Currently Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 By Activision Inc. see related

  Boy...

I'm happy.  Everything is right in my world.  For the moment.  That'll all change when the fucktard gas company people show up tomorrow.  I'm going to stay far, far away from them... better for both our sakes, me thinks. 

Anyway...

All is at this moment, right in my world.  Yup.  Let me count the ways...

1.  House is back.  After suffering withdrawal symptoms for two fucking weeks... my show is back.  So terribly happy about that.  I'm not used to having to watch on a schedule, you know.  A schedule tossed out on a whim by network yahoos.  This is the first full season I've watched first run episodes on broadcast TV.  Drives me fucking crazy that I have to wait a week... let alone three, ok?  (I watched the first four & a half seasons on dvd or internet... which I could watch whenever I wanted.  See?) 

2.  I have/had new episodes of Dexter to watch, compliments of my ferrety friend.  Now.  I have said I'm not that impressed by the show... and I'm not.  Dexter, the character... well, I'm sorta indifferent to him.  I don't dislike him.  I feel sorry for him, really... and I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him.  But... he's a fucking sociopath.  A sympathetic one, sure... but still.  It's hard for me to make a connection with someone who's crazy as a motherfucker.  I do like the characters of Angel and Doakes.  Especially Angel.  For whatever reason, he amuses the shit outta me.  Regardless of what I think of the show and characters, however, it's something to watch that I haven't seen before... that's good.  I'm seriously outta those things.

3.  IHop  Tuesday. 

4.  Modern Warfare 2

5.  I have tonight off.  I actually forgot all about it.  Veteran's Day.  I mean... I knew I had Veteran's Day off... I never forget holidays.  Ever.  I just didn't realize it was Veteran's Day already.  I mean, I did... but whatever... it snuck up on me while I wasn't looking or some shit like that.  Surprise holiday!  Can't beat that.  Though it's sorta pointless as I slept all day (I was soooo tired by like 11a) and I'll be up all night... and I'll have to sleep all day tomorrow so I can be up all night Wednesday for work.  Blah, blah, blah.  But.  Whatever.  I'll play Modern Warfare 2 all night, I guess.     Practice up my shooting skills. 

Hmmmmmmm... I think that's about it.  Whatever.  That's not a bad list, right?  Five things?  And four days of work?  Work two, off one, work two?  See?  It's not bad.  It's all good.  Seriously. 

Work

Eh.  Work was blah, blah.  Nothing going on there at all.  Literally.  Since Kelly's not leaving, there's no supervisory replacement to be pondering... no new gossip going on that I'm aware of... not that anyone gossips with me anyway, because they don't... but whatever.  Inmates all well behaved enough. 

Really nothing going on. 

On Sunday, I brought all my unauthorized belongs into control.  All the ones that they're "cracking down" on...   And, of course, no supervisor said a fucking thing about it.  And they're not going to... they know better.  You make someone just sit in there all night on 3rd shift, without a fucking thing to do, they'll either be sleeping or they'll be me... if I'm bored, I create my own entertainment.  That usually ends up amusing for me and universally annoying for the rest of humanity.  The supervisors understand that I'm not going to be bored... so it's better to let me bring something to do than for me to have to create something to do.  You see?

IHop

My poor friend.  She had me laughing so hard this morning, that I had tears.  She had tears too... but it was because she wasn't sure if she should laugh or cry.  Her parents are driving her bat shit crazy.  Seriously... and she was telling me this shit... and I couldn't help but laugh, cuz it's so fucking funny. 

First her dad went to Walmart and bought a $5 litter pan.  Ok?  One of those As Seen On TV deals.  It's the one, apparently, that has three parts... one of the parts is basically a sifter... a pan with holes in the bottom that goes inside another pan, then is covered in litter... when it gets dirty you lift the 2nd pan, the sifter pan, and the poo and all stays on that while the litter gets sifted back into the main pan.  The third pan is so that you can transfer the sifter pan (after you've dumped said poo) into it and then poor the litter from the 1st pan on top.  (Not the best description, but you should get the picture... unless you're dense.  )

Well... my friend's dad can't figure this out.  He is absolutely convinced that he has purchased three seperate litter pans and can't understand why one has holes in the bottom.    My friend even took out the instructions and showed him how it went together.  Then got some item or another to play the part of poo... and demonstrated how this is supposed to work... and he still doesn't get it. 

And tomorrow?  He's going to fix the holes in that 3rd pan. 

And, of course, I'm just imagining him out in the garage tomorrow, spackling all those holes shut. 

She also told me while she was grilling yesterday evening, her dad tried to make her wear one of those little headlamp things that comes with headgear?  For like... outdoorsy stuff and guys who work on cars and what not?  He was not only trying to convince her she needed to wear this contraption to see the grill, but he was trying to forcefully put it on her head.  (Well... not forcefully, as in maliciously... but as in not stopping when he was asked to stop.)  She also said that her mother had set out a half pound of hamburger... to make 6 hamburgers... and the patties were itty bitty.  She said it seriously looked like she was grilling meat balls. 

And then, of course, her parents ate the mini burgers on regular sized buns. 

Oh my goodness.  I seriously had tears going.  Because I know her parents and I can picture every bit of this in my head... especially the itty bitty burgers on the big old buns.  That's some funny ass shit.  Grilling meat balls!

Magnus, Eli & Isaac

My ferrets that were sick (they decided to share a tummy bug) way back in... what the end of September?  Yeah.  Magnus & Eli... back to 100%.  I might've said that once already.  I can't remember.  Eating normal, playing normal... just back to the way they're supposed to be.  

Isaac, you'll remember, has been the slowest to recover.  He was the first one to get sick, the one that got the sickest and he has taken the longest to recover.  He is still not eating kibble that I'm aware of... he has a great appetite... for either my friend's ferret chicken gravy (homemade food) or Science Diet A/D prescription cat food. (High calorie)  Oh... and treats.  He loves his Bil-Jaks.  (Chicken liver based dog treats.  Dogs love them and ferrets, I think, love them even more.  My guys think they're the greatest thing ever!)  I'm only giving him the "special" food (not kibble) twice a day... once in the morning and once in the evening to encourage him to eat kibble.  So far that strategy isn't working... or not working well.  

The good news and the reason for going here in the first place?  The past two mornings in a row... Isaac has played.  Rough housed, bounced around... acted like a ferret.  He has not done that in over a month!    Finally... finally he is starting to feel better and starting to be himself again.  That is a long ass time for a little guy like a ferret to be feeling punky, let me tell you.  

Roran

I'm going to strangle that ferret one day, I really am.  He's just soooooo incredibly lucky that he's an incredibly handsome ferrety soul... because he is such a little twat.  I'm not kidding.  He is the only ferret I've ever had that is naughty on purpose.  He knows exactly what bit of naughtiness he's up to, as well, and will head for the hills as soon as he's made.  The little shit ass. 

Roran at a local lake this past January.

Yesterday, he decided to go under the entertainment center.  And refuse to come out.  Now... he used to do this quite frequently... but doesn't do it so much now.  Thankfully.  Because getting him out?  Takes an act of God & congress... because he sure as shit isn't coming out just because I want him to... oh, no. 

His markings cause him to have a perpetually pissed off look...
Which is even more pronounced when he actually is pissed off. 

To get his naughty ass out from under the entertainment center (and he knows damn well that I want him out, the little shit.), I have to take the TV off the entertainment center... that thing weighs about... 180 lbs.  Then, I have to start carefully pulling the entertainment center (a full wall unit) away from the wall.  Carefully, because I don't want to hurt the naughty little fucker or tip the entertainment center over...  

He is a handsome bloke, though, ain't he?

He made me drag that thing out about 2 ft on each end yesterday, the furry little fucker.  Normally, I only have to pull out one end about... 6" maybe... and he'll poke his head out... like he hasn't a clue I've been lookingn for him, of course, and I'll snatch him up.  But yesterday?  Yeah.  He wasn't poking his head out for anything.

He finally did, of course. 

And before I could grab him, he made a break for it and ran under the futon.  And then we had a lovely game of "Chase the naughty little fucker around the room because he doesn't want to go back into the cage"... we play this game often.  Usually when it's time for me to go to work or when I want to go to bed.  Of course. 

He finally got caught, of course.  And then he just turns into a lump of cuddle ferret.  I think he does that on purpose, too.  Manipulative little bitch.   

Today's Illness

Leishmaniasis.  Yes.  I know what it is.  If you Google it, so will you.  And do a Google image search for the full effect.  (You're welcome.  )  Had a bit of a time there... took me a few tries to get the spelling correct.  For some reason, thought the "i" needed to come before the "e"... hmmmmmmm...  

House

Just a few set photos from last night's episode Known Uknowns.

In case you're lost, you know...

Lakeside...

Director Greg Yaitanes with the PotW's puffy leg. 

And, in case you're dying to know, last night's episode was filmed at Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa.  And now you know.  Looks like a very pretty place... and like a place I couldn't afford to stay at... but still cool. 

Today's Video

From the newly released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which I picked up my copy of this morning.  Both of the CoD:MF games have been intense.  (Well, I've only just played a bit of this current one...)  Good gaming experiences, but not what I'd call "fun", necessarily.  You're too immersed in the game... and the game is about war.. and war isn't exactly fun.  Both of these games have, at times, left me feeling really, really angry.  Angry and a couple of times just... in shock, I guess would be the best way to describe it. 

You know a game's good when it brings out real emotion.  Eh?

This new game is intense to the point of having the ability to skip over levels that "some may find disturbing or offensive".  (Maybe like the part right at the beginning where the Russian bad guy & crew machine guns to death an entire airport full of civilians???) 

The graphics & game play are just... awesome. 

Peace... 

~ Updated at Bottom ~

Greetings...

The weekend's over and I've finally got a few minutes... actually, more than a few... to write a word or three before heading off to work.  Yippee... 

Friday

You know about the game, if you saw the post one down.  We lost.  It was... awful.  We didn't play well.  They (They being the Bears, our opponents) started off the game by running us "three & out"... and then blocking the punt and returning it for a touchdown.  Momentum their way, right from the get go...

Momentum is huge in any game, in case you didn't know.

We got the Mo to swing our way a couple of times... but then Murphy's Law would kick in and kick us in the nuts.  Like the fumble on the 1 yrd line... just as we're going to score.  No points and they get the ball back... and the Mo back, too, for that matter. 

We were damn lucky we weren't shut out. 

We went to the bar after and got our grub on.  I hadn't eaten all day so the alcohol I consumed went right to my noggin'.  Making me a little floaty headed.  But it was all good.    Ain't doing nothing but going home and hanging out with my ownself afterwards, anyway, so who cares if I'm floaty headed?  Not I!

Friday Morning...

I stopped by Lil Miss' place.  She was ready for adult activity... the kind she said we should refrain from just last week.  That didn't last long, did it?    I told her that we needed to do some conversing first... she wanted to have fun first... but I knew that wasn't going to work.  You have the fun first, you don't feel like doing the conversing part when you're done and then nothing gets accomplished.  Right?  Right.

I asked her if she wanted more out of what we have going on... than what we have going on.  Her answer to that was a question.  (I hate when people do that!)  Do you?  I told her no, I did not... and that I had made that very clear from the beginning and that we had re-established this arraingment after the summer with the understanding that it was going to be FWB and not anything else.  Period. 

LM:  "So you have no feelings for me at all?"  
ME:  "Not true.  Just not the kind of feelings you're talking about.  I am quite fond of you, actually."
LM:  "Quite fond of fucking me, you mean."
ME:  "That too."
LM:  "Oh, now that was just brilliant of you."
ME:  "I was being honest.  I'd appreciate if you'd do the same.  And you never answered my original question."
LM:  "So I'm good enough to fuck, but not good enough to love, is that it?"
ME:  "That's not fair."
LM:  "Well fuck you so very much."

There was a... 30 minute pause in conversation right about that time... I sat at the table while she paced around the place in a rather animated fashion, cursing me to the heavens and stars and... whatever else she could think of.  I'm reasonably sure that I've never been called so many different names in such a short period of time.  

Once she started to wind down, I asked her the original question again.  Finally, I get an answer. 

LM:  "Sometimes I think I would.  Yes.  Happy?"
ME:  "Just sometimes?"
LM:  "Jesus Christ, are you trying to talk me into it or out of it?"
ME:  "I'm not trying to talk you into anything.  I'm just trying to figure out where you stand."
LM:  "Why?  What does it matter to you, as long as you get what you want?"
ME:  "I sound quite selfish."
LM:  "Yeah and sarcasm is really appropriate in this conversation, asshole."
ME:  "I'm just trying to figure out if it's a good idea to continue with this arraingment.  If you have feelings that you can't deal with, then I need to walk away."
LM:  "So now I'm immature and can't deal with my feelings, too?  Immature and unlovable, but a good fuck."
ME:  "First of all, that's not what I said.  Second of all... what was that you said about sarcasm?"

Another pause in the conversation... only about 10 minutes or so this time. 

LM:  "I can't help how I feel."
ME:  "I know."
LM:  "And if I admit to having feelings for you, then you're going to walk away.  Right?  That's not a healthy breeding ground for honesty, you know."
ME:  "No, it's not.  But I didn't necessarily say I was going to walk away just because you have feelings for me.  As long as you understand that they're not mutual feelings and can deal with that fact, then we're still good.  But the minute I think you can't handle it, I will walk away.  If I don't, this will end up being one huge cluster fuck.  And I do not have the time, energy or patience to deal with cluster fuckedness in my personal life."
LM:  "I can handle it."

So.  There we stand.  It's not over.  Yet.  I still don't have a great feeling about it all, though, to be perfectly honest.  We did determine that we will take a break and won't see each other until after the first of the year.  We'll see what happens after that, I guess. 

We Lost

24-6.  Our boys' season ended tonight.  No championship game this year.

I feel bad for the kids.  It was a great team & a great season.  My nephew didn't want to come to the bar after the game at first... but changed his mind.  Red eyed, teary eyed and very subdued.  There's nothing you can say to make that better. 

I know.  Been there, done that. 

It's very difficult for me to see that in him... because I do know.  It's hard to understand if you haven't been there yourself.  If you don't understand high school athletics... or high school football.  They're not grown men making millions of dollars... they're boys playing for no other reason than love for the game. 

To get so far and lose... well... it really just sucks.

The season was awesome.  They only had one loss coming into this game.  They have every reason to be proud of their season.  And maybe by Monday, they'll remember that.  Right now?  It just hurts.

For the boys...
Their season...
And the love of the game...

From the movie, Friday Night Lights...

Peace... 

Currently Guitar Hero 5 Stand Alone Software By Activision Inc. see related

I Am...

Less annoyed than I was.  But I'm still annoyed.  I expect this annoyance to wane... and then come back with full force again, when I'm forced to deconstruct the bookcase in order to allow the fucktards (er... gas company) access to my unbroken gas meter which they want to move outside for "my safety".  (Their convenience, let's be honest.)  They will be doing this on Wednesday of next week.  Expect me to be annoyed that day.  Mightily. 

The young lady that I called was in a chipper mood when she answered the phone.  Not in such a chipper mood when I hung up.  Actually, she sounded like she might be on the verge of tears... or maybe that's how she sounds when she's trying desperately to be polite to someone who's not being very nice to her?  Or a combination of the both perhaps?  I dunno.  I just know that... I was annoyed and someone else was going to be such as well.

Of course...

Later... I felt kinda bad about that.  I'm sure it's not her fault specifically that they are annoying me.  And... 99% of the time, seriously, I would never do to someone what I did to her.  Because I know those poor fuckers in customer service and what not always catch shit for stuff that's not their fault.  They're just the ones that get unloaded on and that's not really fair.  And I was really, really, really... not nice this morning.  I did give her fair warning... when she answered the phone and asked what she could do for me, the first words out of my mouth were "I'm angry and when this conversation is finished, you're not going like me very much." and so it began.

I don't remember most of what I said... amazingly enough, I suppose because I was just that angry.  (Waiting till morning really didn't help, huh?  No.  Not so much.)  There were curse words involved... though I don't think I said fuck... much.  Maybe a few times.  I dunno.  I let her know that I was none too happy with their bullshit... especially the strong-arming bullshit of threatening to shut off my gas... to be honest, I'm more pissed off about that than anything else.  I do not like being threatened.  At all.  That's an automatic fight.

Before I called...

My sis was outside talking to me.  She asked me if I thought being so angry and going off on people was going to win this battle.  "No.  I don't care.  As long as they know they've pissed me off and just as long as I've been able to annoy them as much as they've annoyed me.  The rest doesn't matter."  And it doesn't.  Cuz I know they're going to win the battle.  At least the moving the damned thing out of the house battle.  Not real sure they're going to win the charge me $500 for doing it battle.  We'll see about that, I guess. 

So.  That's how that goes.  

Elsewhere

There isn't much elsewhere, honestly.  

Work was... eh... what it always is.  I watched Letterman, Ferguson & House... and successfully completed both the local crossword puzzle and the LA Times crossword.  Because I am that good.    Nobody really came back to talk to me... Kelly gave breaks but didn't even hang around for an extra second or two to chat.  Which is ok.  The only reason a few minutes of chat is favorable these days is that it leaves less time for watching House... which means my dvd sets last longer.  (Yes... I am in desperate need of more dvds...)  

Speaking of House... I'm rewatching season one... and something occured to me last night that hasn't before in previous viewings.  I just can't fucking remember what it is.  Hate when that happens.    I expect I'll remember eventually.  It wasn't anything earth shattering, but it was something that was like oh... why didn't I catch that before? and that was interesting, as I thought I was pretty much past all that... 

Stephen Fry appeared on Ferguson... so he taped yesterday and appeared last night.  Quick turn around... but I'm glad... at least I didn't miss it.  I very much like Stephen Fry.  A kind and interesting soul... quite bright, which is an automatic draw for me since stupid people annoy me.  He likes words.  I like that.  I like words.  (I can spend hours lost in a dictionary and occasionally do that at work.)  Oh... and he's funny, too.  

The Weekend

Well... let's see... Friday... Friday morning, Lil Miss would like me to stop by after work.  I think I'm going to unless I'm really tired in the morning, which is quite possible because I didn't sleep all that well today.  (I was very angry, you might recall...)  If I catch a second wind, I'll probably stop by.  Me thinks we need to have some serious discussion about things.  I need to find out just exactly what's going on in her little head... and either she'll be honest and tell me and we figure out what's going to happen from there or she's not honest and I have to just walk away.  Because it is getting to the point where that is going to need to happen, if something doesn't change.  It's not really what I want to do... far from it, actually.  But... it may be what I have to do.  To save myself grief and to keep from really hurting her if she's having attachment issues... which I think is quite likely.  I guess we'll see how all that plays out...

Friday evening is the next round of HS football playoffs.  We will play the Bears tomorrow night.  I hope, for the sake of the boys, that we win.  I don't know how good the Bears are... but if we play as well as we have for the past couple of weeks... with very few errors?  I think we'll do just fine.  If we were to win... there'd be one more playoff game... and then the championship game.  I sooooo very hope they make it to the last game!!! 

Saturday... my ferrety friend would like me to come over and check out her new digs.  I'll probably do that.  It's going to be really weird, though, going to her parents' house instead of hers.  It'll be like... high school again, don't you think?  Knocking on the door and having mom or dad answer?  How weird will that be???  And the utter lack of privacy... though we'll be down in the basement... maybe they stay outta there now that she lives down there?  I have no idea.  Not that we'd be doing anything that required privacy, mind you... it's a strictly platonic relationship... I'm just saying.  And for fuck's sake... I'll have to watch my mouth... for extended periods of time.  I'm going to have to make sure that fuck isn't every other word that comes out of my mouth.  (Usually, it pretty much is... when I say I curse like a sailor, I'm not kidding...)  I guess, on the drive to her parent's house, I'll just have to sit there and say fuck over and over and over... get it out of my system before I get to her place. 

Don't know what we'll do at her place.  We'll go eat, no doubt.  Then we'll probably watch movies or something... that's what we usually do, after all.  I wouldn't expect this time to be any different.  

After that... well... that'll about be it, won't it?  Yup.  Sunday is lazy day here as I sleep in because I have to work that night.  So.  Nothing much will happen on Sunday.  Lots of sleeping.  Some football watching.  That is about the grand all of it, I think.  

The God Son

Haven't heard from him in a couple of days now.  So... not sure what that means.  I hope it means he's busy out trying to find a job... I suspect that it means he's off getting fucked up somewhere... and/or I've said something that's hurt his widdle feelings. 

As I said... I'm hoping it's the former and not the latter.  Historically... if I were to bet... I'd say it was the latter.  But... well... we'll see I guess. 

I did think of something and sent him the suggestion.  I think the military would be good for him.  But... he doesn't want to join the military for one thing... and I don't think they'd take him, for another.  He's just been in jail waaaay too much the past year or so.  That and he has no diploma or GED... so... I don't think they'd take him... and like I said... I don't think he'd join, anyway.

My next suggestion was Job Corps.  That just came to me last night.  I have no idea why it didn't come to me sooner.  I think I have suggested it in the past, but had completely forgotten about it until last night.  Which is odd, since I went to Job Corps myself.  

Ah, yes...

Click here to learn more about the program.  I'll give you the quickie basics... it's a government program (Under the US Department of Labor) for poor kids... actually, poor people between the ages of 16-21 yrs.  You join this program, live on campus and they will get your education for you (you can earn a real HS diploma) and give you job training... and pay you while you learn. 

And yes... I did belong to Job Corps for 20 months back in the mid 80s.  Why did I join?  Reagan 80s.  I'm sure that some people think those days were wonderful.  I'm sure those people had money.  For the rest of us?  It wasn't so great a time.  Because the Reagan 80s drove many family farms into the ground (Remember Farm Aid?  Or John Mellencamp's Rain on the Scarecrow?) and I live in a rural farming community in an agricultural state.  Farmers (and their wives) who wanted to keep their family farms literally flooded the unskilled labor market... you couldn't even get a fucking paper route.  It was crazy. 

So.  I joined JC to get nagging parents off my back.  Because they just couldn't understand the situation... you know, when they were kids, you filled out an application, you got a job.  Just like that.  Well... it wasn't like that around here in the Reagan 80s, thanks so much.  And they nagged despite the fact that they brought me applications from all over the fucking place, drove me to turn them in and when I (very rarely) actually got an interview, they drove me to those, too.  (I think they thought I was just fucking around and not really applying for jobs... but that wasn't the truth at all.)  Despite all that... I still couldn't get a fucking job.  Not even a paper route, as I said... too many grown people needing the jobs more than teenagers.  (And it was probably the right thing to do, to give those jobs to the adults who really needed them, all things considered, but it really sucked to be on the short end of that stick...)

So.  Off I went.  And I did my 20 months there and came home.  Yay. 

Anyway... the point is... this would be a perfect program for my God son... if I could get him talked into doing it.  He could get his diploma.  He could learn a trade.  They have free medical care... including counselors.  They have a zero tolerance policy for drugs/alcohol/violence (such was not the case in the mid 80s.  Things have changed...) and he could get out of the situation he's in... learn something... get some money in his pocket...

I just don't know if he's willing to even entertain the thought.  Because he says he wants to change... but I don't necessarily belive that he really does.  I think he likes to say those things to get people off his back. 

We'll see, I guess.  If he decides to write me again, anyway. 

Today's Videos

I got three.  Normally wouldn't show that many... but... oh well.  I'm going to anyway.  You'll either watch or you won't.  Right?  Right.    (and I think you should watch 'em all, but that's just me.)  The first two videos are Stephen Fry on Ferguson last night.  I share because my fellow Americans need to know him.  We're missing out, me thinks...  The last video is the above mentioned John Mellencamp song. 

Stephen Fry on Ferguson Part One

Part Two

Rain on the Scarecrow ~ John Mellencamp

Peace... 

Currently Uncharted 2: Among Thieves By Sony Computer Entertainment see related

Grrrrrrrrr 

I'm a bit annoyed at this particular point in time.  Quite annoyed, actually.  I'd like to strangle someone.  Or something equally violent... like batting their heads in or some such thing. 

The gas company. 

It's a good thing I can't call them now.  Well.  I probably could, I'm sure they're still open... but I won't because if I do, there will be some suggestions of violence involved... death, destruction... blowing something up.  And, you know... that would only get me into trouble, so we'll leave the calling for tomorrow when I (hopefully) won't be so incredibly annoyed with them.

What'd they do?

They threatened to shut of my gas.  In November.  (Please, please, please let them do that... I will be on the phone to the media so fast, it'd make their little heads spin.)  Why would they do this?  Because I haven't paid my bill?  Nope.  That's not the problem.  Have never missed a payment or been late or any such thing.  Ever. 

But they're threatening to shut me off.

Because the gas meter is inside the house.  And, apparently, this bothers them greatly.  I didn't put the meter in the house... the  house was built like this... in the late 1960s.  I had absolutely nothing to do with it.  There is nothing wrong with the meter.  It is, in fact, pristine... because it's always been inside the house.  Their people have come out and checked it... no problems.  Pristine was their word... not mine.  

Oh.  They also want to charge me $500 to move the thing where they want it to be.  

This makes me not especially happy.  

I have no problem with the thing being in the house.  In the house, outta the house... what fucking difference does it make?  It's been in the house for... well... probably 40 yrs.  Right?  Now it needs to move?  Because it's suddenly become "unsafe".  (Their words yet again)  And you want to charge me $500 to do something that you want to do that I don't think is necessary?  For my safety?  If it's just for my safety, why are you charging me $500?  Seems to me that you're just trying to make an extra $500.  Motherfuckers.  

Oh.  Also the people who lived in here two families back built a bookcase to cover the meter.  Which means that I have unbuild the bookcase and take that whole thing down (it's like a large wall unit) before they can even think of charging me $500 to do a completely unnecessary task... for my safety. 

Oh... and someone will have to take off work for this to be done.  Probably my mom, cuz I just can't get days off a the drop of a hat.  

I feel bad for whatever poor soul they send out here to complete this completely unnecessary $500 task... especially if I'm anywhere around.  They will not have a good day.   

Work

Which is slightly less annoying, generally speaking, than the gas company at this point in time...  Not much going on there.  I had but one female... just one.  All the others went buh-bye.  Makes me happy.   There had been just three for a while there... but now we're down to one.  Much better than before.  Less girls = less problems.  Still have 9 boys, though.  They're not horribly annoying for me, though I know they annoy the other shifts. 

Kelly admitted to me last night before shift briefing that she didn't get that job out of state that she said she had... nope.  They turned her down.  I figured as much.  As I said a post or two down... I never believe these people that talk about their new "jobs" until they're actually walking out the door.  Getting out is such a popular theme here... it's about all most of the people talk about.  And the more they talk, they less likely they are to be going anywhere.  It's always the ones that never say a word that actually leave.  The ones who chatter on about it?  They're the ones that always end up... still there.  Interesting, don't you think?

Nick was like that last year.  He went on and on about getting a job at the Colorado Super Max prison... the warden liked him so much he wanted to "hire him on the spot" and... all sorts of shit like that.  He had the job in the bag, he just had to get back and get his affairs in order here and then he was gone.  Guess where Nick is now?  Not at any Colorado Super Max, let's just say that... he's still a part timer working for us.  Cool, huh?

Also got a paper from the safety committee meeting.  (Which consisted of two people... that amuses me half to death all by itself.)  Wasn't much in it... except now they're going to "crack down" on people bringing stuff into control that isn't supposed to be in there.  Books, magazines, food, purses, bags, cell phones, etc, etc, etc.  Mind you, this has always been the policy... that these things weren't allowed.  And the policy has pretty much always been ignored.  But no more... or so the memo said.

I'll be sure, next Sunday night when I'm in control, to completely ignore that bit of silliness... like I always have. And guess what?  No supervisor is going to do a damn thing about it.  And if they do happen to think it's a good idea to suggest I not bring anything into that little box... I will happen to mock them and do what I'm going to do anyway... and see if they do anything about it.

Because I already know the answer is no.  They're not. 

Not on 3rd shift, anyway.  The reason for that is... boredom.  If they don't let us do something in there, people will be sleeping.  Yes... control runs the entire building.  Yes... that person should be paying attention.  Watching the monitors, etc and so forth. 

On waking shifts.

On 3rd shift?  If you watch monitors, you'll see nothing but empty hallways.  You do open doors... maybe one every... 30 or 40 minutes, after janitorial staff leaves.  If you're lucky.  Sometimes, it may be as long as an hour or even more.  There's not a whole lot of movement in the building once janitorial is gone.  There are only 6 other staff in the building, besides control and only 5 of them can move.  The three pods and two supervisors.  If those staff and supervisors prop doors open (which they're not supposed to do, but do all the time anyway), then there are no doors for control to open.  So you just sit in this little box with absolutely nothing to do. 

Supervisors know this... they're not going to make us just sit there.  And even if they should think they were going to try that, I'm all about ignoring stupidity and swinging from my own vine... so I'll be all good either way. 

Thank You

For the imput regarding my God son.  I do appreciate it.  Especially this little bit... which had really never occured to me:  He is sincere but he doesn't know how to get out. When sober and straight they always mean it but the pull for doing drugs is so strong that it over rides any reason. ~  alterEGGO

You see... I knew I was too close to see things clearly.  This should've been... well, let's say that it wasn't something that should've never occured to me.  I should know better and realize things like this.  Something that is so obvious... and yet... the thought never crossed my mind.  It should have. 

What do they say about not being able to see the forest for the trees? 

So.  Now I feel stupid.  Though I shouldn't.  Human nature being what it is, it's not my fault.  But... I certainly do feel like kicking myself for not realizing something so obvious.  Duh.

I also have to remember not to be too critical... to be honest without being judgemental, I guess would be a better way of saying that.  I think I am supportive... I just have to make sure my support stays more positive and not turn into constant criticism... because it will.  Believe me, it will.

My tolerance for stupid, of any variety, is very very slim.  My streak of sympathy is about a 1/8" wide, ok?  He's burned through whatever sympathy I could muster for him long ago.  Sympathy is replaced by frustration... which comes out as anger and sarcasm and other really not so very helpful stuff.  This I already know.  (Read my email to him one down... it wasn't all that friendly.  And I was being nice in that one.)  I must self censor better...

At any rate...

Please please please... if you have any suggestions, comments or... whatever... on anything with this situation, please let me know.  Whether it's regarding his behavior... or mine.  I am too close.  That much we've established.  It may seem obvious to you... and maybe it should be obvious me... but I may not see it.  If you do, tell me.  Ok?

My Brain

Interesting little rat maze that it is...  was just bouncing off the walls last night.  If I wasn't watching the TV or doing a crossword puzzle... my brain was just literally filled with... too much thought.  The God son was on my mind constantly, my ferrety friend in her "new home" situation, my moods or lack thereof, Lil Miss and House.  (House was just in there cuz I haven't seen a new ep in two weeks and I'm having withdrawal symptoms!  ) 

I said my brain, because I want to do the mood thing.  I actually mentioned this on another Xangan's comment section a while back... because it's true... but then once I wrote it... it was like... well, it didn't seem like it was a normal thing.  Or didn't seem like it should be a normal thing.  Or maybe I'm just over-thinking it.  (Or perhaps a combination of that mess, eh?)  

So, here is another question for you:  Do you think it's odd to have just one mood?  Because it seems like it should be abnormal to me... to just have one.  Because, honestly... 90+ % of the time?  I have one mood... the mood I'm almost always in.  I'm in that mood when I wake up, when I go to bed... whenever... all the time, really.  

Except when I'm angry.  

When I'm pissed, I'm pissed.  Really pissed, usually.  That's my other mood.  So I guess I have two, actually.  I'm either pissed off or I'm... neutral.  Actually... neutral sounds... not good.  Sounds like I'm not happy or sad or anything... like I'm just there... and that's not what I mean.  And I'm not talking about emotion... I have a range of those... I'm talking about moods.  I'm almost always in a decent mood.  Or maybe it'd make more sense to say that I'm rarely in a bad mood?  I dunno.  

My parents call it being "even tempered"... I'm not excitable, I'm not prone to panic or anxiety (at all), I'm not grumpy for the sport of it, not bitchy or whiney or... whatever.  The only thing that really breaks me out of that one mood is someone doing something that pisses me off.  

Is that odd?  I mean... I don't know.  Now that I think about it, it seems odd.  I don't know many people (any people) who are as... even tempered, for lack of a better term... than I am.  

I have no idea.  I'm probably just thinking too much. 
Run away pondering!  Clear the track!!!  

Ferguson

I've determined that I need to take a trip to Scotland and bring along Ferguson, Billy Connolly and Gerard Butler.  Seriously.  There is absolutely no way that would be anything but complete hysteria.  

Stephen Fry is going to be on Ferguson soon.  Trying to find out for sure when.  The taping was today.  Stephen is an interesting chap... and I know he's known Ferguson for a long while... Ferguson's interactions with people he actually knows and has known for a while, are always more amusing than his interactions with random celebs.

Today's Video

Speaking of Ferguson and Gerard Butler... this was from last night's ep.  Sorry for the commercial... but at least CBS let's you embed videos...   

Gerard Butler reads an excerpt from Craig Ferguson's book on The Late Late Show.

Peace...