next year, I'll have a new last name! (eep) If you want a little holly jolly in the mailbox, please do the following for me...
Please email me at measiwitch@gmail.com, with a subject line of CARDS!!!) and send me the following:
1) Your name & full mailing address
2) Your email (if you want my address in return)
3) Your webpage, blog, etc.- to make sure I have you on my list
4) The holiday you personally celebrate (if any), because I do personalize cards. :)
Or, head over to my LiveJournal (if you have a LJ account) and add the info into my screened comments.
Next week, I'll start writing out the cards. And this year, I have a bunch of address labels to use up, since by this time next year, I'll have a new last name! (eep) If you want a little holly jolly in the mailbox, please do the following for me...
Please email me at measiwitch@gmail.com, with a subject line of CARDS!!!) and send me the following:
1) Your name & full mailing address
2) Your email (if you want my address in return)
3) Your webpage, blog, etc.- to make sure I have you on my list
4) The holiday you personally celebrate (if any), because I do personalize cards. :)
Or, head over to my LiveJournal (if you have a LJ account) and add the info into my screened comments.
10 November 2006
Post-election thoughts
It's been a while since I wrote a political entry. I generally try to avoid politics now, having grown increasingly weary of the pointless partisan mudslinging that has dominated the airwaves since September 11th. In light of the Tuesday election, however, I feel a need to voice why I'm hopeful that America can now make progress, and also voice my concerns about continuing with the abhorred status quo.
I have voted in every election since I reached the legal age to do so. I attempt to make an effort to educate myself on candidates and vote accordingly. I accept that my beliefs and convictions should be under constant self challenge. Am I right to believe in XYZ? Where am I being pigheaded? Where can I learn from the other side of the political spectrum? Such challenges have resulted in my never voting entirely to a single party ticket. I don't ever expect to do so, and quite honestly hope that in years to come, my vote becomes split as evenly as possible. I want to evaluate each race individually. While my personal political leanings re generally liberal, I try as much as possible to keep moderation the forefront of my viewpoint on politics. Party loyalty is nothing. Personal ethics and honesty are everything. I am just as apt to vote against a Democratic party candidate as I am to vote against a Republican candidate. Incumbents need to demonstrate why they should keep their positions. Give me a reason to vote for you, not just vote for the lesser of two evils.
For the Democratic party, this is not a time to gloat, to foolishly declare they have a mandate, or to start demonizing the "other side" as being anti-American. Over the past six years, our government has done just that, and exactly what has it produced? A fracture of America where the two sides have traded an ever growing onslaught of loaded barbs, never bothering to stop and look around to see what is happening to our great nation.
The vote on Tuesday was not a party vote. It was America finally screaming "enough." Both sides fo the aisle need to put aside the bickering and get back to work, finding common ground or at least a ground that is a compromise for both sides. We have serious national issues that require discussion and debate, followed by action: the exploding, crippling cost of healthcare, the failures (and needed revisements) of No Child Left Behind, the lack of a minimum wage that accurately reflects the cost of living, the horrendous Eminent Domain ruling... just to name a few. In addition, our foreign policy needs drastic repair- Iraq is the forefront issue, but we have to find a way to repair our relationships with other nations and start proving that America is a great nation, not just a large bully.
Correction and repair takes longer than destruction. It's unrealistic to think that everything will be fixed within two years. But in two years, America needs the government to truly start working together and making corrections. The system of checks and balances must be restored. Progress must be made. Otherwise, as American voters, we will vote the incumbents out again and send the message again- start working, or you will lose your position. And that goes for Democrats as well as Republicans.
I have voted in every election since I reached the legal age to do so. I attempt to make an effort to educate myself on candidates and vote accordingly. I accept that my beliefs and convictions should be under constant self challenge. Am I right to believe in XYZ? Where am I being pigheaded? Where can I learn from the other side of the political spectrum? Such challenges have resulted in my never voting entirely to a single party ticket. I don't ever expect to do so, and quite honestly hope that in years to come, my vote becomes split as evenly as possible. I want to evaluate each race individually. While my personal political leanings re generally liberal, I try as much as possible to keep moderation the forefront of my viewpoint on politics. Party loyalty is nothing. Personal ethics and honesty are everything. I am just as apt to vote against a Democratic party candidate as I am to vote against a Republican candidate. Incumbents need to demonstrate why they should keep their positions. Give me a reason to vote for you, not just vote for the lesser of two evils.
For the Democratic party, this is not a time to gloat, to foolishly declare they have a mandate, or to start demonizing the "other side" as being anti-American. Over the past six years, our government has done just that, and exactly what has it produced? A fracture of America where the two sides have traded an ever growing onslaught of loaded barbs, never bothering to stop and look around to see what is happening to our great nation.
The vote on Tuesday was not a party vote. It was America finally screaming "enough." Both sides fo the aisle need to put aside the bickering and get back to work, finding common ground or at least a ground that is a compromise for both sides. We have serious national issues that require discussion and debate, followed by action: the exploding, crippling cost of healthcare, the failures (and needed revisements) of No Child Left Behind, the lack of a minimum wage that accurately reflects the cost of living, the horrendous Eminent Domain ruling... just to name a few. In addition, our foreign policy needs drastic repair- Iraq is the forefront issue, but we have to find a way to repair our relationships with other nations and start proving that America is a great nation, not just a large bully.
Correction and repair takes longer than destruction. It's unrealistic to think that everything will be fixed within two years. But in two years, America needs the government to truly start working together and making corrections. The system of checks and balances must be restored. Progress must be made. Otherwise, as American voters, we will vote the incumbents out again and send the message again- start working, or you will lose your position. And that goes for Democrats as well as Republicans.
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