drizzly

It is dark. Very dark - so dark it seems like dusk. And it has been raining, constant and steady since last night. Fortunately, it is quite warm for this time of year. The high is predicted at 60 degrees today. It makes me either wish I had a good indoor project today and a place to work on it. Or that I could get out with my camera in long black raincoat with black-rimmed eyes and a huge umbrella.

Happy Holidays

Winter Solstice Party on Friday went off well. The house and I were clean in the nick of time. We had more than enough food, without enough table top space to set up with snacks. Guest brought delicious snacks and drinks to add to the party. The turn-out was much smaller this year than the rsvp list, but most of that was due to two other last-minute events that I was aware of.

Christmas Eve, we went to Pell City, Alabama to visit June. We got to see Jerry briefly, but Kim was a no-show.

Christmas Day, we spent family at my mother's flat. Huge meal. Everyone took home left-overs. My brother's family brought my neice's boyfriend with them because his mother, a nurse, was working all day (and most of the night). Seemed like a nice lad who fit in very well with the family. I can see why my brother and sister-in-law like him. He's very much like my brother and nephew in personality. For some reason, my Mother found it necessary to open three bottles of wine, most of which was still untouched when we left. Part of the reason was, after she opened the Merlot, the cork was dry and my first glass tasted awful and smelled very strong of vinegar and what I percieved as cork-taint. Then, after I rinsed and dried my glass thoroughly she opened the Cabernet Sauvignon for me. When I set out the other glasses, I smelled the same thing. Everything had this soapy, vinegar-smelling film to it so I rinsed everything down as quickly as possible while she was freshening up. Everyone's wine was fine after that. I said nothing about the glasses. The rest of the Merlot went untouched (and it still may have been off - remember that dry cork). We finished of the Cab and she opened a bottle of Pinot Noir for good measure before everyone left.

Yesterday, we had the traditional exchanging of some gifts. We now have a very nice coffee maker again, upgraded from previous models I've owned with a programable time, clock, and thermal carafe (so coffee doesn't have to cook down to something bitter just to stay hot). Now I can shop for any whole bean coffee I choose and make the occassional cinnamon coffee without being a slave to one manufacturer's pods that we can only get from one source locally.

In the evening we went to the airport to meet a friend of Monster's who lives in Chicago now. He's gone from retail sales to realestate and is doing quite well at it. He owns half of a very nice modern duplex in the heart of the city. He is also a man with very little free time so when there was a chance for a two-hour spot to visit between flights to visit, everyone jumped at it. As always, there was a lot of catching up to do between the guys and not enough time. There were some cool photos on the iPod to share, updating on the Blackberry to do, and new photos and MPEGs to make.

Today, it's back to work. I expect this will be another nearly non-existant work week. Only three days to punch the clock and clients probably won't be keeping us busy until after New Year's day when everyone returns to work.

The Silver Grill is closing today

One of the oldest homestyle southern diners in Atlanta is closing its doors for the last time tonight at 9PM. The Silver Grill on Monroe Avenue near Grady Highschool is going out of business. The lot and building are probably being sold for development, I imagine.

The CitySearch profile has this to say about the Silver Grill:

The Scene
Southern accents are fading fast in Midtown, but not at this vintage diner. Family-run since 1945, it charms with "no shirt, no shoes, no service" earnestness. A curious mix of longtime regulars and manicured Midtown boys settle into the cozy and clean double-wide. Behind a long counter, serving tins full of Southern specialties simmer as veteran waitresses hurriedly dish them onto plates.

The Food
Daily specials of diner standards overshadow the regular menu of sandwiches and single items. Heavily battered fried chicken is the natural favorite, but it doesn't outdo tender country-fried steak. A generous slab of meat loaf with tomato sauce is also excellent when available. Vegetable choices vary by day--hope for buttery corn-on-the-cob and seasoned collards. Sweet potato souffle, loaded with brown sugar and molten marshmallow, doubles as dessert. Homemade cobblers and cakes also keep the sweet-tea buzz alive.

Planning food and drink for the Solstice party tonight while Monster recovers on the couch, watching Superman.

We still have so much stuff - furniture and tools - in the living room, it will be a mad dash to get everything cleared out and seating arrangements made. It's going to be fun. I still need to bake cookies and buy eggnog or decide on a recipe I like. The punch bowl awaits. I've got a new yule log/fireplace DVD too, since I'm sure it'll be to warm for a real fire. Well, maybe a few tiny fires on columns of wax.

The Dining Room is finished

I am quite happy to say one more household task has been completed.


The painting and plastering and lighting of the front dining room is finally done. I am sitting at the table like an adult again, addressing greeting cards.

Tomorrow: TV Wars. Heroes (Monster's favorite new show) vs Alton Brown (School of Hard Nogs episode). I predict that Monster will win, as he is the TV and Movie King, a title I do not care for. So, what will I do tomorrow night after work? Who knows? Finish my shopping... maybe do some wrapping... go out looking for trouble...

Wine vs Crime

It seems that increases in wine consumption go hand in hand with decreases in violent crime:

http://www.swivel.com/graphs/show/1001967

By the way, this swivel.com website just launched. It's like a youtube for
databases. VERY geeeeeekeeeee!

Thanks Chaz.

Atlanta SantaCon 2006

This just in from Chwdog:

Atlanta SantaCon
topic posted Yesterday, 9:34 PM by Chwdog

Ok kids.. My Bullhorn is decorated... somewhat. My SantaSuit is dirty and lookin for more... Yep, its SantaCon time!!!

Dec 16th
4:42pm It all starts
Centennial Park, Atlanta GA
Pics in the park, from there, we get on MARTA and follow Chw....

There is a leading force in the chaos of Santacon in Atlanta, and sadly enough, we named him chw......

Within a few days of the event, I will post a little more detailed info, but to get involved, takes exactly that!!!

Participants ONLY!!! Come one, come all. Wipe your christmas cheer ALL OVER ATLANTA!

Its going to be great, We have our route, We have our friends, we even have our carols, plus we have a hotel picked out to stay in, join the list for info on how to shack up with us!

IF YOU ATTEND, YOU MUST GO TO www.santacon.com TO GET YOUR CAROLS... LEARN THEM ALL!!! We will be singing all night... mostly DIRTY carols!

www.santacon.com

groups.yahoo.com/groups/atlantasantacon

Friday

The work on the front dining room has begun. Monster has the area closed off with sheets of plastic and is already sanding down the patches on the ceiling and walls, preparing to paint. I can't wait for the first coat of paint to go onto it so we can clean out the dust and open the room again. Then I'll be able to help him finish the work ASAP so we can finish with a new light fixture after the last coat of paint dries. There will be a new white rug in the living room, which I pray no one will spill red wine on. We will now have a grown-up dining area again and will (hopefully) eat at the table, sitting in chairs.

snow crash soundtrack

Wishing I didn't have to be here to draw a paycheck while there is nothing to work on and The Irritant seems to be freaking out over everything - setting the time clock, writing up the very few jobs we have, etc.

Listening to various NPR bits online, including pieces of David Sedaris on the Santaland Diaries and the recent Tom Waits interview.

forgiveness

Question posed by a friend - at what point do you let "bygones be bygones"?

Grudges are never good to keep - generates too much negativity - kinda like a black whole where all the energy you could be using on better things disappears. This is such a complicated thing. Are they sorry? Are they even aware that they've hurt you? I'm not saying just forgive and forget. You can forgive and not forget and maybe in a way that's actually fairer to the offender, to know their nature and not expect too much of them. You can choose not to forget but still treat someone decently. You don't have to like everyone but you should probably be polite at all times - prevents escalation of tensions and maintains civility.
There are people I have officially forgiven but will never trust again.

bored.

Just two days after the holiday and I'm ridiculously bored, as usual. Monster is stll very sick with a cold. We did get a couple of errands accomplished earlier today:
Went to the post office to ship packages, pay bills, took a very nice piece of furniture to a friend's shop to sell, and bought a new, smaller rug for the living room to be delivered from Chicago. Now the day is long over and tomorrow is totally empty. These long weekends are unbearably lonely and boring.

post Thanksgiving

The car is making a new sound this week, so I left it with the mechanic again today. It needed a couple of motor mount bolts that were mysteriously missing anyway, but now there is a grumbing sound whenever I turn right, only after the car has warmed up a bit whether by driving or sitting in the sun, and usually when turning right.

Yesterday we went with Lisa and David to her parent's house to have Thanksgiving dinner with her family. It was a great meal. Lisa got praise for her bourbon pecan pie, which everyone in her family said was the best they'd ever had. Monster was delighted to look at the collection of turned wood objects at the house. I brought flowers and, feeling unsure, two different kinds of bread purchased at The Bread Garden - a nice country bread that was used for dinner and a loaf of olive bread, which I was sent home with because it was uncut and they said they had too many leftovers anyway. Lisa give Monster a slice of the excellent pecan pie to bring home. The evening was spent watching Love Actually on TV, after which I retired to the bedroom, leaving Monster to watch cartoons until he fell asleep on the couch.

Thanksgiving Eve

Trying to remember and plan all of the last-minute errands I need to do as soon as I get off work.

1. Buy flowers and maybe some fresh baked goods to take to Thanksgiving Dinner with Lisa's family.

2. Pick up blanket and rug from drycleaners.

3. Check post office box.

One of the guys at work brought a coconut cake that his wife baked last night from a 100-year-old family recipe.

Tending to the sick and bedridden

Monster is sick with a very badly-timed cold. I told him that he can stay in bed until Thanksgiving. I think he'll be up and back to normal before then, as disease seems to be runnings it's coarse quickly in him, with his over-active immune system. I say this not knowing if it is really possible to have an overactive, over-stimulated immune system but that always does seem to be the case with his body. I must remember to pick up more orange juice and Campbell's tomato soup today on the way home from work.

Willy Terry

posted by Daniel Moore at 7:23 PM on November 14, 2006

If you've seen the man who walks around the corner of Briarcliff and Ponce in the white bike shorts, then you definitely want to watch this video.

Thanksgiving links

Super Target caters Thanksgiving meals.
Archer Farms Heat & Serve Holiday Meals

William Sonoma has tips.

Atlanta City Search Thanksgiving Planner

Murray is in town

Had a lovely evening. Maurice phoned and invited me and Monster impromptu to join him and Terry at Papa Deaux on Jimmy Carter Blvd. for dinner. He's in town for the convention/tradeshow and was willing to finally meet Monster. We had a great time talking about old times. Maurice showed everyone at the table a few of his magic tricks and his "mentalist" abilities.

Alternate You are 31% experimental, 45% feral, 40% spiritual, and 20% square!

Congratulations! You're Alternate. The Alternate is, at first glance, the most mainstream of hippies. You are probably more into protecting disempowered people and the environment than expanding your mind or achieving a higher state of being, but you aren't so into nature that you choose to live in a tree. You even shower at times, and some people may not notice the passionate hippie lurking beneath the seemingly conservative exterior. The hippie world needs you because you earth the other hippies, and form a bridge between them and the rest of society. If you believe that opposites attract, you probably find yourself around Full-blown hippies. If you are more inclined to enjoy the company of those with similar attitudes, then other Alternates, as well as the Faerie-child, Treehugger, and Raver are for you. The other categories are Neopagan, Mystic, Feral and of course, the Non-hippie

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on experimental You scored higher than 99% on feral You scored higher than 99% on spiritual You scored higher than 99% on non-hippie

Link: The what kind of hippie are you Test written by pragmaticdreams on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Jules: At age 74 while showing your work at a major art gallery, you will be accosted and later slain by PETA activists.

Picnic

The Picnic at Oakland Cemetary was great fun. Everyone brought very generous amounts of food and drink and, like good narfs, cleaned up after themselves before leaving. There where children and giant puppets (Katrina the fancy lady) and Goths all around. I am forever thankful to Moonbird for making gatherings like this happen and including me in them.

My most profound conversations occur in the car, whether driving or being driven, in motion.

Halloween Night

We stayed home on Halloween night, cooking dinner and waiting for Trick-or-Treaters. The house was decorated. The jack-o-lanterns in the yard were lit. There is now left-over chocolate except for just a couple of peanutbutter cups, which Monster claims.
Tomorrow is Joel and Kelly's going away party. They are moving to Savannah, where Kelly has a great new job.

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

This I wish would disappear

Monster has had the old toilet from the upstairs bathroom sitting on our patio for months now. He's got two good-size mosquito nurseries/biology experiments in the back now between that and the abandoned water feature on the other side of the patio. I would give anything if we could find someone to take the toilet away for free. He has forbidden me to phone a garbage service like 1-800-GOTJUNK to have it hauled off.

This has kinda been the Halloween of social cock ups and lost chances.

Last night, as I was carving jack-o-lanterns with David and Lisamin, T phoned from E.Atl to find out where I was. He thought I was going to meet him in town where he was going to take out Red Fly again. I thought perhaps those with real costumes were going out together and run amuck, details of which I wasn't entirely provided with and, since I decided to carve pumpkins and be at home with Monster, was information I had not asked about. He thought Saturday night was Halloween spooky video night at the East Side Lounge. Video night at the East Side Lounge is actually Monday, starting around 10PM.

*sigh*

Anyway, we had fun making the jack-o-lanterns, which now adorn the yard here and I'm sure T found some fun and mischief to get into.


Everyone was up to their elbows in pumpkin goo.

I thought I had concrete plans to go to the party at the Abbey tonight, but everything fell through. Monster, who's not muc for going out, is set on staying home and watching horror movies on AMC. Then I made plans to go with K&H but somehow there was a miscommnication. I was planning on meeting them here at home and going together to the Universal Party, but after phoning earlier to let me know their progress going to a dance performance first, then the Abbey, they phoned to say they were already there - and that parking there and nearby was filling up rapidly. I don't really want to walk up several blocks of Ponce de Leon Avenue tonight by myself after paying, alone, ten dollars to park. Maybe I should just do a drive by and see what parking is like. Then again, I'd still have find them in the crowd. Monster is giving me no moral support on my desire to go out tonight. I need a Halloween date - a buddy to hang out with this weekend.

Halloween Parade

Just a couple of photos from the L5P Halloween Parade.

prom night

This is the first day of the monthly antique shows and it's like Christmas Eve again.

Monster can hardly sleep the night before and on the second Thursday of the month, he gets up and dressed at 4AM and drives to the Scott Antique show to be there as the trucks are unloading. He lays out his freshy washed and ironed clothes the night before so he has one less thing to think about in the early morning haze. And he gives himself a haircut/trim and the best shave of the month. All this so he can make a proper presentation for his public - the dealers at the shows.

So he's off hunting for treasures again this weekend. I hope he finds wonderful stuff to sell.
It won't be quite the same next month, when there will be one less place to check on because the Lakewood Fleamarket will be gone. Dealers got their 30-day notice last month, so I'm curious about whether the fleamarket will go out with a bang (LOTS of incredible merchandise) or a whimper (mostly empty).

Your results:
You are Supergirl

Supergirl

Lean, muscular and feminine. Honest and a defender of the innocent.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Atlanta SantaCon

This just in:

Atlanta SantaCon

Ok, the date is set in stone. I have had enough resposes to state that Dec 16th is the date for the Atlanta SantaCon. I have my suit ready, do you have yours???? Hope ya do, cause if you dont, your missin out!!!! More details to come as it gets planned but much like last year, we will be planning as we walk. Come join the 2nd annual SantaCon in Atl!! We have a yahoo group setup for communication @ groups.yahoo.com/group/atlantasantacon Come join us and be apart of the fun we had last year, and help add on to the fun this year! Hope to see yall there!!

Chwdog
shannon@chwdog.com

Your Brain is 73% Female, 27% Male

Your brain leans female You think with your heart, not your head Sweet and considerate, you are a giver But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

insomnia

Woke up this morning at 5AM with a headache that wouldn't let me sleep another hour. Decided to clean the kitchen and start laundry. If it weren't for the headache, I could have done early morning yoga with the TV, despite the fact that I have to do it in front of the entire neighborhood (whoever might be awake and passing by, that is) because the TV and the only clearable floor space is in front of a large uncovered window in the livingroom.

Boss #1 is still at the office this afternoon and is being especially pleasant to be around. Bringing jobs in and joking. We also got a new copy of Adobe CS this week, which will make my work here even easier and faster.

condo update

The electrician came today and replaced my ancient 1960 fuse box and re-wired the ceiling fixtures. He said some of the damage to the wiring looked water-related. Now we are another step closer to having the condo rehab finished.
Next is Monster finishing the walls and ceiling this week and the last part will be the hardwood floors next week. We are showing the condo already, even though it's not finished yet, and hoping for a good tenant.

How was your day, dear?

It sucked.

The Irritant got hysterically bent out of shape when I said I would get to a new request as soon as I changed and saved a file, rather than drop half an hour's worth of work and short-term memory and rip open a mystery file that just came in for a job that didn't exist yet. While I was trying to save and close out of a job, he went tattling to Boss #1 on how I wasn't obeying quickly enough to the demands of my (apparently) my new lord and master (His Virile Excellency). Boss #1, quite thankfully, sided with me in the (meaningless) incident. He apologized for the "slight misunderstanding, if there was one" with Boss # 1 in the room and after Boss #1 left, he quickly added "I thought (Boss #1) wanted to make money, but I guess I'm wrong." (Sometimes I wish I had a tape recorder.)

Days like this, I really don't want to go back to work in the morning.

Meanwhile, the house we rent and live in and the condo I own continue to suck more money out of my savings and more time that Monster could be using to make money. Today, Monster had to skip work to wait most of the day into the afternoon for a plumber to fix a broken pipe that forced us to go all weekend with the water to the house turned off.

Your Power Color Is Lime Green

At Your Highest: You are adventurous, witty, and a visionary. At Your Lowest: You feel misunderstood, like you don't fit in. In Love: You have a tough exterior, but can be very dedicated. How You're Attractive: Your self-awareness and confidence lights up a room. Your Eternal Question: "What else do I need in my life?"

What's Your Power Color?

Sparky

As it turns out, there is more money to pour into my condo. When the electrician came to look at the fuse box we want to replace, Monster had him look at the connections in the ceiling where we're putting in new fixtures. Checking the wire, they both saw inappropriate sparks. After going up into the attic crawl space, where is was the discovered that the housings were rusted out and the wires in the ceiling have a lot of the insulation burned off. Our electrician said it's amazing we haven't had a fire yet in the building. Some of this might just be due to the age of the building. The condos were original apartments built in 1960. It might also be due to the roof leaks that I have battled with the condominium association for years to fix. Now I'm having all of the wiring above my unit replaced. I can't do anything about the rest of the building but I can at least try to ensure that if there is a fire, it will not start at my space. All changes and repairs that go beyond the interior walls of each unit are supposed to be the associations' responsibility, so I'm probably over-stepping my limits by having everything above my unit replaced but I know from experience that the condominium owners association will do nothing for the building as a whole. The new owners just don't know, and thus, don't care. The old owners have their units paid for and are only sitting on them in the hope that the building will be snatched up by developers some day to be replaced by a high-rise. They've been waiting for that winning offer on the building for decades.

New refridgerator = $400.00
Hardwood Floor repair and refinishing = 800.00
Bathroom pipe snapped in two = 750.00
Electrical work = 500.00

Monster paid for the painting and cleaning materials and supplies.

stress

At least I did things in the right order today. First stress, then relief and consolation with good company, then food and chilling out at home.

Monster and I started the day going to the condo, where I was supposed to help him set in the frame and sheet rock for the new closet doors to fit in the bedroom. We ended up getting in a huge fight over everything, like we always do when discussing anything and everything related to the condo. He asks my opinion and then either ignores what I say like he doesn't hear me or tells me that I'm wrong. I told him that, while I appreciate him taking time to make repairs, paint walls, and oversee service people coming to the condo; I don't think we should have these discussions or go there together again. He can just surprise me rather than fight about it every time. Then he thought I didn't appreciate him. Then I try to explain that by telling him to take over without me, I am saying that I trust him completely.
I Just Don't Want To Fight Anymore.
There is no way to be around or discuss the condo or anything in it without fighting.

Just when I'm ready to jump off a bridge, I decided to get out and meet friends for brunch. Going to brunch with friends was an excellent choice. I got to see very pleasant, clever people and hear about what they've been doing and planning while having good eats (which included a nice slab of tuna) and look at wedding photos and hear about someone elses' home renovation that was actually working out quite well despite AC failure and fire.

Came back home and watched foodTV and cartoons.

The price just keeps going up.

Still working on the restoration of the condo. So many things are going on monday that Monster is going to take the day off work to be there all day. The floor refinishing starts next week and half of the money is due before they begin work. An electrician is coming by to look at the ancient fuse box that was also screwed up by the tenant and will now be replaced with a new breaker box. The new refridgerator is also supposed to be delivered tomorrow morning and the kitchen floor still needs to be scraped and cleaned before the fridge goes in the spot same spot as the old one they're hauling off. I can't be there and I just have to trust Monster to make sure all of these things are done.

Please send Home Depot gift certificates.

We haven't had much time or money for anything this month or last because we're still in the midst of restoring my condo from the last tenant. I knew bachelors were bad but Josh has far surpassed all of my worst expectations/fears.

The nasty, stained moist carpet and pad have been removed from the bed room and Moonlight will be up to refinish the hardwood floors in the living room and bedroom in a couple of weeks, as soon as Monster is finished repainting everything and replacing all of the cracked outlet covers and broken fixtures, as well as replacing the broken doorson the bedroom closet.

I spent six hundred dollars at Home Depot today alone buying, among other things, a new refridgerator. And we still haven't scheduled an electrician to come by yet to fix the fuse box. I was able to chisel the thick crust of glass and what looks like burned chili and ramen off the stove but I haven't been able to inspect and tackle the oven and cabinetry until after I have light in the kitchen again (fuse box problem) again.

in vino veritas

The wine tasting at Babette's Cafe was good tonight despite it being all white wines of Burgundy because of the excellent food pairing. Afterwards Chaz, Sandy and Moi went to Vino Librosfor more wine and snax.

You Are Creepy

Serial killers would run away from you in a flash.

How Scary Are You?

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Black Comedy

In your life, things are so twisted that you just have to laugh. You may end up insane, but you'll have fun on the way to the asylum. Your best movie matches: Being John Malkovich, The Royal Tenenbaums, American Psycho

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

You Are From Uranus

You shine with brilliant creativity, and you're more than a little eccentric. You love everything unusual and shocking. You're one far-out chick or dude. Anything unconventional excites you - and you have genius potential. Just don't let your rebel side get the best of you, or else you'll alienate everyone. Your original thinking and funky attitude is all you need to be you.

What Planet Are You From?

Halloween planning, eyes burning

Had an impromptu meeting about the Little Five Points Halloween Parade last night at the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club and my eyes and sinuses are still burning from the smoke.

The Perfect B Movie

Monster and I enjoyed the living room debut of his new copy of The Horror of Party Beach, restored by Dark Sky Films and released on DVD as a double feature with The Curse of the Living Corpse.

The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra does not seem so much like a spoof of the genre now. This is just as cheesy, with idiotic dialog, cartoonish monster costumes, and lots of slightly dressed dizzy girls and heroic men of science. But it also has some great stuff like The Del-Aires playing a rocking soundtrack and leather jacket wearing bikers kicking sand in the face of boys at the beach party just before launching into a silly acrobatic choreograph fight scene.

veiled threat?

I really think my co-worker The Irritant needs killin' - or, at least, I need to get out of this job ASAP and hope they don't hire a female to take my place.

Friday, he was in my office doing nothing but taking up space and makes the comment about how work "sure has been spurty here lately". And it was just the way he said it. Made the words sound vulgar somehow. And proceeds to spend as much time in my office too physically close and extremely annoying.

I left early, again, like I've done nearly every day this week. There's not enough to keep my busy all day anyway, and after everyone else leaves, it's just me and him there.

Monster thinks there's no threat to him and that he's just being a jerk. Boss #1 doesn't see why this makes me uncomfortable, like I'm a wimp to let it bother me.

Victory

So, I tuned up all of the security preferences on the browsers on my computer before I left work yesterday. I also created a new home page with a message on it to open with every new browser window. It just says "This computer is for use by
the art department. Use your own computer for surfing and stay off of mine!!!".

When I got to work this morning, the sound was still off.

Someone had opened Internet Explorer on my machine but there was nothing other than the home page I created in the History file.

more porn on my machine this morning

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

The Prestige

Looks like this will be a great film to see.

and again

This morning I get to work and the sound (which I usually keep mute) is up all the way and once again, someone has used Internet Explorer on my computer to to to a several locations on breakthru.com, whatever that is. I am not going to look. If you want to check it out for me and let me know, that's fine.

Again

Someone has been porn-surfing on my computer using Internet Explorer. And it could only have been The Irritant.

My boss still isn't here today.

Boss #2 doesn't even come in every day and Boss #1 will often come in late and leave before 3:00PM.

Someone's been sitting in my chair.

So I get to work this morning and start up my Mac. I look in the Recent Items menu and see that someone has been using Internet Explorer on my machine. I open IE and pull up th history menu and see a long list of sites like "amateursex" and "adult dating". The only person here when I left yesterday was The Irritant. The only person in the front office area when I arrived this morning was The Irritant.

Will this ever end???

one of those days

This is the sort of day that makes me really want to quit my job. If it weren't for the need of a steady paycheck, I'd be tempted to clock out and never return.

I love the look of this

I found these listed on FUNFURDE. These very organic lights look like jellyfish.

clairvoyant

The Irritant has instructed me to change the corporate colors used for one client to something no appearing on any of the previous files from them, citing previous job numbers that the billing is based on. These are numbers that often are remnants from completely different jobs that someone plucks from the system as a shortcut to billing.
However, the previous published graphics and logo files are irrelevant to him.

That and the fact that he insisted on my logging into the network from my machine while he watched my hands, not the screen, have been the top annoyance today, beating out having only three working jobs to occupy my time for about five minutes each.

cold cereal for lunch

There is nothing to do here and I refuse to clock out early today, as I am not a part time employee or an independent contractor who is free to pursue several clients at once. No lunch budget either for a while because I have spent way too much on my car and condo recently. Choosing to cut corners on the things that give me the least pleasure. It's not all gloom, though. My mother and sister-in-law are taking me out to a girls-night of theatre later in the week and there's a birthday party this weekend.

Found this on Apartment Therapy.

Egg-less Caesar Dressing

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 corn oil, or other mild oil such as canola or safflower
1/4 cup lemon juice
7 anchovy filets
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

In a blender, puree all ingredients until emulsified and refrigerate. Toss liberally with romaine lettuce, croutons and additional Parmesan.

disappearing WO's

So Friday, I left a group of papers to be proofread so I could send them on to clients. It's noon and I've not seen any of those proofs back yet. There is one job with no instructions sitting on my shelf and I'm sitting here with nothing on the first day of Boss#1's vacation. I hope this isn't how the rest of the week is going to work out.

The tomatoes are ready

Castleberry Hills Art Stroll

We went with the Hatchers to Castleberry Hills for the art stroll. Saw some great things as well as mediocre while walking through all of the galleries and studios there.

Finally, we got the shower repaired, the pipe was snapped inside of the showerhead as if someone had tried to support themselves with it (maybe slipping in the shower?) but it wasn't easy. The renter was out of town and no one would answer the door. Monster opened the door with the key to let the plumbers in and stayed them until they could determine what was needed in materials, which he fetched from Home Depot with my credit card. He got back and both of the plumbers were sitting outside waiting on him. There was a woman sleeping in the kitchen who came out and told them to leave because she wanted to sleep. Monster told her that they were staying and fixing the shower. We had no idea who this person was. Turns out it was the mother of a friend of our renter who was also staying there while he was out of town.

I made an angry phone call to my next door neighbor, who the renter was traveling with.

After Monster's return and dealing with the woman, the guys finished the job, which I hope was the source of the leak and will put everything to rest.

I want to remove this renter, repair, clean up, and remodel the condo, and find a better quality renter for the place. I'm over having bachelors in my place. I'd love to have a nice, professional single woman living there.

unresolved

The water issues at the condo are still unresolved today, despite having set an appointment for a "leak expert" to come out this morning. Seems we were not the first on the list of calls and got bumped off schedule by an earlier longer-than-expected job. Monster is trying to handle this for me, rescheduling for another day while I'm at work.

In other news, this made me smile.

tickets

We got tickets to the Tabernacle show, but just barely, and lousy seats. After having to log in and go through the entire purchase process TWICE for good floor level seats, Ticketmaster.com would not process my order from the PC or the Mac. So now I have the secret to share:

1. all tickets on the website must be purchased for will-call delivery only. You don't have the actually delivery options they list, like USPS or UPS,etc.

2. they charge $9.00 for a parking pass, but having to pick up the tickets and pass at will-call makes the pass useless.

3. there is no place to choose United States as your country of origin. We had to choose the outlying islands as your location.

tied in knots

The good news:
We got the new toilet installed. yeah!
And now we have the old gray toilet sitting on our patio, probably becoming a mosquito nursery until we figure out how to get rid of it. I think I'm going to put biocide pellets in it tomorrow.
Went to see the new Pirates movie tonight. Great fun. I needed some escape.
Tom Waits tickets go on sale at 10:00 AM!


The bad news:
It's been a very rough week for me. Now I'm having a glass of red wine trying to encourage sleep to come and my gut to unknot. There's more trouble in my condo with water and nasty downstairs neighbors and useless management companies.... the usual. That and my job desintegrating into nothing as they seem to be letting the business die off - I've only been working half days lately. And my car needs new struts. The back end is bottoming out, so there's another big expense coming at me.

tiny screams of dying brain cells

I can't believe how soft my hair is after putting conditioner on it last night.

It's another slow day at work again. I can feel brain cells dying while I'm trying to stay awake. At the same time, I'd rather be employed in a boring job than no job at all.

What I really want is a job closer to home that actually stimulates/challenges me a bit or at least keeps me busy. Preferably one with health insurance, paid vacation time, and 401k.

It's quiet and too slow at work today. I keep nodding off.

finally, it rained.

and then we found a renewed leak in the roof over the kitchen - above the cabinets.

I had to empty every object out of the cabinets and countertop below, dry it, put it aside, and stuff towels into the cabinets when we came home last night. This morning, I pulled out the towels and made sure everything was reasonably clean and dry. I still haven't put things where they were before. I'll probably box it all until the roof is cleared of branches, which might have caused the water to pool and an old leak to reform, and the next rain proves whether it's okay to put things back or not.

Last night was fun - the first of this year's Halloween parade gatherings to begin the process for this year's parade. More giant puppets will be involved, I think. Maybe we'll have an actual float on a trailor again this year. Those questions are still up in the air but the theme is decided now. It's going to be great fun.

Wedding of the century

My cousin Dan and Joy had their wedding yesterday. Huge event with family and friends.

Kinda funny. The officiant was a very articulate, highly educated minister who spoke with a great deal of charm. Just when I thought we might not get the usual fire and brimstone sermon on the mount that is typical of Southern Baptist weddings, he included a very serious bit of warning having to do with marriage being a covenant with God rather than a legal contract - that included how it would be better to be drawn and quartered than to break one's vows.

Great reception with the caterer presenting a spread that included lots of seafood - sushi, sashimi, oysters on the halfshell, and the obligatory shrimp coctail. Of course, there were many more options but that was where I was centered. While others enjoyed the whole tenderloin roast and chicken, I was feasting on fruits of the sea. Later followed by a very good glass of Sterling Cab. The event ended with fireworks over the lake at the country club. I would love to see a photo of what I saw then - Dan and Joy in silhouette taking in the fireworks, held in eachothers arms. One thing I had not seen before was a table with a man hand-rolling cigars for guests. Even my brother was puffing on a wedding cigar, watching the fireworks. Almost like a Bergman film.

I got to see and speak with relatives and friends from near and far. So many people that we unfortunately only see at weddings and funerals and the occassional christening. I prefer seeing everyone at weddings, when there are no inhibitions or sorrow and everyone is, by nature of the event, positive and future-minded. When we were ready to leave, my mother wasn't waiting for me near the door as I expected her to be. I found her dancing with my cousin Heather's husband in front of the band, which is huge because this was the first time she'd been able to dance in years - all thanks to her new bionic knees. There was a great moment when Joy's brother got out in the center of the floor dancing just like Michael Jackson to Billie Jean - legend has it that he learned that trick when he was around 14 years old and has done it by request ever since. It was great fun watching that and then he pulled this sister, the bride, onto the floor to dance with him. Too funny.

And now I wish my cousins a perfect honeymoon with no sunburn or other maladies to occur. The worrier in me immediately sees peril in two very blonde individuals on a beach.

caliente

Did nothing today but have a good meal of food stuffs already in the fridge (new potatoes, salad, veggie riblets) followed by a cosmopolitan mixed by Monster. Now I'm just doing laundry and waiting for the new episode of No Reservations to air later tonight.

Diem Good Eats

I had the best scallops ever last night at Diem as the dinner special. Huge. Fresh. Sweet. Cooked - seared perfectly without being over-done. So incredibly tender, on a bed of artichoke hearts, fresh baby green beans and risoto.

watching Some Like It Hot tonight

Tony Curtis is the proto-William Shatner.

Mother's Day

We ate at Blue Ridge Grill for Mother's Day - My mother, Monster, and Moi.

The service is still extraordinary but the food has kinda lost it. It's overpriced for what you get and not as good as it used to be. Mother's fried oysters were not quite done - raw on the inside and not yet crisp on the outside. My tuna was lost in a sauce that was so strong all I could taste was sugar and licorice.

Last time we'll be there unless it's just for desert and the wait staff or the Grey Goose martinis.

new spring coat

Gorilla at the car wash on Piedmont Avenue has a new suit.

recurring loops

recurring loops happen. Thoughts you can't get out of your head, worries that won't leave you alone.

I've found that recently, what seems to help is stepping out of the normal habits with a mental and physical activity. For me, that has been as simple as working in the garden and yard for a while at the end of each day. Somehow that clears things out all the way down to the dream level in me. I don't know if something like that would work for anyone else, but maybe it would. After doing the same things in the same places redundantly, even my dreams can become frustrating loops. I actually dream better after gardening.

Pretty good day

Yesterday was not as busy as I would like but a couple of jobs came in near the end that made the last hour pass at an acceptable level. I balance the lulls with busy work clearing out old files and stripping film to go into recycle bins.

When I got home, Monster was clean-shaven and grinning. All of the dead wood in the side yard had been moved and stackeed neatly against the side of the house. The misplaced hosta had been transplanted to a better place on one side of the house and the rhododendron had been tranplanted to the other side in a better, roomier space. New pinestraw was spread evenly across all of the area he had worked in.

I told him it looked great and he said "You like it when I bust my ass."
Yes. I do like it when he works around the house an actually finishes a job that he starts.
He looked a lot better too after shaving.

The only complaint (I can't help it - there's always one) was that he dug up the one purple flower I'd saved from the front. When I asked what he was planning to do with it, he started singing "Seasons in the Sun". I've never seen anyone who hates flowers as much as he does. I am planning to rescue it next time he's not home - after it stops raining. I'll either try potting it or planting it in back next to the patio.

Estrogen

Five of us had met for a polite southern ladies tea at the Faded Rose. I think it is the most feminine place I've seen in recent years in that traditional, southern, rather mature style. The weather didn't cooperate with me earlier. There was a downpour just minutes earlier but the clouds parted just as everyone made it there. Lots of tea. Several pots of various infusions were consumed. Scones/biscuits served with preserves, lemon curd and clotted cream.

Mrs. Cloun, being the supporting friend that she is, helped me look for the elusive perfect dress to wear to my cousin's wedding in June. I'm hard to please this week. Everything seemed like it was the wrong color, too casual for an evening wedding, or too matronly - too many gathers, too fluffy, etc. etc. But I think I have a lot better idea now for what I might wear. I could wear my black suit, but this would be my one good excuse this year to buy myself something wonderful and feminine, despite the fact that I'm not a girlie skirt-wearing type. I would love something simple, classic, slender in jewel colors like red or purple. Or polka dots - there are so many nice black & white polka dot dresses that were either too flimsy at the top, too low in the back or too fluffy and bunched up (whatever that's called).

I will continue the search another day.

Just what I needed

My day was frustrating. Nothing to work on and I finally gave up the ghost and went home at 3PM. No work - no pay.

Then we went to East Atlanta and met Sandy at the cantina to satisfy my margarita carving. Nick was working and came out of the kitchen to visit for a moment. I had a good margarita with a full, oaky underlying flavor and complimenary quesadilla from Nick. Then we headed to the Gravity Pub to check out Bingo night with Chaz. We stayed for three rounds before leaving.
We came home, where Monster urinated for an age that rivaled Austin Powers.

Good company and tequila and music and escape from the norm were just what I needed to calm my anxiety and raise my spirits. Thank you.

Where did my job go?

Got to work yesterday and found out Boss #1 has taken another week-long vacation. I am left alone in the front with The Irritant. Needless to say, there was no work to do yesterday except for a few previously unfinished projects drizzling in bits and pieces from last week. This morning I got to my office and there is NOTHING in it to work on. I finished yesterday archiving and filing so that's one less thing I can do to entertain myself with today. I also changed out all the chemistry in the plate maker yesterday, so that job is done as well.

UURRRGGHHH!

What is the price of boredom and entropy?

Inman Park Festival

This weekend is the Inman Park neighborhood festival and parade.

Happy Birthday to Monster

It's his birthday today. He's still sick with whatever microbe has gotten into him. I will do whatever I can for him when I get home from work.

Yesterday, after work, Ann and I went to eat sushi together at the restaurant that seems to be appropriately named "Sushi Bar" up the street. Not bad. Not as cheap or with quite the atmosphere of Ru San's but very conveniently located to home. I'll be back, hopefully with Ann again.

might be plague.

Monster got back from working in Florida on Monday with a scratchy throat, which we both attributed to traveling with smoking co-workers and in dry airplanes, but by yesterday he was much worse and running a fever of 101. Looks like a flu of some sort. Or could be bubonic or pneumonic plague.

So far, I'm feeling okay. No signs that he's shared too much with me yet.

Patio Living

We've been working in the yard most of the weekend, catching up on a winter spent letting everything go outside. There are twenty leaf bags we've filled up on the curb now. Monster has made a level garden planter/box for us to grow tomatos, eggplants, peppers and herbs in. I've beaten back as much of the english ivy in the back yard jungle as I could over the weekend to make room for the garden and to begin to reclaim the back yard for outdoor living.

Now it's time to relax in the butterfly chairs on the patio in back with a few refreshments and enjoy our place.

Next project: The dining room. But not this week.

Better than I thought today would be.

Boss #1 finally came back from his family vacation today. the dya was filled with setting jobs and clients right again and getting everything back on track. Lots of accusations and questions followed by polite apologies and at least one cheap shot on my part accusing the pressmen of sexism when they wouldn't listen to me. Truth is, they didn't feel confident about anything until they heard it from their Commander In Chief. There was an undeniable break in the tension in the air with Boss #1 back and The Irritant not as noticable.

There was a march of some sort today in Chamblee, a part of town with a lot of Asian and Hispanic immigrants. Police were at every intersection as hundreads of people walked by, many holding United States flags, one or two sporting Mexican flags, walking up Buford highway. I only wish this march had been in Buckhead or Marietta, where a lot of immigrants are employed, but for all I know there were similar marches around the area.

Dinner of pizza with red wine tonight with Monster.

Go to Wikipedia. Type in your birth date (but not year). List three events that happened on your birthday. List three important birthdays and three interesting deaths. Post this in your journal.

events:

1604 - Kepler's Star: German astronomer Johannes Kepler observes that an exceptionally bright star had suddenly appeared in the constellation Ophiuchus, which turned out to be the last supernova to have been observed in our own galaxy, the Milky Way.

2005 - Peter Mayhew, better known in his film role as Chewbacca becomes an official U.S. citizen.

2005 - The Chicago White Sox clinch their first American League pennant since 1959, and their first World Series appearance, also since 1959.

birthdays:

1253 - Ivo of Kermartin, French saint (d. 1303)

1915 - Arthur Miller, American playwright (d. 2005)

1972 - Eminem, American rapper

deaths:

532 - Pope Boniface II

1849 - Frédéric Chopin, Polish-French musician and composer (b. 1810)

1967 - Henry Pu Yi, last Emperor of China (b. 1906)

TGIF

This has been the longest week of the year at work.

I have had to start backing up certain job-related emails by forwarding the correspondence to my personal email account just to have a permanent record of what had transpired this week.

We had at least one day when I had no access to my email at work.

I have listened to The Irritant talking customer into smaller orders - like this is somehow what he's supposed to do - make less money for the company and get some clients to choose other providers altogether.

Everyone tells me to ask The Irritant for info when I have questions (like missing information) on a job or client and 90% of the time, not only does he not have a clue, but refuses to speak to clients or check into things I do not have access to.

I hate this place... mostly because of one employee.

This is the first day of Boss#1's family vacation week and chaos has already started. One of our vendors called in looking for faxed instructions for a job they recieved last week and the job jacket, which should be in the irritant's office by now, is missing. The Irritant tells me he is unable to make a new fax-sheet for the order without the job jacket. I have already done a thorough search of both my office and the common area. I suspect it will magically resurface soon, as these things usually do. I can not tread in The Irritant's territory. Making purchase orders and such paperwork is under his specific job duties.

The Fog

The fog this morning looks like the house is sitting inside a cloud. Another reminder, perhaps, that we live so close to the Chattahoochee river and the water treatment plant.

chairman of the bored

Suffering from a horrible boredom tonight. Nothing to work on or play with. Nowhere to go.

bleeehhhhh...

Spring gardening

Spent most of yesterday and the day before doing yard work. Monster has now removed two nearly dead trees from the front yard and planted one new river birch to replace the half-dead dogwood he cut down and excavated. The other tree, an ancient holly, was replaced with a transplanted hydrangea from a few feet away. I sprinkled violet seeds around the fresh loose soil, so with a little luck and regular watering, maybe flowers will come up in a few weeks and make a nice ground cover. The yard is slowly being cleared of debri, dead and overgrown hedges, and flowers bulbs that I like but the guys don't want.

I've been busy in the back yard working on aggressive management of the english ivy that's everywhere. Mostly, I'm just removing it from the area nearest the patio (trying to reduce the clouds of mosquitos this summer) and cutting it off the trees. There are some very nice wild flowers and forgotten shrubs and ferns growing in back that I hope to leave as is, transplant, or prune back eventually to a healthier shape.

Monster actually made it out tonight with me to the Thursday dinner. It was an especially good group tonight at Diem with the Gothfather, JB, W, and G&B. Everyone was in an exceptionally good mood and the humor was (mostly) especially clever.

You're 25% Irish

You're not Irish. Not even a wee bit. Not even on St. Patrick's Day!

How Irish Are You?

St. Patrick's Day with options.

Several things that sound like a lot of fun to do tonight. And it's St. Patrick's day. Of course, this also means driving may be need to be especially cautious tonight with slightly more people making merry out there.

Fernbank is having a special Martini's and Imax night with Kingsized performing.

Lee is cooking corned beef, cabbage, & potatoes for a St. Patrick's day birthday party for a friend at her house tonight.

The premier of the new Dr. Who series on SciFi network starts at 9pm tonight.

Today's Story

The devil's advocate in me says I should pass this along.

Met For the Second Time

It started last spring when my daughter signed on to the Internet.

She found it very interesting and kept asking me to try it. At age 50, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to learn what I would need to know. I kept declining.

Finally, after some encouragement and being reminded of how I had learned to use the computer, I conceded. I have to admit that it was very enjoyable and I found so many interesting things.

Then one day, I typed in the word "adoption" on a search engine. I couldn't believe all the stuff that came up. I became obsessed.

You see, I had a baby boy when I was a teen and I relinquished him to adoption, but I never stopped thinking about him and praying for his well being. I had been waiting since 1985 for my birth son to contact me. He turned 18 that year, and I, along with many other birth moms, was told during the time of relinquishment that when he became 18, he would be able to obtain information on me that would allow him to make contact.

That was wrong, but I didn't find that out until last year. I thought that since my birth son had never contacted me, he was not interested in knowing who I was or in obtaining any identifying information. Most people, that have never been connected to anyone that has been adopted or relinquished a baby, have no idea what the majority of them deal with.

The birth mother always wondering if her child had a good life, if he/she is safe, and the dreaded thoughts of whether he/she is dead. The adoptee, wondering why, wondering who they look like, what nationality they are, and what their medical history is. We are all denied the right to know any of this because of state laws.

By February 1999, I had been searching the Internet for 10 months, contacting the Court and Children and Youth Services and not receiving one shred of hope. I was told that I had no rights and there was nothing I could do.

I was ready to give up.

I prayed and told God that I knew it was out of my control and if it were His will He would make it happen. I would wait on Him.

The following week, with God guiding me to read a post written on the Internet by a birth mom angel, I was given one last thing to do before I quit.

The post didn't have much in it, just that she had a baby girl at St. Vincent's in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a social worker from CSS had reunited her with her daughter. Something inside me told me to write to this woman and ask her about her reunion with her daughter and how it came about. She wrote and told me to call a number in Philadelphia and ask a social worker if they could help.

Six weeks later, I met my son, Joseph, for the second time in 32 years.

I was the beneficiary of a miracle. I could write so much more about the details, but they are not of importance. What is important is the fact that we should never stop believing in miracles.

May you all be blessed with your own miracle, and if there is anyone out there that is thinking about a lost loved one, don't ever give up that faith, hope or love.

--Author Unknown

Tim Burton was robbed

Curse of the Wererabbit was a cute film by one of my favorite animation teams, but it was nothing compared to The Corpse Bride. Sorry, but I think that award was a pity prize for the poor guys whose studio burned.

Couldn't call it unexpected

True to form, now that the irritant is back, Boss #1 hasn't yet shown up this morning and there are NO jobs that have been written up for me to work on.

I mean there is NOTHING to do, even though I know that there are several new jobs in.

the old snot faucet

Mandy's father came to the baby shower despite the fact that he was sick as a dog. Now, apparently, he has shared his cold with me. My sinuses feel like they are bleeding into my throat. Top that with the burn that is still healing on my tongue and my mouth and throat are too sore to eat anything solid. Even water hurts.

busy social weekend.

Friday, we got an impromtu invitation from Aud and Nick. They were both off work and he was cooking. We had a great dinner of duck comfit with lentil salad with fresh strawberry sorbet for desert. Delicious. We hung out at the house with them and the animal menagerie and enjoyed the new copper fire outdoor firepit they got.

Saturday, was the belated baby shower for baby Alex.

Sunday was Lisamin's birthday party and sausage cookout.

The dead still visit me in dreams.

Last night was filled with dreams of family members who have passed on in the last year - my father, both of my grandmothers. They are made appearances in the scenes of my thoughts like they'd never left. My father was especially active in a way that implied that he was still running things and was still around for advice. I was glad we could still visit this way.

what condition my condition was in.

That's the song that's been going through my head today. I think it is the fond memories of the scene in the The Big Lebowski.

I've been sluggish all day with a lingering headache. Monster took me out after work for pasta and Excedrin.

And now that it's time for me to get into bed if I'm going to make it to work in the morning, I'm starting to feel much better.

You are Sally Bowles from Cabaret! You're the sexy

Brit who headlines at the Kit Kat Club. You

may not be the most talented singer, and your

morals may not be quite intact, but you are

vivacious, eccentric and irresistible.


What musical theatre tart are you?
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that familiar feeling

I'm suffering from the sensation of moving entropy in my life again.

After a day of work during a not too busy time of year, the last thing I want to do is go from sitting in front of a computer all day to sitting in front of a television set during most of my last wakeful hours. I have the intense desire for activity and socializing. And yet, these are the cocoon months, winter, where no one should do anything other than stay inside sipping hot steamy beverages in fluffy clothes and fuzzy shoes.

What i did on my xmas holiday

Monster and I drove to Pell City, Alabama on Christmas morning to visit his mother. We had lunch and sat for a while visiting with his mother, aunt and uncle. After leaving the house, we drove to what remains of the Greenwood plantation house, formerly his mother's family home.

Then it was back to Georgia to spend the evening with my family at my brother's house. My mother was there, along with my brother's wife and children as we had a light meal of soup and exchanged gifts around one of the three Christmas trees in the house.

This holiday, I have decided to permanently abandon the idea of gifts certificates as gifts. With my family, there is no way anyone appreciates the amount I can afford to give and, like most people, if they see anything they want in the common certificate sources, they probably already have it. Now the quest is to find something more esoteric in a place they wouldn't normally ever shop at. This, I am happy to report, was a very successful plan. All of my smaller, more original and affordable gifts were well received. They seemed to be quite honestly appreciated, which makes me very happy. Back to the joy of gift shopping again.