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Check this out.
Watch the video. You are not going to believe this kid's work. I wish I was half as good an artist. Seriously.
Watch the video. You are not going to believe this kid's work. I wish I was half as good an artist. Seriously.
Are you moon-barking insane?!
Aug. 8th, 2009 07:35 amOkay, you may have to live here to understand how insane this was, but, take it from a local leadfoot, you DON'T DO THIS.
HOW FAST WHERE?!? HOW did they even manage that?! That road is a farking roller coaster at speed limit!
HOW FAST WHERE?!? HOW did they even manage that?! That road is a farking roller coaster at speed limit!
Buy my necklace!
Jul. 21st, 2009 12:55 amOnce again, I have donated a necklace to be auctioned off as a part of Shadesong's annual blogathon for the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. You can find the auction for it here.
And check out the rest of the auctions in blogforbarcc! I wish I had the money to bid on some of this stuff myself. The gavel falls on the 27th, so get your bids in!
And check out the rest of the auctions in blogforbarcc! I wish I had the money to bid on some of this stuff myself. The gavel falls on the 27th, so get your bids in!
Yay for customer service
Jul. 4th, 2009 03:50 amI had two memorable customers today.
All right, the first one was actually a customer being helped by a coworker. He asked my coworker what she was planning to do on the holiday and she told him that she was planning on baking a peach pie.
He thought this was a wonderful idea and started talking about how he used to make them when he owned a restaurant, and, by the way, do you know the best thing to put on the pie before serving it? She certainly did!
Hollandaise sauce.
He said it was the most popular thing on the menu.
We're fairly sure he thought she had said quiche pie. We hope very much that he thought she said quiche.
I won't go into much detail about the second customer, mainly because I don't think any of you would have the patience to read that long an entry.
She was nice enough. But after she left I had a major headache and a desperate need to leave the bookstore for my meal break. Quite honestly, I don't think I have had that scatter-brained a customer in years.
She wanted to return several items purchased in February, divide her purchases into five separate transactions, a volume discount on the thirty-one bags she was buying that were already on clearance, and to use multiple methods of payment per transaction. She got all but the volume discount, and she did grumble about that a bit. Before making any payment, she had to consult a chart she had made of all fifteen credit cards and how much she could spend on them before going over the maximum, and is what led to her wishing to use more than one method of payment per transaction (forty-one dollars on one card, fifteen on the next, etc.). She always waited for me to ring everything up (while giving her a running tally of how much each item cost and what the running total was) before figuring out how much she could pay with each card.
And that was about half of the whole dance. I can't even begin to describe how long I had to wait for her to put each item on the counter as she rooted through the baskets of books at her feet, trying to figure out which item would go in which purchase. I think I spent more time looking at her rear end than at her face because she spent so much time bent over. It took more than forty minutes ringing her up. I am so very grateful that my chain hasn't started timing cashiers, and that my dinner was just a few minutes after she left.
At least she was polite.
All right, the first one was actually a customer being helped by a coworker. He asked my coworker what she was planning to do on the holiday and she told him that she was planning on baking a peach pie.
He thought this was a wonderful idea and started talking about how he used to make them when he owned a restaurant, and, by the way, do you know the best thing to put on the pie before serving it? She certainly did!
Hollandaise sauce.
He said it was the most popular thing on the menu.
We're fairly sure he thought she had said quiche pie. We hope very much that he thought she said quiche.
I won't go into much detail about the second customer, mainly because I don't think any of you would have the patience to read that long an entry.
She was nice enough. But after she left I had a major headache and a desperate need to leave the bookstore for my meal break. Quite honestly, I don't think I have had that scatter-brained a customer in years.
She wanted to return several items purchased in February, divide her purchases into five separate transactions, a volume discount on the thirty-one bags she was buying that were already on clearance, and to use multiple methods of payment per transaction. She got all but the volume discount, and she did grumble about that a bit. Before making any payment, she had to consult a chart she had made of all fifteen credit cards and how much she could spend on them before going over the maximum, and is what led to her wishing to use more than one method of payment per transaction (forty-one dollars on one card, fifteen on the next, etc.). She always waited for me to ring everything up (while giving her a running tally of how much each item cost and what the running total was) before figuring out how much she could pay with each card.
And that was about half of the whole dance. I can't even begin to describe how long I had to wait for her to put each item on the counter as she rooted through the baskets of books at her feet, trying to figure out which item would go in which purchase. I think I spent more time looking at her rear end than at her face because she spent so much time bent over. It took more than forty minutes ringing her up. I am so very grateful that my chain hasn't started timing cashiers, and that my dinner was just a few minutes after she left.
At least she was polite.
too awesome for words
Jun. 21st, 2009 10:34 pmI know this guy!!! Some of you guys know him, too!
He really is a great guy, and both he and his wife *waves at Jenn* are wonderful parents and wonderful people, and I really don't know how they do it.
There's a little bit more here.
As I write this, I am watching repeat coverage of the forum on CSPAN, and the camera keeps catching John, right behind the president.
He really is a great guy, and both he and his wife *waves at Jenn* are wonderful parents and wonderful people, and I really don't know how they do it.
There's a little bit more here.
As I write this, I am watching repeat coverage of the forum on CSPAN, and the camera keeps catching John, right behind the president.
old meme, but still very true
Jun. 19th, 2009 12:38 amIf there is one person or more on your friends list who makes your world a better place just because they exist and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.
Roger Ebert is right
Jun. 18th, 2009 12:42 amThis is why I can't stand Bill O'Reilly and others who follow the same path.
It isn't just the politics (although I'm sure you know how much I disagree with his politics). It's the way he is helping to corrode political thought and discussion in this country.
My theory of politics is this: two people of equal intelligence and education can disagree, and it is possible for both of them to be right and for both of them to be wrong. Furthermore, it is not a sign of weakness of conviction to change your mind in the face of new information or a point of view you had not previously considered; it is, in fact, a sign of strength to be able to do so and admit that you were wrong.
It isn't just the politics (although I'm sure you know how much I disagree with his politics). It's the way he is helping to corrode political thought and discussion in this country.
My theory of politics is this: two people of equal intelligence and education can disagree, and it is possible for both of them to be right and for both of them to be wrong. Furthermore, it is not a sign of weakness of conviction to change your mind in the face of new information or a point of view you had not previously considered; it is, in fact, a sign of strength to be able to do so and admit that you were wrong.
the wedding
Jun. 8th, 2009 04:12 amWow, that was wonderful.
We all gathered at a campsite outside of Blacksburg, where many guests had camped the night before. It was informal, with many of us on renfaire garb (yeah, a lot of us have spent a lot of time at the Maryland RenFaire!) and others in informal clothing and a few more in, well, what people normally wear to a wedding. I was in garb (although the bodice was dumped soon after the ceremony). The weather was perfect - sunny and warm, but not hot. Mind you, the sun cost a few of us some, especially those who forgot sunscreen.
Yeah, I forgot the sunscreen, but I got away with just a bit of pink, thanks to finding shade pretty quickly. Just enough burn to get a few comments at work. I know of at least one other who wasn't so lucky...
The ceremony was beautiful. I can't have been the only one fighting tears.
The reception brought us much food and drink and just the best company. As I mentioned before, I met a couple of online friends for the first time. I also saw many old friends and had a ball. Everyone else was having fun, too. All of the adults followed the shade around the edge of the field, and the kids walloped each other with foam swords, or ran around with fairy wings, or a happy combination of both. I think all of the shoes were tracked down eventually.
By late afternoon, just about all of us were in the shade of one oak in the corner of the field, happily talking, taking pictures, dozing, watching or dancing in a spiral dance (okay, the dance was in the sun), and just enjoying the company. I managed to stay awake until I made it to the car (no, I wasn't driving) and successfully pretended to be social for several hours, all told. I'm rather proud of myself for that.
And, yeah, I caught the bouquet. Oh, dear. I can't say that there are any prospects, but one can always hope. I'm told that I was the only one trying to catch the flowers, but, well, someone had to. And, just maybe, I can end up supporting everyone's favorite wedding myth. It could happen.
Anyway, I'm still exhausted and kinda wishing we could have such a gathering every week.
We all gathered at a campsite outside of Blacksburg, where many guests had camped the night before. It was informal, with many of us on renfaire garb (yeah, a lot of us have spent a lot of time at the Maryland RenFaire!) and others in informal clothing and a few more in, well, what people normally wear to a wedding. I was in garb (although the bodice was dumped soon after the ceremony). The weather was perfect - sunny and warm, but not hot. Mind you, the sun cost a few of us some, especially those who forgot sunscreen.
Yeah, I forgot the sunscreen, but I got away with just a bit of pink, thanks to finding shade pretty quickly. Just enough burn to get a few comments at work. I know of at least one other who wasn't so lucky...
The ceremony was beautiful. I can't have been the only one fighting tears.
The reception brought us much food and drink and just the best company. As I mentioned before, I met a couple of online friends for the first time. I also saw many old friends and had a ball. Everyone else was having fun, too. All of the adults followed the shade around the edge of the field, and the kids walloped each other with foam swords, or ran around with fairy wings, or a happy combination of both. I think all of the shoes were tracked down eventually.
By late afternoon, just about all of us were in the shade of one oak in the corner of the field, happily talking, taking pictures, dozing, watching or dancing in a spiral dance (okay, the dance was in the sun), and just enjoying the company. I managed to stay awake until I made it to the car (no, I wasn't driving) and successfully pretended to be social for several hours, all told. I'm rather proud of myself for that.
And, yeah, I caught the bouquet. Oh, dear. I can't say that there are any prospects, but one can always hope. I'm told that I was the only one trying to catch the flowers, but, well, someone had to. And, just maybe, I can end up supporting everyone's favorite wedding myth. It could happen.
Anyway, I'm still exhausted and kinda wishing we could have such a gathering every week.
(no subject)
Jun. 7th, 2009 01:13 amHome from the wedding, sunburned and exhausted and the owner of a bouquet thrown by the bride (eep!).
I got to spend the day with old friends and meet a couple of online friends for the first time. The ceremony was beautiful, and the day was wonderful. You would almost think I was social or something!
Now, I collapse in bed for the night. I am completely wiped out.
I got to spend the day with old friends and meet a couple of online friends for the first time. The ceremony was beautiful, and the day was wonderful. You would almost think I was social or something!
Now, I collapse in bed for the night. I am completely wiped out.
Blacksburg, ho!
Jun. 6th, 2009 03:16 amTime for bed. In a few hours, I'll be heading to Blacksburg, where I'll be seeing a lot of you and attending a wedding. I can't wait.
I'll see you on the flip side.
Now, let's see if I can get some sleep!
I'll see you on the flip side.
Now, let's see if I can get some sleep!
what I'm really upset about
May. 27th, 2009 03:40 amYeah, the computer crap was maddening. Computer crap always is.
I saw Dad in the hospital today.
First I had to find him. The guy behind me on the road was amazingly impatient for someone driving past the largest hospital in hundreds of miles. I'm lost! Forgive me! Lay off the fucking horn when I finally find the turn I need to take! Then, when I walked into the right building, I was greeted by two old family friends, who showed me how to check in and where Dad's room was. Thank you, R and E!!!!
Dad is doing as well as can be expected. But he's weak, in pain, and, well, in the freaking hospital for a few more days. He had developed a bit of a fever and even coughed a few times while I was there.
Those coughs really hurt him. I could tell and it freaked me out. Now I'm worried that he has MRSA or something. Dad's mainly worried that he will have to stay in the hospital for another few days. We watched Countdown and The Rachel Maddow Show and I just quietly freaked out.
I couldn't even hug him properly. It felt like a fake Hollywood air hug. I know it's just a little thing, but it left me feeling unsettled.
That and the fact that his sternum has been wired shut because it had to be sawed open and his heart and lungs were shut down for what the doctors insist on calling a "routine procedure".
This isn't so easy to deal with. And I'm not even the one spending another night in the hospital right now.
I'll talk about Prop8's continued blight later. Right now, I'm dealing with more personal crap.
I saw Dad in the hospital today.
First I had to find him. The guy behind me on the road was amazingly impatient for someone driving past the largest hospital in hundreds of miles. I'm lost! Forgive me! Lay off the fucking horn when I finally find the turn I need to take! Then, when I walked into the right building, I was greeted by two old family friends, who showed me how to check in and where Dad's room was. Thank you, R and E!!!!
Dad is doing as well as can be expected. But he's weak, in pain, and, well, in the freaking hospital for a few more days. He had developed a bit of a fever and even coughed a few times while I was there.
Those coughs really hurt him. I could tell and it freaked me out. Now I'm worried that he has MRSA or something. Dad's mainly worried that he will have to stay in the hospital for another few days. We watched Countdown and The Rachel Maddow Show and I just quietly freaked out.
I couldn't even hug him properly. It felt like a fake Hollywood air hug. I know it's just a little thing, but it left me feeling unsettled.
That and the fact that his sternum has been wired shut because it had to be sawed open and his heart and lungs were shut down for what the doctors insist on calling a "routine procedure".
This isn't so easy to deal with. And I'm not even the one spending another night in the hospital right now.
I'll talk about Prop8's continued blight later. Right now, I'm dealing with more personal crap.
this helps
May. 27th, 2009 03:36 amFlickr has still not finished processing the picture, but the language lesson was amusing. You see, Flickr greets members in various languages, then says "Now you know how to greet people in ____"
I was just greeted with:
"O HAI this_daydreamer!
Now you know how to greet people in Lolspeak!"
Very cute. Now post my damn picture!
ETA: STILL processing. But I uploaded it to my scrapbook. WTF, Flickr?
I was just greeted with:
"O HAI this_daydreamer!
Now you know how to greet people in Lolspeak!"
Very cute. Now post my damn picture!
ETA: STILL processing. But I uploaded it to my scrapbook. WTF, Flickr?
when computers suck
May. 27th, 2009 03:33 amsf_drama on lj has an entry today for posting desktops for showing off how cool your computer looks. Yay, why not, I asked myself. I have a cool picture for my desktop. All I have to do is figure out how to use printscreen. Hey look, there are simple instructions right there in the entry.
The instructions were too simple. They left out that the image is actually on your clipboard, not a file that I can access directly from Gimp. That's okay. I could just copy-paste. I did just that, and saved the picture in my general pictures file.
The I went to post it on Flickr. But wait, my pro account had expired. Fine. I use Flickr a lot, so I pushed the button for renewing. I was then informed that it would be paid through PayPal.
Wait a minute. I don't have any funds in PayPal. Where is the money coming from, exactly? PayPal informs me that the money is coming either from my PayPal funds or, you know, some other account with your name on it. Nothing to worry about. I tell PayPal to go straight to my bank account.
Fantastic! PayPal will cheerfully charge your CanceledCreditCard!
I go back. Bank Account, please.
CanceledCreditCard it is! Great choice!
Bank Account.
Fine, we'll just charge your OtherCreditCard! Not a problem.
B.A.N.K. A.C.C.O.U.N.T.
Whatever. Bank account it is. If you insist.
Having paid from my bank account (I hope), I go back to Flickr. And can't find the image. I do, however, discover that my definition of putting pictures in order by when they are taken is nothing even close to what Windows Vista thinks it should be. Pictures Taken in the Future?! Huh?!
I finally find the picture, and upload it.
Oops. I found the wrong picture. I try four times to delete it before Flickr acknowledges that it has even been uploaded yet.
After another search of half the picture folders on my computer, I find the right one. And Flickr says it can't upload an image with that format.
I slam the computer shut and walk away for a few minutes. I consider joining the Amish.
I come back to the computer and start another Gimp file, re-save the picture in JPG format, and upload it to Flickr.
Five minutes after Flickr told me that the image was being processed, I started this entry.
It's still processing.
BRB, indulging in primal scream therapy.
The instructions were too simple. They left out that the image is actually on your clipboard, not a file that I can access directly from Gimp. That's okay. I could just copy-paste. I did just that, and saved the picture in my general pictures file.
The I went to post it on Flickr. But wait, my pro account had expired. Fine. I use Flickr a lot, so I pushed the button for renewing. I was then informed that it would be paid through PayPal.
Wait a minute. I don't have any funds in PayPal. Where is the money coming from, exactly? PayPal informs me that the money is coming either from my PayPal funds or, you know, some other account with your name on it. Nothing to worry about. I tell PayPal to go straight to my bank account.
Fantastic! PayPal will cheerfully charge your CanceledCreditCard!
I go back. Bank Account, please.
CanceledCreditCard it is! Great choice!
Bank Account.
Fine, we'll just charge your OtherCreditCard! Not a problem.
B.A.N.K. A.C.C.O.U.N.T.
Whatever. Bank account it is. If you insist.
Having paid from my bank account (I hope), I go back to Flickr. And can't find the image. I do, however, discover that my definition of putting pictures in order by when they are taken is nothing even close to what Windows Vista thinks it should be. Pictures Taken in the Future?! Huh?!
I finally find the picture, and upload it.
Oops. I found the wrong picture. I try four times to delete it before Flickr acknowledges that it has even been uploaded yet.
After another search of half the picture folders on my computer, I find the right one. And Flickr says it can't upload an image with that format.
I slam the computer shut and walk away for a few minutes. I consider joining the Amish.
I come back to the computer and start another Gimp file, re-save the picture in JPG format, and upload it to Flickr.
Five minutes after Flickr told me that the image was being processed, I started this entry.
It's still processing.
BRB, indulging in primal scream therapy.
turning of the seasons
May. 25th, 2009 04:03 amEarlier tonight, I switched my default icon to "fireflies", figuring that they would be out soon.
Just a couple of minutes ago, I saw the first firefly of the season.
How is that for timing?
Just a couple of minutes ago, I saw the first firefly of the season.
How is that for timing?
getting better
May. 25th, 2009 01:59 amDad called me today from the hospital. He sounded weak and tired, but it was good to hear his voice. He is now out of the ICU and, obviously, no longer has a tube down his throat. I'll call him tomorrow. He is doing very well. I'm sure his bad patient side (very impatient! lol) will come to the surface very soon.
He'll probably be going home on Tuesday. I look forward to it, but not, I'm sure, nearly as much as he does.
He still has about two months of recovery time ahead of him, but the very worst is over.
In far lighter news, I finally finished and posted the full RobinCam movie. This is the second version - the first time I forgot to include footage of the eggs! Here it is:
I also made a duct tape bag - my first attempt to make anything out of the stuff. It's obviously a first attempt but I'm still pretty pleased with it. I'll post pictures later. Basically, I wanted a bag that I could carry my cameras and wallet in while traipsing about. It's also large enough to handle a bead show haul.
I plan on decorating it, too, but right now I'm just happy to have the bag itself done.
He'll probably be going home on Tuesday. I look forward to it, but not, I'm sure, nearly as much as he does.
He still has about two months of recovery time ahead of him, but the very worst is over.
In far lighter news, I finally finished and posted the full RobinCam movie. This is the second version - the first time I forgot to include footage of the eggs! Here it is:
I also made a duct tape bag - my first attempt to make anything out of the stuff. It's obviously a first attempt but I'm still pretty pleased with it. I'll post pictures later. Basically, I wanted a bag that I could carry my cameras and wallet in while traipsing about. It's also large enough to handle a bead show haul.
I plan on decorating it, too, but right now I'm just happy to have the bag itself done.
they grow so fast
May. 21st, 2009 03:25 pmThe tenants are about to move out of the nest - I actually saw one of the chicks jump out and declare himself a fledgling. Yay! I'll post the newest videos later.
Now I have to take care of the baby birds! I just went out to grab something from the car, and noticed that there was a cat walking away from the house. Then I saw that the nest had been pulled to one side, with only one chick in it. I found the other two on the ground next to the holly and they seemed to be fine. They complained when I picked them up. I don't know where the mother is.
*many swear words*
Any ideas? Right now I am stuck with opening the front door every few minutes while holding a spray bottle. I got Mom to make a run to the store to look for some sort of cat-deterrent spray since I've had a couple of glasses of wine.
It looks like the cat jumped from the front porch - there is no way she could have climbed that bush. Maybe there is something I can put up to block her from jumping? *plots*
Those robins are going to make it to fledging! Somehow.
*many swear words*
Any ideas? Right now I am stuck with opening the front door every few minutes while holding a spray bottle. I got Mom to make a run to the store to look for some sort of cat-deterrent spray since I've had a couple of glasses of wine.
It looks like the cat jumped from the front porch - there is no way she could have climbed that bush. Maybe there is something I can put up to block her from jumping? *plots*
Those robins are going to make it to fledging! Somehow.
ah, internet
May. 20th, 2009 12:03 amThere are few clearer signs of not understanding irony than repeatedly commenting that you are not trying to start trouble while also repeatedly complaining about a popular post by a popular poster in a community.
Just saying.
Just saying.
I do wish the gods would leave my family alone for a while. Dad is going in for bypass surgery on Friday. I just found out yesterday. He is pretty optimistic, as is his doctor, but I'm waiting for the next big shoe to drop.
Can we just stay away from hospitals for a while after this? Please?
Work is stressful. I can't believe how much pressure we are under to sell Member Cards. If I have a bad day, I am informed that I am not trying hard enough. If I have a good day, that is taken as proof that I wasn't trying hard enough on my bad days. If the other cashiers don't sell enough, that means that I'm not paying enough attention to how hard they are selling the cards. If they have a good day, they get kudos. Repeat all of this for gift cards. I'm expecting a lecture on my attitude in the near future.
I did have to laugh after getting a call from one of the managers today. It was a wrong number. I was too weirded out/sleepy from being roused from a nap to even tell her that she had reached someone she knew.
On a much better note, the robin chicks are just about ready to fledge. It's taken little more than a week for this to happen:
to
I really do have the coolest next-door neighbors!
Can we just stay away from hospitals for a while after this? Please?
Work is stressful. I can't believe how much pressure we are under to sell Member Cards. If I have a bad day, I am informed that I am not trying hard enough. If I have a good day, that is taken as proof that I wasn't trying hard enough on my bad days. If the other cashiers don't sell enough, that means that I'm not paying enough attention to how hard they are selling the cards. If they have a good day, they get kudos. Repeat all of this for gift cards. I'm expecting a lecture on my attitude in the near future.
I did have to laugh after getting a call from one of the managers today. It was a wrong number. I was too weirded out/sleepy from being roused from a nap to even tell her that she had reached someone she knew.
On a much better note, the robin chicks are just about ready to fledge. It's taken little more than a week for this to happen:
to
I really do have the coolest next-door neighbors!
