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Help Wanted
Jul. 2nd, 2008 06:23 amI have rented a van for Tuesday next (the 8th), and am taking the day off work, to move a bunch of stuff too big for the car either to storage or to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nedlnthred's. I could really use a helper or two, because a 6' IKEA bookshelf is a little cumbersome for me, myself, and I (particularly when it is being schlepped up that U-turn staircase at Beth's).
Will pay in cocktails and/or beer, also food. If you happen to be free that day and can help, please let me know.
nedlnthred's. I could really use a helper or two, because a 6' IKEA bookshelf is a little cumbersome for me, myself, and I (particularly when it is being schlepped up that U-turn staircase at Beth's). Will pay in cocktails and/or beer, also food. If you happen to be free that day and can help, please let me know.
Ooooo shiny!
Jun. 30th, 2008 11:03 pmSteve just found a link to a project digitizing old cylinders (that's what came before records, kids).
Behold, it is a photostream full of kittens. (These are all looking for homes, let me just note. Contact me or nedlnthred to see how this too can be yours!)
nedlnthred to see how this too can be yours!)My First Friday Off
Jun. 27th, 2008 10:18 amWoke up at 6:30 and couldn't get back to sleep, oh well.
Exercise Win: 1 hour 5 min. of Wii Fit, followed by a half-hour walk. I'm sorta sleepy now, but that could also be onaccounta NO COFFEE YET.
Later, I shall have lunch (or tea, really) withcaelfinn, and then we will meet elibalin at the Met. You can come too! Text me if you think you might.
Exercise Win: 1 hour 5 min. of Wii Fit, followed by a half-hour walk. I'm sorta sleepy now, but that could also be onaccounta NO COFFEE YET.
Later, I shall have lunch (or tea, really) with
caelfinn, and then we will meet elibalin at the Met. You can come too! Text me if you think you might.The Early Shift
Jun. 26th, 2008 07:52 amAs expected, for summer hours I have two train choices: "too early" and "too late". The 6:31 train got me here at 7:40, and it would have been slightly earlier except that I had to wait an unusually long time for the F. (The next train, 6:56, generated an arrival time of ~8:13.) I am also deeply offended that I have to be leaving the house earlier than I had been accustomed to getting up. I didn't much mind getting up stupid early for exercise purposes, but this is weaksauce.
The 6:31 train was mobbed. WHAT THE FUCK, AMERICA. It is to be noted that the connector was much less so, and you coulda fired a cannon through the subway car I was on; thus I can extrapolate that most of that mob was going to Wall St. and/or Exchange Place. Well, and there you have it. But one of the few crumbs of consolation I was expecting out of this was a nice empty train for 20 minutes, and I find this is Not Mine.
The 6:31 train was mobbed. WHAT THE FUCK, AMERICA. It is to be noted that the connector was much less so, and you coulda fired a cannon through the subway car I was on; thus I can extrapolate that most of that mob was going to Wall St. and/or Exchange Place. Well, and there you have it. But one of the few crumbs of consolation I was expecting out of this was a nice empty train for 20 minutes, and I find this is Not Mine.
Much better.
Jun. 25th, 2008 08:54 pmI just got email back from Dr. Nick. Quotha, "Bone spurs are super common, lots of professional athletes have them and they still compete." He gave me a bit more data and then finished with "don't stress over it, it's not that big a deal."
I can go on living.
I can go on living.
I was in meetings all day (and not having a joyous day to begin with). Just got back from last one, to find that my cellphone had voicemail from my doctor, who has just gotten my knee X-rays. Quoth he, there is a degenerative bone spur (?) in my knee, which there is not a lot they can do anything about, but he'll set up an appointment with a specialist with me to answer any questions.
I am not coping with this in a manner consonant with my usual poise and capability.
I am not coping with this in a manner consonant with my usual poise and capability.
MOAR!~ books
Jun. 23rd, 2008 03:12 pmToday's library haul:
New York City Folklore, by B. A. Botkin. (Pub. 1956.) This looks really nifty.
Once Upon A Time In New York: Jimmy Walker, Franklin Roosevelt, and the Last Great Battle of the Jazz Age, by Herbert Mitgang. (Subtitles are getting out of control.)
New York In The Thirties, by Berenice Abbott. Period photography; woot! (Won't fit in my bag, though.)
Blue: History of a Colour, by Michel Pastoureau. Have wanted to read this since I heard his talk at Bard. (Also his other books, but this is what we have.)
Shadow of the Silk Road, by Colin Thubron. Which he travelled the entire thing; a journey I would like to take, if I could do it without getting killed, which seems really unlikely for the next decade or two.
New York City Folklore, by B. A. Botkin. (Pub. 1956.) This looks really nifty.
Once Upon A Time In New York: Jimmy Walker, Franklin Roosevelt, and the Last Great Battle of the Jazz Age, by Herbert Mitgang. (Subtitles are getting out of control.)
New York In The Thirties, by Berenice Abbott. Period photography; woot! (Won't fit in my bag, though.)
Blue: History of a Colour, by Michel Pastoureau. Have wanted to read this since I heard his talk at Bard. (Also his other books, but this is what we have.)
Shadow of the Silk Road, by Colin Thubron. Which he travelled the entire thing; a journey I would like to take, if I could do it without getting killed, which seems really unlikely for the next decade or two.
A Periodic Reminder
Jun. 23rd, 2008 01:20 pm...that anyone who is looking for a kitty, or knows someone who is looking for a kitty, should contact nedlnthred (or me, for transmittal of message). She is trying to home several cats, of varying ages, temperaments, and color patterns. Contact Our Matchmakers Now!
(Should have pictures to post by next week. Particularly of young Ingelram, as plucky a tabby kitten as you have ever met. And incredibly snuggly, too! with the tiniest purrs!)
nedlnthred (or me, for transmittal of message). She is trying to home several cats, of varying ages, temperaments, and color patterns. Contact Our Matchmakers Now!(Should have pictures to post by next week. Particularly of young Ingelram, as plucky a tabby kitten as you have ever met. And incredibly snuggly, too! with the tiniest purrs!)
Mua ha ha ha.
Jun. 22nd, 2008 02:57 pmIn which I chop up a pineapple, stick the chunks in a big ole pickle jar, and cover it over with Everclear.
We'll check back in on it next summer. Or perhaps the summer after.
We'll check back in on it next summer. Or perhaps the summer after.
July 4: The "We're Still Here" Party
Jun. 21st, 2008 10:58 amPre-announcement: Lo, there shall be a pool party on Fri., July 4th. Mail will go out anon; this is just the mark-your-calendars notification.
So, the big Nintendo flagship store at Rockefeller Center has, so their web site saith, a "limited number" of Wii Fits available, first-come first-served, every morning. Yesterday morning, therefore, I stopped on my way in, got there around 8:50, joined the line (which was only about eight people long), and prepared for joy. Alas! They had no shipment today. We should come back tomorrow.
So I did.
Arriving at 8:45, no one else seemed to be on line. Bonus! There was a whole mob of people right along the edge of the street which appeared to be spillover from the Today Show about 20' away around the corner, where some group I couldn't care less about was playing a live show, but no one in the Line Spot from yesterday. So I made me a line, and waited, and waited. 9:02, salesman unlocks door. "What are you here for?" "Wii Fit." "Do you have an armband?" "...no. What armband? I came yesterday, they said there weren't any and just come back tomorrow." He said nothing actually about where one gets an armband, but gestured to the 60-man line that I thought was for the Today Show. They did indeed have armbands. I don't know how, since no one had come out of the store. Perhaps they'd come the day before. Perhaps they made them out of leftover Today Show garbage. I did not stick around to find out, since I was already late for work.
Fuck this shit with a large toaster fork.
So I did.
Arriving at 8:45, no one else seemed to be on line. Bonus! There was a whole mob of people right along the edge of the street which appeared to be spillover from the Today Show about 20' away around the corner, where some group I couldn't care less about was playing a live show, but no one in the Line Spot from yesterday. So I made me a line, and waited, and waited. 9:02, salesman unlocks door. "What are you here for?" "Wii Fit." "Do you have an armband?" "...no. What armband? I came yesterday, they said there weren't any and just come back tomorrow." He said nothing actually about where one gets an armband, but gestured to the 60-man line that I thought was for the Today Show. They did indeed have armbands. I don't know how, since no one had come out of the store. Perhaps they'd come the day before. Perhaps they made them out of leftover Today Show garbage. I did not stick around to find out, since I was already late for work.
Fuck this shit with a large toaster fork.
A Communiqué
Jun. 19th, 2008 04:55 pm...left in my voicemail today, transcribed verbatim:
"Hi Victoria it's me, XXXXX, from Payroll. Uh, it is the change of rate for Smith John is fine, so if he needs to multiply hours times 9.85 that is the rate as he is supposed to get, is fine. But if you want call me back, please 19999. All right? Bye bye."
(Generated by me asking about the fact that John Smith, who had had a pay increase back in March to $9.85/hr, had not seen said increase & back pay reflected in his paychecks.)
"Hi Victoria it's me, XXXXX, from Payroll. Uh, it is the change of rate for Smith John is fine, so if he needs to multiply hours times 9.85 that is the rate as he is supposed to get, is fine. But if you want call me back, please 19999. All right? Bye bye."
(Generated by me asking about the fact that John Smith, who had had a pay increase back in March to $9.85/hr, had not seen said increase & back pay reflected in his paychecks.)
I Can Haz Conference?
Jun. 17th, 2008 04:45 pm$OVERBOSS just came in and asked if I want to go to Educause, which is some big ole thing for IT people in higher education. Indeed, I don't know if I want to or not. On the one hand, holy shit, conference; and it might even be useful for a variety of reasons, though I don't know because they haven't posted the actual program. On the other, it's, well, let me quote from their web page:
Thursday Night Party - Feel The Spirit!
Party with the paranormal at Feel the Spirit!, where you'll mix and mingle with dead ringers of your favorite musical stars at the Universal CityWalk® special Halloween fête. Rock 'til you drop with the likenesses of musical legends Elvis, John Lennon, and Janis Joplin, who will conjure up music so good, it's scary. Sample devilishly delicious All Hallows fare with your fellow boys and ghouls, and dance the night away to some seriously spooky serenades:
[Poll #1206464]
Thursday Night Party - Feel The Spirit!
Party with the paranormal at Feel the Spirit!, where you'll mix and mingle with dead ringers of your favorite musical stars at the Universal CityWalk® special Halloween fête. Rock 'til you drop with the likenesses of musical legends Elvis, John Lennon, and Janis Joplin, who will conjure up music so good, it's scary. Sample devilishly delicious All Hallows fare with your fellow boys and ghouls, and dance the night away to some seriously spooky serenades:
- Listen to Frank Sinatra croon at CityWalk's Rising Star, and between sets jump and jive to the big band tunes of The Syndicats.
- Elvis has not left the building! Catch him in a "live" performance at the Red Coconut Club.
- Push up some flower power daisies with Janis Joplin at the groove.
- Revel with spirited Day of the Dead dancers in the Latin Quarter.
- Be hypnotized by Pat O'Brien's musicians and the Big Easy voodoo they do so well.
[Poll #1206464]
Fun New Aerobic Exercise Time Is Now
Jun. 16th, 2008 01:31 pmRunning ist verboten, so I had a 25-minute go at the elliptical instead. I'm not entirely sure I have escaped without scathe, as things feel a little weird in the knee region and I got a twinge (in a completely different part of the joint! Hurray!) as I was walking up the stairs on my way back, but I don't actually hurt at the moment.
Our gym does not in fact have the foam roll whatsit I'm supposed to use for the illotibial thingummy, so will have to check sporting-goods-store-of-choice and do that exercise at home.
I've also been usingsweh's Wii Fit, insofar as I can without doing any activities that require deep knee bends, squats, etc. (I'd guesstimate that cuts out maybe 15% of what I've unlocked as yet.) Me likey, even if I'm terrible at the ski jump. I am working out how best to integrate a daily dose into my schedule without undue disruption to his life (or mine. As I was sitting there going "well, okay, I could get up at 5am, ride my bike down, do a half hour, ride back, get ready for work, and make the 6:56 train..." Um yeah maybe not).
Our gym does not in fact have the foam roll whatsit I'm supposed to use for the illotibial thingummy, so will have to check sporting-goods-store-of-choice and do that exercise at home.
I've also been using
sweh's Wii Fit, insofar as I can without doing any activities that require deep knee bends, squats, etc. (I'd guesstimate that cuts out maybe 15% of what I've unlocked as yet.) Me likey, even if I'm terrible at the ski jump. I am working out how best to integrate a daily dose into my schedule without undue disruption to his life (or mine. As I was sitting there going "well, okay, I could get up at 5am, ride my bike down, do a half hour, ride back, get ready for work, and make the 6:56 train..." Um yeah maybe not).Some dietary adjustments
Jun. 16th, 2008 11:40 amMeta-issue: it's clear that, as long as I'm taking 600mg ibuprofen each morning per doctor's orders, I had best make sure to NOT take it when my stomach contains nothing but coffee. Yerk.
I've replaced my elevenses cheese-and-nuts with carrots-and-hummus, and I have canned salmon to put in my salad, and once I finish my current bottle of salad dressing I have a lower-fat one to use instead (assuming it doesn't taste like ass, but so far, my experience has been that low-fat is usually tolerable and it's fat-free that you need to avoid like poison).
I would like more time to have a better breakfast, that is something more than "a slice of sprouted wheat toast with a wedge of spready cheese", but since next week begins MIGHTY FUCKING EARLY hours I don't know how likely this is to occur.
Was horrible this weekend. Cheese and booze and I know not what else. I have no place looking down my nose at others' lack of self-control, indeed I do not.
I've replaced my elevenses cheese-and-nuts with carrots-and-hummus, and I have canned salmon to put in my salad, and once I finish my current bottle of salad dressing I have a lower-fat one to use instead (assuming it doesn't taste like ass, but so far, my experience has been that low-fat is usually tolerable and it's fat-free that you need to avoid like poison).
I would like more time to have a better breakfast, that is something more than "a slice of sprouted wheat toast with a wedge of spready cheese", but since next week begins MIGHTY FUCKING EARLY hours I don't know how likely this is to occur.
Was horrible this weekend. Cheese and booze and I know not what else. I have no place looking down my nose at others' lack of self-control, indeed I do not.
(This was last week Thursday, I'm just running behind.)
sedai and Non-Livejournal-Member Mr. sedai, in a spirit of purest kindness and friendship that I cannot possibly requite, gave me their spare ticket to this show. I'd seen Buffett once before, sort of, when I drove Mr. sedai (who was not that, then) to a show out at Jones Beach, since he was not car-enabled; that being an open amphitheatre, I was perfectly happy to sit out on top of my car and listen to the tunage while lolling in the warm summer air (as I was accustomed to doing in my broke high-school and college years), but about 1/3 of the way through someone who had a spare ticket just gave it to me, so I got in anyways. There's something weirdly trendlike, here.
Anyways: a fantastic show, and a fantastic time. The man's not any younger, but it quite simply doesn't matter. He loves what he does, and we love what he does, and that's all any of us need. It was also of particular moment for me: you positively cannot listen to Jimmy Buffett and not feel mellow and good and hopeful.
OMG HE PLAYED "SOUTHERN CROSS" OMG OMG OMG. And "One Particular Harbour", which is one of my big favorites, but I did not think it was big enough to get concert play. And one of the encores was "Glory Days", which I found really nifty; I don't tend to think of him having a crossover with Springsteen, y'know?
Also, I smuggled in a hip flask of dark rum past the Myrmidons of Madison Square Garden, because I am that damn good.
sedai and Non-Livejournal-Member Mr. sedai, in a spirit of purest kindness and friendship that I cannot possibly requite, gave me their spare ticket to this show. I'd seen Buffett once before, sort of, when I drove Mr. sedai (who was not that, then) to a show out at Jones Beach, since he was not car-enabled; that being an open amphitheatre, I was perfectly happy to sit out on top of my car and listen to the tunage while lolling in the warm summer air (as I was accustomed to doing in my broke high-school and college years), but about 1/3 of the way through someone who had a spare ticket just gave it to me, so I got in anyways. There's something weirdly trendlike, here.Anyways: a fantastic show, and a fantastic time. The man's not any younger, but it quite simply doesn't matter. He loves what he does, and we love what he does, and that's all any of us need. It was also of particular moment for me: you positively cannot listen to Jimmy Buffett and not feel mellow and good and hopeful.
OMG HE PLAYED "SOUTHERN CROSS" OMG OMG OMG. And "One Particular Harbour", which is one of my big favorites, but I did not think it was big enough to get concert play. And one of the encores was "Glory Days", which I found really nifty; I don't tend to think of him having a crossover with Springsteen, y'know?
Also, I smuggled in a hip flask of dark rum past the Myrmidons of Madison Square Garden, because I am that damn good.
