Ain't nuthin' but a hooker

The more I work with SharePoint...

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:28:01 GMT

...the more I hate it. I loathe it. Despise it. It is a most unfriendly application to someone who is used to developing things the way *I* want, instead of being forced into Microsoft's rigid little toolset.

Fuck Bill Gates. And fuck Microsoft. And fuck SharePoint.

And screw the CIO who has wet dreams over SharePoint and wants it deployed corporate wide yesterday. Without providing ANY support or training budget. Clueless git.

Bad news....work.

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:22:34 GMT

We've recently been told we're getting a 12 day furlough. In short, I get 12 days off, 4 per remaining quarter, but I dont' get paid for 'em....a 6% pay cut.

Well, today they laid off 250 people company-wide. I was not among them. But a number of people I have worked with in my 5 years here were let go, and there's still a long economic recovery ahead.

There's no way in hell I'm breathing easy any time soon.

Here we go again.

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:41:03 GMT

Ever since I hurt my back, I've not been good about exercise. Bleh. I am now more out of shape and unhealthy than I've ever been.

So...

I've decided enough is enough. I'm tired of making excuses, and feel it's time for me to make a change and STICK to it. I purchased a treadmill a couple years ago, since running/walking on pavement is uncomfortable, at best, and it's sat (mostly) unused in the basement. I've decided that my goal for the year is to move 500 miles on the damned thing. I can do 1.4 miles a day. And I even found a cool widget to track my progress, so...YAY!

I need to do this.

Xin Nian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!)

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:47:56 GMT

Today is Chinese New Year. One of my coworkers is from Beijing. We had the following exchange via IM:

[09:33] me: Xin Nian Kuai Le!
[09:33] me: (Did I get that right??) :)
[09:33] Yan: heheheh
[09:33] Yan: PERFECT!!
[09:33] Yan: where did you learn that?
[09:33] me: Woo! The internet comes through!
[09:33] Yan: i am impressed!!
[09:33] me: Google is my friend. I learn everything through Google. Don't be too impressed!
[09:33] Yan: :)
[09:34] Yan: thank you!
[09:34] me: You're welcome!

FYI, that is Mandarin Chinese. If she were from a region that spoke Cantonese, I'd had have to have written "Gung Hay Fat Choy! (may prosperity be with you)" instead.

Yes. I am a nrrd. But as least I'm a friendly one.

Hmm

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:35:53 GMT

No longer verboten at work?

Exercise your right to vote!

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:15:29 GMT

I was the 44th person to vote in my district at 7:21 AM.

I haven't been overly excited about this election. I knew early on who my picks were going to be in each race, so I mostly ignored the bullshit and mud slinging that accompanies elections.

But when we were standing in line before signing in, O pointed out to me the kid who was pointing a camera phone at the voting booth. The booth's curtains opened, and he snapped a picture of another kid who couldn't have been more than 18 or 19. Still in high school judging by his letter jacket, and voting for the first time in his life in such a historic election!

(I just got chills...AGAIN!)

It wasn't until that moment that I got REALLY excited about Election '08. Best way to start the day!

Have you voted, yet?

still alive.

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:30:04 GMT

Still verboten at work.

I has a facebook, also verboten. Not too keen on the interface, though...kinda kludgy to work with. :P no wonder I've been avoiding it all this time.

stupid work...stupid firewall...stupid VERBOTEN!

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:36:14 GMT

LJ is now blocked at work, so my updates are bound to be few and far betrween now, as I normally updated on my lunch time. On MY time.

Stupid fuckers.

TAG! I'm it!

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:57:53 GMT

Julia tagged me for a meme of 7 fun or interesting things about me.

Oh hell...I consider myself neither fun nor interesting.

1. I am severely arachnophobic. Seriously. To the point where O and I have a codeword for the creatures because just SAYING it gives me the willies. O is also kind enough to tell me "Don't look!" if we're watching TV and I've looked away and one of the creatures is on the screen.

2. I used to be a rabid reader. In high school, I had no social life. I would go home and read read read. Didn't matter what it was. I'd read it. Then, I majored in writing in college. I started reading critically and writing a LOT of my own stuff (some of which has been published). When I tried to read for pleasure, I didn't have the same enjoyment as before. I would start looking for symbolism and picking apart the writer's style. College killed my love of reading.

3. I've always been very good at math and logic. All through school, I had a high 90's average (with the exception of that cunt Mrs. Cubino in 10th grade geometry who, because she couldn't read my handwriting, would refuse time and time again to give me credit for doing my homework). I got a 95 on my pre-calc exam in 12th grade, and when I took a math course in college, my friend Joe was convinced I'd fail it as he was taking it for the third time. He finally passed with a C, while I nabbed an A. Yeah. Math and me? Good friends. Numbers make sense to me.

4. I love animals. We are currently owned by a dog, Sophie, and two cats, Emily and Katie. In my life I have had two guinea pigs, Snowy and Bushy, several "disposable" fish...the ones you can win at a carnival...hamsters, which terrorized my college dorm, two dogs, Mitzy and Buddy, and a big grey lug of a cat who passed away earlier this year from cancer, Shadow. I still cry over him. Dammit. But anyway...when I was in high school, I was determined to become a veterinarian. I even volunteered at the local vet clinic and shaved a cat for surgery! Sadly, I found that the major required more chemistry than I was capable of understanding and switched majors. If I had to do it all over again, I'd stick with it. I gave up on my dream far too easily.

5. I love to cook. Cooking, after all, is nothing more than tasty math. X ingredient plus Y ingredient mixed with A units of Z ingredient equals tasty and healthy meal. I've often thought of leaving the IT field to start a coffee shop or diner, but food service is not a field I think I'd enjoy for any amount of time.

6. Most people become fans of a sports team either because of geographic coincidence or by a team's winning legacy. I became a Red Sox fan in 2003. I blame Olivia. She was watching the Red Sox all through the season and when they were playing the Yankees in the ALCS that year, I sat on the couch doing whatever it was I was doing and she was watching each and every pitch. By the time the third game rolled around, I started paying attention to what was going on. I appreciated the "stupid" comments by Joe Buck and Tim McCarver because I didn't know much about either team or, for that matter, about the sport. I'd despised baseball for many, many years, but now I found myself enjoying the game and the tension between the two titans of the AL East. Then, when Pedro Martinez took the hill in game 7, I watched with great interest. And when Grady Little didn't pull his starter, I sat there with Olivia, our mouths open, because it was evident to the two of us that Petey didn't have anything left. The Sox lost. They broke my heart, and won my fandom at the same time. I was rewarded the following year when they won it all for the first time in 86 years.

7. I used to have a damn good singing voice. But then I stupidly started smoking in college and quickly ruined it. Now, I have some of it back, but I've grown increasingly tone deaf over the years and am often off key. Doesn't stop me from belting out tunes on the drive home from work, much to the amusement of any passing drivers who may notice.

All said and done, I think I'm still a boring, dull person.

Tagged:
Whoever wants to share, go for it.

Stoopid! Stoopid! Stoopid!

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:08:58 GMT

From now on, I, skb1976, pledge to ALWAYS wear gloves when chopping jalepenos. If I do not wear gloves, I will be forced to relive the pain of capsacin oil in the eyes and under my fingernails and a TERRIBLE BURNING SENSATION the following day.

I'll be over in the corner now. If you hear whimpers of pain, that's me.

Warning! Red Sox Fan alert!

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:22:49 GMT

I just grinned 456 times.

Why I love Netflix

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:08:08 GMT

In January 1976, Jim Henson's "The Muppet Show" stormed the airwaves. Later that same year, I was born.

This means I don't recall much of the original season of The Muppet Show because, well, I wasn't around, yet. Enter Netflix and the fact that Season 1, Disc 1 arrived on Tuesday.

GASP!!! There's a Muppet Wiki!

It's time to play the music
It's time to light the lights
t's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight.

It's time to put on makeup
It's time to dress up right
It's time to raise the curtain on the Muppet Show tonight.

Why do we always come here
I guess we'll never know
It's like a kind of torture
To have to watch the show

And now let's get things started
Why don't you get things started
It's time to get things started
On the most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational
This is what we call the Muppet Show!

OK Schools....what the hell...?

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:06:43 GMT

Kids have been back in school for less than a week. In some cases, it has been only one or two days. What the hell are you doing pushing candy on them to sell already? They don't even have homework assignments yet, and you're sending them home with boxes of candy?

And kids...what the hell? Giving it to your parents to take to work with them and making them do the work for you? Do what I did for all those years I was in marching band and honor society and international club and sell it to your buddies at school. If I can do it with a graduating class of 130, you can do it with your graduating classes of 400+! Try it. It works!

And parents! These drives aren't just in place to raise money for boosters/band/class trips. No! They help teach your kids responsibility. You're not doing your kids a favor by bringing the full boxes of candy to your workplace. Bring half a box, if you bring any at all. But really..the two full boxes of candy bars sitting next to the coffee pots just BREEDS laziness in your kid(s).

Now... y'all just chew on that while I enjoy my Reece's Peanut Butter cups.

Mmm...peanut butter cups....

Brilliant webcomic!

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:21:30 GMT

Ow ow ow...

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:36:03 GMT

It feels like I got so much more done...

I thoroughly cleaned the kitchen and half bath, except windows and floors. I'm leaving floors until everything else is cleaned. But wow...what a difference! :) Makes me happy when I walk in the door.

I also started stripping the deck. I was hoping to finish, but I'm nowhere close. Why? Paint stripper doesn't want to strip the paint. yargh. I took a side trip to Lowes to look at other products and see if I could get some advice, and they pretty much told me I have a long day ahead of me. I wonder if it would make more sense to flip the boards...?

I've been wanting to get rid of the bushes (juniper? yew?)on the back of the deck. They are WAY overgrown, and while they could be rehabbed and trimmed, I'd rather not have them there at all. I think some shade-loving coleus/hosta and some mosquito-hating flowers/plants would be nice there. I'd love to have a pergola erected at some point, but we're a few years off from that. I managed to get rid of one before I just got too danged tired from dragging the cut branches to the compost pile. I need a wood chipper. Fargo, anyone?

The lawn was in sore need of yet another mowing, and so I did this, too. I forgot that the weed trimmer needed string, so I didn't do any trimming. Maybe tomorrow? I need to do some cleaning upstairs tonight. The full bath is horrible since I gave Sophie pup a much needed bath last night. She was a bit stinky. I also need to see if I can get her nails trimmed somewhere, as it is NOT a one-person job and O is off gallivanting in the world of competitive Scrabble.

"Um...I thought the chiropractor was supposed to feel good?"
-- Coworker, upon seeing me enter the office in obvious discomfort.

I had yet another adjustment this morning. Pelvic adjustment, ok. Lumbar spine, ok. Upper Thoracic spine, ok. Cervical spine....?

This was the first time significant attention had been paid to my neck, and I'm feeling it. Oh boy, am I feeling it. I wish I were at home so I could use my ice pack. It's suggested that ice be applied after every adjustment, but sadly, I am sitting at my desk where I will continue to be for the next several hours.

I have a new stretch to be done every night before bed. This should help reduce discomfort the next time my neck is adjusted...which is next Tuesday morning.

...or not.

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:05:52 GMT

My plans for the weekend have changed. Have a happy day off, those of us who are lucky enough to have a long weekend!

Local peeps...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:57:37 GMT

Anyone without Labor Day plans? O's headed out of town, so I'm thinking a small potluck gathering at our house is in order.

Comment here, please!

Sometimes it's not too bad...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:24:05 GMT

Work, that is. For example, today, we had a death party. Yes, a death party. Complete with cake with grave on it.

A couple years ago (August 1, 2006 to be exact!), we launched a rewards program similar to MyPoints or credit card miles. It was far more popular than projected, and so it quickly became a liability. In the past month, the program was decommissioned.

One of the people who worked on it decided it would be fun to get together and celebrate the death of the program, so about 10 or 12 of us IT folk just had a quick get together in which cake was served.

Things like this, I like. Sadly, this fun stuff only comes around once every few months.

Since I'm on a roll...

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:06:15 GMT

I updated 3 times last week. Whoa! Something must be wrong. Guess I'll keep it going, eh?

This morning I woke from sleeping to find myself on my stomach. D'oh! I mused to O that I thought I'd fallen asleep on my back, and she confirmed that I did. What do I need to STAY on my back? Shackles? Yeesh...

All told, I awoke with an achy back. :( Sadness.

In other news, i usually leave work at 4:30. I got an e-mail from someone at our corporate HQ...an admin assistant for some big cheese...requesting training at 4 PM. Um...no. I was able to reschedule for 3:30. Meh. Of course, the only reason I have this request is because she is too fucking lazy to RTFM like everyone else. Then again, this is what we call the "Ivory Tower." Real world rules don't apply there.

We have a training dept. Why don't they train? Because the guy who is the head has a personal dislike of the application. Big fucking deal. Stop your bellyaching and do your goddamn job and TRAIN ppl!

I hate this fucking company. Want new job now, plznthx!

Fun times...?

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:29:18 GMT

So, some of you know that I had some serious back pain that sidelined me a couple years ago. Physical therapy did little, and the only thing that afforded me any comfort was a series of cortisone injections in my lumbar spine. The pain never completely went away, but ebbed and flowed along with the weather and my activity level.

Well, the pain came back with a vengeance a few weeks ago. This time, it was taking other parts of my body and making them feel, oh...not so pleasant. I decided since traditional medicine failed me (apologies to my medical-field related friends!), I'd try something non-traditional. Enter Dr. Charlie, the chiropractor.

My first appt, I was nervous and hoped it would be over soon. See, I've never been comfortable with going to any doctor. Ever. My hope is he would feel my spine, crack here, crack there, and I'd be on my merry way. No such luck. I was poked and prodded and pulled and pushed. Ow. Ow. OW!! I was bent and twisted and told that I have a slight scoliosis (Bwah?) and that my left leg is slightly shorter than the other (Bwah bwah??). I needed x-rays to confirm a few things.

So, I went and got radiated and the films sat on the kitchen table until it was time to go back, which was this past Wednesday.

In short, there's more out of alignment than was suspected. My hips are misaligned by roughly a 1/4 inch, which is why one leg appears shorter than the other. It's not really shorter. That can be fixed. The real issue at play is my spine curvature, or rather, lack thereof.

See, the normal, healthy human spine has a gentle S curve that starts at the tailbone and goes up to the skull. Mine? Not so curvey. My S curve is more of a checkmark, which is pinching several nerves in my lumbar region, which is causing the pain there. OK. Makes sense.

But wait! There's more! At the top of the check mark is an exaggerated curve. This is my body counteracting the lack of curve lower in the spine. Shouldn't be there. Can be fixed. This is why the upper part of my body has very little flexibility. OK. Makes sense.

But wait! There's more! All this S curve talk is from a side view. From the front, the normal, healthy human spine is straight as a rod. Mine? Not so much. The short part of the checkmark (my lumbar/tailbone region) is twisted. Yes...twisted. Thank you, career, for this. Sitting at my desk for hours a day for years has helped create this twist. The twist is pinching nerves and helping to pull my pelvis out of alignment. This, again, causes pain. OK. Makes sense.

But wait! There's more! While my lumbar spine twists one way, my middle spine twists the other way. I always knew I was twisted, but I didn't know I was TWISTED! This is also helping to turn my body in ways it shouldn't be turned, and leading to my neck being crooked to adjust for this twist. Yes, folks, my neck is about a half inch too far to the right to accomodate the misalignment of my spine.

But wait! There's more! Act now and you can get a free set of... Whoops....wrong ad. :) None of the above is terribly bad. I can deal with the readjustment and the physiological retraining my body needs to be healthy and aligned. What disturbed me was the fact that I am 32 in a few scant weeks and I have deterioration...bone spurs...in my lumbar spine. And then, it was pointed out that I also have deterioration in my sacrum, which links the spine to the pelvis. This worries me. A lot. Depending on how rapidly the deterioration is, I may need surgery in the future. With any luck, the exercises I've been prescribed to rehab my misaligned physiology can help alleviate the bone grinding on bone and slow down...maybe even stop?...the deterioration.

Another thing that worried me is that he said, left unchecked, this type of injury and misalignment can cause loss of bladder and bowel function. I saw this happen with my grandmother, and it's not a fun thing to see someone go through. The shame on her face made it easy to see it wasn't fun for her, but was rather embarrassing. I didn't mind going to the store to pick up what she needed (insert Depends joke here, if you feel the need), but she hated asking it of anyone. I'm too independent-minded to do the same thing.

I have a series of stretches I need to do before I even get out of bed in the morning. "Before my feet hit the floor," Dr. Charlie says. I've done these. I also need to keep my head in a neutral position to reduce pulling on my spine. Good thing I don't need to look at the keyboard when I type. I taped a sign to my monitor to remind me. I also need to sleep on my back. I am a belly sleeper and have been since I was a child. This is NOT an easy change for me. We have some quilt batting that is still in the original packaging, so I stuffed the package into a pillow case and sleep with it under my knees. It has helped keep me more on my back, so yay. I am also a belly breather, so I have some exercises to help retrain my body to separate the function of my diaphragm from that of my abdominal wall.

It's going to be a long journey, but I feel more positive about this than any other traditional medicine method I've been subjected to. I'm not allowed to crack my back on my own anymore (self-adjusting!), and this has been driving me nuts, but I'm finding ways I can stretch or move around to reduce the cramping. Never before had I realized what a habit it had become...

So...um...that's it.

"Good morning! I'm here to fix your lights."

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:33:33 GMT

Note to self:

When expecting an electrician, it is probably a good idea to be dressed, even if you aren't called the night before to confirm the visit.

Oops...

Weekend fun

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:57:09 GMT

It's not often I get a whim to travel. Especially at 9:30 at night. Well folks, it happened this weekend. :)

Saturday night, I wanted to get out of the house. So...I convinced O to take a trip with me. We put the pup in the back seat and started by heading East on State Rd and followed it to the end. (Hey...I've always been curious!) Sadly, it ends at the Wayne County line, so we didn't get to go that far. 3 miles, maybe. We turned north toward 104.

Just before we got to 104, I got a bright (hee hee!) idea. We turned East toward Oswego and drove. And drove. And drove. Past Ontario. Past Williamson. Past the only Valero gas station I know of in NY. And then turned toward Sodus Point.

Yep. We made a late night, almost full moon trip to the Sodus Point lighthouse. I've only been there once, and it was daylight, so I was concerned about getting lost. After all...full moon. Strange things happen, right? I missed the final turn for the lighthouse...very tiny sign...but a three point turn on a country-road-with-ditches-on-either-side later (not for the faint of heart!), we went back and made the turn.

I've never had the chance to see a real lighthouse in person at night, so...yeah. Cool for me. We sat in the car and listened to the surf for a few minutes, then headed on our way.

I wasn't ready to hop back on the highway, so I decided to take the Seaway Trail back home. This added another fun element, as things took a spooky turn.

First, we passed by a misty graveyard. Plus, again, full moon. Then, uh-oh....bridge out ahead! We had to take a detour. I noticed a dead end road (which we didn't turn onto!), and then noticed a car following us and getting closer. Of course, O pipes up and says "We're not picking up any hitch hikers!" I said I'd only stop if he were carrying a chainsaw and Bud Light.

So, with all of the above, we made the comment that we were in a horror movie. Fun, fun! For me. Not for O, who was starting to feel a little carsick thanks to the undulating road beneath us. I found a starlight mint from my last service stop at Saturn and gave it to her. It helped.

We continued along the Seaway trail enjoying the time together while Sophie napped in the back seat. We finally made it to Webster and took Salt Rd. back to State, and then back home.

And we didn't see any hitch hikers.

Random thoughts...

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:09:04 GMT

So...the Olympics are in Beijing. And I, being a sports addict, enjoy watching all the coverage I can. I don't care if it's one of the "popular" sports like swimming or gymnastics or one of the obscure ones like Judo or archery, I like to watch.

I'm doing my typical Olympic watching on Sunday and have this strong desire to have lo mein. I don't know why...I just want lo mein. With duck sauce. And then I realize, oh...the Olympics are in China...I want Chinese food. Reasonable subconscious thought.

Then I start to wonder...have local Chinese restos been getting an increase in business since Friday night due to the exposure of China through the Olympics?

Yes. I do have issues. In fact, I have a lifetime subscription.

OK, so...TO details

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:10:50 GMT

Probably not forthcoming due to lack of time/energy, but it was a grand time with lots of fun and lots of vegetarian/vegan food to keep us sated.

Back to work...

Toronto vacation Day 1: Gay Day!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:22:16 GMT

Gay Day started out with us doing what everyone wants to do...sleep in late. We finally got up and about somewhere around 10 or so and headed over to a terrific breakfast place called the Daybreak Cafe. We discovered it by accident on our first vacation to Toronto, and it's on the opposite corner of the old Maple Leaf Garden at College and Church. Nice, cozy place, and we were able to sit outside. I love the Skinny Greek! Fried egg whites, whole grain toast, and a tasty selection of in-season fresh fruit! Plus, the coffee was (as always) excellent!

We headed back to Yonge St. and took the subway North toward Glad Day Book Shop, a gay and lesbian book store that originated in Boston. Now, if any of you have gone to a book store with a librarian, you know that you can easily set aside a couple of hours, and that's just what happened. O bought a few books, and I bought one.

We went back to the hotel to load up on water, drop off our packages, and get directions to the lunch place. It was within walking distance on the fringe of Chinatown, so we made our way to Vegetarian Haven. Now, what our guide book didn't tell us is that they close between lunch and dinner. Well, we arrived just after the closing time. Ouch! Great sadness! O noticed a record store across the street, but it was closed, too.

We wandered back the way we had come, taking detours here and there, trying to find another resto with veg options. Finally, O's blood sugar began to drop to grumpy levels (think orange on the terror alert level), so I made an exec decision. We wound up at Three Peppers. The food was okay, but nothing to write home about. I had some sandwich, and O had a vegan quesadilla. Good stuff, but not great.

After we ate, we walked back toward Baldwin St and Veg Haven to try and check out the record store again. On the way, O wanted to go into St. Patrick's Cathedral, so I sat on the stairs and people watched while she explored. I found it ironic that across from the church was a pub called "Sin and Redemption." (No link...sorry!) We didn't go in, but I had a fun chuckle while I waited.

When we got back to Baldwin, the record store was still closed...Bummer! So we went to the organic grocer next door. One thing about Toronto...we'd never be out of organic grocery stores! O got some stuff there...can't remember what, exactly, but I picked up some wasabi rice crisps. Mighty tasty, and mighty spicy...just like wasabi should be!

We headed back to the hotel to drop off our organic goods and rest up a bit. After all that walking, we were both pretty tired. After we rested up and showered, we walked a few blocks over to a Thai resto called "Golden Thai". It was recommended by the hotel and DAMN! Was that food good! (If you open the website, you'll notice a statue in the window to the right of the photo. we sat directly in front of that, and had a great view of the entire resto.) We decided...hey...we're on vacation...let's treat ourselves! And so we did. Can we say 4 course gourmet Thai dinner? The Vegetarian Classic was amazing, but the dessert really topped it all off! Rum Fried Bananas. Even O liked it!

After dinner, we took our 4 course meal selves back to the hotel, walking through the very active Yonge/Dundas Square area (reminded me of Times Square). See...Hard Rock Cafe is here, and there was a live funk band playing a lot of covers. They were good, too! Nice to walk back and be serenaded by the sounds of Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, early Michael Jackson...

And of course, what could end the day better than the All Star Game Home Run Derby! We arrived back at the hotel just in time to watch Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers break the ASGHRD record in the first round. Wow...I still get chills.

So, yeah... Gay Day wasn't all that "gay" but it sure was fun!