i spent two hours — TWO HOURS — driving around Rockville and surrounding areas today, searching for a quasi-realistic toy gun. not even being particularly picky, just a toy gun that wasn’t from Space Capades or whatever ridiculous outer space made-up thing they devised to sell children on products.
the ONLY place i found one was at the party supply store, in their halloween section. it was a western rifle, or i could get a police pistol. they also had an inflatable camo machine gun.
that was it. not even a squirt or BB gun to be found that didn’t look like it belonged to a Storm Trooper.
gee, i’m so glad we, as a society, have managed to take away one of the simplest toys children could have, and have had, for years. and yet, this hasn’t seemed to solve our youth violence problems. hmm. d’ya think, maybe, it’s not about toy guns, and more about responsible parenting and moral (not religious, necessarily) upbringing? maybe???
or it just could be i’m pissed off because a toy gun SEEMED like such an easy thing to find.
bastards.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Mah Wheelz!
they haf arrived!
they are purple and came wif bearings and i putted dem on mah skates alreadys.
hoorah!
they are purple and came wif bearings and i putted dem on mah skates alreadys.
hoorah!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Stuck-Up Sk8r Boi FAILs, Middling-Age Overweight Woman WIN!
oh man, it felt so good (in a non-carnal way).
i am in need of outdoor wheels for my new roller skates (which i have not yet skated on, despite my desire, nay, NEED to have them NOW). as much as i lurv buying stuff online, i decided it would be nice to just go buy some, and have them in-hand immediately. the first task was to find someplace to BUY these wheels. boy howdy, was that a chore. i managed to find a few skate shops, but none conveniently located to anywhere i was going to be during business hours. this was gonna take a special trip. all these shops, by the by, are skate BOARD shops, as well. the nearest actual roller skate shop seems to be in Baltimore. er... by the time i drive to Baltimore, i might as well order ’em online... so best to take my chances in the skate board shops. i mean, Skarzipan did it!
after four hours of online research and poking about (slow work day), i get lucky. i discover a sport/skate shop in the mall across the street from my office. awesome! it’s off to the shop at 3:30 on a weekday. their website says they have all the skating stuff i’ll need (if i’m a skateboarder, anyway), so i’m thinking they’ll have what i need, or at least be close. i stroll into the joint, where three fellows are unpacking boxes in a store empty of customers, and ask for wheels. all the wheels they have are in a glass case that is pointed out to me. after several minutes of scrutinizing the product through the glass, i don’t think they have what i want... but i ask.
the exchange went something like this:
cate: hi guys, um, i don’t see any durometer readings on the wheels, do you know anything about them?
shop boy 1: wha?
cate: durometer measurements? i see you only seem to have wheels about 54mm, as well; i was looking for something more in the 62mm range, but that’s ok -- but i really want to know their durometer rating, i’m looking for something around 85A...
shop man: (he’s older than the boys) we don’t carry anything that large.
shop boy 1: wha? drometer?
cate: dur. om. eter. it measures how hard the wheels are.
shop boy 1: to shop boy 2 do you know about that?
shop boy 2: uh, all our wheels are polyurethane...
cate: yeah, no, um, thanks anyway. (exit stage right)
to be fair, they weren’t necessarily skater boys, but as a plump girl i am so tired of the attitude from young sports store punks it still felt great.
later that evening, i went to a specifically-skate shop in another mall. while the exact same exchange did not transpire, it was clear i knew a hella lot more about wheels than Mr. Sk8 With Emo Hair did. and they did not have what i wanted.
also, another shop just across the corridor in the same mall treated me awesome, even though they didn’t have what i wanted. the two kids in the Vans shop were nice, informative, energetic, and in no way condescending, even when i out and told them the wheels were for roller skates, not a skate board. in fact, judging by their expressions, they thought that was kind of cool, or at least, novel.
(that night i ordered the Radar Zens with ABEC 1 bearings in purple; they should arrive in about a week.)
i am in need of outdoor wheels for my new roller skates (which i have not yet skated on, despite my desire, nay, NEED to have them NOW). as much as i lurv buying stuff online, i decided it would be nice to just go buy some, and have them in-hand immediately. the first task was to find someplace to BUY these wheels. boy howdy, was that a chore. i managed to find a few skate shops, but none conveniently located to anywhere i was going to be during business hours. this was gonna take a special trip. all these shops, by the by, are skate BOARD shops, as well. the nearest actual roller skate shop seems to be in Baltimore. er... by the time i drive to Baltimore, i might as well order ’em online... so best to take my chances in the skate board shops. i mean, Skarzipan did it!
after four hours of online research and poking about (slow work day), i get lucky. i discover a sport/skate shop in the mall across the street from my office. awesome! it’s off to the shop at 3:30 on a weekday. their website says they have all the skating stuff i’ll need (if i’m a skateboarder, anyway), so i’m thinking they’ll have what i need, or at least be close. i stroll into the joint, where three fellows are unpacking boxes in a store empty of customers, and ask for wheels. all the wheels they have are in a glass case that is pointed out to me. after several minutes of scrutinizing the product through the glass, i don’t think they have what i want... but i ask.
the exchange went something like this:
cate: hi guys, um, i don’t see any durometer readings on the wheels, do you know anything about them?
shop boy 1: wha?
cate: durometer measurements? i see you only seem to have wheels about 54mm, as well; i was looking for something more in the 62mm range, but that’s ok -- but i really want to know their durometer rating, i’m looking for something around 85A...
shop man: (he’s older than the boys) we don’t carry anything that large.
shop boy 1: wha? drometer?
cate: dur. om. eter. it measures how hard the wheels are.
shop boy 1: to shop boy 2 do you know about that?
shop boy 2: uh, all our wheels are polyurethane...
cate: yeah, no, um, thanks anyway. (exit stage right)
to be fair, they weren’t necessarily skater boys, but as a plump girl i am so tired of the attitude from young sports store punks it still felt great.
later that evening, i went to a specifically-skate shop in another mall. while the exact same exchange did not transpire, it was clear i knew a hella lot more about wheels than Mr. Sk8 With Emo Hair did. and they did not have what i wanted.
also, another shop just across the corridor in the same mall treated me awesome, even though they didn’t have what i wanted. the two kids in the Vans shop were nice, informative, energetic, and in no way condescending, even when i out and told them the wheels were for roller skates, not a skate board. in fact, judging by their expressions, they thought that was kind of cool, or at least, novel.
(that night i ordered the Radar Zens with ABEC 1 bearings in purple; they should arrive in about a week.)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
What’d I Say?
if listening to Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say” does not make you want to shake your booty, you must be dead.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Somedays, I just want to go back to bed.
yesterday i had a gig, and like many weeknight gigs, i wouldn’t make it home between work and gig time. i really, really hate that. because home is where i reset & recharge, and i have a psychic need to be there every day when possible. also, gigs require preparations of the vain sort, and i just can’t possibly bring or remember to bring all the implements of beauty that i require. (many would be surprised at how much effort i put in to looking this disheveled.)
but i suck it up and do it, so yesterday i was walking in to work in my shiny new boots (yay!), carrying an assortment of three shoulder bags and backpacks, along with a guitar, when i tripped and fell.
as falls go, it was pretty conservative. i know exactly what happened -- there is a portion of sidewalk on the way in that has a little channel for drainage, and i stepped there, which is bad enough in sneakers but in high-heel boots was ridiculous, and my left foot went oooooops! and my right knee went down onto the pavement. but i didn’t drop my bags, didn’t fall on my face, and didn’t sprain anything, so i got up and kept walking like it was nothing. of course, if i had sprained something, i still would’ve just kept walking, crying inside with every step, until i made it into the office. i should mention i was wearing a skirt, so there is no fabric between my skin and the pavement, but thankfully, there is no pants knee to tear, as well.
i KNOW people saw it -- i was right there on the corner of the street -- and i was mortified. i didn’t look around, just kept looking straight, walking briskly as possible toward the office, waiting for that sweet haven where i could take off my “pssh, how DARE that sidewalk trip me!” face and put on my “WAAAAAAAAAAH” face. about thirty seconds after the fall a coworker calls my name from behind me. shit. not only di about 3 million people see me fall (that may be an exaggeration), one of them was a coworker! he didn’t say anything about it, though. he asked about my guitar. this was either incredibly wise on his part, or incredibly lucky on mine -- i can pretend that he didn’t see anything, or that he only saw me kneel and thought i was fixing my shoe or adjusting my bags.
i tried to keep a normal tone and expression for the walk in, where i took the elevator up (which i never do) because of the bags and the pain in my legs. as i stand on the elevator, i look at my knee, and realize there is a sizable chunk of -- skin? pavement? -- hanging off it, as well as some very dark red blood threatening to drip onto my new boots. i pull a little at the sticking-out part, find it is attached to me and i now have nicely bloodied fingers, and decide to leave it until i can put my stuff down. i make it into the office, act like nothing’s wrong, put my things by my desk, and head off to the bathroom to mop up my disgusting wound.
i cry a little in the bathroom, because that’s what i do, and gingerly blot away the blood. i’m pretty sure there are some first aid-type items around the office, likely in the kitchen, but i’m not positive what and where they are. the blood isn’t gushing after a little pressure, so i return to my desk, where i hold a paper towel on my knee, awkwardly, as a little blood returns to the surface. at this point i have decided i don’t like that extra bit of skin, so i cut it off with some dull scissors that reside in my desk drawer, then clean the scissors off.
the wound is kinda gross, and i can’t take the paper towel off for fear of extra bloodiness, so i head to the kitchen for a band-aid. i actually almost went in the kitchen on my way to the bathroom, but i thought i heard someone in there so i just avoided it. this time i have an excuse BESIDES the band-aid, i plan on getting a cup of water if someone’s there. luckily, the room is empty, and i find the bandages where they belong, grab one, and slap it on.
finally, things can start returning to normal. no one has to know when or how i scraped my knee, it’s just an innocent band-aid... it’s a shame i had to wear it to the show. band-aids are a bit lighter than my skin tone and i felt it was rather conspicuous, but the wound itself was worse (i looked, it really wasn’t anything i thought polite to display). i did think of putting make-up on it, to cover the discolouration, but it hadn’t healed enough where that was a possibility.
it’s still kinda icky today, but at least (mostly) the embarrassment is gone. i did try to do some wii-fitting, but belatedly realized i couldn’t do anything requiring me to kneel. that was kind of hurty. and i don’t have band-aids at home, apparently, so i have to get some. i think i’ll go with the Hello Kitty ones.
but i suck it up and do it, so yesterday i was walking in to work in my shiny new boots (yay!), carrying an assortment of three shoulder bags and backpacks, along with a guitar, when i tripped and fell.
as falls go, it was pretty conservative. i know exactly what happened -- there is a portion of sidewalk on the way in that has a little channel for drainage, and i stepped there, which is bad enough in sneakers but in high-heel boots was ridiculous, and my left foot went oooooops! and my right knee went down onto the pavement. but i didn’t drop my bags, didn’t fall on my face, and didn’t sprain anything, so i got up and kept walking like it was nothing. of course, if i had sprained something, i still would’ve just kept walking, crying inside with every step, until i made it into the office. i should mention i was wearing a skirt, so there is no fabric between my skin and the pavement, but thankfully, there is no pants knee to tear, as well.
i KNOW people saw it -- i was right there on the corner of the street -- and i was mortified. i didn’t look around, just kept looking straight, walking briskly as possible toward the office, waiting for that sweet haven where i could take off my “pssh, how DARE that sidewalk trip me!” face and put on my “WAAAAAAAAAAH” face. about thirty seconds after the fall a coworker calls my name from behind me. shit. not only di about 3 million people see me fall (that may be an exaggeration), one of them was a coworker! he didn’t say anything about it, though. he asked about my guitar. this was either incredibly wise on his part, or incredibly lucky on mine -- i can pretend that he didn’t see anything, or that he only saw me kneel and thought i was fixing my shoe or adjusting my bags.
i tried to keep a normal tone and expression for the walk in, where i took the elevator up (which i never do) because of the bags and the pain in my legs. as i stand on the elevator, i look at my knee, and realize there is a sizable chunk of -- skin? pavement? -- hanging off it, as well as some very dark red blood threatening to drip onto my new boots. i pull a little at the sticking-out part, find it is attached to me and i now have nicely bloodied fingers, and decide to leave it until i can put my stuff down. i make it into the office, act like nothing’s wrong, put my things by my desk, and head off to the bathroom to mop up my disgusting wound.
i cry a little in the bathroom, because that’s what i do, and gingerly blot away the blood. i’m pretty sure there are some first aid-type items around the office, likely in the kitchen, but i’m not positive what and where they are. the blood isn’t gushing after a little pressure, so i return to my desk, where i hold a paper towel on my knee, awkwardly, as a little blood returns to the surface. at this point i have decided i don’t like that extra bit of skin, so i cut it off with some dull scissors that reside in my desk drawer, then clean the scissors off.
the wound is kinda gross, and i can’t take the paper towel off for fear of extra bloodiness, so i head to the kitchen for a band-aid. i actually almost went in the kitchen on my way to the bathroom, but i thought i heard someone in there so i just avoided it. this time i have an excuse BESIDES the band-aid, i plan on getting a cup of water if someone’s there. luckily, the room is empty, and i find the bandages where they belong, grab one, and slap it on.
finally, things can start returning to normal. no one has to know when or how i scraped my knee, it’s just an innocent band-aid... it’s a shame i had to wear it to the show. band-aids are a bit lighter than my skin tone and i felt it was rather conspicuous, but the wound itself was worse (i looked, it really wasn’t anything i thought polite to display). i did think of putting make-up on it, to cover the discolouration, but it hadn’t healed enough where that was a possibility.
it’s still kinda icky today, but at least (mostly) the embarrassment is gone. i did try to do some wii-fitting, but belatedly realized i couldn’t do anything requiring me to kneel. that was kind of hurty. and i don’t have band-aids at home, apparently, so i have to get some. i think i’ll go with the Hello Kitty ones.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Present! and another Rockvillain
first, the Rockvillain. i walked out to my car after work late one evening, and the lot was mostly empty. by coincidence (i assume coincidence, the alternative would be way too creepy for me to handle) there was a car parked facing mine in the lot, and the driver of said car happened to be not too far behind me, walking to the vehicles. i stopped at my passenger side first, to unload my bags, and saw her lights flash as she hit the unlock button on her key, and then she reached her car.
this is where it gets weird. she opens her door, and i stand up, having finished with my bags. then she says “i guess we could’ve carpooled.” i laugh, thinking it’s a joke, except she isn’t smiling. her voice isn’t conveying jocularity. i walk around to my driver’s side and get in... and realize she has Maryland plates. i have Virginia plates. NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE.
i chalked it up to a weak attempt (but at least, an attempt) at humour, used in place of the general ignoring people mode of fashion. but afterward, it seemed a little odd... i was in Rockville, though.
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secondly, and more importantly, Pants got me a present! he ordered it and didn’t tell me. i was there on the day the box came, and he pretended it was something else and wouldn’t let me see what he got, and put it in his closet. i looked pouty, so he told me it was a present for me, and i thought he was teasing me so i looked poutier. pouty face is my usual tactic, and while i think i do pouty very well, most boys i go out with are a little smarter than that so it doesn’t work all the time. but it worked this time, and he said i could get the box and open it. after a gleeful jig, i ran for the box and opened up a new iTrip transmitter.
now, you may think that’s not particularly romantic. but to me, it shows that he listens (cos i mentioned how my old one was wasting away), and thinks of me when i’m not even there to make him think of me. and then he buys me things. not fancy things, practical things, but not so practical they’re necessary...
it’s that special combination of not seeming like he’s trying, but still doing nice things.
i got a present! hee hee hee!
this is where it gets weird. she opens her door, and i stand up, having finished with my bags. then she says “i guess we could’ve carpooled.” i laugh, thinking it’s a joke, except she isn’t smiling. her voice isn’t conveying jocularity. i walk around to my driver’s side and get in... and realize she has Maryland plates. i have Virginia plates. NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE.
i chalked it up to a weak attempt (but at least, an attempt) at humour, used in place of the general ignoring people mode of fashion. but afterward, it seemed a little odd... i was in Rockville, though.
----------------------
secondly, and more importantly, Pants got me a present! he ordered it and didn’t tell me. i was there on the day the box came, and he pretended it was something else and wouldn’t let me see what he got, and put it in his closet. i looked pouty, so he told me it was a present for me, and i thought he was teasing me so i looked poutier. pouty face is my usual tactic, and while i think i do pouty very well, most boys i go out with are a little smarter than that so it doesn’t work all the time. but it worked this time, and he said i could get the box and open it. after a gleeful jig, i ran for the box and opened up a new iTrip transmitter.
now, you may think that’s not particularly romantic. but to me, it shows that he listens (cos i mentioned how my old one was wasting away), and thinks of me when i’m not even there to make him think of me. and then he buys me things. not fancy things, practical things, but not so practical they’re necessary...
it’s that special combination of not seeming like he’s trying, but still doing nice things.
i got a present! hee hee hee!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Vet Update
the vet called with the results of Sylvia’s blood work. she had a high white blood cell count, but apparently that is likely because of the tooth infection. what is more worrisome is that she has low albumin, a protein. there are several reasons this could be, like kidney problems, or a urinary tract infection, he says, so we can’t jump to conclusions.
the vet says to keep her on the antibiotics, monitor her eating, and check in in a week’s time.
i looked up albumin online. the first things that came up were related to cancer in humans. and then liver diseases.
at least she seems happy.
the vet says to keep her on the antibiotics, monitor her eating, and check in in a week’s time.
i looked up albumin online. the first things that came up were related to cancer in humans. and then liver diseases.
at least she seems happy.
Skatey Fun Tymes!
OMG, so Skarzipan took me to the roller rink in Manassas on wednesday, and it was AWESOME! there were only something like five or six other skaters there. Skarzipan said the rink was rilly good. i have to take her word on that, cos i haven’t been to a rink since middle school.
there were a couple kids, one boy clumsy on roller blades, and another girl who kept emitting this piercing, staccato shriek every 30 seconds or so. i wanted to run her over, but was glad i didn’t later when my suspicions that she had mental disabilities were confirmed. but man, was she ever annoying. there was also an older black lady who was just skating kind of slow, backwards, around the rink, and another black lady who came up to us later and talked to Skarzipan about derby. what are the chances both black ladies in Manassas would be out at the rink?
i rented my skates, and hesitantly rolled out onto the floor... and i didn’t fall right away, so that was good :) i did end up falling twice; the first time was more of a stumble as i attempted to get off the rink, and the second time i was on one foot and heard that gritty sound that i remember means something is under your wheel, and then i took a knee. no major injuries, not even my pride, as i felt good for being a 30 year old who hasn’t skated in ages just getting out there.
Skarzipan tried to teach me some derby moves, and while i can’t say i can do them at least i know what to try for, now. she showed me a couple whips, which is where one skater gets propelled forward by another skater (thereby slowing the other skater and hastening the first). they were fun! fun! fun! but a little scary, as Skarzipan was able to seriously whip me around one corner and i panicked a little that i was going too fast. so there’s some getting used to it to be done, but i think i like this skating thing.
the lady who talked to Skarzipan about derby helped her learn to turn around backward while skating, so that was super-cool. someday, maybe Skarzipan will teach me the secret, cos it looks hella cool when someone does it.
skating is a bit of a work out, too! i got all sweaty, and the next day my legs were kinda sore. my knees were sore that night (from the falls) but recovered quickly. i’m also on the verge of developing a couple blisters on my right foot (ouch!).
we’re going again tonight.
there were a couple kids, one boy clumsy on roller blades, and another girl who kept emitting this piercing, staccato shriek every 30 seconds or so. i wanted to run her over, but was glad i didn’t later when my suspicions that she had mental disabilities were confirmed. but man, was she ever annoying. there was also an older black lady who was just skating kind of slow, backwards, around the rink, and another black lady who came up to us later and talked to Skarzipan about derby. what are the chances both black ladies in Manassas would be out at the rink?
i rented my skates, and hesitantly rolled out onto the floor... and i didn’t fall right away, so that was good :) i did end up falling twice; the first time was more of a stumble as i attempted to get off the rink, and the second time i was on one foot and heard that gritty sound that i remember means something is under your wheel, and then i took a knee. no major injuries, not even my pride, as i felt good for being a 30 year old who hasn’t skated in ages just getting out there.
Skarzipan tried to teach me some derby moves, and while i can’t say i can do them at least i know what to try for, now. she showed me a couple whips, which is where one skater gets propelled forward by another skater (thereby slowing the other skater and hastening the first). they were fun! fun! fun! but a little scary, as Skarzipan was able to seriously whip me around one corner and i panicked a little that i was going too fast. so there’s some getting used to it to be done, but i think i like this skating thing.
the lady who talked to Skarzipan about derby helped her learn to turn around backward while skating, so that was super-cool. someday, maybe Skarzipan will teach me the secret, cos it looks hella cool when someone does it.
skating is a bit of a work out, too! i got all sweaty, and the next day my legs were kinda sore. my knees were sore that night (from the falls) but recovered quickly. i’m also on the verge of developing a couple blisters on my right foot (ouch!).
we’re going again tonight.
Mistakes Were Made, Kittens Traumatized
it’s been a kinda busy week for me. i had wednesday and thursday off (kinda) but boy, it just made today feel like a monday :P i say “kinda” because apparently the office was just closing early on wednesday, but somehow on all my calendars i had it written down we were closed for the whole day ... wah wah WAAAAAAH! needless to say my boss was confused when he called me at noon to tell me my Minion, Sr. had not shown up. well, what’re you gonna do? (nothing!) so i cried a little at my feeling of FAIL and then realized i hadn’t really failed because somehow it ended up on ALL my calendars, and it seems to me what we have here is a failure to communicate... and then i got over it.
also, i had to get over it because i was about to experience some emotional trauma in the form of taking my cat to the vet. This. Is. Awful. she hates the carrier, hates the car ride, and if she didn’t hate the vet before she sure does now. i managed to pull off a really quick “la, la, nonchalant, nothing’s going on GRAB CAT TOSS IN CARRIER” move, so i consider myself lucky there. then it was a gut-wrenching car ride to the vet’s, with the constant meowing accompanied by me saying “it’s ok, kitty-pie” uselessly over and over for 3 miles.
once inside the vet she was pretty quiet (but still terrified), and she handled the man-handling and rectal thermometer well. it was the blood-drawing and shots that got her in serious escape attempt mode. i felt like an awful kitty mommy as the vet assistant, and then the vet, questioned me on her health and habits and seemed to imply that Oh My God Why Did You Wait So Long To Bring Her In????? but you know, the cat was puking a little. i mean, cats do that, even healthy ones... and so she was losing weight -- hadn’t i been trying for years for that to happen? still, i felt awful at subjecting her to the whole ordeal, and that’s really why we hadn’t gone to the vet before. i figured if she was still eating, playful, and whiny, just like always, she couldn’t be that bad off.
it cost me more than $200 (sigh), but everyone knows i’d spend that ten times over and more, happily, for my kitty baby... blood work, rabies shot, penicillin, kitty-lax, and an antibiotic for the tooth infection she had; there will probably be dental care in her future, too another traumatic car ride, and she was safe at home, where she slunk around for a couple minutes but then returned to her usual self. i can tell you now, though, that this whole antibiotic administering is NOT going over well. kitty and i are going to have to work some trust issues out in counseling, soon.
i should know later today the results of the blood work. fingers crossed, she is a healthy happy kitty with just a little hairball & tooth problem.
also, i had to get over it because i was about to experience some emotional trauma in the form of taking my cat to the vet. This. Is. Awful. she hates the carrier, hates the car ride, and if she didn’t hate the vet before she sure does now. i managed to pull off a really quick “la, la, nonchalant, nothing’s going on GRAB CAT TOSS IN CARRIER” move, so i consider myself lucky there. then it was a gut-wrenching car ride to the vet’s, with the constant meowing accompanied by me saying “it’s ok, kitty-pie” uselessly over and over for 3 miles.
once inside the vet she was pretty quiet (but still terrified), and she handled the man-handling and rectal thermometer well. it was the blood-drawing and shots that got her in serious escape attempt mode. i felt like an awful kitty mommy as the vet assistant, and then the vet, questioned me on her health and habits and seemed to imply that Oh My God Why Did You Wait So Long To Bring Her In????? but you know, the cat was puking a little. i mean, cats do that, even healthy ones... and so she was losing weight -- hadn’t i been trying for years for that to happen? still, i felt awful at subjecting her to the whole ordeal, and that’s really why we hadn’t gone to the vet before. i figured if she was still eating, playful, and whiny, just like always, she couldn’t be that bad off.
it cost me more than $200 (sigh), but everyone knows i’d spend that ten times over and more, happily, for my kitty baby... blood work, rabies shot, penicillin, kitty-lax, and an antibiotic for the tooth infection she had; there will probably be dental care in her future, too
i should know later today the results of the blood work. fingers crossed, she is a healthy happy kitty with just a little hairball & tooth problem.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sometimes It’s Just Good Karma & Rockvillains
a couple weeks ago, i surprised my press rep (the dude i call at the actual place they print our paper) by asking for two runs with very little notice. to those of you not in publishing, it’s kind of like scheduling a 1 hour hair appointment, then calling your stylist and saying, actually, i need another dye job, so let's make it 3 hours. luckily, he was able to accommodate the paper, and i apologized profusely and asked if i should send cookies (ha ha). he jokingly replied “Yes, oatmeal please.”
today he got a box of homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, courtesy yours truly.
the best part is, i didn’t tell him i was sending them, so he saw this box arrive and thought it was some examples of bad printing or other complaint. then he opened them up and called me :)
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in other news, Rockville is a crazy town. not only can people NOT drive here, last week i saw a big dude in a faded polo shirt walking down the street in a pink sombrero (and it was a BIG sombrero). and yesterday i was turning into a parking lot when a pedestrian stopped in the middle of the entry way and did some kind of ... stretching? it was really weird, he just stopped and put the side of his foot against the ground and leaned on it, then he flipped to the inside of his foot (and i mean 90° ankle angle) and did the same. it was a few seconds of this before he realized i was there and moved out of the roadway.
strange birds about.
today he got a box of homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, courtesy yours truly.
the best part is, i didn’t tell him i was sending them, so he saw this box arrive and thought it was some examples of bad printing or other complaint. then he opened them up and called me :)
---------
in other news, Rockville is a crazy town. not only can people NOT drive here, last week i saw a big dude in a faded polo shirt walking down the street in a pink sombrero (and it was a BIG sombrero). and yesterday i was turning into a parking lot when a pedestrian stopped in the middle of the entry way and did some kind of ... stretching? it was really weird, he just stopped and put the side of his foot against the ground and leaned on it, then he flipped to the inside of his foot (and i mean 90° ankle angle) and did the same. it was a few seconds of this before he realized i was there and moved out of the roadway.
strange birds about.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Culinarily Jewish
working at the Jewish week, i’ve become familiar with the phrase “Culturally Jewish.” it’s like people who aren’t religiously Jewish but are into stuff that is considered Jewish, like using Yiddish words and fretting about your daughter not marrying a doctor, i think. lots of non-Jews look for the hook-up on JDate, and go to Jewish singles stuff, too, apparently. anyway it’s a pretty hot ticket, i gather.
so i may not be quite into the Judaism as others, but one thing i have discovered is that i’m Culinarily Jewish. that’s right, i like Jewish food. and some of my favourite Jewish foods are the ones that actual Jewish people i know kind of make “blech” faces at. Matzo? saltines without the salt. Tam Tams? like the box says, they ARE the best cracker on the face of the earth. Latkes? what’s not to like? (OK, the truth is, i haven’t heard ANYONE say they don’t like a latke.) but the foods that these folks MUST eat for religious reasons are strangely exotic and delightful to me. and of course, i have long been a fan of a good bagel.
so today my boss made me gefilte fish. he didn’t really make it for me, he just brought in some that he had made for Rosh Hashanah, but after he heard i hadn’t tried it, he was so proud of his he promised to bring me some. and it was great! it’s like fish meatloaf. my mom used to make a salmon loaf (or was it a tuna loaf?), which it reminded me of... except that it was rockfish and mahi-mahi (according to the chef). you eat it with horseradish, and all in all, it was damn good, and i would consider making it.
of course, i did panic my mom a little when i told her i was trying some kosher recipes... i only tried them because we run recipes in the paper and i got curious. don’t worry mom, i like lobster, shrimp, and bacon cheeseburgers waaaaaaay too much.
i haven’t had every Jewish food (but heck, i’m certainly trying), so there may be lots i don’t like. but so far, i think they’ve got a pretty good menu going on.
so i may not be quite into the Judaism as others, but one thing i have discovered is that i’m Culinarily Jewish. that’s right, i like Jewish food. and some of my favourite Jewish foods are the ones that actual Jewish people i know kind of make “blech” faces at. Matzo? saltines without the salt. Tam Tams? like the box says, they ARE the best cracker on the face of the earth. Latkes? what’s not to like? (OK, the truth is, i haven’t heard ANYONE say they don’t like a latke.) but the foods that these folks MUST eat for religious reasons are strangely exotic and delightful to me. and of course, i have long been a fan of a good bagel.
so today my boss made me gefilte fish. he didn’t really make it for me, he just brought in some that he had made for Rosh Hashanah, but after he heard i hadn’t tried it, he was so proud of his he promised to bring me some. and it was great! it’s like fish meatloaf. my mom used to make a salmon loaf (or was it a tuna loaf?), which it reminded me of... except that it was rockfish and mahi-mahi (according to the chef). you eat it with horseradish, and all in all, it was damn good, and i would consider making it.
of course, i did panic my mom a little when i told her i was trying some kosher recipes... i only tried them because we run recipes in the paper and i got curious. don’t worry mom, i like lobster, shrimp, and bacon cheeseburgers waaaaaaay too much.
i haven’t had every Jewish food (but heck, i’m certainly trying), so there may be lots i don’t like. but so far, i think they’ve got a pretty good menu going on.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
it’s a bird, it’s a dame, it’s...
actually a bunch of birds. being as it is the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, i’m off work and at home today. i got back from some errand-running and in the space of ten minutes saw:
a red-bellied woodpecker
a house wren
a white-breasted nuthatch
a couple (or more) titmice
a cardinal
a couple (or more) house sparrows
a chickadee
and a mourning dove
awesome!
a red-bellied woodpecker
a house wren
a white-breasted nuthatch
a couple (or more) titmice
a cardinal
a couple (or more) house sparrows
a chickadee
and a mourning dove
awesome!
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