I've posted so many entries to Bubbles & Baubles that it feels weird to start this one without a disclaimer at the top! It was a good week at work. I met a couple of nice women from my city who were serving as jurors on an ugly case, my boss came to talk to me about some suggestions I'd made to our notices, citations and call day (and she left with my good pen!) and I didn't even think about killing or maiming anyone. :-)
I did think some nasty thoughts about someone else who works in the courthouse. I don't know who she is, but she drives a black Cherokee with some distinctive window art. A couple of weeks ago she pulled that "zoom up the far right line at top speed and then jump into the far left lane just before you need to turn" move. Okay, I really, really dislike that move, but I didn't want her to die in a car fire until I got caught in a lane I didn't realize was closed ahead and she wouldn't let me in the other lane. Selfish cow. DIACF.
Next week is going to be a really good week for books--a new Cherie Priest book (squee!), a new Seanan McGuire book (squee!) and a new Terry Pratchett book (squee!) which is sadly the last Discworld novel ever (sniffle) will all be mine by the end of the week.
This morning was interesting--I had to go to the grocery store and get frozen food, then come home and stuff it in the freezer so I could go work out. I put my bathing suit on under a dress and shopped and unloaded successfully and did the unthinkable in terms of the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
I forgot my towel.
Now, if you've been to Casa de Jammies, you know that the Natatorium is only about 2 miles from my house, but when I got there and realized I'd forgotten my towel, I didn't go back for it. The reason was in part because I didn't want to waste gas, but also in part because we had a storm forecast, and I didn't want to miss my window before it started and the pool got closed because of lightning. It turns out I didn't need to worry about that, but I worked out anyway and then drip-dried in the car on the way home.
We hates the quad stretcheses, Precious, yes we do. Nassssty, nasssty horrid little stretcheses.
Yesterday, one of the local radio stations played a live version of Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" complete with horrible feedback squeal, and this morning, the album version was the last song I heard played as I finished my workout. So here's a little Stevie & co. so you can share my earworm:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_aYibUx1B8
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Sunday, August 23, 2015
What's up?
Not much here, just working, reading, painting my nails and working out. There have been some bumps in the road at work, but since said bumps have led to more of a friendship with a co-worker, I can deal with them.
I have heard from 3 independent sources that citrus essential oils will cut the bond chlorine forms with skin, so I've taken to using a grapefruit eo shower gel for my post water-walking showers. I don't know if there's less damage to my aging skin, but I do smell good. :-)
It's hard to believe that summer is almost over and even harder to believe all of the travel plans for next year. In March, I'll be going to Universal in Orlando with Mom, Dad, Captain Crossword and my nieces. In April, Mom and I are going to France and England, and then in December, the whole famdamily is going to London because The Awesome Nacho's band is performing.
Dad is reluctant to go because he dislikes the inconvenience of travel. Well, I don't know anyone who likes it, but Scary Bear does not want to be winkled out of his cave. Of course, he was then bemoaning the possibility of losing his whole family to one plane crash or terrorist act, and Mom said "Then come with us."
That was exactly what I thought when she told me about it. :-D Oh, yes, we'll all go down together...
Oh, and it is nice that a quick Google search shows that I am far from the only person who thinks that a white Kia Soul in your rear view mirror looks exactly like a Storm Trooper. I feel vindicated and less paranoid.
I have heard from 3 independent sources that citrus essential oils will cut the bond chlorine forms with skin, so I've taken to using a grapefruit eo shower gel for my post water-walking showers. I don't know if there's less damage to my aging skin, but I do smell good. :-)
It's hard to believe that summer is almost over and even harder to believe all of the travel plans for next year. In March, I'll be going to Universal in Orlando with Mom, Dad, Captain Crossword and my nieces. In April, Mom and I are going to France and England, and then in December, the whole famdamily is going to London because The Awesome Nacho's band is performing.
Dad is reluctant to go because he dislikes the inconvenience of travel. Well, I don't know anyone who likes it, but Scary Bear does not want to be winkled out of his cave. Of course, he was then bemoaning the possibility of losing his whole family to one plane crash or terrorist act, and Mom said "Then come with us."
That was exactly what I thought when she told me about it. :-D Oh, yes, we'll all go down together...
Oh, and it is nice that a quick Google search shows that I am far from the only person who thinks that a white Kia Soul in your rear view mirror looks exactly like a Storm Trooper. I feel vindicated and less paranoid.
Saturday, August 01, 2015
Laughter, tears, family and frustration
When I called to wish my dad a happy birthday, after I had done so, Mom got on the phone and told me Aunt Cathy had died. Aunt Cathy was really Mom's aunt, and my great-aunt, but she was always Aunt Cathy. She was married to my grandmother's baby brother, a wonderful man who she survived by 10 or 11 years, and they had three kids, five grandkids and four great-grandkids (by the time Aunt Cathy died).
My grandmother was the oldest of four, so there was quite a gap between her and Cathy, but despite the age gap and despite my grandfather moving the family from Pittsburgh to Elyria, my mom still grew up spending time with her cousins and her aunts and uncles. Mom and her siblings attended Ed & Cathy's wedding, but were deemed too young for the reception, so they were bundled off back home while their parents went. Mom remembers that Gramma brought them each a piece of cake, but that she was still mad because it wasn't the same. That may have been what inspired her to allow my brother's and I to come to the wedding of Ed & Cathy's younger daughter.
Since Mom and Dad and I left at 7:00 a.m. to be at the church by 10:00 (with a generous margin of error for Pittsburgh traffic and directions), we had lots of time to talk about that wedding, my grandparents, and Ed & Cathy. When we arrived early enough to grab a cup of coffee, Mom and I got a case of the giggles when Dad could not get the voice-activated Google maps to understand "McDonalds". But we found one, and I had a quick iced coffee and Dad had a cinnamon thing (or McThing, who knows?).
The church was large and modern, the soloist/organist was a phenomenal musician and the priest did a good job despite the fact that he had never met Aunt Cathy. Apparently, her church doesn't have its own priests, but relies on visiting priests from other parishes. The one who performed her funeral mass was built on the same lines as Shaquille O'Neal. He also had a very good singing voice.
The trip from the church to the cemetery was a long one, so more Mom and Dad and Jammies chatter ensued. I mentioned that it was the only time we could run red lights in a car with out-of-state plates and not get pulled over. Fortunately, as part of the procession we did not have to interrupt our conversation to listen to the GPS. A large part of the chatter was Mom remembering where Uncle Henry lived, or Uncle Bill, or Uncle Ed, and whether or not she and her siblings had visited. Two of Uncle Henry's children were at the funeral, and Mom made sure to get e-mail addresses for everyone.
The 'graveside' service was actually at the mortuary at the cemetery, and everyone else went straight from there to lunch. Since Mom wasn't about to have visited Pittsburgh without visiting her parents', grandparents' and sisters' graves, we followed the hearse to the grave site. When we left, we got lost in the cemetery, but found our way out in time to truthfully tell Mom's cousin that we were on the way to the restaurant.
Lunch was very nice, and I got to know two of my first cousins once removed more than I did 10 years ago. They're very impressive young men, and Aunt Cathy had reason to be proud of all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When we left after many hugs and some tears, Mom asked if anyone wanted an ice cream cone or a milkshake, and Dad didn't, but I did. Since we were right by the Pennsylvania turnpike, we got on and stopped for our sugar fix at a service plaza. Mom got a milkshake, I got an apple & caramel sundae, and Dad got a frozen coffee drink.
Shortly after we left the service plaza, traffic started to slow up, and then it stopped. We sat at mile marker 225 for an hour in the hot July sunshine, with the car turned off and all the windows open. After a while, people were getting out of their cars and walking forward to try to see what was going on, a few cars managed to turn around and go back east on the westbound shoulder, and three assholes on motorcycles rode up the shoulder to try to get to the head of the traffic. Dad hoped that there would be a cop waiting for them. I just hoped they crashed and totaled their bikes!
After an hour, the traffic started to move, and we drove west to mile marker 223, where we were directed across the median and onto the eastbound turnpike, where we had to go 9 miles back to get to an exit, then wait in line for another 25 minutes to actually get off the turnpike. It turns out there was a horrible accident and the whole turnpike was closed. Although I had joked (before learning why we were stopped) that Mom's craving for ice cream got us stuck, it could very well have been that it saved us from being part of that accident.
Mom and I were relatively pessimistic about the people zooming up the left hand lane and whether they'd cross back into the right line just at the exit and Dad said he didn't want to hear us being negative. So of course as we tried to find an alternate route back home, Dad called the voice on the GPS a "chirpy little bitch", told it to shut up and told Mom that the frustration had to come out somehow!
After a stop for gas (for the car), cheese popcorn (for Mom) and almonds (for me), we got back on the turnpike and had an uneventful trip home the rest of the way. I slept for a bit in the car, then took a short nap on my folks' couch, then came home to a very, very hungry dog. Fortunately, LMPP forgave me as soon as the food hit the bowl, and does not seem to be holding a grudge.
One of the things Mom said as we left the church was that she was grateful for a happy childhood. I am equally grateful for mine, especially as I have grown up and learned that happy childhoods are not as common as they should be. Aunt Cathy was part of that happy childhood, and it's hard to imagine a trip to Pittsburgh that doesn't end with seeing her.
My grandmother was the oldest of four, so there was quite a gap between her and Cathy, but despite the age gap and despite my grandfather moving the family from Pittsburgh to Elyria, my mom still grew up spending time with her cousins and her aunts and uncles. Mom and her siblings attended Ed & Cathy's wedding, but were deemed too young for the reception, so they were bundled off back home while their parents went. Mom remembers that Gramma brought them each a piece of cake, but that she was still mad because it wasn't the same. That may have been what inspired her to allow my brother's and I to come to the wedding of Ed & Cathy's younger daughter.
Since Mom and Dad and I left at 7:00 a.m. to be at the church by 10:00 (with a generous margin of error for Pittsburgh traffic and directions), we had lots of time to talk about that wedding, my grandparents, and Ed & Cathy. When we arrived early enough to grab a cup of coffee, Mom and I got a case of the giggles when Dad could not get the voice-activated Google maps to understand "McDonalds". But we found one, and I had a quick iced coffee and Dad had a cinnamon thing (or McThing, who knows?).
The church was large and modern, the soloist/organist was a phenomenal musician and the priest did a good job despite the fact that he had never met Aunt Cathy. Apparently, her church doesn't have its own priests, but relies on visiting priests from other parishes. The one who performed her funeral mass was built on the same lines as Shaquille O'Neal. He also had a very good singing voice.
The trip from the church to the cemetery was a long one, so more Mom and Dad and Jammies chatter ensued. I mentioned that it was the only time we could run red lights in a car with out-of-state plates and not get pulled over. Fortunately, as part of the procession we did not have to interrupt our conversation to listen to the GPS. A large part of the chatter was Mom remembering where Uncle Henry lived, or Uncle Bill, or Uncle Ed, and whether or not she and her siblings had visited. Two of Uncle Henry's children were at the funeral, and Mom made sure to get e-mail addresses for everyone.
The 'graveside' service was actually at the mortuary at the cemetery, and everyone else went straight from there to lunch. Since Mom wasn't about to have visited Pittsburgh without visiting her parents', grandparents' and sisters' graves, we followed the hearse to the grave site. When we left, we got lost in the cemetery, but found our way out in time to truthfully tell Mom's cousin that we were on the way to the restaurant.
Lunch was very nice, and I got to know two of my first cousins once removed more than I did 10 years ago. They're very impressive young men, and Aunt Cathy had reason to be proud of all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When we left after many hugs and some tears, Mom asked if anyone wanted an ice cream cone or a milkshake, and Dad didn't, but I did. Since we were right by the Pennsylvania turnpike, we got on and stopped for our sugar fix at a service plaza. Mom got a milkshake, I got an apple & caramel sundae, and Dad got a frozen coffee drink.
Shortly after we left the service plaza, traffic started to slow up, and then it stopped. We sat at mile marker 225 for an hour in the hot July sunshine, with the car turned off and all the windows open. After a while, people were getting out of their cars and walking forward to try to see what was going on, a few cars managed to turn around and go back east on the westbound shoulder, and three assholes on motorcycles rode up the shoulder to try to get to the head of the traffic. Dad hoped that there would be a cop waiting for them. I just hoped they crashed and totaled their bikes!
After an hour, the traffic started to move, and we drove west to mile marker 223, where we were directed across the median and onto the eastbound turnpike, where we had to go 9 miles back to get to an exit, then wait in line for another 25 minutes to actually get off the turnpike. It turns out there was a horrible accident and the whole turnpike was closed. Although I had joked (before learning why we were stopped) that Mom's craving for ice cream got us stuck, it could very well have been that it saved us from being part of that accident.
Mom and I were relatively pessimistic about the people zooming up the left hand lane and whether they'd cross back into the right line just at the exit and Dad said he didn't want to hear us being negative. So of course as we tried to find an alternate route back home, Dad called the voice on the GPS a "chirpy little bitch", told it to shut up and told Mom that the frustration had to come out somehow!
After a stop for gas (for the car), cheese popcorn (for Mom) and almonds (for me), we got back on the turnpike and had an uneventful trip home the rest of the way. I slept for a bit in the car, then took a short nap on my folks' couch, then came home to a very, very hungry dog. Fortunately, LMPP forgave me as soon as the food hit the bowl, and does not seem to be holding a grudge.
One of the things Mom said as we left the church was that she was grateful for a happy childhood. I am equally grateful for mine, especially as I have grown up and learned that happy childhoods are not as common as they should be. Aunt Cathy was part of that happy childhood, and it's hard to imagine a trip to Pittsburgh that doesn't end with seeing her.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Things I have learned in the past week
1. It really sucks when you have a black eye and an allergy attack which makes your eyes itch.
2. I stink at typing with a cold pack held to one eye.
3. There is a line between "summer casual" and "escaped from the ER before they got the restraints on you" and some people are not afraid to cross it and then come to court.
4. Our local hospital chain thinks prohibiting any personal expression in hair color or tattoos is unprofessional, yet dressing medical staff in all black is professional and so is making fun of Walmart shoppers.
5. My new-ish co-worker loves makeup as much or more than I do, but she's not a big fan of horror novels.
6. Hoicking boxes filled with books around the living room two days after a major fall is Not A Good Idea.
7. I am not a complete loser when it comes to nail art.
2. I stink at typing with a cold pack held to one eye.
3. There is a line between "summer casual" and "escaped from the ER before they got the restraints on you" and some people are not afraid to cross it and then come to court.
4. Our local hospital chain thinks prohibiting any personal expression in hair color or tattoos is unprofessional, yet dressing medical staff in all black is professional and so is making fun of Walmart shoppers.
5. My new-ish co-worker loves makeup as much or more than I do, but she's not a big fan of horror novels.
6. Hoicking boxes filled with books around the living room two days after a major fall is Not A Good Idea.
7. I am not a complete loser when it comes to nail art.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
I have kick-ass co-workers
When I got to work this morning, my desk was all decorated, both with pre-made 50 decorations and streamers and with office-made signs that said things like "Fifty is the new fabulous." The one that made me laugh out loud even though it hurt was the one that said, "It Took 50 Years to Look this Good."
One of our investigators was hanging out with my accounts colleague, and she said something that was to become a familiar refrain through the day, "Happy Birth--what on earth happened?" No one I talked to wanted to believe that I'd fought off a black bear that attacked my parents in a parking lot, so I went with "Walked into a bathroom doorframe".
There was a surprise birthday lunch for me and two of my colleagues, one of whom is also 50 and the other of whom is literally half that. Someone made the Italian green bean salad that I love and was surprised at how many people asked for the recipe. I didn't, because it is my favorite summer salad, but I did compliment her on it and notice the basil she put in.
My lip and my eye still look awful, but what hurts is the chest muscle I pulled. I have to give a shout-out to Mallie, who was the one who talked me into spending money on bras that actually support my boobs, because when I woke up this morning, the pain was so bad I nearly barfed, and I hate to think what it would have been like if I'd gone through the day with inadequate infrastructure. As it was, I was still in a lot of pain at four o'clock, but I made it home without crying.
Speaking of crying, there was a card in yesterday's mail that was all about what's good about turning 50, and while my niece would dismiss it as "Sappy!" it made me tear up because it was from my 80 year old uncle.
Family, friends, food and fun. I could get used to this 50 thing.
One of our investigators was hanging out with my accounts colleague, and she said something that was to become a familiar refrain through the day, "Happy Birth--what on earth happened?" No one I talked to wanted to believe that I'd fought off a black bear that attacked my parents in a parking lot, so I went with "Walked into a bathroom doorframe".
There was a surprise birthday lunch for me and two of my colleagues, one of whom is also 50 and the other of whom is literally half that. Someone made the Italian green bean salad that I love and was surprised at how many people asked for the recipe. I didn't, because it is my favorite summer salad, but I did compliment her on it and notice the basil she put in.
My lip and my eye still look awful, but what hurts is the chest muscle I pulled. I have to give a shout-out to Mallie, who was the one who talked me into spending money on bras that actually support my boobs, because when I woke up this morning, the pain was so bad I nearly barfed, and I hate to think what it would have been like if I'd gone through the day with inadequate infrastructure. As it was, I was still in a lot of pain at four o'clock, but I made it home without crying.
Speaking of crying, there was a card in yesterday's mail that was all about what's good about turning 50, and while my niece would dismiss it as "Sappy!" it made me tear up because it was from my 80 year old uncle.
Family, friends, food and fun. I could get used to this 50 thing.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
So far, 50 sucks
Mom and Dad and I had a very nice dinner last night at a local high-end steakhouse. I had tomato and mozzarella salad with balsamic vinegar, half a pretzel breadstick, a NY strip steak with brown sauce and black peppercorns, fries and a slice of flourless chocolate cake, courtesy of the management because Mom had told them we were celebrating Dad's birthday and mine. I'd probably have been fine if I also hadn't had two Lemon Drop martinis, which hit me hard about a 40 minutes after I got home. I fell once in the kitchen while I was trying to set up the coffee and then walked into the bathroom door frame while trying to go lie down.
Gross stuff after the jump:
Gross stuff after the jump:
Wednesday, July 08, 2015
Food, family, fireworks and fun!
I'm home after two lovely days at the lake. Things did not start well, because at 6:20 Monday morning when I tried to re-settle the carafe in the coffee maker, I wound up splashing boiling water and coffee grounds all over my right hand, the counter, the coffee maker and the floor. When I got that cleaned up and the car packed, dropping Little Miss Piggie Pie off for boarding was easy, and I grabbed a quick and expensive cup of coffee at Bruegger's before starting out.
My trip was exactly 100 miles in 100 minutes, yay me and yay Edgar. Mom met me at the Dollar General closest to Lakeside because she was out riding her bike in traffic when I arrived, and gave me her credit card to buy my ticket and car pass and then we headed to the house.
My nieces and nephews are turning out to be really great people, smart and kind and funny. At the advanced age of 15, The Awesome Nacho still lets his youngest cousin beat on him with a pillow. Super Doughnut was so afraid he'd miss the golf cart ride to get doughnuts this morning that when I opened the garage door at 6:30 to go outside for a smoke he came barreling down the stairs and stuck his head out the door pleading for me not to leave without him. I told him to go back to bed, it would be a while. Princess Mathgeek cheerfully peeled potatoes, went to East Harbor with the joy of a swallow returning to Capistrano, and displayed the snarkasm that is the hallmark and birthright of my family. Princess Minnie is bright and affectionate and totally and completely addicted to chocolate.
I met three gorgeous dogs--two Golden Retrievers whose owner called them "English Cream Retrievers" and a very sweet, very old, very shy Siberian Husky. I am totally bragging when I say the latter took to me to such a degree that I heard her owners talking about it as they walked away.
I helped Mom delete the zillion text messages from Verizon on her phone, took the nieces and nephews to the Cheese Haven, read two books and ate several wonderful meals, including an earlybirthday Bastille Day dinner of beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, port wine & shallot sauce, roasted green beans and cake. I took at least four golf cart rides, driving three times, and discovered that Jeeves and I have a fear of heights in common. Dad set off two fireworks and when the power went out he took the coffee maker out to the garage and ran it off the golf cart battery.
Today I went to The Patio for doughnuts, one dozen for the famdamily, two dozen for work, then got packed up and left Lakeside. I dropped off the doughnuts, picked up the dog, who was clean and very fluffy after her complimentary bath, came home and took some Benadrool (my eyes have been itching non-stop) and took a nap. Then I collected the three boxes from my porch--one from Ulta, one from Bath & Body Works and one from someone named Keith in Augusta, Maine. I haz a puzzled about that last...
As always, I'm glad I went and happy to be home.
My trip was exactly 100 miles in 100 minutes, yay me and yay Edgar. Mom met me at the Dollar General closest to Lakeside because she was out riding her bike in traffic when I arrived, and gave me her credit card to buy my ticket and car pass and then we headed to the house.
My nieces and nephews are turning out to be really great people, smart and kind and funny. At the advanced age of 15, The Awesome Nacho still lets his youngest cousin beat on him with a pillow. Super Doughnut was so afraid he'd miss the golf cart ride to get doughnuts this morning that when I opened the garage door at 6:30 to go outside for a smoke he came barreling down the stairs and stuck his head out the door pleading for me not to leave without him. I told him to go back to bed, it would be a while. Princess Mathgeek cheerfully peeled potatoes, went to East Harbor with the joy of a swallow returning to Capistrano, and displayed the snarkasm that is the hallmark and birthright of my family. Princess Minnie is bright and affectionate and totally and completely addicted to chocolate.
I met three gorgeous dogs--two Golden Retrievers whose owner called them "English Cream Retrievers" and a very sweet, very old, very shy Siberian Husky. I am totally bragging when I say the latter took to me to such a degree that I heard her owners talking about it as they walked away.
I helped Mom delete the zillion text messages from Verizon on her phone, took the nieces and nephews to the Cheese Haven, read two books and ate several wonderful meals, including an early
Today I went to The Patio for doughnuts, one dozen for the famdamily, two dozen for work, then got packed up and left Lakeside. I dropped off the doughnuts, picked up the dog, who was clean and very fluffy after her complimentary bath, came home and took some Benadrool (my eyes have been itching non-stop) and took a nap. Then I collected the three boxes from my porch--one from Ulta, one from Bath & Body Works and one from someone named Keith in Augusta, Maine. I haz a puzzled about that last...
As always, I'm glad I went and happy to be home.
Sunday, July 05, 2015
"Admit it," he said, "You've always wanted a hug in the middle of the jury room."
And while it had never occurred to me that I might be hugged in the jury assembly room, I will never decline a hug from my father. Dad got three times lucky last week when he was summoned for jury duty. He didn't have to appear on Monday or Tuesday, and while he and I were chatting Wednesday morning, Judge Croce herself came down and dismissed the jurors, saying the defendant had pleaded guilty.
Dad looked very nice on Wednesday, and when I told Mom that, she said "Because I dressed him!" :-D I am fairly sure, btw, that she meant that she picked out his clothes, not that she put them on him.
Last week at work, Monday and Tuesday were frantic, as I tried to docket everything I could before the automatic hearing date changed. Wednesday I got to see Dad and Thursday was more frantic reviewing and docketing so I could feel free to take Monday through Wednesday of this week off. County employees had Friday off for the holiday, and come Monday morning, I'm a-headin' up the lake.
While I'm there, I will spend time with my family, eat my mother's wonderful cooking, visit the Cheese Haven and read a book or two. So looking forward to it!
Dad looked very nice on Wednesday, and when I told Mom that, she said "Because I dressed him!" :-D I am fairly sure, btw, that she meant that she picked out his clothes, not that she put them on him.
Last week at work, Monday and Tuesday were frantic, as I tried to docket everything I could before the automatic hearing date changed. Wednesday I got to see Dad and Thursday was more frantic reviewing and docketing so I could feel free to take Monday through Wednesday of this week off. County employees had Friday off for the holiday, and come Monday morning, I'm a-headin' up the lake.
While I'm there, I will spend time with my family, eat my mother's wonderful cooking, visit the Cheese Haven and read a book or two. So looking forward to it!
Saturday, June 27, 2015
JOY!
So you've heard about the Supreme Court decision. If you're not overjoyed, go read someone else's blog. :P I've always said that Probate Court does two happy things, adoptions and marriage licenses. Friday afternoon, the happiness doubled.
From the first couple willing to have their pictures taken to the dudes who looked like extras from Duck Dynasty to the little girl with rainbow-striped bows in her hair whose mommies were getting married, the whole court fizzed with excitement.
My department is at the other end of the clerk's offices from the records room, but I did legit need to be over there a time or two, and it was just wonderful to see all those people using our newly remodeled room as it was intended. The renovation was completed on Wednesday and the marriage license counter was moved from the main counter into the records room where you can get copies of any non-confidential license we have. The help desk is now there instead of outside the magistrates' offices, and it's been repainted, has sound baffles on the ceiling and an open floor plan.
So congratulations to the U.S. for freaking finally joining the 21st century, and let's keep going.
From the first couple willing to have their pictures taken to the dudes who looked like extras from Duck Dynasty to the little girl with rainbow-striped bows in her hair whose mommies were getting married, the whole court fizzed with excitement.
My department is at the other end of the clerk's offices from the records room, but I did legit need to be over there a time or two, and it was just wonderful to see all those people using our newly remodeled room as it was intended. The renovation was completed on Wednesday and the marriage license counter was moved from the main counter into the records room where you can get copies of any non-confidential license we have. The help desk is now there instead of outside the magistrates' offices, and it's been repainted, has sound baffles on the ceiling and an open floor plan.
So congratulations to the U.S. for freaking finally joining the 21st century, and let's keep going.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Free day!
My phone buzzed as I pulled into the parking garage yesterday morning. The power was out at work and I should go home and wait for instructions. So I went home, and at noon got a text message that the probate court would be closed all day. I said a quick hurrah and went to the craft store for photo frames and then came home and changed clothes. I baked a lemon pound cake to take to work today, got caught up on some chores and took a nap.
The frames are for my great-grandparents' teaching certificates and their wedding picture:
If the former looks familiar, it's because it looks exactly like the one Laura Ingalls gets at the end of Little Town on the Prairie. I figured it would go nicely with the map. Now I just need to drag Dad over here to hang the map!
The frames are for my great-grandparents' teaching certificates and their wedding picture:
If the former looks familiar, it's because it looks exactly like the one Laura Ingalls gets at the end of Little Town on the Prairie. I figured it would go nicely with the map. Now I just need to drag Dad over here to hang the map!
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Three mayors in two weeks, seven candidates and other stuff
This post is a little bit link-heavy (four is a lot for me) but they all go to the website of the Akron Beacon Journal, and I've never had problems with their site.
First up, after our 27-year mayor resigned, so did our 7-day mayor. The latter's time in office was 10 days. Then when another City Council president stepped up to be mayor, there was a "discussion" in council (involving him) that led to the cops being called.
We now have seven candidates for mayor, and one of them I know to chat with and one I know of as the boss of my smoke break buddies from the Clerk's Office. Mr. Horrigan has my vote, at lease at the moment.
In non-political Akron stuff, we're getting some new public artwork featuring Devo.
And for all that the courthouse was packed with reporters on Friday afternoon, I guess Judge's Croce's announcement that she wants to learn everything she can before deciding if a man convicted of murder 20 years ago should get a new trial just wasn't exciting enough. I had to search to find the story rather than seeing it on the front page of any websites.
In the last week, I've seen two vanity plates that stuck with me. HAMSTAR is intriguing, because it could refer to shortwave radio, pigs or something else. HMMRH3, especially on a Hummer, just reeks of insecurity. Yes, dude, we know your penis substitute is expensive. ::yawn::
And finally, Akron had thunderstorms hit at exactly four o'clock two days in a row, and both of them were fierce! I got so soaked on Thursday that I stopped at Payless on the way home to get a pair of sandals I needed anyway and put my tennies and socks in the bag and wore the sandals home. Friday had the same ferocity but a little less volume, so I could jump my way across the street without getting my feet drenched. Both days, by the time I hit Cuyahoga Falls, the rain had stopped. Global weirding, ladies and gentlemen!
First up, after our 27-year mayor resigned, so did our 7-day mayor. The latter's time in office was 10 days. Then when another City Council president stepped up to be mayor, there was a "discussion" in council (involving him) that led to the cops being called.
We now have seven candidates for mayor, and one of them I know to chat with and one I know of as the boss of my smoke break buddies from the Clerk's Office. Mr. Horrigan has my vote, at lease at the moment.
In non-political Akron stuff, we're getting some new public artwork featuring Devo.
And for all that the courthouse was packed with reporters on Friday afternoon, I guess Judge's Croce's announcement that she wants to learn everything she can before deciding if a man convicted of murder 20 years ago should get a new trial just wasn't exciting enough. I had to search to find the story rather than seeing it on the front page of any websites.
In the last week, I've seen two vanity plates that stuck with me. HAMSTAR is intriguing, because it could refer to shortwave radio, pigs or something else. HMMRH3, especially on a Hummer, just reeks of insecurity. Yes, dude, we know your penis substitute is expensive. ::yawn::
And finally, Akron had thunderstorms hit at exactly four o'clock two days in a row, and both of them were fierce! I got so soaked on Thursday that I stopped at Payless on the way home to get a pair of sandals I needed anyway and put my tennies and socks in the bag and wore the sandals home. Friday had the same ferocity but a little less volume, so I could jump my way across the street without getting my feet drenched. Both days, by the time I hit Cuyahoga Falls, the rain had stopped. Global weirding, ladies and gentlemen!
Saturday, June 06, 2015
Well, it's getting even weirder over here...
My last entry was partially about the fact that Akron's former mayor, who served for 27 years, took his toys and went home suddenly.
The new mayor was sworn in by my boss, and on Monday, we had arguments in City Council that resulted in the cops being called.
Now, the interim mayor announces that he had "inappropriate contact" with a co-worker on his last day at City Council.
Meanwhile, the city in which I live has had some upscale development and a new mayor. I'm wondering if there's only so much civilization to go around, and if it's all migrating to Cuyahoga Falls from Akron...
Monday, June 01, 2015
Hey, that's my boss! and other courthouse news
So you can click here to see my boss administering the oath to Akron's new mayor.
And why does Akron have a new mayor, you ask? Because the previous mayor, a veteran of 27 years, flounced quite abruptly.
This morning was approval hearings on accounts and inventories, and we had one objection each on an estate account, a guardian's account and an estate inventory. The magistrate hearing objections today did a great job (they all do) and maintained her even keel although I'd have wanted to smack everyone who thought they should fight with other family members over money.
Even more disgusting, though, were the people watching the single-car accident that happened outside the courthouse around 3:30. From a man and woman with a small child (the woman taking pics on her cell phone) to the two idiots on top of the parking garage with their Polar Pops to the people lined up to exit the parking garage next to the accident, I was appalled at all their assholery. Nothing like ending your Monday knowing that people are the worst.
And why does Akron have a new mayor, you ask? Because the previous mayor, a veteran of 27 years, flounced quite abruptly.
This morning was approval hearings on accounts and inventories, and we had one objection each on an estate account, a guardian's account and an estate inventory. The magistrate hearing objections today did a great job (they all do) and maintained her even keel although I'd have wanted to smack everyone who thought they should fight with other family members over money.
Even more disgusting, though, were the people watching the single-car accident that happened outside the courthouse around 3:30. From a man and woman with a small child (the woman taking pics on her cell phone) to the two idiots on top of the parking garage with their Polar Pops to the people lined up to exit the parking garage next to the accident, I was appalled at all their assholery. Nothing like ending your Monday knowing that people are the worst.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Written in Red by Anne Bishop
When I bought this book in the closeout section of my grocery store for 50 cents, I wasn't expecting much more than a quick read of some brain candy. Written in Red sat on my to read pile for a couple of weeks until I was between library books and decided to read it.
Between Charles deLint, Jim Butcher and Seanan Maguire, I have a high bar set for new urban fantasy series. I read lots of them and enjoy most of them, but I haven't fallen for a book like this in a while. I devoured Written in Red in under 24 hours and made a point to stop at the library on the way to an oil change this morning to get the next book in the series.
The world-building is excellent, the characters are three-dimensional, the action is gripping and I'm halfway through Murder of Crows and annoyed that I'm going to have to wait for Vision in Silver.
Basically, if you're looking for an impressive urban fantasy series with characters that are real people and is a reminder that vampires and werewolves are not respectively cuddly and sparkly would-be lovers of humans, this is the series to try.
Saturday, May 09, 2015
An early and wonderful Mother's Day
Mom was going to be at the lake this weekend with her sister, but my aunt didn't feel well, so Mom went up for the day on Thursday. That meant she was free today, so we spent most of the morning working on law office stuff, and then headed out around 11.
First we went to the bank, then we went to pick up the map. I have to give a huge hand to the framing shop at the Hudson Joann Fabrics. Keri did an amazing job of helping me pick out the frame and then getting the map framed and ready to go, and it looks even better than I thought it would. While Mom was pulling the car around, I grabbed a fake lavender arrangement she wanted but put back and bought it as a spur-of-the-moment Mother's Day gift.
After the map, we grabbed some lunch at a local Thai place (yum!). Dad has been working diligently all week to get electronic bits and bobs that he'll never use out of the basement, and he filled six banker's boxes. I took those and a stray remote and a non-working laptop to the city electronics recycling today, and then Mom and I went plant shopping.
To my dismay, Cochran's was completely sold out of basil, and man, I suck at growing it from seed. I may have to see if Marc's has a couple plants tomorrow when I do my grocery shopping. I ordinarily don't do that because I've learned that the chain stores, even local chains, don't treat their suppliers very well and do not stand behind the products at all. However, for basil and homemade pesto, I will set aside my scruples.
After Mom had picked out two verbena, a sweet potato vine and two Roma tomato seedlings and I had picked out lamium, verbena, petunias, licorice plant, heliotrope and two cherry tomato seedlings, we had our annual argument over who was buying Mom's plants. This year, she won, because she said the fake plant counted. No problem, I'll win next year. :-)
Then we headed over to Casa de Jammies and unloaded the map from Mom's car and put it in the living room. No pictures yet, as it's going to stay wrapped up until Dad comes over to hang it. Then Little Miss Piggie Pie and I had a nap, and then dinner, and then I watched RuPaul's Drag Race while emptying four boxes of books.
I hugged Mom today, twice, and I will think of that every time I help someone handle their mom's estate. I am lucky as hell to have such a lovely mother and to still have her here with me.
First we went to the bank, then we went to pick up the map. I have to give a huge hand to the framing shop at the Hudson Joann Fabrics. Keri did an amazing job of helping me pick out the frame and then getting the map framed and ready to go, and it looks even better than I thought it would. While Mom was pulling the car around, I grabbed a fake lavender arrangement she wanted but put back and bought it as a spur-of-the-moment Mother's Day gift.
After the map, we grabbed some lunch at a local Thai place (yum!). Dad has been working diligently all week to get electronic bits and bobs that he'll never use out of the basement, and he filled six banker's boxes. I took those and a stray remote and a non-working laptop to the city electronics recycling today, and then Mom and I went plant shopping.
To my dismay, Cochran's was completely sold out of basil, and man, I suck at growing it from seed. I may have to see if Marc's has a couple plants tomorrow when I do my grocery shopping. I ordinarily don't do that because I've learned that the chain stores, even local chains, don't treat their suppliers very well and do not stand behind the products at all. However, for basil and homemade pesto, I will set aside my scruples.
After Mom had picked out two verbena, a sweet potato vine and two Roma tomato seedlings and I had picked out lamium, verbena, petunias, licorice plant, heliotrope and two cherry tomato seedlings, we had our annual argument over who was buying Mom's plants. This year, she won, because she said the fake plant counted. No problem, I'll win next year. :-)
Then we headed over to Casa de Jammies and unloaded the map from Mom's car and put it in the living room. No pictures yet, as it's going to stay wrapped up until Dad comes over to hang it. Then Little Miss Piggie Pie and I had a nap, and then dinner, and then I watched RuPaul's Drag Race while emptying four boxes of books.
I hugged Mom today, twice, and I will think of that every time I help someone handle their mom's estate. I am lucky as hell to have such a lovely mother and to still have her here with me.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Thoughts whilst driving home from work
Buick, I don't care how many mini shark fins you put on your cars, they'll still be staid and stodgy.
Wow, I hate the Akron Art Museum's building.
Okay, when did I become such a priss about driving through puddles and getting my car dirty?
Why do traffic people talk about surface streets? All streets are on a surface. Are traffic people too stupid to say secondary roads or are they pandering to a stupid audience?
Gah, why did I agree tobifocals progressive lenses? Am I going to be able to use them? Why did the eye doctor make such a big deal about how hard it's going to be?
Ooooh, very dramatic stand of forsythia there. Hey, why did the city have to take out all those pear trees? The side of the road is horrible, all weedy and junky where it used to be pretty.
Ten plus years of working in Akron and it still pisses me off that they take 2.25% in income tax for me and only give the city where I actually live 2%. Dog knows the extra money isn't paying for road repairs.
Pretty cherry tree! Oh, hey, that's mine and I'm home. Long week.
Wow, I hate the Akron Art Museum's building.
Okay, when did I become such a priss about driving through puddles and getting my car dirty?
Why do traffic people talk about surface streets? All streets are on a surface. Are traffic people too stupid to say secondary roads or are they pandering to a stupid audience?
Gah, why did I agree to
Ooooh, very dramatic stand of forsythia there. Hey, why did the city have to take out all those pear trees? The side of the road is horrible, all weedy and junky where it used to be pretty.
Ten plus years of working in Akron and it still pisses me off that they take 2.25% in income tax for me and only give the city where I actually live 2%. Dog knows the extra money isn't paying for road repairs.
Pretty cherry tree! Oh, hey, that's mine and I'm home. Long week.
Saturday, April 04, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Two more days
(hopefully) until the kitchen floor is finished. One more day (hopefully) until the appliances are back in place and I don't have to have yet another bowl of granola for dinner. I like granola, I'm just tired after a week of it for dinner.
After my trip to Cleveland last week, I missed two more days of work thanks to a nasty case of bronchitis, something I haven't had for a decade. I haven't missed it at all! Then, just to put the grey icing on the cupcake of doom that was last week, in addition to the floor being sanded, I developed a sinus infection. I am now recovering from both illnesses, but it's been a week I don't want to live through again any time soon.
Also, I decided that I am going to bring the map home from Cleveland and just plain have it framed at Joann or Michael's or Pat Catan's. I don't need to spend $2,000 for museum-quality framing for something I just want to hang in my living room and enjoy.
Oh, and Little Miss Piggie Pie continues to have the staff at Valley Animal Hospital snowed--they tell me every day how sweet she is. However, in her favor, she was a snuggly little girl last weekend when I needed a nap partner, and she didn't even huff much when my coughing shook her off the bed.
After my trip to Cleveland last week, I missed two more days of work thanks to a nasty case of bronchitis, something I haven't had for a decade. I haven't missed it at all! Then, just to put the grey icing on the cupcake of doom that was last week, in addition to the floor being sanded, I developed a sinus infection. I am now recovering from both illnesses, but it's been a week I don't want to live through again any time soon.
Also, I decided that I am going to bring the map home from Cleveland and just plain have it framed at Joann or Michael's or Pat Catan's. I don't need to spend $2,000 for museum-quality framing for something I just want to hang in my living room and enjoy.
Oh, and Little Miss Piggie Pie continues to have the staff at Valley Animal Hospital snowed--they tell me every day how sweet she is. However, in her favor, she was a snuggly little girl last weekend when I needed a nap partner, and she didn't even huff much when my coughing shook her off the bed.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Nice day for a drive to Cleveland
It was warm and sunny this morning, so Mimi's map and I took a confusing drive to ICA Art Conservation on Detroit Ave. Between heavy traffic even though it was technically after rush hour, it's a good thing I left 25 minutes early. I arrived with time to spare, and a (or possibly the) paper restorer spread the map on the table and was kind enough to say it was in really amazing shape. Apparently a missing bottom dowel and some small tears are minimal damaged--the restorer said that most maps they see are absolutely trashed and that my grandmother must have taken good care of her things. The copyright date on the map is 1895, and Dad was right, it was made by Rand-McNally.
Although I had joked about paying anything under 5 figures, it turns out that to have the map cleaned, restored and custom-framed would in fact cost about $10,000.00. When I said that was not in my budget, they said for about $2,000 they can repair the small tears and encase it in Mylar, which can then be attached to the old case. So I left the map with them for a full exam and quote, and got to drive along the Shoreway on a sunny day, looking a blue skies and a lake still almost completely iced up.
Then I took Mucinex for the chest cold which is trying to develop and took a nap.
Oh, and of course I now have a picture of the map:
Saturday, March 14, 2015
It takes more than blue skies
...to make a happy Jammies. I hate DST. Just when I was getting used to it being light when I got up, now it's back to pitch black and the alarm clock.
The weather's been warm and springlike all week, with two days of blue skies mid-week. Unfortunately, this week was also Call Day, and it was a big one this month. I hadn't gotten my Lexapro refilled, so I missed one dose on that day, which didn't help. Granted, it didn't hurt all that much since it's a cumulative medication, I just felt a little dizzy and foggy-headed.
The good news is that I'm getting the mechanics of Call Day to a point where they're pretty smooth, and the judge really likes being able to send folks straight to the help desk. That will be even smoother when the renovations are finished and the help desk is directly across the hall from the courtroom. I did say one stupid thing in court, which led to a resolution to keep my mouth shut (hard for me to do, as those who know me well would say). The judge was nice about it, and didn't say anything when we were on the record, but she did discuss it with me the next day.
AT&T is providing miserable customer service, including offering a "payment arrangement" that is actually a demand, then cutting off my phone four days before the agreed-upon date, then saying I'll have to pay $30 to have my service re-connected. The flooring people I agreed to allow to start my floor with less than a day's notice so their workers would have something to do have left me for a week with an unsanded, unstained floor and no word on when it will be finished.
So the blue skies are nice, but I'd like more, please.
The weather's been warm and springlike all week, with two days of blue skies mid-week. Unfortunately, this week was also Call Day, and it was a big one this month. I hadn't gotten my Lexapro refilled, so I missed one dose on that day, which didn't help. Granted, it didn't hurt all that much since it's a cumulative medication, I just felt a little dizzy and foggy-headed.
The good news is that I'm getting the mechanics of Call Day to a point where they're pretty smooth, and the judge really likes being able to send folks straight to the help desk. That will be even smoother when the renovations are finished and the help desk is directly across the hall from the courtroom. I did say one stupid thing in court, which led to a resolution to keep my mouth shut (hard for me to do, as those who know me well would say). The judge was nice about it, and didn't say anything when we were on the record, but she did discuss it with me the next day.
AT&T is providing miserable customer service, including offering a "payment arrangement" that is actually a demand, then cutting off my phone four days before the agreed-upon date, then saying I'll have to pay $30 to have my service re-connected. The flooring people I agreed to allow to start my floor with less than a day's notice so their workers would have something to do have left me for a week with an unsanded, unstained floor and no word on when it will be finished.
So the blue skies are nice, but I'd like more, please.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)