CafeChatNoir

From today’s Dear Abby Column - gentleman complaining that his wife has gained weight since they married & had children.

The part that makes me want to find this gentleman and whap him upside the head with a 2×4 is the following:

But I get furious when I think my wife gave up caring about her appearance when I put the ring on her finger. It looks like she got her man, so now she’s complacent.

OMG. OMFG. I hate, hate, HATE this freaking idea that when someone gets married it all goes to hell because they don’t have to worry about “getting the guy” anymore. Anyone whose been divorced knows that.

This one just truly hit my hot button tonight.

I have to actually get up and go to work tomorrow. Ewh. Granted, I get to start with a nice, clean slate and no calls to my name, but another day of sleeping in would be sweet. However, I do have my follow up visit for my contact lenses on Tuesday morning, so I’ll get about an hour extra to sleep in then. Best to ease back into that whole work thing, y’know?

Went to Carrabba’s for dinner tonight, not too bad at all, especially considering it’s a chain. Lobster Ravioli was VERY good. Went to the website & discovered that I have *not* been imagining things when I heard their ads - to me they sounded like they were from Tennessee or somewhere abouts that part of the country - turns out they’re from Texas.

Fall weather seems to have officially hit - the post hurricane high pressure system brought through a beautifully crispy day without a cloud in the sky, low humidity and some good sleeping weather tonight.

Speaking of which, I should go get some of that sleep stuff.

By about noon, the skies cleared and the sun came out and it turned into a really gorgeous day. Sagamore & I hit the gun show out in Leesburg, then the outlet mall & then dinner. I have new shoes for winter and he’s got some spiffy new tennies and all is right with the world.

Just got an email from Tasha, they got power back about 15 minutes ago and she is alive and well.

Island cleanup was canceled - too much rain and the thunderstorms this morning likely didn’t help either - probably not a good idea to send folks out into a wet swamp when there is lightning. I’ll admit - there is a small part of me that wasn’t exceptionally disappointed, mainly because I wasn’t exactly leaping up and down at the thought of doing this in the rain. It’s usually a pretty fun time, when the weather is OK.

I got the call at 7:30, *just* as I had finished getting dressed. I was already pretty awake, so I just went ahead and got my coffee. I do reserve the right to take a nap later. :)

Given the general nastiness of Mother Nature today, it looks to be a good day to stay in, do some knitting and get my grocery list written…

TR Island cleanup tomorrow if it doesn’t get completely rained out with the hurricane remnants.

Pizza at mom’s this evening - delivery guy came to the door, eyes about popping out of his head, apparently there had been a “huge black snake” in the drive/walkway as he came up. We went out and looked around, couldn’t find anything. Mom has chosen complete denial and has decided that the delivery guy was just seeing things. I, on the other hand, now am dealing with the irrational fear that we couldn’t find it because it went up into the engine compartment of my car…

At least 3 tornadoes touched down in the area this evening - gave the weather folks something to talk about.

OK, given that the likelihood of things actually being canceled tomorrow is pretty darn slim, I’d best get to bed.

For I have super seekret weather skills…

Looked at the track of Jeanne last night, it was going literally straight for ’s parents house. I suggested that “maybe it will turn”… Well, looking at the map this morning from NOAA, they are now tracking it for a hard left turn… Obviously I am all powerful, or something.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_astorm11+shtml/171508.shtml for the tracks.

Hmm, I was under the impression that tomorrow was the fall Potomac Watershed cleanup, but the only site that I can find a reference of it only has the last spring one listed… sagamore, is that still on?

I have cone to the conclusion that I am a full on ADD crafter type, LOL. Which is why the **little** knit projects are sooooooooooo good. Finished the green one yesterday, started a pretty cranberry one last night & finished it this morning & have now started w/the super fluffy stuff in this color:

My shoulder is just killing me today - apparently slept on it wrong last night. Hot shower helped a bit, but dayum, sleep shouldn’t be an activity where you’re open to injury!!

So, yes, went to Murphy’s to give mazikeen a send off last night - much fun & silliness ensued. Met some police officers from CA & WA that were here for some conference, they wanted us to come back to their hotel (um, NO, but thanks for asking), I was more interested in their views on the assault weapons ban expiration (they’re OK with it) and what sidearms they carried on a day to day basis (glocks & sigs).

My friend in Bama isn’t online today - power must have gone out, I do hope she’s OK.

My buddy Tasha (work) lives just a bit Northeast of Birmingham, AL - looked at the maps this morning, and it appears that Ivan is going to go right over her house… I got this IM from her earlier (IM names have been altered to protect the not-so-innocent):

[09:50] Tasha: have milk, batteries and margarita mix. I’m ready for the hurricane
***
Talking about some docs I had sent her:
[09:53] Me: we sent the docs 2nd day fedex so look for a very soggy box on Thursday
[09:55] Tasha: ROFL…will likely get blown to hell and back. Just saw they are predicting up to 70 mph sustained winds for a 3 hour period tomorrow…with average for a 30 hour period being 50.
[09:55] Tasha: luckily my trailer is tied down. ROFL
[09:55] Me: holy shit

Fortunately, she doesn’t really live in a trailer, has an interior bathroom and her sister is nearby and has a basement in her home… I’m sure she’ll be OK, she’s smart and isn’t the type that would go stand out in the middle of the street to watch the trees blow over, but I’m still worried.

Today seems to have turned into a read lj & drink coffee & knit day. :) Not a bad day at all, especially considering that it is rainy & nasty & grey outside.

The fun fur scarf is coming along swimmingly, about 3x as long as it was when I took the photos last night, and I’m also working on another critter blanket w/new (for me) stitches that give it a neat basketweave pattern. And the best part is that I can look at it and actually see the pattern from the stitches!!!

Yes, it is kinda sad how really easily pleased I am! It also has 2 more sets of blocks on it since I took those pictures this morning.

I think I need to just setup a mini studio somewhere in the house, because I really don’t have anywhere with decent lighting at all right now for taking pics.

OK, enough slacking for a while, time to go do something about the kitchen and then a late lunch.

Made it to 6 PM in one piece!! Only had to pass off *one* call, and my coworker that took it doesn’t even have to do any legwork except sending an email when she gets a piece of info we’re waiting on.

Training today from 1-3, good but the room was cold and when I get cold I get sleepy, and I really thought I was gonna pass out there on a couple of occasions.

Decided to tackle the fun fur yarn tonight. Despite my best efforts to not subject my family to this knitting binge, Mom is getting a scarf. It’s weird stuff to work with, but I think it’s going to be really spiffy when it’s done. Here are some pics of the yarn & work in progress

It bears a rather striking resemblance to Christmas tinsel in the pics, but it really is quite a bit softer. :)

I did restock on yarns this evening, more regular acrylics like I’d been using and tonight I found a brand/style called ‘Homespun’ by Lion and dang if it isn’t really the softest stuff I’ve run into, and just gorgeous variegated colors. So, yeah, I snagged some of those, too. Will be making two that will stay here w/my furballs and I think I’ll split the rest between the local shelter and one of the shelters in FL that needs supplies. Also picked up a set of circular needles so I can work on bigger items than what I’ve been doing so far. Or just work two projects at once. :)

Up too daggone late last night, but it was for fun stuff, so it’s all good. sagamore and I went to Hooters for beer and Packers football. Their “medium” wings are for wusses, but their baked potato soup is very good. So, it worked well, sagamore got to drool over the waitresses and I got to drool over Brett Favre. Something for everyone. :)

Here til 6 tonight - we’ve got training this afternoon and they were worried about when the second group is in training getting shorthanded, so yeah, I said I’d stay for the extra hour to make sure things are OK.

Hitting Total Crafts & the fabric store after work. For what, I don’t know just yet. :-D Probably just more yarn to play with (been playing around w/new stitches and seeing what I get. So far, kinda OK at it, just need more practice.)

And really definitely looking forward to a bit more sleep this evening.

Went to bed too late, took forever to fall asleep, and then didn’t sleep particularly well anyway.

I am a full on train wreck this morning.

Only two days of work this week. I am sooooooo glad I scheduled this, cause I am so ready for the break.

Quilt show today was fun - all vendors, but wow, so many gorgeous vintage quilts. One silk Victorian w/all paper backing and frankly, the backing was more interesting cause it was all from household paper scraps - you could see handwriting, postage marks, all sorts of cool stuff. We walked out of there feeling very sewing inept, but filled with all sorts of dangerous ideas. :)

I’m so damn tired tonight, again for no good reason. Even took a nap this afternoon to boot, but I am pretty much down for the count this evening, and probably should have gone to bed at least three hours ago, and I caught my second wind, which will leave me wrecked in the morning.

Reading another forum earlier today, post from a gal who has gotten dumped and isn’t particularly thrilled with the whole “alone” prospect. Understandable. Thing is - alone is easy. It’s alone combined with the rather hideous pain of rejection that’s hard. BTDT more times that I can count.

Just finished critter blankie #6 this evening. The finished edge has some variations in the tension because Target was being a brat and trying to run off with the yarn as I was trying to do it. I think I have just enough yarn left for one more. Snoopy has finally decided they aren’t toxic and is snuggled up on one right now. I guess I’ll have to make a couple more just for them.

Have been feeling a grand lack of purpose in my life recently. Do need to do something about that I suppose… But first - sleep.

We got soooooooooooo lucky yesterday - it ended up being unusually slow, so we didn’t get slammed at the office after all - it could have been SO much worse!

Popped over to the Burke Festival today - teeny, tiny little communityfest, but fun, and I picked up a little silly something for sagamore. Quilt show tomorrow. Two day workweek to follow.

Wicked tired for no real reason, off to nap.

On a normal day, we have 9 people + 2 managers.

Today we have 4 people + 1 manager.

It’s gonna be a loooooooooong day.

Up until now, I’ve not known anyone going to Iraq. I did meet someone just after he came back, but it’s not quite the same.

I’ve just gone to a sendoff for a Marine that will be there for the next 9 months.

Mac, you’d best get your ass back in one piece!

DC101 Chili CookOff… At least 2 bands I’d like to see. Tim & I were talking about it on the way into work this morning. May have to do that… October 16.

Get into work and they’ve put out the beeper schedule for the quarter… Guess who is on call October 16? Fortunately, I was able to switch weekends.

After the invasion of the creepy loud wasp monsters, the cats & I had an impromptu slumber party in the living room. They had TONS of fun…decided to get the midnight crazies and I got landed on several times, LOL. Guess it was too much to expect them to settle back down and go back to sleep. :)

Lesson learned though - when your bedroom backs to the woods, and the woods are full of bugs, and then you put the light on in the bedroom for more than a few minutes before bed, and said light is right next to the windows…you’re gonna have A LOT of creepy crawlies come to investigate. (Which normally doesn’t even bother me, but these……….ewhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

I am soooo glad I’ve only got a 4 day week this week, and then a 2 day week next week. I am really lacking motivation today - which is most likely just from not getting *quite* enough sleep last night, but still, yeah, soooo don’t want to be here. I’m supposed to have another consultant come sit in on some calls at some point today, too… It’s been fairly calm so far this morning, which is going to mean that I have to entertain them somehow… Fun, fun, fun!

Have a great day and if you’re in Florida, hope you have power back soon!

There are three very large, very angry, and very STUPID wasp-type flying things that have managed to get in between the screens/storm windows and the regular window in my bedroom. The window right next to the bed, of course.

They’re making quite an ungodly racket that is making my skin crawl so badly I am now going to go sleep in the living room.

Summer’s over. :(

Didn’t even get to the pool this year, much less out of town. Don’t get me wrong, the other seasons are nice and all, but summer is my very favorite.

As is my tradition, each Labor Day I stop and think about what I want to accomplish between now & Christmas. Sort of like New Year’s Resolutions, but without the January 1st hangover. So, here we go:

– Be more patient with, well, everything & everyone.
– Keep up the exercising.
– Try my hand at a larger knitting project for myself.
– Keep the house in check. This will require more diligence with the cleaning service only coming around once a month vs every two weeks.
– Do some serious decluttering & organizing around here.
– Keep watching the budget like a hawk. I know that if I actually pay attention to it, then I don’t spend stupidly, which frees up funds for things like dinner out with no guilt. :)
– Cooking real food again. With the cooler weather approaching, cold sandwiches just aren’t gonna cut it anymore for lunch & dinner. Time for chili & soup!
– Get more sleep. Which given that I’ll have to get out of here earlier tomorrow with school starting up again, I’d best go work on that right now.

Niters all.

Yes, folks, it’s a Labor Day Laundry Marathon! Because polite society dictates that you have clean socks & undies. That, and I had run out of clean towels.

Been a fairly quiet three days, which has been very nice. Cookout at Mom’s last night, steaks & baked potatoes, and some really good biscuit bread, the recipe for which is behind the cut at the end - SO good and super easy.

The ever popular Eve L’Dog was in attendance and seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself. She & Moxley dog are finally getting on fairly well. wasn’t able to make it, as his job has pretty much taken over his life of late, but the upside is, he seems to really like his new gig, the downside being, it ain’t easy dating Superman. :)

It’s been a fairly productive but nice & lazy day. Laundry is going, marketing has been done, lunch is made for tomorrow and an extra sandwich in the fridge waiting for dinner.

Realized today that I have had pretty much zero structure in my life of late outside of work. Should probably do something about that…

Mini Herbed Rolls – “Pull Aparts”

3 Tbls butter
2 tsp dill seed
1 tsp poppy seed
1 Tbls dried minced onion
¼ tsp celery seed
¼ cup Parmesan cheese (dry type)
1 12 oz can refrigerator biscuits

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Melt butter in 8 inch round pan. Sprinkle onion and herb seeds evenly over butter. Separate dough into 10 biscuits; cut each into 4 pieces. Place pieces and cheese into a bag; shake to coat then arrange biscuits in the pan. Bake 15 – 18 minutes until golden brown. Turn onto plate and serve warm. Can be made ahead of time and refrigerate. Remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking.

Phones came back up.

We are in the midst of an area wide phone outage. No one can call out and more importantly, no one can call in.

“Self, you’ve got 3 trays of ice at home that you put in the freezer the other night, which you never seem to remember to do. The day has kicked your ass up down and sideways. You’re going to forget about the ice if you don’t do something with it, and it’s just gonna sublime into nothingness. You know what you have to do…”

So, as further proof that listening to the voices in your head isn’t a bad thing, I am currently enjoying a very tasty margarita in my fav cactus glass. :) I was good and did get dinner put together and tomorrow’s lunch taken care of first.

The consultant that was supposed to come & sit on calls apparently got some billable hours today, so I got stood up. Ah well, his loss. I really was looking forward to torturing him. (Seriously though, we’ve got a crop of consultants out there that are very green, don’t have enough training, and it probably could have done him some good.)

Starting to wonder if there is going to be anything left in Florida by the end of the weekend…to the Florida LJ’ers - be careful!

Oh, and thank you to all for the nice comments on the new glasses!! I’ve always been real self conscious about glasses, mainly because I can’t say I ever found a pair I really liked as much as I do these. That and every other pair I had just made me look like a librarian, and despite being told on many occasions that guys all have some librarian fantasy thing in their heads, the librarian look was never one I really wanted to go for…

Yay team, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! With a three day weekend to boot. And then 3 days off the week after that, just to have 3 days off.

Next Friday is gonna be hellish. 3 of our best folks out of 8 total out. Tasha keeps telling me I’d best call in sick or I’ll be dead by the end of the day.

Or do they?

New specs came in today, quite pleased with them, not only do I think they look fairly good, I can see quite well with them, which is always a good thing. And once again, the only designer item I own is my glasses. (These are Ralph Lauren/Polo. Ooohh. Ahhhh. The last were Gucci. Ooohh. Ahhhh.) It was really nice when the optician handed them to me and I put them on and he said, “Oooh, those DO look really good!” I positively bounced out of the office.

Also got my sunglasses back w/the updated lenses - they’re RayBan aviators and I just can’t bear to part with them. As the optician said, “Ah, yes, oldies but goodies.”

Fairly uneventful day, tomorrow I get to have one of our relatively new consultants sit in with me for a while to attempt to install a few clues before we send him back out on the road. That should be interesting. The last time we did this, it was to have fill-ins for a couple of hours so we could all go to lunch that day. I scared the daylights out of mine. (Apparently, I am a bit fast paced…) Mwaaahahahahaaaaaa. Let the games begin. :-D

Starting with, what is it with cats & yarn, anyway?

Why does politics have to be so divisive?

Why can I only remember to get the trash out 1 out of 3 times they come around?

Why do people treat each other like they’re disposable?

Will I ever progress past a plain knit stitch?

Will I ever have kids?

Did they ever get the phones transferred at work today so I can move to my new desk?

How many more hurricanes are we gonna see this season?

Are my new glasses gonna be spiffy or am I just kidding myself?

When did we turn into such a throw-away society anyway? (Says the woman with the disposable contact lenses…)

When will my next real leave-town vacation be?

Why can’t folks just be decent to each other? Is it really that hard?

Why am I up so damn late?