At Least Wednesday is Spaghetti Day

It's probably a very good thing that today is the scheduled day to up my dosage of the crazy med, because I'm afraid to ask this question, but what else can go wrong today?

Let's see, where to begin. It all started last night really, but let's begin with this morning and then back-track.

I took my cell phone off of the charger this morning and discovered that for some reason it didn't charge and has barely any juice left in it. Now that would be a minor annoyance were it not for the next issue...

My brand new used car fucked up on the way in to work this morning. First the battery light came on, which in itself made me think oh shit, but actually a battery isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. However... then the car got so I could barely steer it, like the power steering went completely out, only somehow even worse than just went out, like it went out and... gremlins were under there pushing against my steering attempts. Something. I dunno what.

Can anyone fathom how the battery light has anything to do with the power steering, or is it just me?

No power steering may have been manageable, except that I have to make a U-turn into the daycare. With no power steering this was just this side of impossible and, judging by the honks and dirty looks and er, other lovely gestures I got as I had to keep turning back and forth in forward and reverse to ultimately achieve my turn, it seemed one was sympathetic to my plight. Granted, they were ignorant of my plight. All they knew was that some idiot couldn't even make a simple U-turn.

So I dropped the kid off, got back in the car, and noted that the battery light was no longer on once I started the car. I conferred with the trusty owner's manual, which has only this to say about power steering troubleshooting:

"...if for some reason the hydraulic pressure is interrupted, it will still be
possible to steer your vehicle. Under these conditions you will observe a
substantial increase in steering effort."

Gee, that's great info, so helpful. For "some reason" like WHAT? WTF do I do to UN-interrupt the hydraulic pressure? And by the way, even using the word "substantial", you idiots substantially minimized the increase needed in steering effort.

So I managed to make it to my parking lot and park, largely because there were not many other cars there yet. If when I go to leave there are any cars at all near me, I'm in deep shit because I can't steer around them.

Hmmm, I could always have AAA tow it for me. Well, except that I let that expire back on January 18.

So, the nice service advisor named Jennifer at the Chrysler service department seems to think (after putting me on hold for a few minutes and probably consulting a man because what do most women know about cars and yes, I know that is sexist, but it also happens to be true) that it could be a thrown belt. She said that for only $87 they'd be happy to take a look, but that amount would also apply towards the repair should I have it done there. I inquired as to what if the belt only costs say $50 (less than the $87 to look at it). She chuckled, probably because she knows that NEVER happens, but she did say if the repair is less then I would only pay the price of the repair.

Yippee. I've had the car for 23 days and into the shop it goes.

So assuming I can steer the monster the 20 miles back to Arlington safely, I can have my uncle look at it first because if it is a thrown belt then it should be obvious to him and he can quickly ascertain how easy or difficult the job would be and whether he wants to attempt it etc etc., and if not I can drop it off and have it looked at.

Of course, on the chance that something may happen on the 20-mile venture, I got online and renewed my AAA membership and printed out my temporary membership card. And yes indeed you bet I am shameless enough to use it on the very same day I renewed it, if it comes to that. Assuming I have any cell battery left to call them, of course.

I really don't want to do that, though, have it towed. I seriously have this crazy thing where once I see my car on a tow truck, looking pitiful and broken, I generally decide within a couple of months at most that it's time to trade 'er in for something I haven't seen on a tow truck. But I can't do that this time since I just bought this car, so I need to avoid tow trucks if at all possible. Stupid, I know, but that's the way it is.

Is that enough of my shitty day for you, or do you want more?

More? More it is, then.

Last night I went to empty the dishwasher, which I had set to run the previous night while I slept so I don't have to hear the noisy-ass thing. All of the dishwasher soap was globbed in the bottom and the dishes were not clean.

Hmmmmmm. This home warranty thing I have rocks. I assure you these people are not making any money on me at all.

However, I decided to try to avoid the dishwasher equivalent of the Target Bag Incident and have my uncle take a look at it before calling for service. You know - just in case a Target bag or something equally asinine mysteriously made its way into my dishwasher and was mucking up the works.

No such luck. He couldn't find the problem with it. So the repair guy is coming on Friday between 12:00 and 5:00, which is a great excuse to just take the whole day off, which I have done. Woohoo. Something good from all the shit, at least.

I am just praying that the problem with the dishwasher isn't something rat-related. You know how they like to chew things and just basically fuck things up, and I know they were below my sink because they ate some poison from there. shudder shudder

ACK. The rat horror never ends.

Happy Birthday Abby! And other misc stuffs

Today is my baby dog's 15th birthday. 14 years and 46 weeks ago I brought her home, the tiniest little miniature schnauzer, and she has been my companion and my confidante all these years; the one who has always been there, who I can say anything to (hey, talking to my dog is better than talking to myself, right?) and who can sense exactly when I need her to jump up in my lap and give me sweet puppy kisses - because she will always always be my puppy no matter how many birthdays she has. Here's to you Abby, and to hopefully many more birthdays we'll share.

Would you believe last year I took the day off to spend with her? Oh, yes, I DO love this dog. Unfortunately I couldn't do that this year, but I will take her for a special walk when we get home today.

Today is also the anniversary of when Buddy Dude found us. I heard a dog barking out front, opened the door and there he was, skin and bones but wagging and smiling, barking at one of my cats. He looked so pitiful yet friendly, so I took him a bowl of food and some water. He wolfed the food down in no time so I brought him more. After the 3rd bowl of food I figured I better stop because clearly he hadn't eaten for awhile and I didn't want to make him sick. Then I pondered what to do next, not knowing if he'd get along with my other dogs (only 2 others at that time). It was cold out and he, being short haired and absolutely no meat on him then, was shivering. I couldn't just leave him outside and besides, after being fed, watered and paid attention to, I don't think he was going anywhere anyway. So I let him inside, he got along with the other dogs just fine, and the rest is history.

I don't think that Abby thinks Buddy's the best birthday present she ever got, though.

The funny thing about Buddy is he's such a cool dog, everyone who meets him says so, and no one can believe he just showed up on my doorstep. The vet said with what he weighed when I found him, he had to have been on the streets at least 3 to 4 weeks, yet no one took him in until me. I will never understand that. I'm just grateful that my cat was in the driveway at just the right moment that day so Buddy would bark at her.

Ok, what else. My weekend didn't turn out the way that I hoped it would. The kid's mom couldn't make it down to get her this weekend after all. I realize that when you don't have a car it must be very difficult to get a 300-mile round trip ride to here from Oklahoma, and twice in the same weekend no less, but she continues to disappoint the kid about 4 out of every 5 times she promises to come get her. I really wish mama would stop telling the kid she is coming, and that way when she actually is able to make it, it could be a wonderful surprise instead of so many disappointments. The kid wasn't the only one disappointed this weekend, either. I love the kid to pieces but a quiet weekend once in awhile is certainly nice.

Quiet. I've forgotten what that's like, I think. One Saturday after my mom had spent the day with her while I worked at the liquor store, as is the norm on Saturdays, they came into the store, my mom looking completely exasperated, and mom said, "that little magpie never shuts up!"

I know she didn't mean it quite the way it sounded. But I also know exactly what she means. And my mom pretty much repeats some variation of that phrase every Saturday after spending the day with the kid, though she generally doesn't liken her to a magpie anymore.

Anyway, the new plan is for mama to come this weekend. We will see. I'm not gonna be holdin' my breath.

I know what you're thinking, if you're someone reading this and all you know about this situation is what you've read here. "Why can't you take the kid up there sometimes? She needs to see her mama"

She does need to see her mama. And I suppose that I could take her up there. But I know a thing or two about mama and how she works, and it wouldn't be a "sometimes" thing. The first time I do it will be the beginning of me doing it every time, from now on, forever and ever, amen. And I don't want that. Not even if she makes the offer of gas money, blah blah, etc. Fortunately, neither mama nor kid has ever suggested it, and I certainly haven't. I have enough on my plate taking her to see dada every few weeks, almost 700 miles round trip.

Besides, I can take mama in small doses when I must, but I really don't think I could handle being in a car with her for all that long. At least not without an iPod and a sleep mask, which would make it just a little difficult to drive.

Oh, and remember my issue in my pet peeves with hypochondriacs? Ahem. (cough cough)

Oh, no, I must be catching a cold. I'd better run get some medicine.

TGIFFF*

*you figure it out.

Ah, the sweet bliss of Friday. Or at least, I was hoping this would be a nice, peaceful, fast day but it's not working out that way. Not slammin' busy, but one of the attorneys I work for is in an extremely foul mood, leftover from yesterday afternoon, so I'm just trying to stay low-key today. The part of this job that I hate the most, when someone's that cranky...

So, who's been watching American Idol? It's on my mind today because I watched Wednesday's episode last night on my TiVo. TiVo ROCKS. Apparently like 90% of America watches judging from the ratings this show gets. It's one of my favorite shows and this to me is the best time of the show, where they have all of the people trying out but mostly just making fools of themselves.

That (ahem) rather large girl from Tuesday I think it was, with the skimpy trash outfit complete with tube top, super short skirt, hooker boots and probably the pottiest mouth they've ever had was really something. I'd like to have been a fly on the wall when she actually saw herself on television. Hate to tell ya sweetie, but the camera only added 10 of those pounds and we didn't really wanna see all that skin and other... er, stuff you were showing. Ewwwwww.

But the greatest AI puzzlement to me so far was the guy the first week, I think they called him "Dancing Dave." He was certainly an outgoing and engaging fellow, but as a songster he was awful, just terrible. And Paula and Randy let him through. What was that, the American Idol judges' equivalent to jury nullification? "Yeah, we know he sucks, but we don't care, we're letting him go to Hollywood anyway"? I can't wait to see how his next performance in the competition pans out. Ha, maybe he will end up in the top 12, what the hell do I know?

I really have little else to say today except how happy I am that it's Friday because that means tomorrow is Saturday and though I work, at least it is a different work, and that means the next day is Sunday and my only day off. This Sunday I'll be catching up on laundry and putting my new Gazelle together. Hey, oh local friends o'mine who may be reading this, anybody want to come by and help me? There might be some beer involved... I know, I know. You wish you could, but you don't want to. I understand. I have wanted a Gazelle for awhile and when I saw the "free shipping" deal (which shipping is usually like $40) I couldn't pass it up.

I'll also have to go to the grocery store and stock up on low carb foods. Oh I am soooo not looking forward to this diet thing, but it is time. Past time. This was me at the doctor the other day:



(reprinted without permission but since I'm not making any money on this please don't sue me)

Hmmmm, then again, there's pills for everything these days, right? Which one will make me taller? Because if I could just grow a few inches, everything would be proportionate again and I could forget all about this diet thing. Maybe I'll check Ebay. You can find anything on Ebay, right. Yeah, that will be my "it" thing that I'm looking for. Let me know if you come across them, will you?

Random thoughts

So I guess I probably shouldn't read my horoscope anymore. Sheesh. What a ramble. You know, one of my friends is convinced that once my anti-crazy pills kick in I won't even write in this blog any more. That was interesting to me since all I've written about so far is essentially all meaningless so how could that be any kind of "therapeutic" or whatever she thinks this is, eh? We'll see.

Neither should I give the location of my blog to people I might want to write about in it at some later point. Not that this person will probably ever look at my blog a 2nd time, it's pretty dull compared with his own blog and probably with most of the ones he's used to looking at. But, just in case he does surf mine a second time, I'd just like to say to him again, here, that, having lunch with you today made my day and I'm looking forward to this weekend. And (also just in case he does read this) that's all I'm gonna say about that. (wink)

It occurs to me that I never tied up the loose ends here on the call from the New Orleans Walgreen's thing. Then again, no one has commented or emailed me dying to know just what that turned out to be about, so I guess no one really cares (sniffle sniffle), or else you know me well enough to figure that whatever it was turned out to be much ado about nothing. Maybe I'll just let this one go and see if anyone ever asks...

Hey on a funny note I can finally take down the bit on my profile about how I work out at 24 Hour Fitness while listening to my Ipod. Plus now I'm armed with the knowledge of how much attention Jennifer pays to my blog. :Þ I'd tell that story but admittedly it would make me look like a doofus. Actually, she could tell that story if she would ever bother to comment. Though I probably wouldn't like the way she would tell it because she'd spin it badly... not that there is a particularly good spin.



And that's a wrap folks. I got nothin' else to say today. Not that I did in the first place. Enjoy another picture of my Buddy Dude.


.

Look what reading my horoscope led to

If you're looking here for something funny today, come back later. This one probably isn't gonna make you laugh much.

My horoscope for today:

Capricorn(Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Clear thinking definitely isn't your forte right now, so hold off on any big decisions -- especially ones that involve your wallet or putting your John Hancock on legal and binding agreements.

Let me just say I don't put much stock in horoscopes, but sometimes they get lucky and are right on. You know, like a stopped clock being right twice a day - it's bound to happen once in awhile.

"Clear thinking definitely isn't your forte..." HMMMM, ya think?

I probably haven't been thinking clearly for quite awhile. Years, even. Thus the ex-husband and the several general now-exes that have followed. Some of those troubles were caused by men being typical men, or worse, really bad men, but some of the troubles that arose in my post-divorce relationships had to do with the fear-of-trust-based-on-others'-bad-behavior factor, thus leading to radical and not clear-headed behavior on my part.

Who can blame them for thinking in the end that I'm nuts? I was. Still am.

Ah, but now we have the anti-crazy meds. And aren't they just da bomb? (do people still say that? I'm not exactly that up on current trends. I am sure that will change once my niece begins to thrust them upon me, but for now, I'm not so much up on them) At least the xanax rocks so far. 2 of the best nights of sleep I've had in quite awhile.

Anyway, the other day the nice doctor and I had a long talk about a lot of things. She's a regular MD so I was actually a little surprised by all of the time she spent with me. Most doctors breeze in and then breeze on to the next patient. I began by telling her the bare minimum of my chaotic life just so she would understand the general plethora of problems in my life causing all those headaches, but then she started asking questions. Uncomfortable questions. She was not surprised to hear that I've had troubled relationships with the wrong men pretty much since I started having relationships. But she did seem a bit appalled to learn it's been 2 years since I've been in a relationship.

Haven't even dated. Haven't tried. Haven't wanted to. Still don't. The last relationship was the worst one and if that's an indication of how bad things can get then I don't want or need any part of a relationship, ever. Besides, I have the kid to think about now.

The nice doctor assured me that will change. That really the crazies are a chemical imbalance and once corrected, she has often found that women make smarter choices and magically find Mr. Right.

Well, ok, she didn't say anything about magic, but she did say I should find myself making smarter choices which in theory could lead to a good relationship. She has seen it happen, to herself included.

Wow, what would that be like?

Remember When...

* Memory was something you lost with age

* An application was for employment

* A program was a TV show


* A cursor used profanity

* A keyboard was a piano

* A web was a spider's home

* A virus was the flu

* A CD was a bank account

* A hard drive was a long trip on the road

* A mouse pad was where a mouse lived (can we not talk about mice, please?)

* And if you had a 3 inch floppy,
. . . you just hoped nobody ever found out!

Got this in an email today. Thanks to my friend Mickey for making me laugh. If you'd get a blog like you keep talking about, I'd link ya, ya know.

MMMM HMMM

Naturally. As soon as I publicly admit I can't figure something out, BOOM, I get it.

Wow, you know, I just can't figure out what those lotto numbers are going to be tonight...

Ok ok ok

I've just been told that I should really have some pictures on this blog, including one of myself. I suppose that pictures could make it more interesting, though some of my favorite blogs don't have much in the way of stuff. But ok, here is the least gross picture of myself that I happened to have here. Oh, and the kid's in it too, so maybe that'll take some of the focus off of me, seeing as how she is so cute, even with her eyes closed.

This picture was about a year ago at a birthday dinner, I believe. Before my face and the rest of me started to gain so much weight. Wow, I guess my hair has grown a little more than I thought since then.

There. Are we happy(er) now? :)

(Hehehe, the good thing about putting the picture here is that one day soon it will disappear into the depths of the daily entries. See, try as I might, I can't get a stupid picture on my profile. That site that the profile setup refers you to for free webhosting just takes me around in circles. Ah, well...)