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June 30, 2005

Bluckety!
Incomparable suckiness. Evil behemoth corporate eeeeeevil. New spur-of-the-moment interview plans today, amazingly. Suddenly, off to downtown. Hopefully we can catch up with Ms. S and co while we're in the neighborhood.
06/30/05 09:33 AM |  Comments


June 29, 2005

Here
"You can do this. You can do this. You can do this."

Courtesy #51. Gargh.

Busy week of meetups and familiarization with the area. And of course D. has his hands full.

I will say that traveling with an older, mobile bub kind of sucks. There's not enough room for him to crawl around, and there's nowhere to take him that is. He refuses to sleep in the tiny hotel crib, and there's no room to spread out a mattress to co-sleep really safely, of course. He's clean and napped and fed well right now, but feels cooped up and is just mad as heck. And now I have to take a plastic bag away from him, and he's going to turn beet red and yowl, and that vein will pop out on his forehead. Luckily we're leaving for some fun elsewhere right now. Eesh!
06/29/05 10:01 AM |  Comments


June 25, 2005

We Interrupt Our Regularly-Scheduled Listmania...
...to inform you that we're going to be staying in Renton, WA next week. Interviewing. Stress. Bring on the fun!

At least we're breaking the drive each way into two manageable chunks. In the interest of neither of us being throttled by the other. Or giant bub meltdown. Or both!

Luckily our standard cheap-ass hotel has free wireless, so you won't be deprived of yours truly too terribly much.

We did, in the interest of sanity, have to give up our Nevada plans for the Fourth. I'm sure either Petaluma or Santa Rosa puts on a decent show. I missed last year, and wouldn't care to go again without my yearly allotment of fireworks. I hope the bub is okay with them.
06/25/05 01:06 PM |  Comments


June 24, 2005

Some More.
Gah! Can't... make... one hundred...


51. I avoid highway driving if possible.
52. Which might be thanks to the terrible recurring crash nightmares I had for two decades.
53. I bought my first car from an ex boyfriend - and my second from his sister.
54. Once, when I visited their church, I made the mistake of not eating breakfast first. And receiving Communion. Then I made fast friends with the shrubbery outside.
55. I like playing with Legos.
56. I will probably monopolize the bub's Duplos.
57. I'm still working up the courage to attend a Unitarian-Universalist meeting.
58. My ears are double pierced, but I haven't worn earrings in well over a year.
59. I have a big problem with baby girls being pierced. In the interest of being polite, I have to keep that to myself a lot.
60. Circumcision, too.
61. I want to take the train somewhere so bad. A long trip, in a sleeper compartment.
62. I went to a specialty school in Milwaukee for three years.
63. I can't believe I'm not done with this yet.
64. I didn't get too sentimental about the bub growing out of his cute little clothes so quickly... until it was time to put away the fuzzy warm red and blue jacket. *sob*
65. My favorite Jelly Belly is Buttered Popcorn. Or, wait... Pina Colada? No - Strawberry Cheesecake. Dammit.
66. I can be incredibly lazy. You've really no idea.
67. I want a Cornish pasty so bad. Hold the rutabagas, though.
68. It drives me a little batty when my nails are different lengths. Which, with a bub, they often are.
69. Makeup is yucky. The only thing I use every day is gloss.
70. Oh, how I miss 2 a.m. shopping at Meijer!
71. There isn't much else I miss about Detroit. Our townhome, maybe, and that neighborhood, and Meadowbrook (beware - crappy design, silly text, broken links abound).
72. Sometimes staying at home is more stressful than having a "real job" was. I knew this would be true... and still wasn't prepared for the enormity of that truth.
73. Once, in college, I got terribly ill on Chicken Nuggets. I didn't eat them for at least eight years. And then... I did. I can be an idiot like that.
74. A group of us watched a friend have her bellybutton pierced. It may have well been more painful for us.
75. Sometimes, when I'm feeling very naughty, I negate the goodness of my oaty cereal with a heapin' helpin' of half and half.
06/24/05 01:03 PM |  Comments


June 20, 2005

100 Things
You know, I keep making a start on this, and eventually giving up. Because it's difficult, I suppose. And I don't believe that anyone will actually read it (I admit to skimming most, myself, so). Oh, well. Here's the first half, in any case.

1. I sometimes miss snow on Christmas day. Sometimes.
2. My favorite donut is either a cruller or chocolate long john, depending on if I'm feeling flaky or gooey that day, of course.
3. I am far more shy than you think I am.
4. And my greatest fear is that you won't like me because of that.
5. I wish I could wear sandals every day. Except, of course, on Christmas.
6. I love chicken and fresh tomato on my pizza.
7. None of which will help me lose this last twenty-five pounds.
8. Liberal and conservative extremists both annoy me to no end. Which is why I want to work on the next Libertarian campaign.
9. I think Ayn Rand was a complete crackpot. I kind of love her anyhow.
10. I want to spend two weeks in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
11. Those word games at Merriam-Webster? Sometimes I play them.
12. I'm also addicted to Web Boggle and Scrabble - I'm a word geek.
13. If you misspell your business signage, I will be laughing at you.
14. Sometimes, though, my spoken pronunciation is s**t, so you'll probably be laughing at me.
15. I swear. I'm trying to get rid of that habit in front of the bub.
16. I had the hots for Bruce Willis - but only as David Addison.
17. I despise using the phone. Email is the Best Thing Ever.
18. Since I've had the bub, I don't enjoy reading as much as I used to. Which, frankly, worries me.
19. When I was in junior high, I'd tear up if I couldn't answer a question on a test.
20. I only got one B in junior high. In phys ed.
21. I can't do a cartwheel. I spent hours and hours working on it as a kid. My junior high phys ed teacher said I "wasn't trying hard enough." Bitch.
22. Those pop-open cardboard biscuit dough tubes make me flinch.
23. Bread over chocolate.
24. Chocolate over booze.
25. The military has my full support. But those omnipresent magnetic yellow car ribbons still annoy me, and I don't know why.
26. 5.
27. John Cusack, Nathan Fillion, Jake Gyllenhaal, Hal Sparks (hee!). Still have to find a replacement for Johnny Depp. Blasphemer.
28. If you preach at me, know that I'm inwardly seething, if outwardly polite.
29. I'm generally outwardly polite.
30. This does not always work to my advantage.
31. I watch all those completely un-PC late-night Cartoon Network/Comedy Central shows, and laugh my ass off.
32. Thongs are excruciating.
33. Both the underwear and the shoe.
34. I've flipped off strangers - with their full knowledge - twice.
35. I am a fervent recycler, but I use disposable diapers. This may be my greatest hypocrisy.
36. I have not spoken to my father in over six years. With very good reason.
37. My mother was too young to become a parent. Sometimes, in the itty-bitty hours, I wonder if I'm too old and set in my ways.
38. I have a roll number.
39. This is actually starting to bore me.
40. I'm not terribly easy to bore these days.
41. I think I get frustrated with the bub far too easily.
42. I've watched General Hospital for years. Sue me.
43. I try to appreciate teensy bubby feet while I can.
44. Project follow-through is something I really have to work on.
45. My youngest uncle married a woman that has my birthdate, and now my entire exact (maiden) name. Except Jenn with "-y," not "-ie."
46. I've had many, many jobs over the years, but strangely enough, only one male boss. He was a total jerk.
47. I cannot consider myself expert on anything.
48. I think owning a B&B would be awesome - except for that whole being sociable to the guests thing.
49. I'm not allergic to any foods. Just pollen, cats, and cold.
50. I had to take organic chemistry twice. And not because I blew up a beaker in lab.
06/20/05 05:20 PM |  Comments


Sorry So Scarce...
...but, meh.
06/20/05 04:33 PM |  Comments


June 16, 2005

It's Been Awhile...
...since I made a submission to the Mirror Project (that fourth one's not me, FYI).

So here's a new one, wet hair and all.
06/16/05 04:46 PM |  Comments


Bits
The wife of a very old friend was to be induced this morning. I'm wishing them luck.

Bub has his own old keyboard to pound on. Of course not much short of deleting our latest projects will make him happy, though.

Second night in the bub's room. Not what I'd call successful. Ugh.

Warning: I'm getting worse about returning/acknowledging correspondence in a timely manner. I can blame it on so many things - the developing ulcer, lack of sleep, keyboard stolen by bub - but really, it's mostly because I suck.

Thanks for getting me addicted to Postsecret. Why, oh why? can't there be posts every day?

Cold urticaria. It's a stupid, stupid allergy. We were out walking on the riverside marshland yesterday, wind chill of about, oh, 60, and my bare arms broke out in giant, ugly patches of itchy hives. How the hell did I not succumb to anaphylactic shock in all my subzero days on Lake Superior? Stupid.
06/16/05 11:38 AM |  Comments


June 15, 2005

Vampire Mini
I'd been at the computer for just a few minutes, bub on my lap, seemingly content enough.

"OWWWWWWWWWW!!!"

With no warning, he leaned over and bit my inner upper arm, hard. I have red tooth marks and a bruise there now. And this was through my sleeve. I can't figure - usually hands and lower arms are his thing. And I've certainly never sustained visible damage before.
06/15/05 09:57 PM |  Comments


June 13, 2005

10 Months!
I know you probably tire of hearing about how fast it goes by, from anyone with a kid. But, man. It so does.

We celebrated by getting an air mattress, which will go in his room tomorrow, and I'll sleep there until he's used to being in his crib at night. Made that sound easy, huh? I guarantee - nothing easy about it. And I'm sure I'll spend the next few months trudging back and forth between rooms half the night, too.

Wait... why am I doing this, again?
06/13/05 10:40 PM |  Comments


Wish Dish
Ooo-oo-ooo! Have you seen! Now you can create several different Amazon Wish Lists under one account - all viewable to the public or not, your choice. And each item in your list has a link beneath it, so that you might easily move it between lists. Woo! My inner librarian is getting all hot.

Considering the possibilities... I can keep a Christmas list, a list just for Daniel, potential gifts for other people (private, that one, of course!), a library list, a music list...

Now if you'll excuse me - I have some serious categorization to do while the bub still sleeps.
06/13/05 11:40 AM |  Comments


June 12, 2005

Splashin' Bub
Enjoy! We sure did.

Windows Media (hi)
Windows Media (lo)
06/12/05 08:01 PM |  Comments


Stupid Flickr
So I've got my Flickr contacts page in my RSS reader. But for some reason, I'm not "getting" all the new pictures. WTF? The reader seems to be working just fine for everything else.
06/12/05 05:29 PM |  Comments


June 10, 2005

Better
I got a good nine hours in last night. So let's talk about something else, shall we? Something relatively positive, since it's Friday, and the whole depression thing is getting boring.

I've reconciled myself to the possibility of moving. Again. Far from thrilled, of course, but at least it'll happen before we got married to Petaluma. We'd never, ever be able to afford a house here anyhow. In fact, when we're walking, I like to play a little game called "Guess the Asking Price." You just need 1) a modest home and 2) a For Sale sign out front with info flyers. I'm getting quite good at it. In this neighborhood, a nice but no-frills three bed will fetch well over $700K.

Ridiculous. Let's all be prostrated by crippling debt for the remainder of our days, shall we?

Not really positive, this, was it? Snarky, perhaps. Maybe I can muster something on Monday. We're taking the ferry to Fisherman's Wharf this weekend - rather looking forward to that!
06/10/05 11:29 AM |  Comments


June 09, 2005

One
One hour. That's what I managed. Excellent.
06/09/05 07:41 AM |  Comments


Sleepless
I need to stop not sleeping like this. The bub is finally getting some, and I should be, too. But all seems to be conspiring against it. I'll try for a good solid three hours on the couch.

And what the heck is wrong with the laptop? D. doesn't believe me, but when I plug it in next to the couch where I normally use it, the battery dies. It's dead right now. If I try anything else in the same outlet, that thing will work fine. Plug the laptop in a different outlet - it's fine. Perhaps insomnia really is just screwing with my head.
06/09/05 02:53 AM |  Comments


June 08, 2005

Pity Party
It's rainy. Which normally wouldn't bother me, but I feel crappy enough as it is, and the weather is just exacerbating that. Slept half the morning away with the bub, at least. Now he's destroying things from my bookshelf, and I'm camped here in front of the screen, hoping something cheering or good will happen there.

It hasn't. And I need some coffee, but it's really too late in the day to drink it. I'm supposed to go out to do my thing tonight, but it's wet and I don't know that I will. Stoking up the oven and making this old recipe from Stef sounds like a better idea.
06/08/05 03:46 PM |  Comments


June 07, 2005

Deja Vu. Additionally, s**t.
Please, to read. And offer leads, if possible. Thankee kindly.
06/07/05 01:34 PM |  Comments


Stream-of-Consciousness with Ham Sandwich and Fennel Tea
Up. Shouldn't be. Can't sleep. Can't sleep, at least in part, because I can't contain the anxiety over things I can't control. Am I addicted to change since it's become so damned commonplace (what, forever ago)? And yet still terribly weary of it? Which change will be the pivotal one? The one that breaks the cycle (curse) for at least, oh, ten years? Ten years would be good.

The other factors are caffeine too close to bedtime, and noise.

Here's a meme, since I'm so very up, and was tagged. 
3 screen names I’ve had:
- Petrel 
- Petrel71
- Jen Pelky

3 names I go by 
- Jennie
- Jenn
- Pelk (no, that wasn't by choice)

3 physical things I like about myself:
- hair (sometimes)
- eyes
- wrists

3 parts of my heritage:
- Mohegan
- French
- German

3 things I am wearing right now:
- Blue nightgown 
- Green undies
- Wedding ring

3 favorite bands/musical artists I like 
a lot:
- Ben Folds 
- Guster
- Chris Botti (hott!)

3 favorite songs I really like:
Well, if I *have* to choose... This changes 
daily.
- You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
- Fa Fa - Guster
- The Luckiest - Ben Folds

3 things I want in a relationship:
- Humor 
- Respect 
- Shared love of carbs

3 physical things about the preferred 
sex that appeal to me:
- Butt
- Eyes
- Hands

3 favorite hobbies:
- Reading
- Movies/TV
- Intarweb

3 things I want to do badly right now:
- Sleep twelve hours in a row
- Lose twenty pounds
- To make the next 40 days to be over so 
that I can get my paws on Harry Potter VI

3 things that scare me:
- Cancer
- Car accidents
- Daniel getting sick/hurt

3 of my everyday essentials:
- Coffee
- Contacts
- Internet

3 Careers you have considered or are 
considering:
- Ecologist
- Web Designer
- Librarian

3 places you want to go on vacation:
- Hawaii
- Mexico
- Paris

3 kids’ names you like:
- Laura
- Olivia
- Benjamin

3 things you want to do before you die:
- Get off this continent at least once
- Earn a graduate degree
- Adopt a child

3 ways I am stereotypically a boy:
- Rather dirty mind
- Growing aversion to chick-flicks
- Hate soppy, long-winded greeting cards

3 ways I am stereotypically a girl:
- I'm a crier - takes next to nothing to 
get me going
- Harmless spiders creep me out, even 
though I should know better
- I get all gushy over cute babies

3 celeb crushes:
- Zach Braff
- Jon Stewart
- John Cusack

3 favorite books:
Again, if I must choose...
- His Dark Materials Trilogy - 
Philip Pullman
- Anne of Green Gables - 
Lucy Maud Montgomery
- Little House Series - 
Laura Ingalls Wilder
I'm not going to tag anyone. No more tagging here, as it's become a rampant trend, and I'm hardly a trendy girl.
06/07/05 12:50 AM |  Comments


June 05, 2005

You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Went to the Charles M. Schulz Museum yesterday. Photography wasn't allowed inside (too bad, it was cool), but we did get a few shots of the grounds and Snoopy's Home Ice.
06/05/05 10:03 AM |  Comments


June 04, 2005

Bub Chronicles
Daniel is becoming more "interactive" every day.

Yesterday I was on the livingroom floor with him. He dropped a toy over my legs, and crawled over them to get it. Which made me laugh (kind of tickled!). Seeing this, he began dropping things over on purpose, and crawling after them each time, me laughing. This went on for a good twenty minutes.

He has this musical toy that plays one of about, oh, twenty songs when he hits a button. I'd tap my feet to the music whenever it played, stopping when it was finished. Realizing this, he'd push the button, and then immediately look at my feet to make sure I was tapping.

When he's headed towards something something he shouldn't be (like the cat food, ugh), he'll glance back, waiting for a reaction.

We've just recently started watching Supernanny. What fodder for nightmares, that stuff. Thanks to which, my new nightmare is that he completely stops being so endearing at some point, becoming a full-time screaming little hellion instead.
06/04/05 07:07 AM |  Comments


June 02, 2005

Someone Needs a Visit from the Clue Fairy
Still going. And I'm actually getting shipping notifications. Yes, no one's bothered to change the contact address with the primary book supplier. After a year and a half. Egads.

If my moral fiber were more frayed than it is, I could be using the email address to get edumacational freebies.
06/02/05 12:22 PM |  Comments


June 01, 2005

And I Can Save the Pits to Spit at Tailgaters
Yesterday we stopped at a roadside fruit stand for some cherries. At a buck a basket, I could hardly pass it up (and I had a bumper leech on my ass, so it was a great way to escape my daily dose of road rage). Ended up getting a hee-yuge basket of the little pretties for five bucks. What a bargain, fruit stands are.

If I'd have known just what fun a cherry pitter was, I'd have purchased one long ago. My friend Renee was having a Pampered Chef book show (kind of a sucker for the PC, myself; drop me a line and I'll let you know when she's having another), so I ordered a nice one. Disgustingly messy fun. But at least now I have a good reason to use my bleach pen again, whee!

I had enough ripe, juicy cherries for a tray of cubes to mix in with Daniel's other fruits, freeze with sugar for a pie later on, and a whole bowl for snacks. Yum.
06/01/05 05:19 PM |  Comments