w00t w00t booyah

I've...had a bit of good luck.

There were some rumblings at work regarding the burden my health insurance had been, and in the process of seeing that HR desk change hands, the new person took it upon herself to see what Could Be Done about it.

In short, you didn't use it - so let's try to get as much of the money back, okay?

I'm not naming figures, natch. But some of it? Got it last Friday.

Enough to get my glasses. And the cats to the vet. There will be a birthday, after all.

It's been very nice to open up PayPal and go 'yes, I can.'

Not enough to save the world. Not even enough to change the complexion of the Christmas splurge. But - enough for some creature comforts denied most of this year.

And maybe, just maybe - we'll have something in the piggy bank again.

If you haven't discussed e_moon60's recent jogging with both feet in mouth, popelizbet has a lovely post today on the item, with additional awesome contributed by yuki_onna, to wit: an entirely Arabic/Muslim issue of Apex is on the way. Normally, I would have an eyebrow cocked at anything that excludes so decisvely as this does, without the editor taking a step or two back as well (let's face it, you're defining who CAN submit by ethnicity/religion here) - and maybe I have - but part of me is so thirsty for this, I'm looking forward to seeing it happen.

There's a passage in the Qur'an that warns its faithful about how the Jews and Christians can't decide amongst themselves what parts of their Bible are to be truly holy or not, so don't pay them much heed in such matters, and not to emulate them. I hope someone takes that up and runs with it.

(What, I got a copy of it after 9/11 and read some of it. You didn't? There's a group that gives them away every year at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - free. No excuse here.)

BTW, Elizabeth Moon will be addressed as Pookie Moon - just like every Elizabeth in my aquaintance - yes, even you - as I hear my anime friends snickering into their lattes. My friends, my DEAR friends - I have two nieces who bear that name, my older sister has it, one of my grandmothers had it and at the time I last counted, there were over twenty female relatives who bear the name Elizabeth in SOME form. Me? I got Elaine and until I have a daughter, I will be the only one EVER to claim it. I can be angry and insulted, or I can be amusing and nutty. I choose the latter. Pookie Moon is not being singled out for special treatment and I expect her to do what every other Elizabeth has done - assimilate. Let's see what she thinks of that. If it ever has any bearing, of course, which is doubtful.

My experience with mezuzas started with Cedars-Sinai, which has one outside every patient room and once I was taught the respectful way to use one, I've kissed my fingertips and touched them to the device each time before entering the room. I always thought it was a lovely tradition, saw nothing wrong with observing it in deed as well as spirit and if that's cultural appropriation, guilty as charged. I love them. And no, my house does not have one yet. I may think they are cool and wonderful, but I'm not brash enough to assume I can obtain one on my own. Like tarot decks and sake serviceware, these things should be gifted, neh? When one appears, that will be when my house has one.

happy_trekmas. Someone talk me out of this. Worse, help me talk Jim out of this. 9_9

Pie. Pie gooooood. Want pie now.

Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi and Subterranean Press are proud to announce the publication of Clash of the Geeks, a special and fantastical electronic chapbook featuring stories by Wheaton, Scalzi, New York Times bestseller Patrick Rothfuss, Norton Award winner and Hugo Best Novel nominee Catherynne M. Valente, Hugo and Nebula Award nominee Rachel Swirsky and others, for the benefit of the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. The chapbook is free to download, but voluntary payment is strongly encouraged, via Paypal or by tax-deductible donation forms, both linked to later in this entry. All proceeds from this chapbook will go to the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. Please enjoy the stories, link your friends to this page — and give! This is me, chortling happily in the corner - as soon as I can find the bucks, I'll be right there.

Ah yes, the bucks. Who the bleep gives live goldfish away at children's birthday parties as party favors? Yes, yes, they sent me home with a bowl with some gravel in it and a wee bit of food too. Just enough to let the poor wee thing suffocate or be poisoned by chlorinated water the first time it was taken out of the plastic bag (from PETCO AUGH). Kid had it named before we got home with it, so yeah. So not ready for goldfish funerals, guys. I'M NOT DOING IT.

So I'm now the owner (proud, not on your life) of a five-gallon aquariaum and a very scared little goldfish by the name of Fish Boy. PetSmart sold me a $10 airpump to keep him going in the 'traditional' goldfish bowl overnight - he moves into his permanent digs tonight when I get home from work. If the cats didn't discover and snack on him, of course. They didn't yesterday or overnight, so I have hope. I don't know much about the really TOUGH kinds of aquariums, but I do know enough to squick about suffocation in a glorified mason jar.

After spending the day before at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, mind you. I think I was more than a little tenderized. I'm going to have a hard time explaining to kid why any animal is in a cage 24/7, to be blunt.

So Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi are going to have to wait. Goldfish ate my lunch money.

dracowayfarer went with us Saturday, and took many pictures - right now, we know where the video camera is, but not the still camera. Ugh twice, but there you go. I swear, kid was going to jump out of his skin the first time he saw birds that were not seagulls, sparrows or crows. MOMMYMOMMYMOMMYTHATBIRDHASAREDHEADANDANDAND.... The mammals, yes that's nice - but. BIRDS MOMMY! BIRDS!

We got close enough to a cheetah to smell her. And lions close enough to use them as counting lessons. "How many of them have a bone in their mouth?"

Weather perfect.

Also, San Diego? WTF? One, put the damn phone down if you're going to drive 80 MPH in the slow lane with all your friends, okay? And two, if I'm occupying your screaming child in the mall because you're tired of doing it? You might acknowledge me when I address YOU, not just the fellow yuppie scum who praises your choice in strollers. I'm throwing you a bone, dude. I've got one of those - and yours is pretty awesome too, but I suspect she's more fun when she's not recreating the Exorcist in this year's faboo kiddywagon. Just saying.

Feel like I went to Florida, somewhat.

Went to church Sunday, and the centerfold was about my denomination's efforts to fight Wage Theft (people not getting paid minimum wage, overtime or the like) through three different faith-based justice groups. And the reading was from Luke 16:1-14, which was welcome in the light that in today's CW, you only hear about Christianity in terms of teh gay, teh babies or teh rich peoples telling you what to do, because they rich. Not so much. I love my church. And the best part was how much kid enjoyed it as well and absolutely looked forward to it. For an experience that requires a lot of compliance on his part? That's saying something. And the congregation loves him too - this is a total win.

I'm tired, but it's a good tired. I'll take it.

If you haven't discussed e_moon60's recent jogging with both feet in mouth, popelizbet has a lovely post today on the item, with additional awesome contributed by yuki_onna, to wit: an entirely Arabic/Muslim issue of Apex is on the way. Normally, I would have an eyebrow cocked at anything that excludes so decisvely as this does, without the editor taking a step or two back as well (let's face it, you're defining who CAN submit by ethnicity/religion here) - and maybe I have - but part of me is so thirsty for this, I'm looking forward to seeing it happen.

There's a passage in the Qur'an that warns its faithful about how the Jews and Christians can't decide amongst themselves what parts of their Bible are to be truly holy or not, so don't pay them much heed in such matters, and not to emulate them. I hope someone takes that up and runs with it.

(What, I got a copy of it after 9/11 and read some of it. You didn't? There's a group that gives them away every year at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - free. No excuse here.)

BTW, Elizabeth Moon will be addressed as Pookie Moon - just like every Elizabeth in my aquaintance - yes, even you - as I hear my anime friends snickering into their lattes. My friends, my DEAR friends - I have two nieces who bear that name, my older sister has it, one of my grandmothers had it and at the time I last counted, there were over twenty female relatives who bear the name Elizabeth in SOME form. Me? I got Elaine and until I have a daughter, I will be the only one EVER to claim it. I can be angry and insulted, or I can be amusing and nutty. I choose the latter. Pookie Moon is not being singled out for special treatment and I expect her to do what every other Elizabeth has done - assimilate. Let's see what she thinks of that. If it ever has any bearing, of course, which is doubtful.

My experience with mezuzas started with Cedars-Sinai, which has one outside every patient room and once I was taught the respectful way to use one, I've kissed my fingertips and touched them to the device each time before entering the room. I always thought it was a lovely tradition, saw nothing wrong with observing it in deed as well as spirit and if that's cultural appropriation, guilty as charged. I love them. And no, my house does not have one yet. I may think they are cool and wonderful, but I'm not brash enough to assume I can obtain one on my own. Like tarot decks and sake serviceware, these things should be gifted, neh? When one appears, that will be when my house has one.

happy_trekmas. Someone talk me out of this. Worse, help me talk Jim out of this. 9_9

Pie. Pie gooooood. Want pie now.

Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi and Subterranean Press are proud to announce the publication of Clash of the Geeks, a special and fantastical electronic chapbook featuring stories by Wheaton, Scalzi, New York Times bestseller Patrick Rothfuss, Norton Award winner and Hugo Best Novel nominee Catherynne M. Valente, Hugo and Nebula Award nominee Rachel Swirsky and others, for the benefit of the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. The chapbook is free to download, but voluntary payment is strongly encouraged, via Paypal or by tax-deductible donation forms, both linked to later in this entry. All proceeds from this chapbook will go to the Michigan/Indiana affiliate of the Lupus Alliance of America. Please enjoy the stories, link your friends to this page — and give! This is me, chortling happily in the corner - as soon as I can find the bucks, I'll be right there.

Ah yes, the bucks. Who the bleep gives live goldfish away at children's birthday parties as party favors? Yes, yes, they sent me home with a bowl with some gravel in it and a wee bit of food too. Just enough to let the poor wee thing suffocate or be poisoned by chlorinated water the first time it was taken out of the plastic bag (from PETCO AUGH). Kid had it named before we got home with it, so yeah. So not ready for goldfish funerals, guys. I'M NOT DOING IT.

So I'm now the owner (proud, not on your life) of a five-gallon aquariaum and a very scared little goldfish by the name of Fish Boy. PetSmart sold me a $10 airpump to keep him going in the 'traditional' goldfish bowl overnight - he moves into his permanent digs tonight when I get home from work. If the cats didn't discover and snack on him, of course. They didn't yesterday or overnight, so I have hope. I don't know much about the really TOUGH kinds of aquariums, but I do know enough to squick about suffocation in a glorified mason jar.

After spending the day before at the Wild Animal Park in San Diego, mind you. I think I was more than a little tenderized. I'm going to have a hard time explaining to kid why any animal is in a cage 24/7, to be blunt.

So Wil Wheaton and John Scalzi are going to have to wait. Goldfish ate my lunch money.

dracowayfarer went with us Saturday, and took many pictures - right now, we know where the video camera is, but not the still camera. Ugh twice, but there you go. I swear, kid was going to jump out of his skin the first time he saw birds that were not seagulls, sparrows or crows. MOMMYMOMMYMOMMYTHATBIRDHASAREDHEADANDANDAND.... The mammals, yes that's nice - but. BIRDS MOMMY! BIRDS!

We got close enough to a cheetah to smell her. And lions close enough to use them as counting lessons. "How many of them have a bone in their mouth?"

Weather perfect.

Also, San Diego? WTF? One, put the damn phone down if you're going to drive 80 MPH in the slow lane with all your friends, okay? And two, if I'm occupying your screaming child in the mall because you're tired of doing it? You might acknowledge me when I address YOU, not just the fellow yuppie scum who praises your choice in strollers. I'm throwing you a bone, dude. I've got one of those - and yours is pretty awesome too, but I suspect she's more fun when she's not recreating the Exorcist in this year's faboo kiddywagon. Just saying.

Feel like I went to Florida, somewhat.

Went to church Sunday, and the centerfold was about my denomination's efforts to fight Wage Theft (people not getting paid minimum wage, overtime or the like) through three different faith-based justice groups. And the reading was from Luke 16:1-14, which was welcome in the light that in today's CW, you only hear about Christianity in terms of teh gay, teh babies or teh rich peoples telling you what to do, because they rich. Not so much. I love my church. And the best part was how much kid enjoyed it as well and absolutely looked forward to it. For an experience that requires a lot of compliance on his part? That's saying something. And the congregation loves him too - this is a total win.

I'm tired, but it's a good tired. I'll take it.

My one free space the whole year? That one day off where both of my boys are already booked?

GONE.

So, yeah - I'll be here, right where you left me at work. Just another day. Etc.

(The upside is that I now have a free floating holiday to schedule between now and the end of the year. I'll take it.)

That explosion and fire in San Bruno? I've mentioned that brother that doesn't talk to me, right? The one that's the superintendent of schools in .. gulp .. San Bruno?

Right.

He was a good boy and called his mother last night, so I know everyone is okay - SIL was thrown to the ground by the blast with such force they suspected fractured ankles - both of them - luckily, only sprained upon examination at the hospital. Deal with that on crutches, I dare you.

(Just got off the phone with Mom. Their house was spared, entirely. Out of danger, but they are surrounded by damage.)

So. There.

I'm finding this ruling on DADT oddly ironic, seeing as it was made in Riverside County, my old stomping grounds and hardly a hotbed of liberal renown. I'm rather chuffed, to be honest. Good for you! Here, have some cake.

That explosion and fire in San Bruno? I've mentioned that brother that doesn't talk to me, right? The one that's the superintendent of schools in .. gulp .. San Bruno?

Right.

He was a good boy and called his mother last night, so I know everyone is okay - SIL was thrown to the ground by the blast with such force they suspected fractured ankles - both of them - luckily, only sprained upon examination at the hospital. Deal with that on crutches, I dare you.

(Just got off the phone with Mom. Their house was spared, entirely. Out of danger, but they are surrounded by damage.)

So. There.

I'm finding this ruling on DADT oddly ironic, seeing as it was made in Riverside County, my old stomping grounds and hardly a hotbed of liberal renown. I'm rather chuffed, to be honest. Good for you! Here, have some cake.

I'm a very bad friend, if you're a muse. Well, I do try - but the results are hardly what you'd want.

I'm more than happy to listen, nod attentively and praise your efforts - all while I'm up to my elbows in dishwater, or on the phone with a client, or typing madly on my laptop fixing a problem at work. Maybe I even have my phone to my ear while on the latop - that's very possible.

But never, not ever, am I able to give muses my full attention. When I have, it's been great and a lot of fun and very, very finite.

I think of you often, my muses - fondly, even. Just before I conk out for the night.

---

Endured the weekend - yar. Saturday was 'go recycle the things so there's cash to spend on silly things' that produced a trip to a small place in Arcadia that had a whole room of claw machines (something our kid enjoys better than ANYTHING else) that ate our cash and sent us to IHOP to recover. We'll be back next weekend - with more cash. We're dumb that way. After the napitude, a trip to Marukai and dinner with catsonmars and his fella which turned into the 'you aren't going to believe this' evening over very old video clips.

Sunday, was Over At Sis' House Labor Day Bash. Well, I was *supposed* to have my mother, my brother and niece and her kid and all that - but brother is having gall bladder issues (am I going to be the ONLY one in this family to be buried with hers? Stay tuned - yikes) and that caved the whole convoy from Hemet. So I got to meet more 'family' friends of my sister's.

Hey, one of them attended her first SF convention the same year I did. It's funny how being fannish can make you a safe choice and how quickly. Kinda scary.

Kid spent as much time in the pool with BIL as he could possibly get away with. He was finally turned over to me to get changed when he started turning blue, denying the entire time the water was cold. I think he had a good time. ^^

The only sour note was getting ready to go home (Jim had gotten there after work) and the plan was to bathe, put into PJs, read books and go home. Kid falls asleep in car, we put him in bed, fall down ourselves.

Sis wanted to do The Bath. Okay - all to the good, it's her house and she knows how everything works.

However, my bringing things up to use in the bath? "Can't I have hime all to myself for just a minute?" Um, my kid? Yup. Nothing changed there. What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine. Got it. Fwang. (She also wants to have kid for sleepovers. We're trying a trial run - with us there too - next weekend. Again - stay tuned.)

Monday was Fiesta Hermosa, by my own request. Hey, it was great last year. This year?

Tea Party Central - and I will be contacting the event committee to let them know I wasn't impressed. The most shining example was the tossed-up company 'American Patriot Tea' - shit you not - would you like that loose leaf or bagged? Looked like relabled Republic of Tea product with notes that this was 'American Processed Tea.' Last time I checked, tea isn't a crop we can grow in America, but that didn't seem to stop these guys. And believe it or not the John Birch Society had a booth set up right next to the other guys, proud as punch and visited regularly by a long stream of rich white men with tans and Rolexes.

So were the Open Carry Hermosa guys. I mean, Starbucks had to publish policy on whether they wanted guns in their stores - and they didn't - and these guys threw a shoe over it. Again, long line of rich white dudes - and nobody else.

You wonder why I get twitchy around too many white people.

Kid had a great time - I think Jim did too, after getting up and moving around for a few hours - plenty of gorgeous dog action, typical for the beach communities near us - kid got to spin many, many wheels and won lots of prizes (swaaaaag) and we all got some nifty samples of chocolate soymilk, ice cold and SO GOOD from 8th Continent (I think)- the sample size was a small carton, and each of us got one. Verra nice.

Crash out again for naps, then hung out around the house until dinner, bath and bedtime.

My weekend - tada!

I have a little boy who wakes up, announces his awakeness by calling for one of us and generally Jim gets up (he's the one NOT sleeping against the wall) and brings back sleepy and wriggling to cuddle while waking up.

This morning he announced he'd had very nice dreams of Pokemon (which truly has taken over his life in more ways than I'm comfortable with, entirely) and did I have nice dreams too?

Well....

Nobody died and all that. But - I do recall a sequence where I really WANTED to get a shower and my only option was to stand in knee high water because the drain was plugged and everyone else had to share it - and they all peed in the water.

Color, smell, the works.

This is supposed to mean something, right? The fact that dream-self didn't immediately reject the entire notion and jump out kinda of worries me the most. I got my shower like this is was completely acceptable on everyone's part. Squick.

Yes, baby - I'm fine.

In other news, I have received a title change at work (no more money, but that's okay) - who would be the newest, shinest EDI Specialist/Project Manager on the block? Why, that would be me, uh huh! *fistpumps*

Plans for the weekend? Endure it. That's about it. The real break comes the weekend of the 17th when I take Friday off. Seriously. Kid stays in preschool, Jim gets the day off - and I do too for Yom Kippur. Yes, I'm running away from home for a day. Watch me.

I have a little boy who wakes up, announces his awakeness by calling for one of us and generally Jim gets up (he's the one NOT sleeping against the wall) and brings back sleepy and wriggling to cuddle while waking up.

This morning he announced he'd had very nice dreams of Pokemon (which truly has taken over his life in more ways than I'm comfortable with, entirely) and did I have nice dreams too?

Well....

Nobody died and all that. But - I do recall a sequence where I really WANTED to get a shower and my only option was to stand in knee high water because the drain was plugged and everyone else had to share it - and they all peed in the water.

Color, smell, the works.

This is supposed to mean something, right? The fact that dream-self didn't immediately reject the entire notion and jump out kinda of worries me the most. I got my shower like this is was completely acceptable on everyone's part. Squick.

Yes, baby - I'm fine.

In other news, I have received a title change at work (no more money, but that's okay) - who would be the newest, shinest EDI Specialist/Project Manager on the block? Why, that would be me, uh huh! *fistpumps*

Plans for the weekend? Endure it. That's about it. The real break comes the weekend of the 17th when I take Friday off. Seriously. Kid stays in preschool, Jim gets the day off - and I do too for Yom Kippur. Yes, I'm running away from home for a day. Watch me.

I have survived another August unscathed. Booyah.