Oh, Happy Tack Man Day!

Some person in this building is awesome. I go to the break room a bit ago to have some delicious dinner, and what do I see? This...



Someone has not only allowed Happy Tack Man to stay put, but they made him better! Oh, I knew I didn't work with only Scrooges! I am so happy! Yay!

On another note, I talked to Jody for a good long time today! That's another yay! I have actually talked to him everyday since he left. But it is rare to get an long time to talk. Actually, it is gmail chatting. It seems that the all those people that follow Verizon customers around don't go to Europe. Haha. But, it was pretty cool. He seems to be digging it. I am glad. Life on the road, KG. Life on the Road...

Less than three weeks, and he is home! Hurray! Of course, I get him a week, and then he is off again. But, I get a week. Yehaw!

Wanna know something that really pisses me off?

I hate that I can get forwards from people about God or religion and how stupid people who don't believe in it are, but I don't get to forward emails pertaining to my beliefs as an atheist or it would cause a huge mess of shit. I could just reply all and let everyone who got that email or sent that email to more "Christians" why it is offensive to send it out to people who do not believe in all that mess (I will call it for lack of a less offensive to the audience term). Oh fuck that, it's my blog. Bullshit. If I obviously do not believe in that Christian (or any religion praying to God) bullshit, why do you think an ignorantly written email that isn't even factual(!!!) with some stupid picture (usually involving a confederate flag, but not this time) is going to convince me. Oh, I was wrong. Thank goodness for that email you probably didn't read, but forwarded it on to everyone. Wow, that changed the entire basis of my beliefs in life. Glad you sent it out! Now, let me go tithe!

Ugh! It pisses me off so bad! If I were to send out a Jesus and God are frauds email to all the Jesus loving people I know, that would be terrible rude, inconsiderate, and just wrong on a human decency level! Yet, it's fine for Christians to do that somehow. Hmmmm, who seems a little more considerate of others, thinking of others feelings, and understanding that people have and need whatever religious beliefs they have for a reason? Well, that seems like it would be me, the non Christian (because the Christian who sent the damn thing knows full well what my beliefs on the subject are). Doesn't that seem odd that I am accepting of other people views, but said Christian person isn't. That drives me fucking nuts!

The worse part is that the email is in no way factual. It isn't. And the picture doesn't even represent what the email is about. Of course, who needs to know facts when they send out an email to 39 people. Nah, let's just keep sending out the ignorance. Hopefully, the next generation will catch on, and they can be ignorant also! Wait, isn't that what has happened for hundreds of years? Isn't that why it took years for black people to sit with the white folks? Isn't that why gays can't get married? Isn't that why women couldn't vote for all that time? Yes, let's keep spreading the smart!

I don't get offended by much at all. I don't. If you have met me and heard me talk, you know that. Today, I was offended.

The one time I go to Wal-Mart!

Let me start this blog by saying I hate Wal-Mart. I do. I think Wal-Mart is the downfall of America. I think they suck the life out of towns, use them up, and throw them away. I am in no way an advocate of their business practices whether it be employees, products, what have you. I hate Wal-Mart. And on top of that, it seems like only the dredges of hell shop there. I don't know how you don't have shoes in a public place in 2009, but go to Wal-Mart. You will find people who don't think it necessary to wear them. But, I digress...

I work nights. And when you are off, you keep the same hours. Well, sometimes, you have to get things done at night while you are off. The other night, I was awake, it was like 5am. I was probably not going to bed for another 5 hours, and I had stuff to do. One of the things I had to do was clean my carpets in the bedroom. A while ago, we spilled massage oil on the carpet. We didn't really know it for a few days because massage oil is different than oil oil. But, we figured it out. Then in the other bedroom (our actual bedroom), we had some issue with water in the closet. And it dried up a bit old watery smelling. So, we need to clean the carpets.

I was going to go rent a cleaner, but because my hours are retarded and Jody is in Europe, I decide that it would be easier (and only slightly more expensive) to get a little carpet cleaner. Besides, we have a dog, and it is always nice to be able to just clean up a spot.

Well, since it is about 5 am, and Target isn't open (I'm a Target gal, and there is one about 4 minutes from my house!). So, I shuffle around the house trying to find something to do until 8. I have taken everything out of the bedrooms and put it in the living room. Look at the clock, and it is now about 6. Well, I was sick of sitting around, so I decide to truck my ass half-way across town to go to Wal-Mart (Wal-Marts aren't all over Austin they way they are in other cities, thank goodness!).

So, I run into Wal-Mart hoping that no one will see me. Then if they do, I can just point out that we are both there, so we should just keep it hush hush. I did go looking like 6am so I would fit in! I go into this monstrous building, make my way to the vacuum and carpet cleaning area and take a look.

They have one of the one that I want. I had looked them up online first. So, I was pretty excited. It looked weird, though. I don't know why. Something about the box looked weird. And when I picked it up, stuff moved around inside. I paused for a second because I didn't think this was right. But, the lights were super bright, there was too much oxygen in there, and against my better judgement I bought the damn thing.

It takes forever to check out because I go to the self checkout line. Apparently self check out at Wal-Mart really means so freak who works there is going to have to ring you up because of some sort of weird message on the checker outer thingy. So, after 15 minutes of that (!!!), I go home.

I get home and open the box. It smells of carpet shampoo so bad that I start sneezing. Hmmm, I wonder if it has been used? Yes it has!

Inside this box is the carpet cleaning machine. The box is damp. There is carpet!!! stuck to the carpet cleaner. Carpet. Yes, it has already cleaned someone's carpet (and I don't want some nasty Wal-Mart customer's carpet in my house! haha). Also, Two parts of it are missing. Not there at all. I dumped out the whole box and they weren't there. A lot of torn up Styrofoam was there. But, not these two parts that I figure I might need. I plug it in just to see if it will work without the filter thing and front clear thing that aren't there. It doesn't. The front clear thing is part of the sucker, so it doesn't suck up water at all. There are no screws to actually put it together (I overlooked that because I have screws. So, I figured I would just try it out anyway). The directions for it are not all there, only the French. I can deal with Spanish, but French? It was a mess. And now I have wet assed carpet!

Now, I did put it together as best I could to try to see if it would work because I did not want to go back to Wal-mart. I can deal with it not being in the best shape (even though I purchased it twenty minutes before). I am irritated that it is used and missing stuff, but I will deal with it as long as I don't have to go back to that damn store! But, guess what I had to do. I had to go back to Wal-Mart!

Now, this machine was obviously returned. It was also taped back up quite nicely. Why did they not look at it to make sure it was usable before putting it back on the shelf? I will say that it was easy as pie to return. They gave me cash even though I used my debit card. No questions asked at all, although I felt the need to inform them of what was wrong with the damn thing. I told them twice that there were parts missing, that it was used, and that there were no instructions. The lady at the counter didn't seem to care. Good for me because she also just handed me back my money. So, what do I care. I wanted to go back later that day, though, to see if it was back out on the shelf. I bet it was.

Anyway, so I went away from that experience knowing that I have made the right decision in life not to frequent Wal-mart (or the Wal-Marts as a true customer would say). I knew I shouldn't have gone there! Why, why, why do I go against my better judgement? Ugh! I swear.

In the end, it was just after 8am when I returned that funked up machine to Wally World. So, I trek on over to Target where I purchase the exact machine for five dollars less. And it was unused. I have clean carpets, although I still have a rooms worth of drums, massage table, and computer stuff in the living room. But, that's just because I am lazy.

Oh, the Wal-Mart. I shall try my damnedest never to go there again!

It's official

I'm sick. Of course, I am at work because when you work the 12 hour overnight shift, it's not easy to find someone to cover for you. So, here I am. I plan on just laying here and dying. Should be fun. I feel awful.

I feel yucky.

I am at work, and I feel yucky as heck. I am all queasy and vomity. I don't like it. I don't like sick. I am actually going to go so far as to say I have a fever. I have that hot yet chills out of body feeling. Do you know what I am talking about? And this is from me. I don't get sick. Well, I do. I'm human. But, I am not a fake sicker. A headache, cold, sore throat, runny booty, slight fever, and anything like that don't stop me. Something that is just not feeling good is just an inconvenience. Those don't stop me from going to school or work or anything. I mean, if I feel yuck, I might not go to the grocery store or something like that. But, I think this is sick sick.

I am not cool with this. I have to work tomorrow night, and I am not a call in sicker (damn work ethic). So, I am going to go home, take a nice bath, and go directly to bed. I haven't been sick sick in about 2 1/2 years. Wow, maybe longer. It has been since I lived in my little apartment which was way back in 2006. So, there ya go. It's probably been 3 years. And that was super duper sick like when you are a little kid and after the third day you are just crying and want your mom. Living alone isn't so good for that. But, I lived.

Here it is again, though. This had better be just an "I didn't get enough sleep and my defenses are down" type of thing. I guess I am well enough to type here, so I can't be that bad. It isn't actually. But, I know that if I put my head on my desk at this moment, I wouldn't wake up for some time. I keep having to do that swallow...you know, the one like when you drank way way way to much. Except I didn't. But that stupid weight watchers meal I ate about two hours ago still isn't digesting.

But, I will go home and go to bed and wake up and be refreshed. The shitty part is is that I have to go get dog food before I go home. He's got none. None! I gave him his last cupful when I left for work. So, I have no choice. Dammit! Oh well. It's what a mother has to do. Luckily, Wal-Green's is close. Maybe I will get some Pepto (probably not because that stuff is so so so gross).

Okay, I have to actually do my job and not try to vomit on the phone. Yay! Now, I sure will feel silly if I wake up fine tomorrow. I probably will. I hope so. Working whilst ill just sucks.

The way most boring post I can come up with!

I don't mean for it to be, but I got nothing going on. Really, I don't. I have some school work to do. Nothing major. I have some work work to do. See, nothing exciting. But, I know that I get excited about reading anything new in a blog I follow (D.G., This means you!).

Tomorrow I am going out to lunch with Kathie. I am stealing her away because she only has about six weeks until her little munchkin arrives. So, I figure I best better get some super fun girl time before I never get to see her again. Or at least she won't have any time to have any Anders free fun (which I am sure she won't even want).

There are a couple of new pictures of my fellow on The Wooden Birds myspace page.



I gotta say that that haircut he has is looking mighty fine. Wonder who did it? Well, I think that would be me! But, really, he is just adorable. I get a bit googly over him from time to time if you haven't noticed.

Nothing else new is going on at all. One of our mice that so love to invade our house from time to time seems to have died in the wall. That's always a plus! It smells quite nice in the living room right now. And it is in a place that no one is getting to. So, I am guessing I will just chill out in the bedroom or the boy's room until it rots away. Oh, that sounds so gross. Schneider is loving it, though. I bet he wishes he could wallow in it. Yuck! Gosh, I love that gross dog!

And, that's about all. If I can think of anything else, I shall add it on later. Oh, how exciting I am. Isn't it sad?

Oh, I meant to inform all that smiley face tack man is still there! He is missing a nose which someone has placed next to him, but alas, it is still there! Hurray!

Happy Easter!

Look how nice I am with that title. Do you have any idea how much I want to make fun of ghost Jesus being all Incredible Hulk and moving some large boulder. Or do you think he just David Blaned his way through the boulder? Casper and Patrick Swayze could just walk through walls and stuff. And so could Harry Potter at certain points. So, I guess even if Jesus where a wizard he could have risen today! Hurray! But, I didn't do any such thing. I just wrote a nice title. So, Happy Easter!

I didn't do much for it except some laundry. I am catching up on 30 Rock because I haven't watched it in a long time. I love the shit out of this show. I hope all the world thinks Tina Fey is as genius as I do. She's brilliant! I have a true respect for comedy. And she is really funny.

Oh, what I did do this Easter Sunday is get a bit of a sunburn. Actually, I got a pretty good one. I went to a friend's house this afternoon, and we sat out on her back porch for about an hour talking. I was sitting right in the sun. But, it was so gorgeous out there today, that I didn't mind. However, once I got home, I realized I am a bit burned. Actually, I am burned pretty good. I would take a picture, but my camera is in DC and my phone is in my purse in the living room. So, you may get a picture later. It was a beautiful day, though. I think it was worth it.

Talked to Jody. Their show in DC went well. Yay! I wish I could see him play. Soon, soon!

Okay, nothing much else is going on. Got a new book to read. Didn't do a damn bit of homework. Ugh! But, alas, I shall get on it soon. Maybe I would rather sleep. Ah, who knows!

Ah, the weekend!

I have this weekend off. I am so happy! I love weekends off. I should be cleaning and doing homework, but I'm not. Well, I am cleaning because our house needs it. I mean, we aren't the slobs of the century, but we do like to spread clothes from here to eternity. And, it needs a good spring cleaning. So, I am taking on this task tonight. Sure, it's late. But, I got through the kitchen and bathroom. Next is folding clothes. Hurray!

I did chicken and ferret sit tonight for a while at T and J who are off having family Easter fun. I got to hang out with there menagerie of animules, play the Sims (a horrible addiction if you start), and just chill for a while.

Last night was Maria's belated birthday party at Shangri-La. I like it there. It's pleasant, not to crowded, and only mostly full of hipster dopes. I think the skinny jean per capita is a bit lower there than in the usual Austin hot spots like: the grocery store, the laundromat, the post office. You know, the normal places where people get dressed up to show off.

It was a good time! We had birthday pie! Now, I am usually not one for pie because hot fruit is just wrong. But Kristy was wonderful enough to bring a banana cream pie which I can do because we all know bananas aren't really fruit.

Here are some pictures from my fab new camera phone! I sent Jody off to Europe with my camera and the ghost that lives inside (or the black smoke monster if you watch Lost).









Don't Kristy's boobs look amazing in that one picture? Well, she has great boobs all the time, but you know what I mean.

So, there we are, except since I was the only photog, there are none of me. It was a lot of fun, even if I did the Laura and said something stupid.

So, we are sitting talking about how awesome it is that Vermont and Iowa are part of the now with gay marriage. That rules! And, of course, I say that marriage is sacred because I can go marry that guy over there (at which point I point to a hot guy sitting at a table across the way. I don't even know him, but I can marry him. Then two of the girls there burst out laughing and tell me that that isn't a guy, that is their friend Rebecca! Oh, yea. Yep, it was a girl. And, of course, did they have to go tell her? Yes! I wanted to die. Well, she looked like a hot guy. And if we had both been in Iowa, I might have made it legal! Anyway, I wanted just hide under the picnic table we were sitting at. I didn't get, though. I just smiled and waved at poor Rebecca. Ugh. Foot in mouth (much like Weenies eyeliner story!).



Oh, I did find this weird Easter Bunny at Wal-green's, so I had to buy it.


It says hollow milk flavored. Now, it was hollow, so I am thinking it was milk flavored. But, really what the hell is hollow milk flavored? Milk with no emotions flavored? It tasted like sweet. Not milk. Sort of like cheap white chocolate but without any flavor except sweet. It wasn't good. I didn't eat it all, so you know it was not good!

I have talked to Jody a bunch since he has gone. They have had their first two shows. Both went well. I am so glad for him! I think he is having a good time. They play DC tomorrow night. So, if you live there, go and support my boyfriend!

Well, that's it for me. I am off to scrub the toilet. Hurray! My dream of dream!


This is a note after I looked at my post. Okay, go to the picture of the two girls with short hair. See the person in the background in the red jacket/shirt? That's the girl I thought was a hot guy. See, from that angle you can't tell she is a girl! Ugh, I am such a douche!

If I die, invite Bible Man to my funeral! Wait, make him dress as Buddy!

Guess what? Smiley Face Tack Man is still there!! Yes he is! See-->

And I thought I would throw in just part of the board to show you that I am not intruding on any important break room information. That label thing there is new as of yesterday. So, can you imagine how much room I used to have? The buzz kill must have called in sick this morning.

Also, while I am at work, I thought you people would enjoy this picture. See those pretty flowers in that water? See how that water is a bit dirty and needs to be thrown out and new water added? See that? Well, they are all fake. Fake! Even the dirty looking water is fake! How tacky is that? Very! That means, I must go buy tons of them and place them all over my house! Oh, how I love tacky (if you can't tell by my clothes and hair).

That's about all. I haven't watched Lost yet. I did today watch an episode of "Charles in Charge" that starred the one and only Meg Ryan. She sure surpassed the rest of the cast, although Buddy Limbeck did go on to be Bibleman and on "Celebrity Fit Club." So, an Oscar nod or two isn't much compared to that. Of course, these days she isn't quite what she used to be. Neither is her face...Oh!

Talked to the Jodster a bunch of times today. Their first show is tomorrow night. I will be there in spirit. Well, I guess unless I die and find out there is eternal life and that I haven't solved whatever earthly problem I have and it just so happen that that problem is in New York City tomorrow night then I won't be there in spirit. Wait, or would that mean my spirit wouldn't be there? Oh, who the hell cares!


(Odd side note) I was looking for a picture of Jody to link to his name up there. So, I put his name in google images, just to see what comes up. And guess what does!!! A very small picture of me and my sister in 1978. Weird!

Twice is nice

So, I am blogging again this evening-although it really is the next day.

I work nights. I am at work this very second. Every night around 2:30 is my snack time. I eat lunch at 11. Snack at 2:30 or 3ish (depending upon my busyness). Then if I am hungry when I get home around 7:30, I will eat breakfast.

Anyway, almost every night I am in the breakroom, I make a smiley face out of the tacks on the corkboard. I don't use tacks that are hanging things up. I use the tacks that are in a line down the side of the corkboard. Above is tonight's happy face on the corkboard.

Now, the reason for this blog is because someone tomorrow will take my smiley face and make it back to tacks lining the side. Mind you, as you can see, there ain't much going on on the corkboard (I love saying corkboard). Really, there isn't. Notice how nothing is around it. That's because there is two things on it. And it is 5'x3'! So, my tack happy face is not hindering on any important breakroom news. Yet, everyday, someone does away with it!

Why? What kind of person does that? Are they that unhappy and miserable that a smiley face makes them cringe enough to line the damn tacks back up along the side? I don't get it! I know it isn't the cleaning people because it is like that when I get here at 6:30, and the cleaning people don't start until about 8 or 9! So, what is the deal? Why? Is it that bothersome? Heaven for bid we have any cheer around this place!

So, I am going to keep you all informed of my daily happy face on cork board ritual and how it turns out. I may not update you everyday, but I will update you.

Gosh people suck. The person who does that to my happy face is like that kid in class who reminds the teacher that she forgot to give homework...or worse! Pick up the homework. Ugh! Scrooge!

Well, he has gone away

But, not forever.

Jody left yesterday for his six week tour of New York and Europe. They had a couple of shows added, so now he gets to go to Paris, the butt head! I am really happy for him, if not a tad bit jealous.

What I am is missing him. Luckily, it isn't for very long. And it is stupid because he has only been gone two days. How gay is that? I am such a girl. Of course, I have stuff to do every minute of everyday, it seems like. And that happens whether he is here or not. But, I miss the shit out of him anyway. Luckily, the dog hasn't noticed he is gone yet. That will start a nervous mess. Ugh, that dog gets so nervous!

Nothing else to report here. Being as I am on my own for the next few weeks, it would start out with my dishwasher breaking and pouring gallons of water all over my kitchen. On the upside, my kitchen floor is clean as hell because it seems to have been all clean water. So, there's that.

I did eat Hot Pockets and Funyuns for dinner to make up for it. Yum! Yep, as you can probably tell by many of the pictures, I eat like a 7th grader whose parents are out of town. But, I give myself three days of that before I have to be a grown up again and eat vegetables and drink water. Or maybe four. I might still be sad from missing him....always an excuse!

But, nothing else much is going on. I didn't read the book I picked out for my book club, and I am avoiding commenting because I am such a loser! I picked out the damn book! What the hell is wrong with me?

I did get a few new magazines in the mail yesterday. I love that. And they were free. I love that even more. Somehow, many many years ago, I got on a list that gives out free magazine subscriptions. I have always gotten random magazines for years now. They usually last a year or two. Then I get new ones. I suddenly get Maxim again (I got that for years), but also: Soul + Body, Woman's Day, Glamour, Shape (to tell me not to eat Hot Pockets and Funyuns), Landscaping, Gardening, Women's Golf, WaterSki (not all of them are good, most I just recycle), Business Week, Game Pro, and Opera. I used to get Teen Vogue, Cosmo, FHM, Remedy, Teen, Seventeen, Lady's Home Journal, a bunch of crap I never read that is equal to WaterSki and Opera, etc. I at one time got 12 magazines a month. It ruled! Now, I do get Texas Monthly and Vegetarian Times. But, I buy those myself. Enough about magazines...oh, how I love them.

Nothing else new to report. I forgot to record Lost tonight which ticks me off because I really want to know what the hell is going to happen with Sayid and Ben and well, the whole lot of them. I love the hell out of Lost. I am so sad that I missed it! Thank god for the Internet.

Okay, I'm off (like you didn't know that)!

Us

My boyfriend is going abroad!

He's not a broad. That's me. He is going abroad!

So, the fellow has joined another band. The Wooden Birds. He hasn't left his band band - Living Better Electrically. But, he has been given a pretty great opportunity to play percussion with a really cool band. They are the product of some of what was American Analog Set. I dig the music. One of his best buddies (who used to be in LBE) plays the guitar in the band. So, they are off for a month and a half(ish) to Europe. Oh, that lucky dog! I will miss him. I am really excited for him, and I am so proud of him! And maybe he will become a huge rock star and whisk me away to the casbah, so we can rock it!

Also, I just registered for my last semester of grad school. It freaked me out a little bit. Wow. I am really excited. But, I am also pretty clueless as to where to go from here. I wanted a Phd, but I just can't do it anymore-at least not with a full-time job. It is so hard. My undergrad was really easily doable while working full-time. It sucked, and I got no sleep. I didn't get to do a bunch of stuff. But, it was doable.

Grad school while working full-time has been killer. It really has. And I am a tough old broad. I really am. But, I am barely making it now. So, I just can't do the PhD while working full-time. I have no choice but to work full-time (how many times can I write full-time in one blog entry? Lets find out!!). The difference between grad and undergrad is so great, it is hard to explain. In most ways, I like it a lot more. No, I like it a lot more. I just wish I had more time to spend on actual school work. I feel sometimes like I am short changing myself and my education. But, I am a grown ass woman. I have to work. Even if I am not working in the field I am educated, I have to give my all to my job. Damn my work ethic! So, I am calling of the PhD (at least for now).

I am kind of sad about that realization. That was my plan. I truly don't think people expect much out of me (or expected, I should say). College wasn't not an option growing up, but I don't think my parents took college seriously for either myself or my sister. It wasn't really talked about. It was for sure that they wouldn't (or couldn't) pay for it. And it was no big thing that I didn't go. I really don't know that they thought about it one way or the other. Those years weren't so good in my household. So, I don't fault anyone. People have to think about themselves in order to deal with stuff. I did it. We all did. But, that made college an almost non option (even though I did get a scholarship in drama. I didn't take it. I very much regret that to this day).

However, it was a very big deal to me. I always felt like a loser. So, I tried it, then dropped out. Not because I was lazy (well, maybe a little. And I was 21 and moved to Austin). It was because I had to work full-time (there it is again!). And that's a lot for a dumb young kid to do. But, I went back once I got myself situated in life (or at least what I thought was situated in life). I really did feel bad about myself for not having a BA. So, I got one. Then I took about six months and realized I wanted to keep going. I don't know if it was more because I like school (I do) or just to prove that I could do it.

And now it is coming to an end. It scares me a little. I'm tired, though. Physically tired. Working long shifts at night; always being under pressure and a deadline has taken their toll. Sometimes I am just pooped out and feel like an old woman. I love school, but I realize that I would like to read a book for pleasure for once. I don't want to write anymore papers no matter how much I love it (and yes, I do love writing papers. I know that is weird and kinda stupid, but I do.). So, I think for now, I am done. Well, if this summer goes well, I am done.

Okay, I don't know if that is a downer or not. It isn't supposed to be. And, I am still excited for Jody. Him being gone will coincide with me having to do my final Masters' project which happens to be writing a book. I choose that over doing a research project because I am focused in creative writing. Hopefully, I will not procrastinate on this one, seeing as how it has to be really, really, really long. I have gotten out 25 pages in one night, but I am thinking a novel won't be so easy! So, I have something to occupy my brain while he is gone. I will still miss him. And, I will so still procrastinate! I mean, totally will! No doubt at all.

Okay, enough of that. Now for some happiness!