Redshirts

Hey, it was fun.

Fun (and slightly frustrating) game!

The 100 most commonly used words in English.

New swear word

One of the books I did this year was new to me, and it contained a number of references to a case where the defendant was Something Mfrs. Since sometimes I am still twelve, it immediately made me think of a word often spelled with lots of asterisks.

I shared it with several of my colleagues, and we all agreed that "You manufacturer" is a pretty work-safe insult. I will add that to all of the other catchphrases our team has for things that I will miss very much about Hyphenated Co.

Two stupid things

Last Wednesday, I went out to get lunch. As I was leaving the parking lot, Maresche's TC pulled out from the parking space beside me and also headed out. Before I pulled out, I took a minute to make sure I had my wallet with me, and then drove out of the parking lot. At the top of the hill, there was a tan van over to one side with its flashers on. I thought it was M'sTC, and pulled up next to the van, leaning over to roll down my passenger-side window and ask if she needed a hand.

A very odd-looking gentleman glared at me, and I straightened up and drove to Zoup. Whoops.

That evening, Mom and I met for our last water-walking class before she left for Texas. Afterwards, I had to get some stuff out of her car. She told me approximately where she was parked, and that everything was in the back seat on the driver's side. It was dark and rainy when class ended, and I headed for my car, started it up and drove up the aisle I thought Mom was parked in. A woman with light-colored hair and a dark sweatshirt came out of the Natatorium, used a remote to unlock a silver Passat and got in. I pulled up behind the Passat, blocking it in, and put on my hazards and put the car in park. I had actually gotten out of my car and had my hand on the driver's side door when a stranger rolled down the driver's window and said "What...?" I apologized profusely, jumped into my car, and went to rows over, where I actually found my mom. I still feel bad for scaring that poor woman, but what are the odds of doing essentially the same stupid thing twice in one day?

Only me...

Pop culture fail...

I never liked Lucille Ball.

I actively hated Seinfeld.

I never made it all the way through the first Godfather movie, let alone three of them.

The Beatles bore me, ditto The Doors.

I'm not even particularly unique in my tastes, just someone with a number of dislikes.

Pop culture fail. I haz it.

It's over

My third and probably last ginormous third quarter with Hyphenated Co. is done. I worked ten hours yesterday and built three books, and worked eleven hours today and built four books. I had intended to leave work at 4, but the front bits of two of my books weren't done, and Wilson decided to gut and re-build the other two, so I was there until 7. Ugh.

Fish oil is the new snake oil

So far this month, I have heard radio ads claiming that fish oil will:

Repair your joints,

Help you lose weight,

Lower your cholesterol,

Improve your memory and brainpower.

Doesn't keep you from being socially unacceptable, though, especially with fishy burps!

Time-out

Instead of working for Hyphenated Co. this weekend, I spent a big part of Saturday working with Mom on an accounting. Then I cleaned and semi-tidied Casa de Jammies on Sunday morning, and Sunday afternoon, my friend Bun arrived for a too-short visit. She and her very handsome, very dignified, very sweet GSD/Husky/Malamute mix stopped in Ohio on their way from New York to California. SuperDeor and Littlefoot got along quite well for the most part, but Little Miss was a little too in-Deor's-face for him to be really comfortable. He remained sweet and dignified, if a wee bit anxious.

Thanks to a little Momguilt (Oh noes! You'll be alone on Thanksgiving!), I didn't have to cook dinner. Bun and I were invited to a full Thanksgiving dinner at my folks' house, and Mom sent home a barrel of leftovers. I made Jan Hagels, took two to Mom & Dad, sent a few with Bun as travelsnacks, and took the rest to work, where they were eagerly snarfed by my stressed-out co-workers.

Two more days, seven books.

For the first time in 23 years...

I flunked the iron test and couldn't give blood. Two different nurses each did a finger-stick on me and both times my iron was at 11.5 instead of 12 or over. There was a period of time between 2003 when I was diagnosed with MS and told I couldn't donate and 2008 when the American Red Cross said MS'ers could donate blood, but that is the only time I didn't donate. Getting deferred this morning made me sad, and really made me feel guilty when they gave me a t-shirt. On the front was the Cleveland Clinic logo, and on the back in big blue type were the words "I Saved A Life."

Not today, I didn't. :(

A few good things

can make a huge difference.

Yesterday was the most Mondayish Monday I'd had in months. Littlefoot woke me up several times overnight because he had diarrhea, we had computer problems at work, I have an ear or sinus infection that is giving me severe ear, jaw and head pain on the right side, Little Miss did something so gross I can't reconcile it with my cute babygirlpuppy who sits on her haunches and pulls up her paws like a little bunny, I realized I forgot to tell Imp I am not able to get to WV for Turkey Day, I missed water-walking, and it just sucked.

Today, while I was a little hurt that three co-workers I thought were friends deliberately excluded me from lunch, the servers are back up and I was able to burn through all the work I couldn't finish yesterday and still bring some OT stuff home with me. Then, on the drive home, the radio station played three of my favorites in a row--Jesse Cook's "Havana," Keiko Matsui's "Black River" and "A Song for You" by Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock, plus I got to hear the traffic report after I was safely out of it. I am going to spoil myself tonight, and re-paint my fingernails, then use an entire Lush French Kiss bubble bar instead of only half, and finally I am going to go to bed early.

Six books, eight volumes, ten days...

Miscellany

1. Only one person at work got my redshirt costume without me having to explain it. Clearly, Hyphenated Corp. is nerd-deficient.

2. On the other hand, Maresche's team was totally awesome in their matching costumes of pink slips, and a few people had to have that one explained to them.

3. I got my first 100% perfect senior editor check today. Now I just have to keep that up for 17 more days.

4. Between now and November 20, our last-day-to-manufacturing deadline, I have nine books/16 volumes to finish and build.

5. Last night at water-walking, I was thinking dire thoughts about whoever was wearing the perfume with a top note of a fleshy white floral and a bottom note of melted plastic when Mom complimented me on the whiff of pretty scent she got when I passed her. Thank you, BPAL.

6. Sometime when I am feeling less lazy, I will get the pics of my Halloween manicure and costume off my camera and post them.

7. It's not my story to tell, and I'm fine, but could anyone with some spare good thoughts aim them at Philadelphia? I'm feeling particularly helpless and clutching at straws.