spinning-jennie :: don't hate me because of my parentheses

it's raining [babies]!
Better day. Some people still insisted on riding my box-bruised butt, and more electronics were filched from my storerooms, but my sinuses have stopped throbbing, and it's raining. Hard! I got drenched just running from the car to the porch, and I couldn't be happier about it. Woot!

In other, less self-centered news: welcome, Henry!
8/21/2003 03:14:02 PM

fevermisc
I'm having a sinus episode, probably caused by all the drywall/construction dust I've been kicking up in the library. I should be sitting on the couch watching the bad Star Wars movie with D. and a big glass of water. But I'm twichy and antsy and in a hyper-anal mood, so I'm cleaning up the paper pile next to my desk in a fevery sweat while the Advil and pseudoephedrine kick in.

I've got to say, though, that my desk looks a thousand times better.

D. brought home a bottle of Sapphire, and it's all I can do not to take a nip with something (I'm not a lush, usually! I just live with one). Maybe it would be medicinal.

My dinner plan:
1 whole wheat tortilla
1 c Caribbean black beans (from a can)
1 tomato (with a tiny bit of salt)
1 T shredded parmesan
1 c sliced strawberries

Since I'm going to pass out soon, I guess I'd better get on that.
8/20/2003 08:36:54 PM

one of those
I'm having a day. You know, the one in which the universe seems bound and determined to take your ego down a notch or five, turning you to thumbs and stumbling duhs and inferiority. The blatantly obvious is obfuscated just long enough to make you a seem a flaming idiot, your talents (such as they are) condescended to or ignored, and your wishes mercilessly bulldozed without a second thought.

Yeah. That day.
8/19/2003 07:04:08 PM

quickquick
Here alive but tired (STOP) No computer time at work (STOP) More later (STOP)
8/19/2003 11:32:01 AM

whoopi-ti-ai-oh
Back in the saddle again.
8/18/2003 07:03:27 PM

but sometimes old is better
Proof that I did more than spend an hour at the DMV yesterday.
8/17/2003 11:12:23 AM

sometimes new is good
We didn't go to our usual DMV yesterday, and I'm so glad.

Old DMV		New DMV
Cinderblock prison decor Three-hour wait ...and you'll stand and like it, cattle Clerk distributes forms from rickety plastic cart Counting the people in line will give you something to do, at least		Place of business decor Not-quite-one-hour wait ...please take a number and have a seat Nice receptionist looks over your papers and gives you forms Monitors show which numbers have just been called

It was almost as nice as a Michigan DMV, and I nearly cried with joy. And I didn't even have to surrender my license this time - they just punched a hole in the expiration date and gave me the usual paper to carry with it. Oh, joy of joys!
8/17/2003 08:21:17 AM

lovely.
Update: they keep moving the photo URL. But look around. You'll get the idea.
8/16/2003 06:36:06 AM

six pounds down
I've been doing Weight Watchers online for two weeks. I've stuck with it every single day. My eating habits have changed drastically, and I'm getting twice as many servings of fruits and veggies as I used to. Nothing like seeing a record of every single thing you put in your mouth, I guess.

The real test came today. Yes, I've been tempted before, by drive-thru runs and movie treats and extra pierogi in the pot (and make mine boiled, not pan-fried, thank you). But nothing could prepare me for the gift of a giant (giant!) fundraiser cookie in my mailbox, which I found just as I was wrapping up my six hours of hard labor, at the height of my emotional, physical, and hormonal weakness.

Oh, what a struggle. I brought it home, thinking D. would gladly confiscate it. But I was hungry, and it taunted me. Soft chocolatey bastard.

All it took to dissuade me was a quick Points calculation using calories and grams of fat and fiber... half my Points for the day! I couldn't get rid of the cursed thing fast enough. I'm all about the black-and-white.

Such a simple system, and yet it may be the best thing that ever happened to my diet. Which is now almost completely balanced, not top-heavy with carbs like it was. I don't feel hungry much. Deprived of my salt-cravey foods, perhaps, but not really hungry. And I'm forcing myself to exercise every day (though this week work, with the pushing, lifting, carrying, and complete lack of sitting, has been exercise enough and then some).

If work doesn't break me down, I should be done well before Christmas. My present to me will be a new wardrobe.
8/14/2003 04:37:08 PM

and yes, I do have a healthy sense of humor
Am I the only one who finds these slightly disturbing?
8/14/2003 07:35:38 AM

end in sight
So tired. Three days of lifting heavy book boxes with an end that is inhumanly too far away. I can't even get my hands on a handtruck, so each box has to be carried. My storage shelving was installed over the summer, finally. So I've got two weeks to finish moving in. This week I've been concentrating more heavily on getting the remainder of the six pallets of math and language arts texts processed and out the door for good - obviously a higher priority.

Last night I conked out in front of the tube around eight, stiff and sore everywhere. And for all that I slept nearly ten hours, getting up at six was still pure torture. Today I've added blisters to the mix, even though I haven't had problems with these sandals before. My hair looks icky and I don't smell very dainty.

At least everything is going to its final spot. I never want to see a grimy cardboard box again. At least in the library.

My boss (the district librarian) has been coming to help for a couple hours each day. Even though she's doing two separate jobs now (half district and half site librarian - each technically half-time but you know that's not the way it'll pan out), she still made time. And thanked me before I left for the day. Thanked me for doing my job.

I suppose it's futile to beg her to move to Portland.

No, I don't know what's up with our server. I doubt we're seeing the last of the problem, though, so expect a few outages...
8/13/2003 04:07:05 PM

delicious
It's really been far too long since I've visited the Gallery.
8/13/2003 07:38:45 AM

smashy votey happy fun time
Another gubernahorrible laugh at our expense.
8/11/2003 06:30:40 PM

picnic and a movie
Saturday we saw American Wedding (eh) and Seabiscuit (not bad, if predictable) at the Sacramento Drive-In. One of the last of a dying breed, the rate at which it's being allowed to decay probably means it won't be around much longer. A sad prospect, especially considering each time we've visited the place has been packed full.

Some dusky pics in the visiblog.
8/11/2003 06:00:17 AM

name claim
Yesterday found the thin, windowed envelope in our mailbox. The envelope from the Social Security Administration holding the key to my new identity. My new name. K instead of P. I'd been using the new name casually, with friends and family, on my email address. But on paper, to banks and government agencies and my insurance company, I was legally still a P. Still Ms. P at school.

And, yes, it has been a year since we got married. But the internal struggle to give up what had always been an integral part of me was tougher than I estimated. Much to the disappointment, and then exasperation, of D.

"I don't want to be one of those families that has hyphenated kids!"

And I'd previously considered myself pretty traditional this way, not a capital "f" Feminist by any stretch. It's only a name, right? So what, no biggie. But time went by, and by, and the most progress I made was requesting an official copy of the marriage license from Reno (which I had to do three times via mail, and it's not until I finally received it that they instituted online ordering).

I don't pretend to understand the change in attitude. I certainly have no great love of the name. It's not even our real family name, changed by French immigrant ancestors from the slightly more elegant Pelletier. I guess it was just that it was still mine.

I decided that, though uncomfortable and not a little annoying, I didn't feel strongly enough not to go through with it. My Social Security name change was finally processed, so now I can get a new driver's license and bank cards and all that paperworky stuff. Not without twinges for each, but that'll pass. Right?

Did you know that the California DMV is only open the early half of one Saturday of the month now? No appointments available until about January. And our DMV is such a classy affair (think strip mall meets high-security prison cafeteria without the benches). Fantastic waits. I'll do it again next Saturday - but damned if I'll do it alone!
8/9/2003 05:16:09 PM

lesser evil

8/8/2003 11:29:07 AM

send in the clowns
Well, Arnold's not news. But Gary sure was to me. Could that pose be more obnoxious?

I knew this recall would be nothing but an expensive, big top mockery of the electoral process. Without the benefit of cotton candy.
8/7/2003 03:50:05 PM

midlife crises come in twinges
When I was in school, I didn't have much use for homecoming. The parades seemed lame, the bonfires so-so, and I had no use for football.

But now I find myself wanting to go. To walk to the game among crowds and falling leaves, hear the aging, ubiquitous, and pleasantly hokey Jim and Ray, sit ~~bundled in the stands with a thermos of cocoa~~ warm and toasty in the Yooper Dome, and try to cram into Vango's afterwards for pizza and beer.

Though it's possible I'm just craving a "real" autumn in general.
8/6/2003 11:58:21 AM

mmm, people
Soylent Green was released on DVD today. Get thee to your Netflix queue!
8/5/2003 04:47:57 PM

consider yourself warned
To: all fellow Sacramentans
Re: recent weather

As some of you may have noticed, there has been a marked change in the weather these past few days. In light of this, The Establishment asks that you review these guidelines:

1. If you're complaining about this tiny bit of humidity, you've probably never experienced humidity. So shut up. And move to Death Valley.

2. If you're moaning "oh, the clouds this weekend were soooooo depressing!" or something equally pathetic, see item 1.

3. If you're complaining about this "cold" 85-degree weather, We'll probably smack you. Additionally, get bent.

4. If you're complaining about the .25 inches of rain we got over the weekend, We're just going to ignore you. The firemen battling the woodland wildfires should have first crack at your sorry ass.

This policy is in effect immediately. For your own safety, please observe all guidelines when within hearing or kicking range of The Establishment.

Update: Ooops. We only got .01 inches of rain. I guess the excitement of seeing any moisture on the ground at all robbed me of my power of estimation.
8/5/2003 09:35:09 AM

don't click if you've got work to do today
20 Questions has provided more than a little entertainment here this weekend. Sometimes the AI is truly uncanny. It's learning from our answers, so I hope there aren't people out there screwing with it on purpose or out of stupidity.
8/4/2003 11:40:47 AM

thighs of steel, buns of fire
Today we dragged our department store bikes down from the porch for the first time in about two years. Mine is burgundy and just a teeny bit cruiser retro-looking, see? I'm thinking of getting a removeable wire shopping basket for the handlebars. I was leaning toward wicker, but I'm pretty sure you need chrome tire guards to carry that off.

Aside from its looks, I'm not terribly fond of the bike, but I did spoil myself a little in the nineties. That was only justifiable because a bike was my only mode of wheeled transportation. I'd have to become really hard-core to make that kind of splurge again.

But look at this pretty 1940's reproduction. Swell.

Luckily the trail to the store is relatively flat, the wind was light, and it was only 75°. Still a good workout for such neglected muscles.

Ow. Remind me to get a gel seat cover before riding again.
8/2/2003 04:14:44 PM

memories of cold evenings around the Caribou fire
Perusing the Caribou Coffee site, I find I really want to join the club. And perhaps order up some minty lip stuff.
8/1/2003 08:47:17 PM

paper, shmaper
Hey, we made it through the first year. I'm feeling nostalgic, so here's a little timeline.

Early 1997: Things aren't looking too good in Auburn Hills, MI. Jennie's Bad Decision of three years has spent the rent money on toys for the last time, and she kicks him to the curb. Meanwhile, in Madison Heights, MI, Darin is recovering from a six-year relationship and not having much luck with online dating.
Late 1997: Jennie has completely given up online dating, thanks to the creepiest little man that she has ever met. Learns that photos, writing, and even the telephone can be deceiving.
January 1998: Jennie is awarded her degree, finally! In a fit of euphoric optimism, she gives dating another shot. She and Darin email for a couple of weeks and decide to meet. Darin does not drink coffee, but Jennie decides he is not creepy nonetheless. They hit it off directly over big bowls of ice cream (both being much thinner then), and that was that.
Spring 1998: Three cats, one couple, one sister, and one bedroom. How did management never catch on?
Fall 1998: After spending too many months in their crampy suburban quarters, they move across the street to a townhome on the water, where they lived for nearly two years. The kitties really liked running up and down those stairs.
Spring 2000: Fed up with dwindling job prospects and Detroit in general, the pair drives cross-country to Sacramento, CA. It's still too soon to laugh about that move.
December 2001: Darin asks Jennie to marry him under the big Christmas tree in Folsom. Oh, and she said yes.
August 1, 2002: Mostly impromptu Reno wedding!
8/1/2003 12:19:55 PM

GeoURL

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