August 2007

I’m never quite sure how to handle this sort of situation.

I’m in a store, or perhaps preparing to leave the store, when I am somehow roadblocked by a very, very slow moving person (usually someone elderly who’s shuffling along carefully). Since there’s nowhere else to go, and no alternative path, I have no choice but to follow behind them or maybe climb over them – and I have very short legs that don’t make climbing over someone very easy.

As they shuffle their way to the exit, I try to give them space (rather than breathing down their neck and seeming impatient) and I try to walk at the same pace that they are (which means I’m sort of shuffling too, but trying to look casual so as not to pressure them to move faster) and I try very hard to make it all look casual lest the person I’m following feel self-conscious.

Is this the right thing to do?

Half the time I think it is – I’m not in any rush and I’m not giving off an air of “hurry up!” and I’m keeping my distance – but sometimes I feel like my slow movement is making things worse because, let’s be realistic, there’s no way anyone would look and think that I normally walk at that speed. In cases where I can stand off to the side, without blocking other people, I’ll often choose that option.

My goal is to leave the store and not pressure the other person to move faster than they comfortably can/should. I cannot stand the idea of someone moving beyond their comfort level in order to not inconvenience me (or anyone else).

This is, I suspect, just another example of over-thinking on my part.

Because, when it’s time to open a new gigantic can of coffee (why, yes, we do drink the store brand!), he finds me wherever I am and lets me sniff the off-gassing that occurs when he first opens it.

And then holds the can under my nose whilst I sniff like a coke-fiend and say “Mmmmmm” over and over and over.

And then? He MAKES the coffee for me to drink.

testing pda blogging!!

For the past few days I’ve been feeling.. unwell. My stomach has been acting up and leaving me reluctant to venture very far from home lest I.. umm.. how do I put this delicately? Oh, right, LEST I SHIT MYSELF.

Dainty, I am not.

But sticking around the house and feeling miserable has given me some time to play with my new PDA. I ended up buying the Palm T|X which had all the features I wanted (wifi, bluetooth, happy colours, size/weight, etc) and none of the useless features that I’ll never use (like a built-in camera). I managed to find a bundle pack that included the wireless keyboard too. The price hurt – because I am CHEAP – but I got it for less than the MSRP so I can’t really complain.

I explored the various links you guys gave me for sync’ing a PDA with Google Calender and have fallen mostly in love with Goosync which works REALLY WELL – wirelessly, quickly and easily. For the moment I’m giving the free version a try, of course, but if it works well I may switch to the paid version to reap all the benefits of synching a full year’s worth of dates. COOL. And a HUGE thank you for everyone’s opinion, too.

The other accessory that I ordered (this morning) is an InvisibleShield to protect the surface. If it works as well as it says it does – and all the reviews elsewhere have been very positive – I’ll be a very happy girl. And I may have to order one for mutherfucker, my iPod. Stay tuned for more info on that when it arrives and I’ve tested it.

I am desperately trying to find a case for the T|X that I actually like AND can afford. I am not interested in fancy leather – not at all – and I dont like the bulky cases I keep finding. I’d prefer something in the book-style and I’d prefer cloth of some sort. This is the closest I’ve come to my ideal but I don’t really like the colour. GAH. I shall keep looking for something secure, light, pretty.. y’know, something that does not actually exist.

The GPS system that I ended up choosing is the TomTom One (and oh, that site is SLOW). I bought a refurb because it had the same warranty and I am, as noted, CHEAP. Since I’m still feeling crappy today I’m planning to experiment with the unit and perhaps get it all set up. I’m quite looking forward to having Kitt (from Knight Rider) give me driving directions. Maybe.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, my belly is making a really unpleasant sound and I must go find some Tums to temporarily appease it.

(Swiped from Jo, of course!)

YES OR NO
Only two rules– and you MUST follow them then repost this:
1. You can only say Yes or No.
2. You aren’t allowed to explain anything unless someone asks you.

1. Taken a picture fully naked? Yes
2. Painted your room? Yes
3. Made out with a member of the same sex? Yes
4. Drove a car? Yes
5. Danced in front of your mirror? Yes
6. Have a crush? Yes
7. Been dumped? Yes
8. Stolen someones heart? Yes
9. Gotten in a car with people you just met? Yes
10. Been in a fist fight? Yes
11. Snuck out of your house? No
12. Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back? Yes
13. Been arrested? No
14. Made Out With A Stranger? No
15. Left your house without telling your parents? Yes
16. Had a crush on your neighbor? Yes
17. Ditched school to do something more fun? Yes
18. Slept in a bed with a member of the opposite sex? Yes
19. Seen someone die? No
20. Been on a plane? Yes
21. Kissed a picture? Yes
22. Slept in until 3? Yes
23. Love someone or miss someone right now? Yes
24. Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? Yes
25. Made a snow angel? Yes
26. Played dress up? Yes
27. Cheated while playing a game? Yes
28. Been lonely? Yes
29. Fallen asleep at work/school? Yes
30. Yelled at a friend? Yes
31. Felt an earthquake? Yes
32. Touched a snake? Yes
33. Ran a red light? Yes
34. Been suspended from school? No
35. Had detention? No
36. Been in a car accident? Yes
37. Hated the way you look? Yes
38. Witnessed a crime? Yes
39. Pole danced? No
40. Been lost? Yes
41. Been to the opposite side of the country? Yes
42. Felt like dying? Yes
43. Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? Yes
44. Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes
45. Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
45. Sang in the shower? Yes
46. Made out in a park? Yes
47. Had a dream that you married someone? Yes
48. Glued your hand to something? Yes
49. Got your tongue stuck to a pole? No
50. Ever gone to school partially naked? No
51. Been a cheerleader? No
52. Sat on a roof top? Yes
53. Didn’t take a shower for a week? Yes
54. Too scared to watch scary movies alone? Yes
55. Played chicken? No
56. Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? Yes
57. Been told you’re hot by a complete stranger? Yes
58. Been easily amused? Yes
59. Mooned/flashed someone? Yes
60. Cheated on a test? Yes
61. Forgotten someone’s name? Yes
62. Slept naked? Yes
63. Gone skinny dipping? Yes
64. Blacked out from drinking? Yes
65. Played a prank on someone? Yes
66. Gone to a late night movie? Yes
67. Made love to anything not human? Yes
68. Failed a class? Yes
69. Choked on something you’re not supposed to eat? No
70. Played an instrument for more than 10 hours? Yes
71. Cheated on a girl/boyfriend? Yes
72. Thrown strange objects? Yes
73. Felt like killing someone? Yes
74. Felt like running away? Yes
75. Have you ever ran away? No
76. Made a parent cry? Yes
77. Cried over someone? Yes
78. Had sex more than 3 times in one day? Yes
79. Dated someone more than once? Yes
80. Had/Have a dog? Yes
81. Own an instrument? Yes
82. Been in a band? Yes
83. Drank 25 sodas in a day? No
84. Broken a CD? Yes
85. Shot a gun? Yes
86. Had feelings for one of your best/good friends? Yes

CANCER (June 21-July 22): According to the Haggadah, an ancient Jewish text, the first thing God made, before anything else, was the Torah. This book was “written with black fire on white fire.” The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet became the raw materials out of which the Divine One forged heaven and earth. Now you, Cancerian, have a chance to get firsthand evidence of the power that language has to shape experience. In the coming days, I suggest that you formulate what you say with great precision. The words you use will have the power of the ancient magical incantation, “abracadabra,* which is derived from the Aramaic word meaning “I create as I speak.”

(Freewill Astrology.)

Did you know that the CBC website offers a list of recalls and advisories?

Coffee and his very juicy veins donated blood this morning. He informed me that he is not a “smug” blood donator (like I am) and thus he did not need to wear the, “Be Nice to Me: I Gave Blood Today” sticker to work. FINE.

The fence is complete and if Daisy doesn’t stop whining at me I am going to lock her outside FOREVER.

I survived my dentist appointment and was rewarded with a new pink toothbrush and some bubblegum floss. I have another appointment in six months for the usual cleaning. I am relieved to be DONE with the dentist for the time being.

Today feels like a good day to curl up and read – not just because I’m tired, but also because it’s grey and cold and rainy outside. Days like these make me so grateful to not be employed. Okay, actually, ALL days make me glad to not be employed.

Melle is now an official AUNT and the new arrival is absolutely gorgeous!

• Bubble gum flavoured dental floss.
• Online banking and bill paying.
• New RAM making things run faster around here.
• Getting organized lately.
• Getting my energy back (yay, vitamins!)
• Cool air, rain and dark skies.
• Our hydro bill was less than 1/2 what we expected!
• The yard is fully fenced.
• My husband loves me. Very much.
• Learning how to “get over” things.
• Laughter.
• Icy cold water.
• Lint on my toes.

This weekend we watched the first four episodes from this season of “Weeds” which, if you are not already a fan, you must see. Set your pvr to record, download it, rent the first season.. whatever it takes to get you up to speed. The new season is even more compelling and funny and suspenseful.

The fence guys are outside installing, what else, a fence. And the beagle is asleep on my feet, not making a sound, despite the very loud machines and drills and what-nots the guys are using. I cannot wait to let the dogs ‘free’ in the yard to burn off some energy when they turn into idiots.

On the weekend, I spent every single penny of my savings to buy my GPS system and PDA. Although I am thrilled to have saved up enough to buy said items, I am already missing my stack of 5s, 10s and 20s. *sigh* Maybe I’ll feel better when they arrive. Maybe? At the very least, I’ll be able to find my way anywhere. Is it wrong that I’m so excited about the GPS having all sorts of “custom” voices to download and some of them are rather profane?

I finally managed to get text messaging working on my cellphone. Now I’ve sent 80 billion of them as “tests” to everyone I know with a cellphone. I’m trying to get myself used to carrying a phone – turned on – at all times so that I’ll be ready for the kids’ arrival. Someday. Should you feel that you require my cellphone # for text messaging (since my incoming are free!) feel free to speak up.

It’s cool, rainy and grey outside. HEAVENLY!

At 2:30 today I’ll be in the dentist’s chair having my teeth scrubbed and polished and made shiny. I am much less stressed about this than I was about the initial appointment, but that doesn’t mean I’m not kinda’ freaking out. Especially since I’m going on my own and no one will come to rescue me if I start screaming.

I’ve never screamed while at the dentist. I tend to just make muffled whimpering noises.

Last night, around 3am, the beagle decided that she really wasn’t tired and thus spent a few hours howling and barking FOR FUN. I was ready to strangle her, quite frankly, because she’d howl and bark until I was *this close* to getting up to see what was wrong and then.. she’d stop. And I’d drift off again and.. ARRROOOOOOOOO! Did I mention that she barks in her sleep? SHE DOES.

Coffee had to do some ‘work’ yesterday – suddenly and spontaneously – that totally wrecked Sunday afternoon. He was busy in the “shhh, don’t talk to me” way from 1:30 ’til about 7:30pm and I turned into a petulant child for a while before I went upstairs to read my library books. We had PLANS and they did not happen. THAT SUCKED.

There is a very fine, light-coloured hair on my arm that is at least 2 inches long now. I am fascinated by this oddness and can’t bring myself to pluck or trim this rebel hair. I don’t want to be beating down on the hippies of the hair world!

I cannot wait to see Superbad. The “bromance” got great reviews and is noted as being “extremely raunchy and rude” with “plenty of profanity” and “really funny!” and I can’t think of anything that appeals to me more. I suspect it’s not going to take Bad Santa‘s place for favourite movie of all time, but, hey, it can’t hurt for Bad Santa to have some secondary friends, right?

Now I have to go and floss. Y’know, because they’ll be totally fooled by that and think that I do it every single day. Maybe I’ll get a gold star for effort?