Not that there really is much.

Let's see, the week in review...

Barb stayed home all week and I had to go to work. Phoenix drivers remain frustrating. I finally forced myself back into the gym, and because I have been such a slug for so long, an average workout left me feeling like someone has been hammering on all my muscles. Yet I have been trying to be really easy on my shoulder - not that this has helped, it hurts more now than it did back when I first hurt it. SO not fair. Barb can hardly hobble around (see rahirah's journal for details) and I can't lift anything with my right arm, leaving my usually weaker left arm trying to be dominant when it is not. This makes grocery shopping interesting.

So today. We went to CostCo, but Barb couldn't handle it after a while and we got away with mostly exactly what we came for (cool). I went over to Fry's on my own to check on the cherries, but it's still too early and they're way too pink.

Last Saturday I got my hair cut short. I'd been dithering between short and long for the cruise, but I like the way it's come out. It's sort of a different style for me, more of an all-one-length bob with bangs rather than the usual layered "cap o' curls" I'd done with short hair before. I think I'll keep it a while.

Moonlight was cancelled. Of course. Because I'd started liking it, of course. Why did I give it a second chance, anyway? Same reason I did Jericho. Well, one less show I have to keep track of next season, where almost everything I like is scheduled on Monday. At least Chuck, Dirty Sexy Money, and all the rest of the usual suspects are coming back. Boston Legal is scheduled for only 13 more episodes, one half-season more - I'm actually glad of that, because I don't think they could sustain it too much longer, and from what I read about Shatner during the strike (how he didn't miss the show at all), I am guessing that he agreed to 13 more, and then they're calling it quits. That show really isn't much beyond the Shatner-and-Spader Comedy Hour (with some much-appreciated - at least by me - left-wing radicalisms thrown in for good measure).

Have started watching Carnivale on DVD - fascinating and creepy show. Also the uncut Dexter, also somewhat creepy, both very good. Still not worth paying for Showtime or HBO, though, especially since I CAN rent the DVDs after the fact.

Donna Noble = Second Best Companion Ever. Am loving Season Four of Doctor Who so far. Only one even slightly weak link in the whole season so far, and it's not that it was BAD, it was just weak. Could have been better.

We haven't gone to see Prince Caspian yet - soon, although I'm rather worried about the apparent appearance of teenage infatuation between Susan and Caspian, which disturbs me. I guess since they went with the slightly older version of Caspian they felt they HAD to have a love interest, but it bothers me not only because it's not in the book, but also because if they go on to Dawn Treader, of course Caspian will meet his future wife; even more importantly, Susan never comes back to Narnia. It's doomed even before it's begun (and if nothing else, these days, viewers are unrepentant shippers).

Barb and I took May 22 off to go see the earliest showing of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as possible. Yes, we ARE that geeky. We just haven't decided if we want to go for the 12:01 showing or wait until the next day.

I got my entry done and sent to the Molly Contest, a regional (Denver) contest for Romance writers of every genre - and they turned out to be VERY nice folks, who let me re-submit when the conversion between WordPerfect and Word ONCE AGAIN ruined my formatting (even in .rtf format). I talk them up because they are nice folks, whether I win or lose.

So, back to today. Laundry done, then chocolate chip cookies made, wings fried and tossed in wing sauce, overall good stuff. Now watching the very silly and, yes, I'm laughing my ass off, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.

Another good weekend. So many things I still need to do...

Because I'm kinda tired of posting when I'm feeling all melancholy, but for some reason, the PMS is not fading. I'm sitting here feeling misty reading perfectly wonderful posts from friends. Grrr. If only there were some REASON for feeling blue!!!

It was a great weekend, too. We puttered around a little on Saturday, got some stuff at Costco, roamed around Tuesday Morning a little (didn't find what I went looking for), then had a fun movie night in with framefolly and sillymagpie; the former had never before seen Throw Mama From The Train, which is really a necessity for any writer, and it'd been years since I'd seen it, so we dug out the ol' VHS and had a laugh fest. Sunday we drove out to a closeout store in Mesa, where I found out that Denny's will still cook eggs sunny-side-up (although their breakfast menu has REALLY shrunk, despite their new spate of commercials), and the store itself was not too bad, although since it's new, there wasn't a vast selection yet. I did buy a couple of shirts... now realizing I should NOT have spent any money, because now I HAVE NONE, and it's still five days until payday, and I'm trying to figure out where I'm going to get the $12 to go see Dale Watson tomorrow night at the Rhythm Room. Yes, 12 measly dollars, which would be no problem had I not spent $20 on clothes I didn't need.

ARGH. (It's the little things.)

I do have a jar full of change on my bureau, though.

Not that I'll have anything on Friday, either - I have doctor's bills still from the surgery AND I need new glasses. (I'm not even going to go into what the truck needs done. Hopefully she'll hang on for a while longer.)

Last week while working, a very familiar name crossed my desk, and I learned that the son of some old friends (I guess former friends is the correct term) had been run over and rather seriously hurt. Now, I haven't seen this kid since he WAS a kid, around 6 - he's 22, now, and he was riding a bicycle when he was hit. It gave me a weird feeling. I know these people, yet haven't spoken to them in more than a decade, so what does one do besides feel sorry in the same way one does for any stranger in similar circumstances? It was weird.

I'm tired, I didn't go to the gym today (I hurt my hip stretching yesterday; not really sure how, but it really freakin' hurts), the scale says I put BACK on three pounds (I was not careful this weekend), and I have not so much P-MS as plain MS, since there's no longer anything pre about it (finally - in the realm of TMI, it took FOUR DAYS for the damned thing to actually start). Gad. Grumptastic.

Day one, week two. Three pounds! Today I had a small can of V8, a MetRx bar, a cucumber sandwich on oat-wheat bread (homemade), a few crisps, a few almonds, some cherries, then a nice dinner of baked fish (with curry & other Indian spices), fresh basil pasta with a light butter-garlic sauce, and peas. Probably a little heavy on the calories at dinner due to the butter, but still not too bad.



The weekend was extremely unproductive, although we did some stuff, so it wasn't like I sat around doing nothing at all. We went out and did some shopping (mostly for necessary stuff - mostly) - went to the Farmer's Market downtown and got some fresh produce and a few other things, then hit Tuesday Morning; I made chicken pot pie for Saturday dinner, then Sunday did laundry and made kebobs. No further housecleaning was accomplished, so the cat fur tumbleweeds are doing their own thing in the corners. The living room (and the cats) is settling in with the new recliner. It's much larger than the old one was, but it's apparently not at all nice for scratching... which is good. It's certainly comfy for SITTING. First step in the big remaking of the house taken. Considering the strange noises coming from the pipes last night, that put-offable full copper repipe should probably start edging up on the list...

Today not bad. Got in a little workout - couldn't get myself out of bed early, but made the effort to stop after work. Go, me.

Did not write a hundred words, though. Had one review to finish and did that, though. Working on breaking the original manuscript into actual chapters. Haven't gotten the next rejection slip yet.

Saturday's Doctor Who: Squee!!! Oh, and, squee.

( Is it hot in Phoenix? We made the NY Times: )

( I guess I shouldn't assume Westerners are always going to be taller than everyone else... )

( And a quick theatre review, 'cause it's a one-man show (sort of) from one of my favorite entertainers... )

Finally, a charity everyone can afford. I may have to get me one of these.

I've been going through an M&Ms phase. This isn't a good phase, since I can eat LOTS of M&Ms. Suddenly they just taste really, really good, so I've been eating them. Hopefully it is a phase and will go away shortly. Still, I'm maintaining my weight - just not losing anymore. And I only went to the gym once last week, which is bad; but I've been very tired and drained-feeling this week - especially yesterday, when I DID in fact get up early, but then after dragging around the house with a mild headache and sore eyes, I went back to bed instead of getting dressed and getting going. I remained more or less the same all day, although I managed to get my work done anyway. (And this despite almost half the day being devoted to craft projects for Founder's Day and a retirement party for a core unit member, so everyone was not working, too.)

I managed to cull out several books, including many old romances I know I'm not going to read anymore, some duplicates I accidentally re-purchased at the VNSA sale, some CDs (many unsolicited "for media purposes only"), and those got picked up by a VNSA volunteer this morning - the office is starting to look somewhat better. I was able to clear out some space in the craft closet and put away the plastic knitting drawer and the bead boxes, so the living room looks better, too.

Next week, I hope we can buy our chairs; or at least one of them, depending on how the coupon and CostCo works. I think.

I remembered more stuff for my "I need to buy this" list, but of course I've forgotten again. Dang it. I mean, seriously, how brain-dead can I get? I seem to forget things almost the moment I think of them. Oh! Tires. Truck needs tires, badly. (Not to mention some general cosmetic maintenance, including fixing the inside driver's door, where a screw fell out and now it can't lock, and if you open/close the door without closing the window tight, it'll slip off its runners.) But then, she's going to be 20 years old next year, with over 200,000 miles - even for a Chevy, I think that's about 100, in truck-years.

I got another rejection slip. Heigh-ho, to the next agent it goes. (In an interesting slipup, and adding to my general stupidity, I apparently forgot to PUT A STAMP on my SASE. But since my name was in both the "to" and "from" spots, it got here anyway, I guess, returned for postage. A bit embarrassing. The agent probably thought I was a moron.)

( LOST was worth the wait )

We popped up this morning and I started a pot of beans (kidney and pinto) with salt pork, which are now simmering merrily away and smelling tasty. I'll make some corn bread to go with them and we'll probably eat just before we head out to see Pirates. Then we went over to CostCo to compare prices and see about an armchair - they sent out CostCo coupons yesterday which seem to indicate the chair we've been looking at (microfibre faux-suede, recliner/rocker, warm beige) will be on sale next month - in checking, it's a different chair, which is similar in color and fabric, but a little more expensive normally - however, cheaper with the coupon. SO, we'll wait for next month. So we bought a few other things, a little splurging but not TOO bad (I got Scrubs season five), and I spent less money on that than I would have on the chair, so I came out pretty well.

Then home to get some laundry done, I rearranged my shoes (it's really a sickness, shoes), and watch Lost.

My Firefox is behaving sluggishly. I can't figure out why. I try to get to a website (such as LiveJournal) and it won't load until it says "done" and then I refresh it. Getting to comments and so forth is even more difficult.

What it boiled down to was I couldn't get, and still can't get, to my sites for British phrases and such, and I can't remember for the life of me the best way to phrase something like "get along like gangbusters" coming from an Irish girl raised in London (because I'm fairly sure "gangbusters" is more American).

Yesterday's trip to the Ren Faire was fun, indeed. I dropped a small fortune on new rings for us - our old silver ones were traded in on gold, firstly because we can afford it now and secondly because this year is our 20th Anniversary and it's about time we upgraded. Spent a lot, walked around, had a grand time. It was not too cold, not too hot, plenty to do and see. Lots of shopping, as usual. I finally broke down and bought the laser-cut coin I've been eyeing for years, had a bread bowl filled with beef stew, a lovely eclair, and brought home some chocolate-covered strawberries, which we had after dinner last night. Dinner was lightly spiced chicken breasts with red curry rice.

Today is a beautiful day in Phoenix, around 80 degrees, skies very clear and even more-or-less pollution-free from Thursday and Friday's rain. We went out to do some stuff for Barb's mom and some grocery shopping, a little browsing at Tuesday Morning (looking for votive holders to hold the lovely scented votives I bought at the Faire - and not finding much of anything), and then home again.

I have to go put the game hens into the brine so they can get started. All in all, a great weekend.

So, this morning I'm sitting on an auction to buy this watch, and it had been bid up from its starting price of $.02 to about $10.50 or so. I wasn't too worried.

Then I checked and suddenly all bids had been retracted!!! It stayed that way until the last few seconds. I put in my bid... and got it for $.02 (plus S&H)!!! Squeeee! I'm so happy. *doing the dance of eBay glee* (Because, you know, I really NEEDED another watch... /sarcasm)

I am occasionally amazed, though, at how many people will run up an auction on some items early, when an identical item is sitting without any bids in another auction (this happens a lot with jewelry). Don't they watch them all, just in case?

I finished my review for the week (Burrito Deluxe), I'm having my taxes done tomorrow (hopefully some kind of refund from someone), I just got my pay raise and bonus cash so we can get our new mattress, and all is right with the world. (Even if I only got in two workouts this week.)

Today I wondered if those energy drinks REALLY had enough caffeine to affect me (because I usually have two or three cans/bottles of caffeinated Diet Coke a day), so had one of those large cans of "Rock Star" (diet). I can't say it "woke me up," but it sure made me shake! Definitely more caffeine than your average soda. Not something I'd drink every day...

On the whole, this has been a good day.

Wow, I haven't posted since Monday. I knew it had been one of those weeks.

It was busy all week because our main lead worker was out all week sick, so I was default "answerer of stupid questions" and go-to person, handling not only my own work but everything else that popped up. Which was good, because it meant I stayed busy all the time every day - no thumb-twiddling time - yet somehow it was STILL a very long week! Among the good things that happened during the week was that my credit consolidation company called and they have FINALLY reached a settlement with recalcitrant Capital One, and I should be officially Out of Debt in the next few weeks! I also was given a push to actually apply for another position - one at the same level of pay, but with FAR more opportunities for advancement - in the Marketing department. I hadn't really planned on seeking other positions outside of Administrative Services, but the job opening appeared and several people said I should go for it, so... I did. Have no idea if I'll be selected, but I took the leap!

Yesterday rahirah and I took our somewhat delayed Valentine's trip out to the Renaissance Festival, and we had so much fun we want to go back with the gang when they go next month. As I prowled the many artisan displays, it occurred to me that I am now both thin enough and girly enough to want to wear something like this or this; but everything I really liked was WAY too expensive for me to buy right now - that and I know one of the best costumers in the universe personally (tiirz), and I thought, "Well, I could commission her to make me one exactly to my specs, and that way I'd be spending that kind of money for the exact item I want, made just for me." but I did buy some pretty copper-gold-silver wire rings and a "Pirates" Aztec gold coin (let's face it, I've wanted one of those since the first movie came out), had a mighty turkey leg, saw some funny shows, and in general had a good time.

We also talked to the artist who made our matching wedding rings set, lovely sterling silver puzzle rings - because, of course, mine hasn't fit on any of my fingers since about fifty pounds ago (it traveled from my left ring finger to my middle finger to my index finger to the right hand, and now resides in a box). When you talk to him in person, he'll do a trade-in on rings, but he was one heck of a salesman and talked us into upgrading to gold - in order to get matching rings, we have to trade in Barb's, too, since we bought them so long ago. That's one reason why we DO have to go back again, once we decide how much we can afford to spend on the upgrade. Since we don't have the original price we paid (we think it was around $90 on each ring), he's only willing to give us $70 per ring on the trade - and we're not sure right now how much we'll be able to spend.

Oh, yes, I also finally bought the hand-woven poncho/cape (in "Shady Grove") I've been wanting since the last time we went to the Ren Faire, many years ago. It was expensive, but this was something I KNEW I'd wanted for some time; besides, it was actually pretty chilly out there (the Ren Faire in Arizona is way out in the desert, near the mountains, a good ways away from the city) when the wind kicked up. But the sun was warm, and it was really a good day.

I overdid my workout on Thursday and so was sore on Friday and a little of Saturday; Friday night I went out to see Dave Insley (and congratulate him on the birth of his first-born, a daughter they've named Samantha Rae), had a good time, danced a little (I was a little awkward on sore thighs), and so came home rather late (2:30); we got up at 9 to head out to the Faire, so I went down a little early last night.

( A quick meme )

Cool.

And so that was my week and weekend. Today we have to make a few quick out ventures, for basic necessities (like milk), and we have to figure out how to put the pipe back under the sink - you see, yesterday I dropped an earring down the sink, and it was a good Egyptian silver Eye of Horus my mother bought me from an Egypt exhibit that I didn't want to lose, so we pulled the trap with the help of edgedancer, and now we can't put it back. I know he's working today but I'm tempted to call him and ask if he's got a few minutes to swing by and do what he did before, just in reverse... *g* It's either that or we're gonna have to call a plumber.

Of course, having spent the day in the trap, the silver now has a dark cast to it and doesn't match its mate anymore, so I have to have it professionally cleaned, I think. Ew.

I am a total wuss.

Tuesday morning I had a dentist appointment, to have new fillings put in, and I naturally worked myself into a tizzy over it. I got there just before 7, was sat in the chair, and the doc put topical on my gums in prep for the novacaine. I neither saw nor felt the needle, yet within seconds I knew I was going under. They sat me up and left, and I was already numbing, so my mumbled, "Lay me back down!" went unheard. I woke up probably no more than seconds later, bathed in cold sweat and returning mentally from that strange world I go to when I faint, and neither the dentist nor the hygenist even realized I'd been gone. At least for a change I didn't scare anyone to death with my little mental voyage. My mouth was totally numb and the fillings were rapidly completed, including topping off one on the bottom, and I was out the door before 8, so it sure didn't take too long. (And my dental insurance isn't too bad, either; two fillings and a small repair, OOP $65 - plus they let me post-date for Friday, which is payday.) I probably shouldn't have been driving, but I managed to get to work on time, even making a stop for a drink which I needed (GOD, I miss the spit-sinks! Those suction things don't get the gunk all out of the mouth at all!), and there I worked for about an hour feeling sick and lightheaded before my intelligent and observant supervisor sent me downstairs to medical, where I laid down in one of the resting areas for a half-hour, after which I felt better and was able to re-join the living.

And I probably would have been fine if I hadn't worked myself up about it in advance!

I gained back three of the pounds I'd lost since New Year's, and haven't done anything about this situation yet, really (of course missed a workout on Tuesday and tried to sleep in yesterday, because I was TIRED) - but I'm up today and raring to go. More or less. I ate donuts yesterday because they were available and had a somewhat heavy dinner, but we'll see when I get to the gym. As long as I don't gain more, I'll be fine. I was checking my progress last year and it looks like this is pretty much how I operate - if I'm magnificently good as I was last year, most of my weight loss came in March, April, and May (post-Valentine's Day, imagine that!). Not that this means I'll slack off this month, even with See's Candies! Honest!

I need to stop buying necklaces and earrings separately. I find myself filled with this passion to find actual matches for them... part of that "became a girl suddenly" stuff, I suppose. Goes along with needing shoes for every outfit. And I also noticed I don't have nearly enough blue in my wardrobe. It really IS a sickness!

Molly Ivins has passed away. An absolutely brilliant writer, funny, topical, and always spot-on observant. The great ladies of Texas are both gone - Ann Richards and Molly - and I miss 'em. Much as I love Maureen Dowd, Molly had a sharp sizzle in her writing that Maureen doesn't; and like sillymagpie observes, one sad note is Molly didn't live to see the end of the Bush administration. 'Tis a sad day, indeed.

( Discussion of politics and the world today )

Today we went shopping, bought some bathroom rugs we did need, and went to Ross to buy clothes we didn't need. I found a snazzy pair of jeans (which don't fit yet), some pretty pink blouses, and an awesome pair of cowboy boots, all for less than $60. Then to the grocery store for soda and a few other needful things. I fired up the grill and put on a pork tenderloin and some beef ribs, let them sit while baking chocolate chip cookies. Barb made guacamole (world's best!), and we had corn, and all was delicious (although the ribs got a little charred - my old Weber is a good grill, but I don't regulate my heat as well as I should).

Back to jeans that don't fit. I'm hoping that the now three pairs of pants that don't fit well will get me off my butt and back to the gym, as well as force me to regulate my calories properly. I gained back three or four pounds in Las Vegas (I have to check at the gym where a proper scale is), but I had such a good time, well, there it is. Plus... chocolate chip cookies. But I WILL behave now, I vow!

I will also get myself back to work. Now that the holidays are really, finally over - including vacation - I must settle down to serious work. I mailed my package to the agent on Monday, so... Another wait! And while I wait, work!

I'm ripping many Christmas CDs this evening, finally getting them into my library so I can properly fill the iPod with holiday music.

Holiday shopping is mostly completed. There are a few minor things left to get, but on the whole, pretty much done. Then there's the baking and packing of the goody boxes for out-of-state friends, and viola! I have, though, bought more for individuals - I think I've lost track of how much I've gotten for rahirah and sillymagpie, just 'cause.

I once again, however, spent myself into a hole (one of those ones where everything is paid off, but I only have about $5 to last until next Friday, and hope nothing comes up). I have a problem buying things for myself while shopping for others, but I DID get a pair of boots I've wanted for ages for about $100 less than they retail for at the Last Chance store.

Last night we went to my Company holiday party, which was semi-formal and actually quite fun. The food was amazingly good, I danced a little, and I looked quite spiffy in my crushed velvet teal sheath dress. They took a formal portrait, so I'll post it when I get it. took a picture of me before we left, though.

Then I dreamed I was the Doctor (ten) and was with Rose in this large facility that was near a coast, and I knew that there was going to be a major disaster coming up shortly, but this was one structure that was safe. I remember clearly the sight of the landscape around the place being destroyed (a sort of pseudo-nuclear blast), and then the windows cracked and the sea started coming in. I said to myself, "Curious. That didn't happen last time," because of course I'd been there before and knew what was supposed to occur, and I started shouting orders to get people out quickly, figuring I'd just try and get to the top of the area by floating, but then I remembered that Rose couldn't swim and I sort of panicked as I tried to get her out ahead of the crowd. Oh, and I think there was sex. I do wish I could remember more of this dream...

It's that time of year again, and I just turned in my Top Ten (20) picks for the year - although there was really only space for 12, so I got cut slightly, so I'll post ( the entire article here )

Tags: music, shopping

I did not win a major award this year. I kind of figured I hadn't, when August came and I hadn't heard anything - and my stories did not win for the exact reasons I guessed they likely wouldn't - I ain't that good at SHORT stories. Both came back with comments praising my writing but asking for more detail; in the case of one, it is fair. It's a scene that was never in the novel, but I thought it might stand well enough on its own - and it might, with some serious work. I could, I suppose, keep them short by following many good and useful suggestions on the stories; both were basically written in a great hurry and I didn't give them the in-depth editing they obviously needed (I was struggling to keep them under 5000 words as it was). But I'm pleased to read that my characters are interesting and likable, everyone comes across as credible, and what I really need to work on is working my exposition throughout the story rather than in big lumps (which I knew, but I've always had trouble with).

So there it is. (There are two major typos on the Southwest Writers cover letter and Awards Banquet invitation. "Thank you for supporting SouthWest Writers and insuring that our annual contest was. . ." I know most people would use "insuring" rather than "ensuring," but come on! A writer's contest! And the TITLE on the invitation actually says "SouthWest Writer's Awards Banquet." !!!!!!!!!

Why isn't Headline News "HEADLINE" news anymore? Every time I try to watch for some news, I get that idiot Glenn Beck ranting at the camera. I managed to sit through him raving at the camera about how "we should get off the political correctness and just blame all Middle Easterners for everything otherwise our very country, if not the world, is at risk!" Ignoring the fact that profiling people would, kinda, in my mind, anyway, destroy our country in a far more insidious, if subtle, way. Apparently, however, the Apocalypse is going to happen on August 22. It misses my birthday, anyway. Everyone get ready!

I've been working a lot of overtime this week in my old unit, Word Processing, which suddenly got hit with a TON of dictation, largely because of the number of storms that have ravaged the southwest (yes, I work in insurance; we cover Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming). This means I haven't worked out in over a week (since I left Vegas - my last workout was Friday morning at the Bellagio); still, I managed to come home from Vegas without having gained anything, and I haven't gained anything this week despite not really counting my calories too closely. Not gaining is good, but I need to get back to the losing side. I'm wearing size 9 jeans reliably now; a belt I bought at my heaviest, a 42, and started at the very first belt notch, is now past the last notch and through the two notches I added to it - and sadly, can't go further because of the inset conchos - and I'm wearing it on my hips. Yay me. But I really do love this belt. I hope I can find one like it sometime. Because one of the girls at work put it all in perspective for me when I said I'm losing clothes I liked as I lose weight... the mantra of the shopper I've become, "But that means I have to buy NEW ones!!!" And do I? Oh, boy.

But I need to stop for a while, since property tax time is coming, and we'll need the cash for that. I think, I say, I THINK I may have enough clothes to hold me for a little while. I hope. Of course, the Doctor's wearing RED Converse next season, so... *mouth watering* I also saw the cutest Baby Phat high tops (with the cats!) last night at a trendy shoe store, and these awesome high heels... (ARGH!) Fortunately, said trendy shoe shop didn't appear to be very interested in actually, you know, selling shoes or anything (the oh-so-hot, trendy, and bored-looking clerks didn't feel much inclined to wait on a trio of old ladies... so we went down the mall to Famous Footwear).

I should have written my article on Dave's show last week LAST WEEK, when it was fresh, because I am not happy with writing it today. I don't remember enough of what was played to do it much justice. Pretty much crap. But at least it's done and submitted, along with the pictures (which ARE good). It'll be posted later this weekend, since the web mistress is at a concert tonight.

I stopped at the local Asian food market on the way home. Three cans of coconut milk for $1.68, instead of one can for $1.79, which was the price I saw at Safeway. Heh. I got two varieties of red curry sauce, jasmine rice, a variety of crackers and some cookies, cans of bamboo shoots, baby corn, coconut milk and cream, a bottle of sesame oil, and a bag of fresh lychees for less than $30.

Now I need to back up everything on my old hard drive because it's started to make odd noises when I use it. *sigh* It's got all my important files on it, although the new drive is larger. (I suppose I could move a lot of it to the new drive, as well; what bugs me is a lot of my old programs will only work from the old drive, and I never could get them reloaded properly on the new...)

Friday I received my yearly bonus. It was nice and large, and I carefully put away a good-sized chunk in what we hope will become an emergency/vacation fund (the first we've really had in our "married" lives...). Then I took a good deal of what was left and went to CostCo, where rahirah reminded me I needed a new monitor. This I knew, but I'd had my mind set on new boots. I bought the monitor. I can pretty much read this thing from across the room. It's very cool, but I'm not sure if the colors are quite correct, although I've checked every single setting through a couple of times. There's a washed-out look... maybe it's the brightness. Let me check. That didn't do anything. Also, the icons on the menu bar at the bottom are weird looking, like you can see each pixel. But it's nice to be able to read a number of websites now without having to scroll the screen back and forth.

I still want new boots.

I can't figure out why CostCo didn't have Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire. They usually have the big new releases out in a huge display. Oh, well. I did get Lady and the Tramp, and other than the usual "stuff we need at CostCo," it wasn't too bad. I paid all my bills and still have spending money as well as the stuff in savings, so I did well.

But I still want new boots. :)

Oh, that helps some, getting some of the blue turned down. The colors still look a little washed out, though.

I finished the first of the interviews and a number of people agreed they were a pain to transcribe, but we will persevere. I did request payment on future attempts, though.

Friday night I went to see Dave Insley, the best of the local Americana performers. A great show, as usual. He's a kick. I always have a lot of fun with Dave. For anyone who likes Americana (mostly country-rock styled, pure roots, with a solid baritone and some crisp lyrics), check out my buddy Dave. He's heading out to California (and Texas) for the rest of the month (you can check his touring schedule here. Be sure to note the quote under the photo on the right-hand side.

Otherwise it was another great weekend of Baldur's Gate, the usual laundry, and cats. Took Mom out to lunch today with sillymagpie, which was pretty good, and now it's Oscar time. I'm sorry Jake Gyllenhaal didn't win Best Supporting Actor, but I enjoyed Jon Stewart's opening routine.