w00t w00t booyah

Seriously. When I can't remember passwords I set on Friday (oh, I might have to remember about eight of them currently, and they all change every 90 days...separately...this might be an issue), when my bank has made merry with a transaction done in their branch ten days ago and did not post it to the account until last Friday, after hours no less (I need to keep a paper checkbook on our own, don't depend on the online tracking, I need to do this...oh, and I need about six more hours a day, I've given up on the twelve I asked for) and I'm buckling down and getting a handle on the weight gain I'm experiencing as a result of eating McDonald's at least twice a week (and using food as entertainment in lieu of oh, anything I can do in daylight hours - BAD) - I might be a bit tetchy.

Whovians, did you see this? It's adorable. No, I'm not current on the series. No, it doesn't matter. I can't be spoiled, so don't worry about it. Just as well - I learned to take everything straight up (Make me a cup of coffee? Black. Tea? Plain.) because trying to give someone else direction? It just didn't make sense to put people through all that. I. Will. Cope. Just tuck this away someplace - I've missed all of Whedon wholesale. No, EVERYTHING. I've seen the Firefly pilot, the end. His community is far more interesting, IMHO. They do *incredible* things, all on their own. Whedon? *sighs*

I know just enough patter to stay afloat. Have I seen *insert show here*? No. Just tuck it away someplace.

Will I get a chance? Overbook Fairy has me in her sights right now, with that planner at her left elbow. The one with 'WHEDON' on it. Fuck me now. Said planner? Is mixed in with about six or seven other planners in that pile - just so you know. She adds one everytime my back is turned. They're all full of awesome. There's just, oh, fifty of them or so. Last weekend? I had my pick of five different things on each day - each one absolutely perfect in every way for a GREAT day. That's without me looking for something to do, mind.

I do that, I sigh a lot. There are few people more aware than I am that this is the one day of its kind I will ever see. When this day is over, it's gone forever. THIS AIN'T NO DRESS REHEARSAL.

That said, I raise the purple moose in tribute to Ronnie James Dio, who passes away at 67 from cancer. That's not devil horns, folks. Those are the antles of the purple moose, who is now showing his favorite vocalist around his new home, wherever it is. (Cliff was always known as the purple moose - it started in high school. And Dio was his very favorite thing in the world.) This makes absolutely no sense to me. (Yes, Cliff taught my Sis' oldest how to make the 'purple moose' as a wee - look Mommy! Cliff also had an evil, evil laugh. And my kid? Yeah. Purple mooses rule!) Fogelberg at 56, Dio at 67. W. T. F.

Just nod. It's okay.

Anyone else catch this?

"A heterosexual Austrian couple have embarked on a court battle to have their relationship legally recognised as a "registered partnership" - a new form of civil union for same-sex couples.

Helga Ratzenboeck and Martin Seydl say they don't want a traditional marriage and insist that the law should be blind to gender and sexuality.

Meanwhile, the kind of pared-down marriage they want is proving a huge hit with straight couples in France, where 95% of couples taking up the pacte civil de solidarite (Pacs) in 2009 were heterosexual.

As the number of straight French couples opting for Pacs has grown, the number of marriages has shrunk, to the point that there are now two couples entering into a Pacs for every three getting married."

So, once you offer a stripped-down version for teh gays, all of a sudden the straights want it too - and naturally, they should have it?

Somewhere, my privilege alarm is going off. I can't hear it for the awesome this is. IN YOUR FACE. No, we don't want your stinky, clunky, sanctified puffery - give us something that works!

Best outcomes come from plenty of options to choose from. Being able to choose is the hallmark of being an adult in your majority - enjoy it while it lasts. Everyone grows into it, and everyone grows out of it. Don't forget to get your Advanced Directive done before you outgrow your adulthood - just a friendly reminder. Why yes, yes you will.

My dear acquaintance yuki_onna won the Norton over the weekend. I am simply fistpumping in the corner with absolute glee. Nobody gets what they deserve in this world, but to say this was sheer luck? It looked like hard work in the face of adversity, sheer will and bravery in the attempt and grace and poise under pressure, completely in tune with a present community in every step taken. If that's what luck is, then she's lucky. Me, I'm simply awed and thrilled. A truly wonderful thing has happend to someone who has been nothing but wonderful back. She's also young enough for simply incredible things to come in the future - all hyperbole aside. There are no words big enough. I've been reading her LJ for years, and after all the sad I've seen there? Such joy. I can only wish for more for her. As much as she can hold. (That said? Take as many naps as you want, Cat. ^^)

The first thing I read of hers was an LJ post about Nair and BayCon - and I was completely hooked. First off, she could say what I always had thought, and do it succinctly and with style...and then moved on to subjects on and off my radar with a lively but kind sense of humor. That's seanan_mcguire, and she's up for the tiara in Australia. I've got to get to that review of the last two books out - but I've mentioned my unwelcome houseguest with all the day planners. She's hiding the one with my spare time in it. You understand. Maybe if I bribe her with a trip up the 405 in rush hour traffic - she loves that.

Ugh. Life is calling me. Be back later.

Seriously. When I can't remember passwords I set on Friday (oh, I might have to remember about eight of them currently, and they all change every 90 days...separately...this might be an issue), when my bank has made merry with a transaction done in their branch ten days ago and did not post it to the account until last Friday, after hours no less (I need to keep a paper checkbook on our own, don't depend on the online tracking, I need to do this...oh, and I need about six more hours a day, I've given up on the twelve I asked for) and I'm buckling down and getting a handle on the weight gain I'm experiencing as a result of eating McDonald's at least twice a week (and using food as entertainment in lieu of oh, anything I can do in daylight hours - BAD) - I might be a bit tetchy.

Whovians, did you see this? It's adorable. No, I'm not current on the series. No, it doesn't matter. I can't be spoiled, so don't worry about it. Just as well - I learned to take everything straight up (Make me a cup of coffee? Black. Tea? Plain.) because trying to give someone else direction? It just didn't make sense to put people through all that. I. Will. Cope. Just tuck this away someplace - I've missed all of Whedon wholesale. No, EVERYTHING. I've seen the Firefly pilot, the end. His community is far more interesting, IMHO. They do *incredible* things, all on their own. Whedon? *sighs*

I know just enough patter to stay afloat. Have I seen *insert show here*? No. Just tuck it away someplace.

Will I get a chance? Overbook Fairy has me in her sights right now, with that planner at her left elbow. The one with 'WHEDON' on it. Fuck me now. Said planner? Is mixed in with about six or seven other planners in that pile - just so you know. She adds one everytime my back is turned. They're all full of awesome. There's just, oh, fifty of them or so. Last weekend? I had my pick of five different things on each day - each one absolutely perfect in every way for a GREAT day. That's without me looking for something to do, mind.

I do that, I sigh a lot. There are few people more aware than I am that this is the one day of its kind I will ever see. When this day is over, it's gone forever. THIS AIN'T NO DRESS REHEARSAL.

That said, I raise the purple moose in tribute to Ronnie James Dio, who passes away at 67 from cancer. That's not devil horns, folks. Those are the antles of the purple moose, who is now showing his favorite vocalist around his new home, wherever it is. (Cliff was always known as the purple moose - it started in high school. And Dio was his very favorite thing in the world.) This makes absolutely no sense to me. (Yes, Cliff taught my Sis' oldest how to make the 'purple moose' as a wee - look Mommy! Cliff also had an evil, evil laugh. And my kid? Yeah. Purple mooses rule!) Fogelberg at 56, Dio at 67. W. T. F.

Just nod. It's okay.

Anyone else catch this?

"A heterosexual Austrian couple have embarked on a court battle to have their relationship legally recognised as a "registered partnership" - a new form of civil union for same-sex couples.

Helga Ratzenboeck and Martin Seydl say they don't want a traditional marriage and insist that the law should be blind to gender and sexuality.

Meanwhile, the kind of pared-down marriage they want is proving a huge hit with straight couples in France, where 95% of couples taking up the pacte civil de solidarite (Pacs) in 2009 were heterosexual.

As the number of straight French couples opting for Pacs has grown, the number of marriages has shrunk, to the point that there are now two couples entering into a Pacs for every three getting married."

So, once you offer a stripped-down version for teh gays, all of a sudden the straights want it too - and naturally, they should have it?

Somewhere, my privilege alarm is going off. I can't hear it for the awesome this is. IN YOUR FACE. No, we don't want your stinky, clunky, sanctified puffery - give us something that works!

Best outcomes come from plenty of options to choose from. Being able to choose is the hallmark of being an adult in your majority - enjoy it while it lasts. Everyone grows into it, and everyone grows out of it. Don't forget to get your Advanced Directive done before you outgrow your adulthood - just a friendly reminder. Why yes, yes you will.

My dear acquaintance yuki_onna won the Norton over the weekend. I am simply fistpumping in the corner with absolute glee. Nobody gets what they deserve in this world, but to say this was sheer luck? It looked like hard work in the face of adversity, sheer will and bravery in the attempt and grace and poise under pressure, completely in tune with a present community in every step taken. If that's what luck is, then she's lucky. Me, I'm simply awed and thrilled. A truly wonderful thing has happend to someone who has been nothing but wonderful back. She's also young enough for simply incredible things to come in the future - all hyperbole aside. There are no words big enough. I've been reading her LJ for years, and after all the sad I've seen there? Such joy. I can only wish for more for her. As much as she can hold. (That said? Take as many naps as you want, Cat. ^^)

The first thing I read of hers was an LJ post about Nair and BayCon - and I was completely hooked. First off, she could say what I always had thought, and do it succinctly and with style...and then moved on to subjects on and off my radar with a lively but kind sense of humor. That's seanan_mcguire, and she's up for the tiara in Australia. I've got to get to that review of the last two books out - but I've mentioned my unwelcome houseguest with all the day planners. She's hiding the one with my spare time in it. You understand. Maybe if I bribe her with a trip up the 405 in rush hour traffic - she loves that.

Ugh. Life is calling me. Be back later.

I have been so busy getting nothing done, you'd have a hard time believing it.

Too busy to socialize even when the friends are sleeping on my couch and it's only ten o'clock at night busy. (I know better. I *have* to be in bed and asleep by 11 or I. WILL. PAY. The next day. I was not disappointed the next day to be right in this regard.)

I am pleased that I was able to at least take my mother shopping and to lunch for her 85th birthday. I am NOT pleased to report that tired children need different handling is a concept widely understood, and ending up with hysterical as well as exhausted child the same evening does NOTHING to improve me after spending the entire day prior (yes, a work day) providing child care, and being run around town getting nothing accomplished. And oh yes, I get to do much the same this afternoon! (Except kid will be in school instead of being in the back seat being shuttled between pillar and post while the adults get their act together.) Instead of having a 'do an errand and go back to work' day, I get to take it as a sick day. I get 6 of those A YEAR.

I'm not impressed. Frankly, I need a few days to get over my pissed-off.

To the good - last night was ramen, which was inhaled by kid and both of us alike. (It was followed by some of the most amazing *drama* surrounding bedtime ritual which just about broke us both, and left us shaking our heads. I have some ideas, but holy merde. Bedtime is turning into a battleground - welcome to school age!)

It also included a trip to the Sunday buffet at El Torito - which now includes extra helpings of pineapple-mango salsa ON EVERYTHING. (Mango allergy alert - yup, that's me who can't have any - anaphalaxis anyone? My treat? NO?) I'm going to have to take this one off the list - not much I could eat safely and I'm still wondering about what I couldn't see. To the good - kid will eat tortillas - although he ate tortilla chips wrapped in tortillas as the test case. Oh well.

One evening, Harold fell down the front steps of their home and was taken to the hospital. Based on their medical directives alone, Clay should have been consulted in Harold’s care from the first moment. Tragically, county and health care workers instead refused to allow Clay to see Harold in the hospital. The county then ultimately went one step further by isolating the couple from each other, placing the men in separate nursing homes. Ignoring Clay’s significant role in Harold’s life, the county continued to treat Harold like he had no family and went to court seeking the power to make financial decisions on his behalf.

Guys, I know I've written about this. Mom had a case like this one she was late coming home one morning from - when I was 11 or so. That's 1972? (That one? Partner had died in the ER, and it was 'oh hey, no family and who are you Mister Roomie? You can't even call the mortuary - but the head nurse here can, you just go sit down over there.')

WE'RE STILL HERE? Why yes, yes we are. How quaint.

And the best part is some people think I'm lying to them when I discuss the subject in these terms. How lucky for you, I think to myself. How very fortunate for you not to have had this experience - now go find that heart you had at birth and put it back in your chest. GAH.

I have plenty of angry, anybody need some?

The day is young.

QUICK. GO GET THIS AND COME BACK.

I've learned my lesson on notifications in-case-of-earthquake from the '94 Northridge quake. The quake woke me and Cliff up - we took it in, shook it off and tried to go back to sleep. Tried, mind.

Because the phone started ringing off the hook 15 minutes later.

So, pre-emptive strike last night, guys.

We're dealing with big-effort control issues on the part of kiddo - both with regards to what he will eat, and when he will sleep.

Jim is fond of the end-run around it with regards to sleep - we just pack him up and drive up and down the 405 for about 20 minutes.

UH. Last night? Yeah.

We'd passed the epicenter not 15 minutes prior.

And how was your weekend?

QUICK. GO GET THIS AND COME BACK.

I've learned my lesson on notifications in-case-of-earthquake from the '94 Northridge quake. The quake woke me and Cliff up - we took it in, shook it off and tried to go back to sleep. Tried, mind.

Because the phone started ringing off the hook 15 minutes later.

So, pre-emptive strike last night, guys.

We're dealing with big-effort control issues on the part of kiddo - both with regards to what he will eat, and when he will sleep.

Jim is fond of the end-run around it with regards to sleep - we just pack him up and drive up and down the 405 for about 20 minutes.

UH. Last night? Yeah.

We'd passed the epicenter not 15 minutes prior.

And how was your weekend?

Waking up choking at 12:31 AM not recommended. Blast this bronchitis. Good thing I can fall asleep sucking on cough drops, though I don't recommend the practice.

Donna wants. For reference, and I hope I can load this at home and get it running. Having something that will track *everything* again? Heaven. The best thing I had up to now was a spreadsheet, and as I was quick to warn Rey - spreadsheets are good to start with, then they turn on you like the living dead and you work twice as hard to get rid of them because they are Bad For You in the long run. Spreadsheets are teh evil that look like cute fluffy Best Friends when when you start with them.

I hope this works better than the magic spreadsheet I used to use when Cliff was alive and I was doing all the finances.

In other news, Postsecret rocks the house this weekend:



Because. (Whole chapter for perspective.) I also kinda dig the cross references to the right in the first example, too.

*hack*

What am I forgetting? (Rhetorical, but it's Monday and it's asked often.)

I've got a good lead on something truly useful - the Jain Center is going to have their health day March 9th. This is an absolutely GRATIS FREE NO COST health clinic they do on a yearly basis - ask, and it shall be done. (They're planning mammograms and pap smears. Yeah, I'm going.) The center is in Buena Park - if you've been putting it off because you don't have insurance, don't. Lipid profiles, blood sugar checks - everything. All free. Completely. 100%. If you're sick and may need meds - best time to get sick. They won't care - they'll have everything on hand.

Who's providing the services? Members of the congregation - those titled professionals everyone sees on a regular basis in their offices in Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles and the like.

As soon as the links are up on the website, I'll be passing them on. And posting it on los_angeles as well.

Does anyone remember getting valentines in elementary school as one of the highlights of the year? Better than Christmas - I LOVED those cheap little pieces of paper! (Wouldn't mind doing an exchange myself, if you get my drift.) Valentines with the innocence of third grade - was anything sweeter?

People. The next time someone makes me order pizza from Dominoes, I may hiss and spit fireballs. Chicken wings are NOT overkill - they are edible. The best part of a pizza should NOT be watching its progress on a website. "Flavio has gotten your order. Flavio is making it right now! Flavio is putting it in the oven! Luis is on the way with your pizza RIGHT NOW!"

(Luis gets props for finding the place, all together. But then again, how could he miss us with that huge order and the huge number of people in that tiny place? Hmmmm! Which of these places is NOT like the others!)

I have issues from my childhood regarding pizza. As in, I ate it every day for weeks, for years before I was ten. (Come on, count on your fingers.) I could never eat pizza again and still make the lifetime quota. Don't assume pizza is fine for me as a last resort. I will remember and order liverwurst and onion sandwiches from the German Deli nearby to go with the blood sausage the next time you make me do that, in retaliation. With orange juice and buttermilk smoothies to drink. *shakes fist*

I *tolerate* Papa John's, under duress. CPK is weird-ass shit on toast.

Now you know.

Jim's family is making noises about another family reunion in June. I really don't think I need another round of adolescent "I'm bettah because I'm breedin'!" - I'd much rather have a nice, sane visit with Jim's mother and his brother without the trauma drama, as younger brother proposed, and take in MakersFaire at the same time. Stay tuned. Maybe I'll combine the visit with the trip I want to make to Cleveland in October and escape quickly. I dunno.

It's a really nice place, don't misunderstand. It's not the place that worries me.

One of the highlights of Saturday was taking an inert tower into the Apple store and coming out with a perfectly functional PowerMac G3 with 640MB of memory. I've set it up in the dining room/kitchen area and ordered an ethernet bridge for it to get it on the wireless. As soon as that's done, that becomes the accounting center (and also a learning machine for Jim). Trogdor is waiting to be picked up from the shop, all new and shiny and legal and completely wiped of any character it had. With an outboard backup drive loaded with the files they were able to get off it. (My Outlook files! *fist pumps* YES!)

I'm also setting Jim up with an email account that he can store messages off the server with - he's been living with hotmail all this time.

Necessity is a real mother.

What am I forgetting? (Rhetorical, but it's Monday and it's asked often.)

I've got a good lead on something truly useful - the Jain Center is going to have their health day March 9th. This is an absolutely GRATIS FREE NO COST health clinic they do on a yearly basis - ask, and it shall be done. (They're planning mammograms and pap smears. Yeah, I'm going.) The center is in Buena Park - if you've been putting it off because you don't have insurance, don't. Lipid profiles, blood sugar checks - everything. All free. Completely. 100%. If you're sick and may need meds - best time to get sick. They won't care - they'll have everything on hand.

Who's providing the services? Members of the congregation - those titled professionals everyone sees on a regular basis in their offices in Beverly Hills, West Los Angeles and the like.

As soon as the links are up on the website, I'll be passing them on. And posting it on los_angeles as well.

Does anyone remember getting valentines in elementary school as one of the highlights of the year? Better than Christmas - I LOVED those cheap little pieces of paper! (Wouldn't mind doing an exchange myself, if you get my drift.) Valentines with the innocence of third grade - was anything sweeter?

People. The next time someone makes me order pizza from Dominoes, I may hiss and spit fireballs. Chicken wings are NOT overkill - they are edible. The best part of a pizza should NOT be watching its progress on a website. "Flavio has gotten your order. Flavio is making it right now! Flavio is putting it in the oven! Luis is on the way with your pizza RIGHT NOW!"

(Luis gets props for finding the place, all together. But then again, how could he miss us with that huge order and the huge number of people in that tiny place? Hmmmm! Which of these places is NOT like the others!)

I have issues from my childhood regarding pizza. As in, I ate it every day for weeks, for years before I was ten. (Come on, count on your fingers.) I could never eat pizza again and still make the lifetime quota. Don't assume pizza is fine for me as a last resort. I will remember and order liverwurst and onion sandwiches from the German Deli nearby to go with the blood sausage the next time you make me do that, in retaliation. With orange juice and buttermilk smoothies to drink. *shakes fist*

I *tolerate* Papa John's, under duress. CPK is weird-ass shit on toast.

Now you know.

Jim's family is making noises about another family reunion in June. I really don't think I need another round of adolescent "I'm bettah because I'm breedin'!" - I'd much rather have a nice, sane visit with Jim's mother and his brother without the trauma drama, as younger brother proposed, and take in MakersFaire at the same time. Stay tuned. Maybe I'll combine the visit with the trip I want to make to Cleveland in October and escape quickly. I dunno.

It's a really nice place, don't misunderstand. It's not the place that worries me.

One of the highlights of Saturday was taking an inert tower into the Apple store and coming out with a perfectly functional PowerMac G3 with 640MB of memory. I've set it up in the dining room/kitchen area and ordered an ethernet bridge for it to get it on the wireless. As soon as that's done, that becomes the accounting center (and also a learning machine for Jim). Trogdor is waiting to be picked up from the shop, all new and shiny and legal and completely wiped of any character it had. With an outboard backup drive loaded with the files they were able to get off it. (My Outlook files! *fist pumps* YES!)

I'm also setting Jim up with an email account that he can store messages off the server with - he's been living with hotmail all this time.

Necessity is a real mother.

So far, that's what shaking out of the FL this morning -

odiedragon, do you know sunfell? She's got the goods for you today - frankly, for anyone if you really want to know.

Mean little girls on MySpace...have mean little shits for parents. WHO KNEW. I can tell you what I plan to teach my children. It doesn't matter if you think adults know what they're doing...if you thinks something smells, YOU TELL. Period. And how to tell the forks from the spoons.

I've been told about the people who live in this part of the country...and I believe it. They also think Ann Coulter is funny.

I'd wait until the teenage girl is of age...and then let fly. And frankly, anything that keeps a kid at the computer? Has to be followed up to reality - or discarded. A teenage child is...a child. And a guy interested in my teenage daughter - my just newly-minuted teenage daughter, no less? Boy, you'd better be real or else.

..

There are a buttload of people on my FL with my birthday. I am getting spammed right, left and center. (My birthday and beg button are on my profile. Go look.)

Shoulda known with all those Scorpios.

HAY. I have room for 126 icons. I've used 52 of them. Make me more. Happy birthday to me.

The rest of the day has been butts. Total butts.

Yesterday was spent in enjoyment of having no obligations. No place I needed to be, nobody calling, nobody wanting me outside my home...so I spent it drinking tea, lounging around in my pajamas and playing games.

Yes, I spent serious time with Nightlife. The expansion pack that actually makes the Romance Aspiration playable. It also makes University much more playable as well. Getting up close and personal with the new Pleasure Aspirtation - and it plays so much like Family, it's spooky. But think Family with some quirks. Like Uncle Ted who goes into the kitchen and juggles the bottles - just because. And that other family member who has a running tab at Lush for bubble bath.

Dream dates are also fabulous opportunities to cross-polinate Romance Sims. *ahem*

I'd really like this cough thing to hurry up and leave already - just when I think I'm over it, night comes and *hack* *hack* *hack* and get out the cough medicine. Really tired of this.

We sat down and did autobiographies for Heartsent yesterday - which is really tough to do, because they wanted a quick profile to give the social worker who will be doing our homestudy, "just to give her an idea of who you are." 500 words or less. Go. Jim found it depressing, I found it superficial to the point of "oh well, I'm leaving out a lot, but here's a start." More forms, more money paid out - yay weekend.

Sis took the price list we brought back from Brian Boggs' shop - Jim said he got two of them for just that reason, but I think he should have made book on Sis glomping the silly thing. Saturday was...odd. Mom and crew we in for lunch, on schedule - but when they left? "You're not going yet, are you?"

Umm. No, we don't have to. You don't want me to? Huh.

We ended up watching Chicken Little (folks, who saw this in the theatrers and didn't tell all of us it was Good? SHAME.) - eating Chinese Food and just being nice together. The oldest kid in now in countdown mode to college - year and a half, and he's OUTTA HERE!

Which is just the way it ought to be, but I think it's coming down a bit on the parents. This kid has every college in the country sending him invitation letters (he laughed when West Point sent him one....), and he's looking, looking, looking - wonder where he'll land. Wonder what he'll actually end up with. He says pre-med, but I wonder....

New week, more to do and I have to get out of here and get on with it. Yahoo!