Anti Sally Fields?

At work, I use Outlook Express for my personal email (Outlook for workstuff). I had checked email on the bus and saw that I had two emails - one from my brother with a link to something I wanted to see so I fired up Outlook Express and it gave me a POP3 error. Hmm? Can't get to my pop server? I checked the web version and it was fine. I checked Treo again and it was happy to talk to the pop server. Outlook Express was not. I tried another pop server on an entirely different host. Nada.

Then I did some actual work for awhile and at a break tried again. Oh and then it was time to update LJ and Semagic says my password is invalid?

All of a sudden I am getting the digital cold shoulder. No one likes me at all! A reboot set Outlook Express back to working but Semagic took some convincing. I finally must have said the magic words because it let me in but geesh. What in the heck was all that about?

Happy Monday Tuesday, I guess.

On the other side of the parking lot out my terrace is the international district (read Chinatown but with with now an equal mix of Japan, Viet Nam, Korea and the rest of Asia, actually). And on about any Summer weekend you can hear firecrackers from over there. In past years, July 4 just expanded the renegades. It's pretty much illegal to even say 'bang' in Seattle and has been for years but come 9 p.m. (at 10 p.m. you could throw in the bangs from the legal shows nearby) it always sounded like a war zone from my living room. Until last night. Nothing. Not even a car backfiring.

At 10 p.m. you could hear the muffled sounds of the legal show over the bay but that was it. Very strange. Wonder what happened?

There should be action at my house today. On the agenda (which is often very different than what actually happens) is:

- Dinah starts the mural today.
- Sheri brings over lamps and lights and fabrics.
- John starts the installation of the first hallway shelves.

The fabric is or fabrics are for

- Covering the pillow and seat of the green chair.
- Covering the seat and back of the computer chair.
- Covering the valance made to hide the top of the blinds because they never stack right.
- And maybe covering the top of the yellow ottoman.

But, this is all just what Sheri has said will happen. I'm sure all of it will. I'm just not sure all of it will today. We'll see.

At Mom's there is a lovely formal dining room in her section. Everyone is assigned a table that they eat with all the time. The first table Mom got assigned to included a woman who was annoying and one who was just offensive. Finally Mom had enough and got moved to another table. This one was better. Two nice women and one who is kind of out of it.

But, since she's been able to get back to the dining room the two nice women have not been there - both sick. So she's stuck with the one who is out of it. She (Mom) kind of mentions this every day. But, this morning Mom got specific:

<td>Everyday she comes in and says "oh, I forgot my sweater" and then she complains that the air conditioning is blowing on her. Every single day. Finally, yesterday I said "so, why don't you put your sweater in your walker basket so you'll always have it?" And she said "Well, because I don't have a lot of sense in left in my brain."</td>

Can anyone relate? Show of hands, please...

Anti Sally Fields?

At work, I use Outlook Express for my personal email (Outlook for workstuff). I had checked email on the bus and saw that I had two emails - one from my brother with a link to something I wanted to see so I fired up Outlook Express and it gave me a POP3 error. Hmm? Can't get to my pop server? I checked the web version and it was fine. I checked Treo again and it was happy to talk to the pop server. Outlook Express was not. I tried another pop server on an entirely different host. Nada.

Then I did some actual work for awhile and at a break tried again. Oh and then it was time to update LJ and Semagic says my password is invalid?

All of a sudden I am getting the digital cold shoulder. No one likes me at all! A reboot set Outlook Express back to working but Semagic took some convincing. I finally must have said the magic words because it let me in but geesh. What in the heck was all that about?

Happy Monday Tuesday, I guess.

On the other side of the parking lot out my terrace is the international district (read Chinatown but with with now an equal mix of Japan, Viet Nam, Korea and the rest of Asia, actually). And on about any Summer weekend you can hear firecrackers from over there. In past years, July 4 just expanded the renegades. It's pretty much illegal to even say 'bang' in Seattle and has been for years but come 9 p.m. (at 10 p.m. you could throw in the bangs from the legal shows nearby) it always sounded like a war zone from my living room. Until last night. Nothing. Not even a car backfiring.

At 10 p.m. you could hear the muffled sounds of the legal show over the bay but that was it. Very strange. Wonder what happened?

There should be action at my house today. On the agenda (which is often very different than what actually happens) is:

- Dinah starts the mural today.
- Sheri brings over lamps and lights and fabrics.
- John starts the installation of the first hallway shelves.

The fabric is or fabrics are for

- Covering the pillow and seat of the green chair.
- Covering the seat and back of the computer chair.
- Covering the valance made to hide the top of the blinds because they never stack right.
- And maybe covering the top of the yellow ottoman.

But, this is all just what Sheri has said will happen. I'm sure all of it will. I'm just not sure all of it will today. We'll see.

At Mom's there is a lovely formal dining room in her section. Everyone is assigned a table that they eat with all the time. The first table Mom got assigned to included a woman who was annoying and one who was just offensive. Finally Mom had enough and got moved to another table. This one was better. Two nice women and one who is kind of out of it.

But, since she's been able to get back to the dining room the two nice women have not been there - both sick. So she's stuck with the one who is out of it. She (Mom) kind of mentions this every day. But, this morning Mom got specific:

<td>Everyday she comes in and says "oh, I forgot my sweater" and then she complains that the air conditioning is blowing on her. Every single day. Finally, yesterday I said "so, why don't you put your sweater in your walker basket so you'll always have it?" And she said "Well, because I don't have a lot of sense in left in my brain."</td>

Can anyone relate? Show of hands, please...

I did it and I'm glad

I went looking on the web for what to expect after my Dental stuff on Monday. All of the official sites allow as how I may experience some discomfort but that it will have been worth it. The credibility crack there is big enough to drive a large semi through.

So I kept looking and found Jon Wiley. His detail is horrible to read about but when I got through it I was so glad to know. He says he even after 10 days he was still able to eat only those things he could chew up really well. 10 days! I found a dental forum where a couple of people indicated that their recovery was a lot less of a deal except that they really suffered from teeth sensitivity - a lot and for a long time.

Obviously my plan to focus on other things and not worry about this until the time came has turned out to be not too much of a plan after all. So, I guess I'll just stress about it until next Monday. I guess the new plan is to not turn this journal into an all-dental-phobic-all-the-time read. So from now on - at least from now until Monday afternoon - teeth truths will be found in the white spaces between the lines... Then we'll have a new plan.

I did it and I'm glad

I went looking on the web for what to expect after my Dental stuff on Monday. All of the official sites allow as how I may experience some discomfort but that it will have been worth it. The credibility crack there is big enough to drive a large semi through.

So I kept looking and found Jon Wiley. His detail is horrible to read about but when I got through it I was so glad to know. He says he even after 10 days he was still able to eat only those things he could chew up really well. 10 days! I found a dental forum where a couple of people indicated that their recovery was a lot less of a deal except that they really suffered from teeth sensitivity - a lot and for a long time.

Obviously my plan to focus on other things and not worry about this until the time came has turned out to be not too much of a plan after all. So, I guess I'll just stress about it until next Monday. I guess the new plan is to not turn this journal into an all-dental-phobic-all-the-time read. So from now on - at least from now until Monday afternoon - teeth truths will be found in the white spaces between the lines... Then we'll have a new plan.

Folding

A long time ago I learned how to fold fitted sheets. I'm actually a good folder in general. My dad traveled a lot and watching him pack was what we did for fun. He was a great folder himself.

This morning, on some blog or other, there was a link to this flash movie that shows how to fold a t-shirt. I have no clue what made me even click on it but now I can't stop watching it. I can't wait to get home, get a t-shirt and try it myself. Warning, the movie has sound that starts up right when you click PLAY.

How to fold a shirt.

Folding

A long time ago I learned how to fold fitted sheets. I'm actually a good folder in general. My dad traveled a lot and watching him pack was what we did for fun. He was a great folder himself.

This morning, on some blog or other, there was a link to this flash movie that shows how to fold a t-shirt. I have no clue what made me even click on it but now I can't stop watching it. I can't wait to get home, get a t-shirt and try it myself. Warning, the movie has sound that starts up right when you click PLAY.

How to fold a shirt.

I'm not dead yet

For years and years (at least 10), I've been ready to die. Not suicidal and not planning, just ready. I've said to myself and out loud that I'm ready whenever. If I drop dead today, I'm ok with that. I've had a great life. It's selfish to ask for more. There's no grand gesture that I need to live to make. I don't have children who's weddings, graduations, children, I need to live for. I'm mean really my ride has been good. But, if it ends, it ends.

In the past year, I've really kind of moved on to thinking that maybe I really will go sooner than later. I'm not unhealthy but then I really don't have any facts to base that on. I haven't been to a doctor in years and don't plan on going to one either. I'm not in pain but clearly, I'm not in great shape either. I'm fat and lazy and have a mole that looks funny. I come from a family of bad tickers and I smoked for 40 years. A blood clot, a heart attack, heck, a Mack truck could take me out at any time.

I've always kind of believed in a combo package of Murphy's Law of Ying and Yang and Balance and Too Much Preparation. This law says that if you plan for a long life, you'll die tomorrow. If you max out your credit cards, you'll live a long a torturous life of payoffs. If you lose all the weight, a bus will smack you down before you can even wear that new size 2 outfit in public. But, I've also subscribed to My Own Self. If I'm miserable, I need to fix it. If my life sucks, then it's up to me to reduce or eliminate the suckage.

So, I'm getting my mouth fixed and by my laws, should probably expect to die about 10 days later. And I'm getting my condo made over so that might lengthen my life a little but we're near the end there so that's probably going to have much the same effect. I won't live long enough to enjoy it.

But, on the Yang side, I am spending money like nobody's business. I've been saving all these years for when I am old and infirmed and unable to work and now I'm spending it so that increases my chances of living like a bag lady in poverty and debt for years and years and years to come.

So I'm ready, but I don't know when or where or how. Or why I keep thinking about it.

I'm not dead yet

For years and years (at least 10), I've been ready to die. Not suicidal and not planning, just ready. I've said to myself and out loud that I'm ready whenever. If I drop dead today, I'm ok with that. I've had a great life. It's selfish to ask for more. There's no grand gesture that I need to live to make. I don't have children who's weddings, graduations, children, I need to live for. I'm mean really my ride has been good. But, if it ends, it ends.

In the past year, I've really kind of moved on to thinking that maybe I really will go sooner than later. I'm not unhealthy but then I really don't have any facts to base that on. I haven't been to a doctor in years and don't plan on going to one either. I'm not in pain but clearly, I'm not in great shape either. I'm fat and lazy and have a mole that looks funny. I come from a family of bad tickers and I smoked for 40 years. A blood clot, a heart attack, heck, a Mack truck could take me out at any time.

I've always kind of believed in a combo package of Murphy's Law of Ying and Yang and Balance and Too Much Preparation. This law says that if you plan for a long life, you'll die tomorrow. If you max out your credit cards, you'll live a long a torturous life of payoffs. If you lose all the weight, a bus will smack you down before you can even wear that new size 2 outfit in public. But, I've also subscribed to My Own Self. If I'm miserable, I need to fix it. If my life sucks, then it's up to me to reduce or eliminate the suckage.

So, I'm getting my mouth fixed and by my laws, should probably expect to die about 10 days later. And I'm getting my condo made over so that might lengthen my life a little but we're near the end there so that's probably going to have much the same effect. I won't live long enough to enjoy it.

But, on the Yang side, I am spending money like nobody's business. I've been saving all these years for when I am old and infirmed and unable to work and now I'm spending it so that increases my chances of living like a bag lady in poverty and debt for years and years and years to come.

So I'm ready, but I don't know when or where or how. Or why I keep thinking about it.

Update

Ok, I can fucking fold a t-shirt now!!! I can't repeat her rap but I can get the damn thing folded quick as a wink. Betty thinks I have totally lost it.

Dinah, the muralist, was a no show today. She called Sheri at 10:30 to say she got back too late last night and was tired. Sheri was pissed and that made me feel better.

John, however, was here and the first shelf section is started and looks good.

But the main house news is all of the wonderful stuff that Sheri found. I can't even capture it in pictures but it's a lot. She found the bedding for the window seat - it's Shaharazad... a bedspread and pillows. Perfect. And she has fabric for the living room. A wonderful pattern for the computer chair. Another for the lime green chair (seat cushion and pillow) and a really cool valance fabric and even one for a project she didn't know about. I'm seriously considering recovering the top of the yellow ottoman. And her 'or this one' fabric for the office chair is a lovely nubly solid that would be perfect.

And she found some wonderful light sculptures for the hallway. They are colorful and beautiful and make the hallway perfect.

All excellent.

Why do I have a paid subscription to TV Guide? It came last week and this week and is through the end of December. I just logged onto their website to tell them I didn't order and I wasn't going to pay and learned that it's all paid up. hmmmm

I got a snail mail - two page letter - from a friend with whom I really really really no longer have anything in common. Her first paragraph is all about how she knows I hate snail mail letters but she loves them - how she loves to get her coffee and her cigarette and just settle down and read a good letter.

Ok, well, you know what, that's nice for you. Not for me.

A nice person would to to the trouble of responding with a snail letter but we all know about me, now, don't we? NFW. Sorry, charlie.

I have known this woman for 30 years. We shared fun times in college and some special times since. None in about a decade and I have just never warmed up to her constant whining about her ex-husband (who was also a good friend of mine). The divorce was 3 years ago. Their one daughter is married and not living with either of them. I think I was sympathetic the first year but I'm pretty sure I haven't been since and don't want to be now.

I guess I'll send her an email in a week or so. Sigh.

Update

Ok, I can fucking fold a t-shirt now!!! I can't repeat her rap but I can get the damn thing folded quick as a wink. Betty thinks I have totally lost it.

Dinah, the muralist, was a no show today. She called Sheri at 10:30 to say she got back too late last night and was tired. Sheri was pissed and that made me feel better.

John, however, was here and the first shelf section is started and looks good.

But the main house news is all of the wonderful stuff that Sheri found. I can't even capture it in pictures but it's a lot. She found the bedding for the window seat - it's Shaharazad... a bedspread and pillows. Perfect. And she has fabric for the living room. A wonderful pattern for the computer chair. Another for the lime green chair (seat cushion and pillow) and a really cool valance fabric and even one for a project she didn't know about. I'm seriously considering recovering the top of the yellow ottoman. And her 'or this one' fabric for the office chair is a lovely nubly solid that would be perfect.

And she found some wonderful light sculptures for the hallway. They are colorful and beautiful and make the hallway perfect.

All excellent.

Why do I have a paid subscription to TV Guide? It came last week and this week and is through the end of December. I just logged onto their website to tell them I didn't order and I wasn't going to pay and learned that it's all paid up. hmmmm

I got a snail mail - two page letter - from a friend with whom I really really really no longer have anything in common. Her first paragraph is all about how she knows I hate snail mail letters but she loves them - how she loves to get her coffee and her cigarette and just settle down and read a good letter.

Ok, well, you know what, that's nice for you. Not for me.

A nice person would to to the trouble of responding with a snail letter but we all know about me, now, don't we? NFW. Sorry, charlie.

I have known this woman for 30 years. We shared fun times in college and some special times since. None in about a decade and I have just never warmed up to her constant whining about her ex-husband (who was also a good friend of mine). The divorce was 3 years ago. Their one daughter is married and not living with either of them. I think I was sympathetic the first year but I'm pretty sure I haven't been since and don't want to be now.

I guess I'll send her an email in a week or so. Sigh.