Trials, Tribulations & Escapades (mostly funny)

funny IM conversation

/ lintqueen / 1 Comment

background The cereal in question is a high-fiber sticks and rocks mix that we concoct)

ginathelintqueen: The big tub of cereal spilled in my car on the way home
jb4422: :(
jb4422: I’m sorry!
ginathelintqueen: s’ok
ginathelintqueen: will make a bunch of birdies happy at any rate
jb4422: birdies!
jb4422: you threw it out?
ginathelintqueen: the stuff that spilled into my car floor?
ginathelintqueen: yes
jb4422: was all of tub? just some
ginathelintqueen: some
jb4422: birdies will be regular!
jb4422: :)
ginathelintqueen: OMG that’s funny

Backlog of interesting (to me, at any rate) bits

/ lintqueen / 4 Comments

The week before Thanksgiving Jeff and I went to Ian Anderson (lead vocalist and flutist for Jethro Tull). It was an interesting format show… sort of a semi-talk show semi-concert. Bob the Blade, an WRDU DJ who has been on radio stations around the Triangle for as long as I can remember, co-hosted. Here are my take-aways:

1) the guy can really play some flute
2) after a certain point, an affected singing style (as much as you might like it to start with) becomes a wee bit annoying
3) no one seems to be able to answer the question: “Is Jethro Tull a ‘guy thing'”?

On the last, Ian had asked for questions from the audience. Given my propensity for keeping my mouth shut (none), you’d figure that I’d have one.

Background:
a) Looking around the audience, it was 65-70% male
b) There were many “clumps of men” who attended the show as a group. Going to shows as a single-sex group is fairly common, I think, amongst women (at least the ones I know), but (perhaps because of the shows I tend to go see), seems to be pretty rare for guys.
c) At several times in my past (most memorably in high school) people have been surprised that I like Tull(1) . Now that could be a *me* thing, but it has alwasts seemed to be a “surprised that a girl likes them” thing. (Same thing happens with Rush).

(1) Tim (sung in response to something about having a cold or something else that was a good segue): “Snot running down her nose …”
Me: “Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes…”

At that point several people turned and goggled at me, surprised, I think that I knew a Tull song.

So my question (after having told the story above) was: “Is Jethro Tull a guy thing.” I don’t think Ian “got it” as his answer seemed mainly concerned with whether Jethro Tull was a guy *name* (duh). Bob the Blade “got it” though, and asked (after Ian had explained that Jethro Tull was a male name): “No, but really, do you think it’s a ‘guy thing’.” The answer, I admit, was unsatisfactory (something about sex and something about rock, but nothing really useful).

I, however, felt validated as several women cheered when I first asked the question (perhaps also having had the experience of people being shocked upon discovering they liked Tull too).

Momentary turmoil

/ lintqueen / 2 Comments

Ok, what do you do if there’s just *one part* of you that you don’t like? I am pretty happy with my shape and size overall these days… since starting yoga I’ve gotten stronger and even more flexible (BendyGirl) and the curves are something I’ve learned to respect (if not adore) for the most part.

But. I hate my tummy. Hate it. Bulgy-out-and-makes-my-pants-not-fit-right. Situps (/other ab maipulations) don’t help. I am completely off “dieting” (for good, I hope), though I try to watch what I eat, etc. etc. Sure I could exercise more (who couldn’t really…well except for maybe thebroomecloset or ovrclokd..) but I really don’t want to … my priorities are elsewhere (like making jewelry and knitting)

It’s just this one damn bulge. Sorta like a mole you don’t like. I *know* how to get rid of it for good… I just don’t know quite how I feel about that. I dye my hair, trim my fingernails and exfoliate… those are all body modifications (not to mention the ear piece and laser eye surgery). Yes, this is different. But how much different? Is this “cheating” (Is cheating bad? I certainly cheated on the vision thing…)

Such a delicate flower…

/ lintqueen / 6 Comments

It *really* annoys me that I can’t open a standard 16oz soda bottle without assistance from the jar-opener thingy (or a boy, which in this case works out to be roughly the same thing).

It hurts! It’s not that I’m not strong enough (I am plenty strong), it’s that the little ridge-y things on the cap hurt my hands. (Ok, maybe I’m a wuss). Have they made them harder open so that they’re more thoroughly “Sealed for My Protection”?

(And don’t even get me started on “twist-off” beer caps.)

Rant-o-the-moment

/ lintqueen / 1 Comment

Why do people think that all natual” = not harmful? I was reading a Frommers message board where people were debating the usefulness of No Jet Lag. The vast majority of the posters were saying things like: “I’d recommend you try them-and they are 100% homeopathic-no drugs.”

Here was what I posted:

I just wanted to second the idea that there *are* drugs involved with “homeopathic” or “natural” remedies. People seem to believe “all natual” = not harmful, and that’s just not the case. A great many of the “drugs” we take today are merely purified forms of plant compounds that are “all natural” (aspirin being the example that leaps to mind).

For example, Ipecacuanha root (one of the active ingredients in No Jet Lag, according to http://www.nojetlag.com/jetlag7.html) is emetic; and in smaller doses, diaphoretic and expectorant. Toxic doses cause gastro-enteritis, cardiac failure, dilation of the blood-vessels, severe bronchitis and pulmonary inflammation. (Source: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/i/ipecac07.html).

As you may guess from the name, Ipecacuanha is the plant from which Syrup of Ipecac is derived.

These remedies may work, but if they do it’s because of the chemical (/drug) interactions they cause in your body. Do check them out with a doctor before taking them, as they may combine badly with existing meds.

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Musings on business

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Once upon a time, I used to say that I liked work better than school, because at school there was always something you should be doing (even if you’ve finished your assignments you should be studying), but when you’re done with work for the day you’re done and you can go home and do whatever you like; however, as my job has increased in responsibility, I’ve lost that somehow, and now my work burdens me even on “my time”. I think part of what I need to do is regain the sense that work is work and really doesn’t need to be taken home.

The only thing that helps sometimes is to give myself credit for getting it all done eventually. As much as I worry because I still haven’t done something about my chipped nail polish or haven’t installed the molding in the bathroom or haven’t called my mom or (fill in the blank here), I also have never had trouble walking with (or even had anyone look askance at) my nails, had a house fall down around my shoulders out of lack of maintenance or had my mom disown me or (fill in the blank here). Somehow an “alarm” goes off in my head when it really *is* time to do something (BTW, bathroom molding installed last weekend after *2 years*! of lying in my bedroom) and it will get done.

IOW, I have to try to trust myself that I will get things done when they need to get done. (I sometimes think of the “to everything, turn turn turn” bit to remind me.) Learn to love your inner conscience because it will poke you with a sharp stick when you need it. And when it’s not poking with a sharp stick, try to relax and let things go.

(Blessedly easy to say, but almost impossible to do. The feeling of “overwhelmedness” sometimes creeps through my defenses to the point where I’m in tears over the tiniest thing…)

Sigh

/ lintqueen / 2 Comments

Jeff & I have been invited to a Halloween party Friday night. The invitiations didn’t say anything about costumes, so I entered into a state of willing suspension of disbelief WRT needing a costume. As you can see, I take costumes very seriously and given the hecticness of my schedule this week (Ok, any week), I was loathe to undertake a costume creation.

Then Meghan asked me at lunch yesterday what I was wearing to the party. I said I wasn’t sure if it was a costume party or not, so Meghan wrote the hosts and asked them. Now I have written confirmation that it is.

So last night I went to Jo-Anne’s (before dinner with Tim & Kim) and Michael’s (after dinner with Tim & Kim) in search of last minute crafts bits. Then when I got home I sewed and hot glued for a few hours.

Today I have a few burned bits on my fingers (Gina + hot glue = almost certain mishap), 1.5 finished costumes (must finish mine tomorrow) and *very* bleary eyes (not nearly enough sleep).

Updates and pictures to come.

Weekend update

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I had a very productive/fun weekend! On the productive end: installed new molding (to match the cabinets [wood] instead of the walls [white] in the master bath [bought a cheap miter box in order to make angle cuts] — actually Jeff pretty much did this, but I did clean up ;-) ; repaired the bathroom ceiling (at one point I was up to my elbows in ceiling texture spray — that stuff is *messy*!); knit another baby hat.

On the fun side: Friday night Jeff and I went to see the Animation Show at the Carolina Theatre in Durham — nice mix of animations, though some were *really* weird. Then dinner at Verde, which was quite good. Their concept is “simple food” (actually their window sign says “Naked Food”… I have to admit that I was a little disappointed that everyone was fully dressed), so Jeff had roasted chicken and potatoes and I had a ceasar salad. We ordered two different cheeses to start (and they’ve got great bread!) — I need to remember to buy the Celebrity Dairy goat cheese more often — mmmmmm! We went over to Allan & Inez’s house on Saturday for cocktails and scary movies (REALLY scary — “The Ring” — eep!). Sunday afternoon we saw Under the Tuscan Sun (and snuck Wendy’s into the theater… we’re baaaaad!) and enjoyed it (major chick flick though… the IMDB reviewed nailed it on that one). I’ve never thought of myself as someone who’d fall in love with Italy (my people are of the fair-skinned, northern type, and it’s always been the emerald green places (like Ireland) that have “called” to me), but this movie made me want to see Italy. Jeff flew out to Chicago last night & will be there until Friday evening (ick).

NC State Fair

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As my friend Jacintha described it: “it’s the distillation of all that is North Carolina.” And she was right!

We:

  • Checked out the monster pumpkins
  • Rode rides (well, I did at any rate… Brian & Meghan are of the non-ride-riding persuasion… see, that’s them waiting for me to ride)
  • Ate Deep Fried Twinkie (Meghan, not me — that’s what she’s brandishing in the photo above)
  • Saw the cake Brian decorated in the cake-decorating competition (very nice — suble white-on-white with a wee bit of blue. Nice fondant.)
  • Found the cotton-candy-flavored ice cream that I’d had two years ago, but had managed to miss last year. Also discovered that it’s available year-round at Cary Town Center. Danger.
  • Went through the entire vendor building. I bought sparkly eye shadow (almost inevitable) and Meghan got honey cotton candy. (I tried it, but it turns out I prefer my cotton candy “straight up”)
  • Played waaaaaaaay too many fair games
  • Won! four fair games.* (And that was just me — Brian won, like, a million, prizes — check out the loot bag!)
  • Ate hot dogs & butterfly fries
  • Bought a monster bag of cotton candy

    • **

* I won a realistic looking dog (which I gave to Brian who was going to give it to a friend of his to whom he gave a real puppy of the same breed [which, of course, I can’t remember now), a blue pony (for Meghan), a floppy blue puppy (for Jeff) and a “Stutch” for me. “Stutch” was obviously supposed to be “Stitch” from Lilo & Stitch, but we suspect that Disney may not have been involved in the production of “Stitch” so we started calling him “Stutch”.

Other favorite stuffed critters:
Cracker Monster
Elmer
SpongePete Rhomboid-Pants
Hi Kitty
Large Bird
The Incredulous Hulk
Pikachomp

** Surprise of the day: A Monster Bag of cotton candy is (a) only 1.5 servings (for once the people who make up those numbers think like I do!) and (b) each of those servings is only 115 calories. Guilt-Be-Gone!