I've been meaning to do this for a while, but my webhost's new server switch finally made it a forced reality for me: the move off of Blogger to WordPress.
I've been frustrated with Blogger's capabilities for a while, so this is a good move. Not planning on deleting this anytime soon - but I've merged all of these Blogger entries - and the comments - to the new space back on my own site.
I hope you'll follow me over there. Everything going forward will be at http://www.measi.net/measiblog/.
Best,
Mel.
20 July 2009
12 June 2009
Warcraft thoughts...
So... my guild's a bit slower than some to get into raiding. We had a bit of drama happen a few months ago, the quick-to-80 people left, and it put the 10-man stuff on hold for us.
BUT... we got there. And about... six weeks ago(?) we started with Obidian Sanctum. Took us a few tries, but we got through it. And then a month ago, we began our way through Naxxramas.
We are absolutely rocking through it. To the point that with the exception of Heigan (and that effing dance), we're managing to get every new boss down within a couple tries. We have spider on farm already, plague quarter may officially be on farm as of next week, based on how quickly we do it (but we cleared both spider and plague in 90 minutes last night... so... I think we're there).
Second attempt on Patchwerk, we down him - and we were only 20 seconds over the 3-minute achievement on our first downing of him.
Absolutely psyched on how we're moving. The guild is awesome now. We work together as a team. We joke throughout the raid both in the chat screen and over vent. It's just fun, laid-back gaming where everyone knows his/her part, no one's greedy. I mean hell, we don't even use any sort of a point system for items. We just do straight d100 rolls for loot on the bosses. Half the stuff we wind up sharding at this point unless someone new is coming with us. Exactly what I envisioned for playing. I look forward to it.
And now that more people in our guild are getting to 80, we may actually be able to consider doing 25 mans soon.
I love my guild. I really do.
BUT... we got there. And about... six weeks ago(?) we started with Obidian Sanctum. Took us a few tries, but we got through it. And then a month ago, we began our way through Naxxramas.
We are absolutely rocking through it. To the point that with the exception of Heigan (and that effing dance), we're managing to get every new boss down within a couple tries. We have spider on farm already, plague quarter may officially be on farm as of next week, based on how quickly we do it (but we cleared both spider and plague in 90 minutes last night... so... I think we're there).
Second attempt on Patchwerk, we down him - and we were only 20 seconds over the 3-minute achievement on our first downing of him.
Absolutely psyched on how we're moving. The guild is awesome now. We work together as a team. We joke throughout the raid both in the chat screen and over vent. It's just fun, laid-back gaming where everyone knows his/her part, no one's greedy. I mean hell, we don't even use any sort of a point system for items. We just do straight d100 rolls for loot on the bosses. Half the stuff we wind up sharding at this point unless someone new is coming with us. Exactly what I envisioned for playing. I look forward to it.
And now that more people in our guild are getting to 80, we may actually be able to consider doing 25 mans soon.
I love my guild. I really do.
30 May 2009
Baby birds in the nest
Before I do my photo meme post, I jus thave to share this one... Erich found a birds next in our Pyracantha bush yesterday, nestled in a well-hidden patch underneath the thorns. It's only a couple steps off the driveway, growing next to the house.
We thought there were only a couple birds, but now that I see this photo, there are at least four in there. :) They're getting big, too!
We don't know exactly what they are, but it's probably a finch or a sparrow. We have quite a few of both around here (along with cardinals and blue jays, which these are definitely NOT).
We thought there were only a couple birds, but now that I see this photo, there are at least four in there. :) They're getting big, too!
We don't know exactly what they are, but it's probably a finch or a sparrow. We have quite a few of both around here (along with cardinals and blue jays, which these are definitely NOT).
26 May 2009
My first new car
I bought a TARDIS (aka a Honda Fit... or a Jazz if you're in certain countries. It's a light blue one - it came in the actual TARDIS blue, but none were in stock and I honestly loved this color equally, so I'm very happy. Manual transmission (my preferred, honestly), ability to use my iPod, leather shifter, and it's far bigger on the inside than you'd think.
I've already tripled its mileage - not hard when it had a whopping 20 as I drove it off the lot. Already plated with the ones I used on the Jeep and insured. The dealership's doing the registration for me.
But yes - this is my first purchased car... ever, and I'm very excited. *bouncing*
I've already tripled its mileage - not hard when it had a whopping 20 as I drove it off the lot. Already plated with the ones I used on the Jeep and insured. The dealership's doing the registration for me.
But yes - this is my first purchased car... ever, and I'm very excited. *bouncing*
19 May 2009
Green thumb!
The first stage of planting is now in the ground - my herb garden is built (as you can see in the photo), and my veggies are now in their earthboxes.
This year's herbs include: thyme, sage, 4 types of basil, cilantro, dill, mint, lavender, garlic chives, and lemon balm (aka "melissa"). Vegetables include 3 types of tomato (beefsteak, roma, and chocolate cherry), green bell peppers, jalepenos, and cucumbers.
Photos of them and other stuff in my yard, including the daylilies of doom, are up on Flickr, too.
Sometime early next week I plan on getting flowers for pots around the yard - color is good! :) No idea what I'm planting yet - I'll just see what looks good and interesting at the nursery.
I've also added some photos to the Boston and Rhode Island sections, and finally got the photos from our trip to Chicago up. I haven't really gone through to delete bad ones yet... so there are quite a few crappy ones, I'm sure.
This year's herbs include: thyme, sage, 4 types of basil, cilantro, dill, mint, lavender, garlic chives, and lemon balm (aka "melissa"). Vegetables include 3 types of tomato (beefsteak, roma, and chocolate cherry), green bell peppers, jalepenos, and cucumbers.
Photos of them and other stuff in my yard, including the daylilies of doom, are up on Flickr, too.
Sometime early next week I plan on getting flowers for pots around the yard - color is good! :) No idea what I'm planting yet - I'll just see what looks good and interesting at the nursery.
I've also added some photos to the Boston and Rhode Island sections, and finally got the photos from our trip to Chicago up. I haven't really gone through to delete bad ones yet... so there are quite a few crappy ones, I'm sure.
15 May 2009
Stuffages
I'd say not much has happened recently, but it has been a busy couple weeks. Just a blur of a couple weeks.
The bad stuff:
- Mom was laid off last Friday. It wasn't completely unexpected, though. She works in real estate, and the company had been stripping off personnel all year. I left a message for her to commiserate, but she headed off immediately for a vacation week at the beach. So I haven't talked to her yet. I'm gathering that the beach week means she's okay, though.
- Been sick for the better part of a week with some annoying low-grade thing that just will not leave me alone. I had a couple days in it that were very miserable with multiple trips to the bathroom for a couple different issues (ahem). Feeling a bit better, but I'm still obnoxiously tired all the time. Just drained.
- Work's been stressful due to the people I work with. Nothing new, but it hasn't helped matters.
The good stuff:
- Been doing my writing for Support Stacie. I'm about 1/2 done with wiggiemomsi's fic (hooray!), and then will start on the shorter after-pieces to thank other high bidders. Wiggie's should be done by mid-next week, then off to beta. The others I'll do on my week off at the end of the month.
- I HAVE A WEEK OFF AT THE END OF THE MONTH. Yay! First vacation week since the UK last fall. I need it so badly.
- Went last weekend to the University of Rhode Island for their spring farm fair. The masters students in life sciences grow plants in the college greenhouses over the winter, then sell them as a fundraiser. I got three different tomatoes (already large enough that they're staked), a jalapeno pepper plant, mixed basil, parsley, garlic chives, and 2 lavender seedlings. We're going to build a raised bed this weekend to plant everything. :)
- Mom's offered to come up when I take time off to help decorate the house - badly needed, since we haven't done a thing since moving in. I cannot wait to get rid of our loud, 1970's era wallpaper. She has ideas for the kitchen, and I will happily go along with them since I have no decorating sense whatsoever.
- My clothes are too big, and I need to buy new ones not only because mine are worn - but because THEY ARE TOO BIG ON ME. Woots!
- We're selling the Jeep to a guy who wants to fix it up as a second car project. Only getting $600 for it, but due to the amount of work needed, we're cool with it. And it's more than we'd get for a donation. It's not trade-in worthy, since it doesn't run.
- Soon, hopefully, I will have a new car. We've decided, barring issues with a test drive, on a Honda Fit, quite possibly in "Blue Sensation Pearl" which is so TARDIS looking, it's hysterical. And this car is definitely "bigger on the inside" than it appears. Heh.
The bad stuff:
- Mom was laid off last Friday. It wasn't completely unexpected, though. She works in real estate, and the company had been stripping off personnel all year. I left a message for her to commiserate, but she headed off immediately for a vacation week at the beach. So I haven't talked to her yet. I'm gathering that the beach week means she's okay, though.
- Been sick for the better part of a week with some annoying low-grade thing that just will not leave me alone. I had a couple days in it that were very miserable with multiple trips to the bathroom for a couple different issues (ahem). Feeling a bit better, but I'm still obnoxiously tired all the time. Just drained.
- Work's been stressful due to the people I work with. Nothing new, but it hasn't helped matters.
The good stuff:
- Been doing my writing for Support Stacie. I'm about 1/2 done with wiggiemomsi's fic (hooray!), and then will start on the shorter after-pieces to thank other high bidders. Wiggie's should be done by mid-next week, then off to beta. The others I'll do on my week off at the end of the month.
- I HAVE A WEEK OFF AT THE END OF THE MONTH. Yay! First vacation week since the UK last fall. I need it so badly.
- Went last weekend to the University of Rhode Island for their spring farm fair. The masters students in life sciences grow plants in the college greenhouses over the winter, then sell them as a fundraiser. I got three different tomatoes (already large enough that they're staked), a jalapeno pepper plant, mixed basil, parsley, garlic chives, and 2 lavender seedlings. We're going to build a raised bed this weekend to plant everything. :)
- Mom's offered to come up when I take time off to help decorate the house - badly needed, since we haven't done a thing since moving in. I cannot wait to get rid of our loud, 1970's era wallpaper. She has ideas for the kitchen, and I will happily go along with them since I have no decorating sense whatsoever.
- My clothes are too big, and I need to buy new ones not only because mine are worn - but because THEY ARE TOO BIG ON ME. Woots!
- We're selling the Jeep to a guy who wants to fix it up as a second car project. Only getting $600 for it, but due to the amount of work needed, we're cool with it. And it's more than we'd get for a donation. It's not trade-in worthy, since it doesn't run.
- Soon, hopefully, I will have a new car. We've decided, barring issues with a test drive, on a Honda Fit, quite possibly in "Blue Sensation Pearl" which is so TARDIS looking, it's hysterical. And this car is definitely "bigger on the inside" than it appears. Heh.
22 April 2009
Admin. Day flowers
I'm normally not a pink person... but these are quite lovely. :)
Sometimes, there are small perks for being a secretary, regardless of the PC title we're given these days.
Sometimes, there are small perks for being a secretary, regardless of the PC title we're given these days.
28 March 2009
(sigh) Measi(dot)Net problems
If you read Minare's blog, please don't panic. She didn't delete it - but somehow everything in measi(dot)net disappeared when I was adjusting a blog setting for myself from Blogger to WordPress to experiment with it.
Experimentation did not go as planned. *forehead smack*
Fortunately, since she uses Blogger, she'll be able to republish and all of her entries will come back into being.
In the meantime, I apologize for broken links. Things will get back to normal ASAP.
Regards,
Melissa
Experimentation did not go as planned. *forehead smack*
Fortunately, since she uses Blogger, she'll be able to republish and all of her entries will come back into being.
In the meantime, I apologize for broken links. Things will get back to normal ASAP.
Regards,
Melissa
27 March 2009
I read the entire Republican budget proposal... and so can you!
First, read this: http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/ezraklein_archive?month=03&year=2009&base_name=my_favorite_budget_ever
Then read the proposal: http://www.gop.gov/solutions/budget/road-to-recovery-final
(I promise... it won't take long).
Then go to Fark for charts that are FAR more helpful: http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4291765
My contribution to the cause is here: http://www.measi.net/images/nat1.PNG
Then read the proposal: http://www.gop.gov/solutions/budget/road-to-recovery-final
(I promise... it won't take long).
Then go to Fark for charts that are FAR more helpful: http://www.fark.com/cgi/comments.pl?IDLink=4291765
My contribution to the cause is here: http://www.measi.net/images/nat1.PNG
26 March 2009
Death of the American Dream...
News from my mom last night is digging deep into me - it's a state of shock that I thankfully don't have to experience often. And I'm not quite sure how to respond to it, outside of mourning.
My grandpop's metal plating shop is closing in a couple months. They subcontract virtually all of their business to a very well-known company. Said company, due to the economy, is scaling back production drastically. That leaves my grandpop's shop with no work and, again... thanks to the economy... no prospects. Another footnote of small business disappearing under the weight of this economy, another dozen blue collar jobs lost.
The Shop is the foundation of my family's American Dream. My grandfather's life has been the American Dream. He came here with nothing but the clothes on his back, with a wife and two small kids in 1950, speaking no English and having very little formal education, sponsored to come here by a local church. Soon after arriving in the States, he started working at the Shop as a laborer. Conditions were nasty up until only perhaps the last ten years, cramped and viciously hot due to the processes. He (and my grandmother) worked very hard. All three of their kids graduated from college. My grandpop's dream was to own a Cadillac someday. He's achieved that threefold.
At some point, he bought the Shop. He's owned it as long as I can remember. My uncle took over day-to-day operations at some point, but even in his mid 80s, my grandpop still goes to work every day, full-time.
It is the classic American dream - the family that came from nothing, worked their asses off, and were able to achieve a comfortable life, with family and close friends around them.
The Shop closing is a death knell to that American Dream to me. It was my tangible grasp to the ideal... one that many have said has died and gone away. I shook my head, knowing that I had a perfect example of it in my family.
And now that's gone.
The biggest thing, though, is my fear about my grandpop. He's worked at the Shop for roughly sixty years. What is he going to do? The Shop has been his life. Every day, without fail, he goes to work. Since my grandma died, I think it's been the routine he needed to keep going. Whether unfounded or not, I'm terrified about what will happen to him once the Shop closes. I've read stories, and known people, who just seem to whither off when they stop working. My grandpop's one of those people, I think. I'm worried about what he'll do with himself. He'll go stir crazy if he's stuck at home.
In two months, the doors of "the Shop" close forever. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that it'll will be gone.
And I think my brain is bracing me for further bad news.
My grandpop's metal plating shop is closing in a couple months. They subcontract virtually all of their business to a very well-known company. Said company, due to the economy, is scaling back production drastically. That leaves my grandpop's shop with no work and, again... thanks to the economy... no prospects. Another footnote of small business disappearing under the weight of this economy, another dozen blue collar jobs lost.
The Shop is the foundation of my family's American Dream. My grandfather's life has been the American Dream. He came here with nothing but the clothes on his back, with a wife and two small kids in 1950, speaking no English and having very little formal education, sponsored to come here by a local church. Soon after arriving in the States, he started working at the Shop as a laborer. Conditions were nasty up until only perhaps the last ten years, cramped and viciously hot due to the processes. He (and my grandmother) worked very hard. All three of their kids graduated from college. My grandpop's dream was to own a Cadillac someday. He's achieved that threefold.
At some point, he bought the Shop. He's owned it as long as I can remember. My uncle took over day-to-day operations at some point, but even in his mid 80s, my grandpop still goes to work every day, full-time.
It is the classic American dream - the family that came from nothing, worked their asses off, and were able to achieve a comfortable life, with family and close friends around them.
The Shop closing is a death knell to that American Dream to me. It was my tangible grasp to the ideal... one that many have said has died and gone away. I shook my head, knowing that I had a perfect example of it in my family.
And now that's gone.
The biggest thing, though, is my fear about my grandpop. He's worked at the Shop for roughly sixty years. What is he going to do? The Shop has been his life. Every day, without fail, he goes to work. Since my grandma died, I think it's been the routine he needed to keep going. Whether unfounded or not, I'm terrified about what will happen to him once the Shop closes. I've read stories, and known people, who just seem to whither off when they stop working. My grandpop's one of those people, I think. I'm worried about what he'll do with himself. He'll go stir crazy if he's stuck at home.
In two months, the doors of "the Shop" close forever. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that it'll will be gone.
And I think my brain is bracing me for further bad news.
24 March 2009
Randoms
Dragons that need clicks. :) (I guess the Dragon Cave is somewhat back up... I dunno)
Erich and I saw our best man's production of The Sound of Music at one of the local all-girl Catholic academies this weekend. He directs both plays per year at the school, with his mother as the long-time musical director & a brother helping with backstage work. Very, very good, especially for a high school performance. Two girls in particular, twin sisters, have the most amazing voices. Something genetic runs in that family!
Sunday was a lazy day. I made corned beef & cabbage. It takes too long to cook on a weeknight with my commute schedule (really don't want to eat at 11 pm). It was delicious as always, and worth the time needed to cook it. My recipe includes beer & a bunch of spices in the boil pot, so it definitely doesn't come out with the "bland" flavor that a lot of people associate with boiled food. We have a bunch leftover, so I think tonight's going to be a leftovers night. :)
It's one of those dinners I should make more often, but we only cook it for St. Patrick's Day. I suppose it's mostly because it's something I really can only make on the weekend. It takes about 4 hours, all told. It's kind of like turkey - I love making it, but just don't that often due to the time involved. But really, neither are THAT complicated. Most of the time the food's just cooking on its own. *shrug*
I signed up for Netflix finally... I know I'm a bit behind the times on it, but it's honestly been more due to the fact that I just didn't have the time to watch a lot of DVDs until recently. Now that things are slowing down, and the weather's better so I can safely transport the laptop on the train again... it made sense.
I'm starting out with the John Adams miniseries on HBO last year. (And no, there's no spoilers here - unless you don't know how the American Revolution turned out). I'm three eps in, and it's very, very good. The actors are phenominal, and the scenery is gorgeous. I like that while it's definitely from the American perspective (and New England perspective in particular), some of the ugliness of the American side is being shown, too. AND... it shows the Founding Fathers in more realistic ways than we normally get in our glorified history classes here in the States. I'm appreciating that these men have flaws and limitations to what they achieve, the fighting between them, and how the "some things never change" bumbling when they see the European heads of state, who look down their noses at the silly new worlders as children... makes sense.
It's also surreal to see Boston's portrayal. Seeing places that I see all the time - the old State house, the wharves, etc... and then the places that don't exist anymore, particularly the hills. I realize I live in one of the hotbeds of early American history, but I'm finding that I'm starting to take it all for granted. It's wonderful to see it refreshed again.
Colley's going to the vet tomorrow for another round of dental cleaning & tooth extraction. *sigh* Poor cat. He's going to be gummy within a few years at this rate. Granted, he is getting older (he's 10), but man, he has poor teeth genetically. He'd lost a good deal on his own before he was 5. We had to have a couple more pulled 2 years ago (including one of his front fangs.. so now he's a snaggletooth). Poor guy.
Thank goodness for tax refunds, eh? Kitty dental work doesn't come cheap.
Erich and I saw our best man's production of The Sound of Music at one of the local all-girl Catholic academies this weekend. He directs both plays per year at the school, with his mother as the long-time musical director & a brother helping with backstage work. Very, very good, especially for a high school performance. Two girls in particular, twin sisters, have the most amazing voices. Something genetic runs in that family!
Sunday was a lazy day. I made corned beef & cabbage. It takes too long to cook on a weeknight with my commute schedule (really don't want to eat at 11 pm). It was delicious as always, and worth the time needed to cook it. My recipe includes beer & a bunch of spices in the boil pot, so it definitely doesn't come out with the "bland" flavor that a lot of people associate with boiled food. We have a bunch leftover, so I think tonight's going to be a leftovers night. :)
It's one of those dinners I should make more often, but we only cook it for St. Patrick's Day. I suppose it's mostly because it's something I really can only make on the weekend. It takes about 4 hours, all told. It's kind of like turkey - I love making it, but just don't that often due to the time involved. But really, neither are THAT complicated. Most of the time the food's just cooking on its own. *shrug*
I signed up for Netflix finally... I know I'm a bit behind the times on it, but it's honestly been more due to the fact that I just didn't have the time to watch a lot of DVDs until recently. Now that things are slowing down, and the weather's better so I can safely transport the laptop on the train again... it made sense.
I'm starting out with the John Adams miniseries on HBO last year. (And no, there's no spoilers here - unless you don't know how the American Revolution turned out). I'm three eps in, and it's very, very good. The actors are phenominal, and the scenery is gorgeous. I like that while it's definitely from the American perspective (and New England perspective in particular), some of the ugliness of the American side is being shown, too. AND... it shows the Founding Fathers in more realistic ways than we normally get in our glorified history classes here in the States. I'm appreciating that these men have flaws and limitations to what they achieve, the fighting between them, and how the "some things never change" bumbling when they see the European heads of state, who look down their noses at the silly new worlders as children... makes sense.
It's also surreal to see Boston's portrayal. Seeing places that I see all the time - the old State house, the wharves, etc... and then the places that don't exist anymore, particularly the hills. I realize I live in one of the hotbeds of early American history, but I'm finding that I'm starting to take it all for granted. It's wonderful to see it refreshed again.
Colley's going to the vet tomorrow for another round of dental cleaning & tooth extraction. *sigh* Poor cat. He's going to be gummy within a few years at this rate. Granted, he is getting older (he's 10), but man, he has poor teeth genetically. He'd lost a good deal on his own before he was 5. We had to have a couple more pulled 2 years ago (including one of his front fangs.. so now he's a snaggletooth). Poor guy.
Thank goodness for tax refunds, eh? Kitty dental work doesn't come cheap.
20 March 2009
The official plug for Support Stacie
I will be writing again for the Support Stacie Auction, being held April 3-6, 2009. (link above). I've pledged for one 5,000 word fic (bids will start at $10) in one of the three fandoms: Doctor Who, Torchwood, or X-Files. Prompts, rating, pairings, etc. are up to the winning bidder's choice. The only restrictions I've asked for are no requests for babyfic, wedding fic, or songfic, and if asking for a Doctor Who fic, please limit scope to sometime in the New Series, as my Classic Who isn't yet up to snuff for writing.
AND...
AND... ;)
my special offer for the auction is that if bids go above $100 for my fic, anyone bidding $100 or over will also get a fic of at least 1,000 words according to their requests as well, to be finished after the winning bidder's fic. (And knowing me... any of that fic is going to go at least 3,000 words, honestly).
So bid! Not just on me, though - bid on everyone! :)
Blessed Ostara
Shocking, I know - I haven't posted here in eons. I'll be honest - it's mostly due to my webhosting having new password requirements, and I keep having publishing problems. *sigh* I've been debating switching the whole thing over to WordPress, so it's all internal on my site.
We'll see how crazy the year is - maybe I'll entertain myself and geek out with some reformatting. The site definitely needs it.
So let's see... quick bullet status updates for me...
- Erich and I are well. Married life continues to be good
- Still employed, as is Erich. Matt is still searching
- I've lost some weight. (Hooray!)
- Focusing on redecorating my house this year
- We're going to see Billy Joel & Elton John in concert this summer
- Finished some fanfic (finally!)
- I've joined a charity auction to be held in two weeks: Support Stacie
One of my quiet goals for Ostara was to start writing here more often. Proper journal entries like I have in the past, meandering if I need to. I'm feeling the need to do some reflection writing again. So hopefully I'll be able to stick to it.
But for now... back to work. :)
We'll see how crazy the year is - maybe I'll entertain myself and geek out with some reformatting. The site definitely needs it.
So let's see... quick bullet status updates for me...
- Erich and I are well. Married life continues to be good
- Still employed, as is Erich. Matt is still searching
- I've lost some weight. (Hooray!)
- Focusing on redecorating my house this year
- We're going to see Billy Joel & Elton John in concert this summer
- Finished some fanfic (finally!)
- I've joined a charity auction to be held in two weeks: Support Stacie
One of my quiet goals for Ostara was to start writing here more often. Proper journal entries like I have in the past, meandering if I need to. I'm feeling the need to do some reflection writing again. So hopefully I'll be able to stick to it.
But for now... back to work. :)
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