peeple of zee wurl, relax!

susandennis @ 02:04 am: From Twitter 11-09-2009

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thebb73 @ 06:50 am: real quick
I got a computer at work early enough that blogs were not yet blocked for the day. I really just wanted to stop in and say how much I love and miss everyone. This place really is not bad at all. There are things that I like BETTER here. But I do miss everyone terribly. Gotta get to class now being the teacher and all.

susandennis @ 03:00 pm: Travis has a fort!

Mostly, while I was working on this organization project, Travis was working at knocking the stuff off the desk/table/credenza or crawling into open drawers, etc. When I took a break, he decided to, too.

susandennis @ 02:18 pm: A little more than halfway done...
Whew. I'm whipped but satisfied. I have one more cabinet to unload and am close to having a place to put everything back away... Any office supply store would be proud to have an inventory like this. Holy crap.

My need to take a break coincided nicely with a meaty little work bug that just came in. I'm kind of at a place that will keep until tomorrow which will be fine.

But now, I'm earning cat food money!

susandennis @ 12:24 pm: Projectus Interuptus
I am going great guns. I got out the card table. My mantra is "like things together". I have piles:

Things to write on (with a separate pile just for post-it pads)
Things to write with
Office tools
Office toys
WTF?


I am looking at the WTF pile:

3 mag flashlights and one keychain flashlight
2 tape measures
2 bottles of eye drops
1 container of tooth wax
2 retractable ID badge clips

I have too much stuff. But when I am done I will have much less and will be able to find what I do have.

Whew.

But, got interrupted. Neighbor Ann came by to tell me about her trip and bring me a very cool case for the sun glasses I found in here last month. I really did need a good case for them. They had a wonderful time. It was fun to hear about it. And we made a Costco date for next Monday.

Now I'm having a lunch break. Then I have a conference call. Then it will be back to The Chore.

susandennis @ 10:09 am: Inspired and At Work
My last entry inspired myself so I got started on the desk. And it is going to take all week and be so worth it.

I emptied the first shelf and already:

- found the checkbook that when I couldn't find before, was the final straw that led me to change banks
- found the folder holder rails for the file drawers that I have been looking for 4 years!
- found a handful of 3.5" diskettes (they will go with my mag card, my 8" and 5.5" diskettes and my slide rule - I'm opening a museum)

Holy crap. I can stuff a lot o' shit into a small space.

susandennis @ 09:13 am: Call Dr. Imaginary, STAT!
I can be such a hypochondriac! Last night, I looked down at my clawed hand and it was red and swollen and I went right to 'damn, why didn't I get my will changed like I planned to!'. I would have called 911 except it did not hurt. Much at all. Even to pressure. And if it was flesh eating bacteria, they were taking tiny bites so far.
So I decided to give it another 12 hours.

This morning it is no longer red or swollen. Whew. Dodged that bullet. I'm pretty sure he caught one of the nerves cause it still feels funny to make a fist, but, honestly, I'm thinking at this point, I will live. Should still get that will changed, though.

Bucket lists got really big last year with the movie. I don't have one of those but I do now have a When My Ship Comes In list. Once I decide to tighten the budgetary reigns, all I can think of is stuff to spend money on. So instead of spending the money, I just add it to the list. Get will changed is now on the list.

I had a smattering of work this morning - nice way to start off the day.

Next, I have a list of things that need done. My night table needs adjusting again (so the drawers stay closed) and the wires behind it need organizing. I need to make a new batch of quiche muffins.

But the big todo is my desk area. It is full of unorganized junk. I need to pull everything out of every drawer and every shelf and organize it all (and, probably throw out most) and then put it back so that 1. I can find stuff and quit buying dupes and 2. I can get more space so that I don't have to have so much stuff out and it will look nicer.

I am going to do that this week. And, may even start today. It's been bugging me for a while and there's no reason to put it off any more.

But, right now, I think I need more coffee.

susandennis @ 08:29 am: Today's Basket

This time, I believe, my experimenting has paid off. I finally have a credible looking bear that is the size I want with a pattern that is good (no seaming). You can see the yellow version here.

susandennis @ 02:04 am: From Twitter 11-08-2009

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susandennis @ 12:20 pm: Today's Basket

This time it's a green bear - another experiment...

susandennis @ 11:46 am: Excellent Brunch News
I've been going to Boka every Sunday morning for a while now. I love the bloody mary's, the food, the atmophere... I've had the same waiter every time but one. Eric. There was nothing wrong with Eric he was totally Average in the world of wait. One week, I sat at a different table and got a woman who was way less than average so I learned to appreciate Eric.

Today, there was no Eric. I asked the hostess and she said that "Eric is no longer with us". And neither was that below average woman, I noticed. In their place were two very cute guys. Scott was my waiter and he knocked himself out. And I loved it. I've been back home for not quite an hour and I'm already excited about going back next week.

Plus, they changed the menu - which apparently they do seasonally (since they did not do it in the Summer, I'm thinking maybe they do cold season, hot season). This morning I had Salmon hash which was out of this world!! It was pretty and delicious.

Oh yeah, this very good place just got very much better!

thebb73 @ 08:17 pm: this place...
...is messing with my head. Conversations with my friends tend to go something like, "Good morning. Good morning. How are you this evening?" And today I walked by a store a like at Manda Hill They had put up Christmas decorations AND a sign that says, "Super Summer Savings" I am so confused.

susandennis @ 08:17 am: Healing and bloody (mary, that is)
Last night I was really starting to worry about my hand. I could not make a fist. What if I needed to deliver a left jab? It was not red or hot but crap on a stick, did it hurt.

This morning? It's way way better. My left jab is probably still a bit compromised but I think I'll survive The Attack Of The Claw. Whew.

The attacker is a lump under the covers as I type this and his sister is snuggled next to him on top of the covers. I've used up all my 'awwwwww's' for today already.

The past few nights I have had job dreams - specifically, getting fired from jobs. None have been bad dreams particularly. In every one, the job is an office job. Really interesting. Last night I got a new job - working for Hugh Laurie. Not House but Hugh Laurie himself. I rarely even remember that I dreamed much less what I dreamed.

Every Sunday I listen to Leanne Hansen on NPR. She annoys the crap out of me. I am still annoyed that she replaced Susan Stamberg. Today they are marking the 20th anniversary of that replacement. So for 20 years I've listened and been annoyed. That's just ridiculous.

Next up, shower and long walk with the Bloody Mary/Brunch reward. Happy Sunday.

susandennis @ 02:04 am: From Twitter 11-07-2009

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susandennis @ 05:25 pm: Death by cat claw
This morning I was working on the desktop computer and Travis was crawling all over the desk, knocking stuff off, stepping on the keyboard, knocking more stuff off - making me crazy. I picked him up and tossed him on the floor several times. In his best Jack in the Box act, he was back at it. At one point, he was knocking off a picture and stepping on the keyboard at the same time and lost his balance. In a desperate attempt to hang on, he managed to snag the back of my hand and for a few seconds he was dangling from that freakin' claw in my hand.

Can you say FUCK!! OW!!! FUCK FUCK FUCK!!? It was really painful. There was really only one puncture - but he had gone deep. It finally stopped bleeding and he finally came out from under the bed.

I just washed some dishes and it started bleeding again - slightly so I washed it off and plugged it with Neosporen and put a bandage on it. It's swollen a little and bruised but not red. I'm watching it, though - a flesh eating bacterial infection is not how I want to go out. And Ouch.

---

I went out late this afternoon to return some stuff to the library, drop off stuff at the Goodwill and make a quick grocery stop. I was half way to the library when I realized that I had forgotten to bring the goods. I pulled into Goodwill only to figure out I had hit the exact time when the had the donations lane blocked off so a truck could get through. I figured I'd come back on my way home. The grocery store was PACKED! And then I forgot about the Goodwill.

Not such a productive trip after all...

susandennis @ 01:10 pm: Today's Basket

Yet another new bear pattern. Brown bear? How creative!

susandennis @ 11:54 am: In from the wild - whew
Well, that turned out to be a little more of an adventure than I originally had in mind. As soon as I got off the train, tornado winds hit to ensure the rain got under my umbrella even when it was not blown inside out. Yikes. Plan A (4th street diner) got scuttled cause Plan B (McDonald's) was closer and on the way home.

Now I need to talk about my McDonald's. (It's on 1st, between Holgate and Lander.) I usually drive through. They are so efficient, that if the line is wrapped around at lunch time, I still barely have time to decide what I want and dig out my change. I rarely go inside but this morning it was a treat. That place is sparkley clean and the workers were so cheerful and helpful to everyone who came in from the wind and rain. I looked around for a feedback form and couldn't find one but did fine a name and telephone number to call about Quality and Service. He is absolutely going to hear from me.

By the time I was done with my extremely delicious breakfast, the wind was kind of not as blustery and I went on... I curved on down to stop at my bank. I've had a check for $25 in my purse since forever and I figured their ATM would let me deposit.

Their ATM is behind a door and nice and dry with no wind. Star #1. I've never used an ATM before that let me set my preferences! Star #2. No envelopes which I thought was weird but when I told it I wanted to make a deposit, it not only spit out an envelope, it gave me plenty of time to get everything ready. Star #3. A very nice experience.

And then on to home. I cam close to hopping a bus but trudged on. 1 hours from McD's to home - the ATM stop. It totally counts as gym.

susandennis @ 08:24 am: Acer Timeline 3810TZ
I finally have this machine upfitted the way I want and I'm really delighted by it and thought I'd review why.

I'm guessing that the new models will come with Windows 7 installed and that would have saved me a lot of setup that I actually managed to over complicate but, in the process, I did learn a great deal and this thing took it all like a trooper.

I also finally got an image made with a recovery CD so, hopefully, in the event of a catastrophe I won't have to start with Vista again.

Physically, it's a beauty. It's 13" which, turns out to be just an excellent size. I wanted 11" but 13 was as small as it comes and I'm glad, now. It fits on my night stand easily and, yet, gives me plenty of screen real estate. The keyboard is fabulous. The keys feel good and is easy. The trackpad is dead center which is pretty but turns out it would be more easily used if it was 1 inch closer to the left side of the machine. My thumbs want to land on the trackpad which puts my fingers two keys off for typing. I could retrain my hands except then they won't work for the Toshiba (work laptop).

The trackpad is really good. It's very easy to use and do whatever I need. I've had touchpads before but they were not good for anything but emergencies. This one is very functional. The mouse buttons are actually one button. Press the left side for left mouse action and the right for right mouse. Works great and looks nice. Oh and there is a small button right next to the pad that you can use to turn the pad off which is very clever and nice.

Above the keyboard is a nice, pretty row that has the speakers and four little indicators. One is the hard drive light. It's just a light.

The next three are indicators that are also action buttons. One kicks off power saving. It only works if you are running on battery and you can set what power options it starts up.

The next button starts up the Acer Backup program. The Acer Backup program is Lame. (The machine comes with and upgrades to the Home Premium which does not include Windows backup.) But, I found the registry key and set that button to do what I wanted it to (it now kicks off my clock screensaver). Nice.

The last button is the wifi button. It blinks when you are connected. And to turn off wifi, you just tap it and you get a nice, quick, visual acknowledgement on the screen. Really really nice and handy. I set up my cellphone to tether and had to turn the wifi on and off a bunch in testing.

The keyboard has a bunch of new (to me) key functions like an Euro sign and an AltGr key. Turning sound up and down and brightness up and down is a very simple, and clearly designated operation.

The screen is beautiful and bright and really flawless. All of the outlets have subtle icons on top so you can easily see where the USB (3, thank you!) plugs in, where the headphone and microphone go. There's an SD card reader and an HDMI port. And on the font is a pretty light that indicates battery operation.

The power plug fits in nice and snugly and the power brick is not the biggest or heaviest I have ever encountered.

The Acer software is kind of weird. I do appreciate that they kept the bloatware to a minimum. It was easy to blow away. They did not provide any paper userguides which I love. They are on the machine and I copied them out to the network in case I can't get into the machine and that's all I need.

There is one thing that is confusing me. They provide a Games area. It has many of the attributes of a folder - opens with explorer - but not all of them. It's more like the Music and Pictures folder but not exactly. When I hit the windows key, it's listed there on the right between Music and Computer. But, I can not navigate to it from explorer. When I click on Computer, Music and Video, etc, is all in the left hand column but no Games. It's weird. It's handy because I use this machine for playing casual games and this is a great way to organize them. It was taking for-freakin-ever to open but I fixed that when I found the 'check the internet for updates' feature and turned that off.

There is really kind of an elegance about the thing that makes it more fun and nicer to use than any of my other computers. I'm not a car person. A beater gets me there. A Jaguar gets me there far more pleasantly. This is my Jaguar.

thebb73 @ 03:20 pm: relief
I was trying to go swimming in our pool today. After that sunburn, I have been rather hiding from the sun. So I finally went out ready for some exercise. It was overcast. The rains are comming and it is about time. The heat has been so oppressive and you can feel it on everyone. So I started swiming, I figured I could do at least 30 lengths this time. I did 10 and it started to rain a little. Hooray!!! I did 20 and the thunder started, then the lightening so I got out. It's ironic that I was finally ready to do some real exercise and I was thrwarted, but I am sooooo happy to have rain!!

susandennis @ 02:03 am: From Twitter 11-06-2009

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