Archive for August 21-27, 2000Musings of My Mind
Sunday, August 27, 2000
Short One Today
Well, why not? I put enough up yesterday, didn't I?
Let's see, so far today, we've made a Costco run-- my favorite but, in addition to the restock on Coke, we got a DVD player. Again, I think we're one of the last on the block to have one of these but, at least we now have one. So far, we've got Pink Floyd's "The Wall", "The Green Mile" and "Eyes Wide Shut". "The Wall" was purchased when Brian bought the second computer for his office; it came with DVD so . . . geek philosophy. "The Green Mile" I picked up today because I've been wanting to see that movie so bad-- you put Tom Hanks in a movie directed by Spielberg and I'm there! (Well, no, wait a minute, I wasn't "there" for "Private Ryan" but that's cuz the first ten minutes were a bit much for me. Other than that, I'm there. What can I say?) "Eyes Wide Shut" was purchased because I've wanted to see it but didn't want to go to the theatre and didn't want to pay full price for it. Its Kubrick's last film and, that was the attraction for me. DVDs are quite expensive so we won't be buying a lot of them but we will be replacing the VCR tapes that we consider classics, i.e., "Auntie Mame" and "My Fair Lady". I've already found a place where we can buy used DVDs at less than Costco's price and, according to this place, they are guaranteed for 30 days which means if they have a scratch, we'll get our money back. I've gotta find a better way to work a discount at buying them though-- they're really expensive! And, no, just like VCR tapes, we won't rent . . . just don't do it!
Other than that, I finally got the Circulon and other pans washed and put up along with removing the old set. I'll be working on some major muscles using these pans, I can tell-- they are heavy!!
Anyway, that about covers my day with the exception of the evening yet to come . . . that'll be more ornaments. I'm already having fun with this year's production!
Have a good one!
Saturday, August 26, 2000
(Update at 11:45am and again at 8:05pm)Today's Plans
The Fins have the luggage and the bicycle to sell with their stuff; hopefully, I'll make a buck or two but its not mandatory at this point. Brian just wants to get the stuff out of the garage . . . like its going to help with the space problem . . . yeah, sure, Honey, it'll help . . . really!
Other than that, errands to run and people to miss or catch, as the case may be. I've gotta get a gold inked pen for writing on the ornaments (some of them) and I'm already almost out of white paint.
I'll probably be back later . . .
Not a bad way to make a fast $70, eh? We have "prime real estate" for our garage-- near a main intersection in a comfortable Silicon Valley suburb so, yes, the sale was going well. Actually, Christina and Marko had planned to start the sale at 10am; I went down at 9:40 to put out the luggage and bike and the people were lined up!! At one point, there were 20 cars in front of our building!! We are never going to give stuff away again-- I'm now convinced that everything will sell in a garage sale if you put the right price on it!!
The good news for me is two-fold: 1) the bicycle that is the last remnant of my evil ex-husband is now gone (believe me, no tears were shed over that one!) and 2) I've got money to spend at the crafts store today!!! No, I'm actually not going to spend all of it because I want to go to Macy's and get some kitchen utensils and stuff to go with our new Circulon pan set. I will feel less guilty spending ANY money this weekend though!!
Again, more later, probably . . . I hope you're all having as much fun as I am today!
Well, we were lucky and found some wooden utensils that we both liked and I found a vegetable steamer; I think I've been been looking for a pan like this forever! Its a metal basket (with handles) in a pan and the basket fits into the pan; the lid has a steam hole in it. You wouldn't think this was all that hard to find but apparently it is more unique than usual. We also found a pan for making sauces in that Brian liked-- he's particular about his cookware which is a goodthing in my book!
The last stop was at the crafts store-- yes, this is two visits in a row that I've gotten him to go with me!! Scary prospect for him, you know. I think the reason that he's going with me is to keep me from spending too much money but, whatever it takes, ya know?
Robbie, Brian's sister's son, is going to be one year old next weekend and we picked up his birthday gift at the Store of Knowledge in Valley Fair Mall. In fact, that was the reason for the whole trip in the first place: we were determined to do hands-on shopping for a one year old's birthday party! ;>) Yes, we had a lot of fun looking . . .
Last but not least, I had a phone call from my cousin, Barb, from Michigan tonight-- we had a lovely chat. She is a dear woman and I'm glad we've gotten to know each other as adults as well as having known each other as children.
That is all there is to post for today-- this has been a lot for me for a weekend!
Speaking of which, I hope you have a wonderful rest of tonight and I'll catch up with you again tomorrow!
Friday, August 25, 2000Dental Update
Well, I feel MUCH better today! I went to the dentist for follow-up yesterday and had some of the stitches removed. (There are a few left but those will come out next week.) The bigger of the two bone graft areas is, in fact, very infected: the dentist said I had a "good infection"-- I don't know how that can be when infections are generally not a good thing but . . . I didn't want to go there.
My stomach feels better though-- the nausea has pretty much gone away today. Part of that was due to the infection but additionally because of the Motrin, Vicodin, and Excedrin-- all of which are supposed to help you but, with continued usage can really upset your stomach. Not a good thing, needless to say.
SO, things are going to be getting back to normal in the near future, I hope. I can completely brush my teeth again-- Brian is much relieved-- but I'm still on semi-solid foods. No steak for another week or so . . .
Okay, enough for that train wreck today!
Work?
I've been having short days all of this week due to the dental problems but today, I worked a full day. We seem to be slowing a bit but I'm not sure that it isn't in anticipation of the end of the month which will be coming up in a week or two.
Other than that . . .
Brian has been threatening to put StarOffice on my system for a couple of weeks now. I haven't felt like writing so it hasn't been an issue but I'm getting an itch . . . maybe this weekend, honey?
The Finnish couple across the way are using the space in front of our garage for their garage sale tomorrow; they don't have a garage so, borrowing ours makes sense, somehow. We're going to try to sell our old luggage and my old bicycle as long as they are there and going to be watching stuff.
Brian and I are going to have Chinese take-out tonight! I should be able to eat that considering that its rice (which I've been eating a ton of this week anyway) and chicken which, if cut up small enough, I should be able to eat as well. I hope so . . . man, I'm tired of plain rice and baked potatoes!!
Have a good one!
Thursday, August 24, 2000Train Wreck
Ya know, its one of those things like a train wreck: you can't help yourself . . . you always slow down to see what you can see . . . and you can't help it. Everytime you see one of these silly things, you say to yourself "I'm not going to look, I'm going to keep going because I've got things to do and places to be and people to see" but you still slow down and look everytime.
That's sometimes how I feel about our websites: even if something negative is happening in one of our lives, we all still go back and read and read and read. Kinda sick and dimented, eh? Ah, well, we're married to computer geeks: what can you expect? Setting aside the fact that I'm married to a geek, I've decided that I'm not going to do anything negative in my post tonight. I'm tired of the whining and complaining so my readers must be, too!
Making Plans
Brian and I are going camping in about four weeks or so for two nights at Clear Lake, California. We've heard its a good fishing spot and since we like to combine at least one camping trip with fishing and neither of us had ever been to Clear Lake, this seemed like a good place to go. Last year, we went to Caswell State Park but, decided that the flies were a bit much for us to repeat going back there this year, no matter how pretty the park.
From some of the websites that I've seen related to Clear Lake, we should be able to catch anything from catfish to blue gills to trout. The thing of it is, if we don't catch anything, we'll be happy about that, too. There are a lot of hiking trails and other things to do in the area as well so we're not locked into fishing only. Its going to be hot (probably) while we're there so the likelihood of catching any trout may be slim unless we rent a boat (which is always a possibility). I do have a bass set up that the people at the Fishermen's Warehouse gave me back in June so we'll have to see if that catches anything for us. Now that I have a two rod license, I can always use one rod with an aerated worm on it for bluegills and another for bass-- I am a determined fisherperson!! If Brian's line isn't getting hit, well, he will read his book(s) and be just as happy if nothing is nibbling.
Tonight
The plans range from taking it easy to doing some painting of some Christmas ornaments. The Finnish couple across the courtyard are going to be leaving in a few weeks and Brian and I wanted to send an ornament along with them for them to remember us by-- it was Brian's idea, believe it or not! Other than that though, nothing in particular is being planned.
Have a good evening and we'll catch ya later . . .
Wednesday, August 23, 2000First Time For Everything
Believe it or not, for the first time ever, I'm actually looking forward to a dental appointment. This is probably the first time in my life. I don't know-- I could be wrong and this is really normal but it seems a bit odd to me.
This morning I called and spoke with my dentist and she agreed that it isn't normal. Antibiotics have been prescribed in an effort to thwart a possible infection that may have arisen causing the misalignment. She is insistent in making sure that I'm taken care of properly-- something I am finding a refreshing change from other dental-types that I've dealt with in the past.
Since I came home early from work and had a nap, I feel a little better but I may have to take another nap before too much longer. I'm really not sleeping well at night so although it may seem like I'm napping a lot, I'm not-- just catching up on sleep I've been missing during the night.
Aftermath
Now that the housekeepers have come and gone for another two weeks, the Christmas ornament making stuff can come out again. I have to put it up when they're coming so that they can clean in the dining room which is my only work area. I have a table protector that I put down on our dining table and a box with the main supplies in it. At this point, I'm mostly doing the painting; I haven't begun to put things together yet but i've got some great combinations in mind.
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Its also "How To" night on PBS and all of my cotton shorts are screaming to be ironed-- so many choices!
Have a good one!
Tuesday, August 22, 2000
Important Update!Not Up To Snuff
Or could you tell? I stayed at work all day today-- I'm really tired. When I came home, Brian had already started the laundry and, had I not offered to help, would've finished it. I did help, however, with folding and hanging up clothes.
I've got a fairly big deal coming down the pike at work-- to be honest, I've still not seen any numbers but this is not totally surprising since getting a quote from a sales rep is like pulling teeth (yes, I know, Bob-- a cruel reference indeed!). The good news is that I'm not trying to buy the software, just license it to the customer. When it comes to giving the customers the quotes, the reps are right there, on top of it, like they're supposed to be. I suppose that's why the stock keeps going up, eh?
I didn't want to complain but there's still a lot of pain in the bone graft area and now its beginning to feel like my teeth aren't lined up like they were before the procedure. Oh, boy, more fun! Thursday I go back for a check so hopefully, everything will be okay.
Its going to be a short evening for me tonight . . . not much energy and too much soreness!
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Important Update from Keri Beland!!I couldn't stand the mystery anymore-- I had to know what was happening with Keri and Matt's interviews so I sent an email to Keri today. I offered to post an update for y'all so here it is:
With regard to Keri's Interview: "The interview SUCKED weasels through a straw (really, really bad). I'm NOT impressed, so my plan of this morning is going to be go to the Aquarium and CSC and get info and apply."Needless to say, they've had an extremely successful trip and are really excited at moving back to the Seattle area!! Keri'll be back home tomorrow night and update us all more then or soon after, I'm sure!!Matt's Interview: "Matt's been offered such a good deal, that I don't have to work if I don't want too."
Yippeeeeee!!!!
Congratulations Keri & Matt!!!!
Monday, August 21, 2000Well, Its Like This . . .
The plans of mice and men weren't included in my game plan for the day. I was going to be brave-- I was going to go to work and stay there. I lasted until a little after 1pm. The bone grafting is what hurts-- if it weren't for that, I would probably say that I'd have little, if any, pain!
I came home at 1pm, broke a Vicodin in half and put an icepack on my cheek/jaw again. I slept for about an hour or so and that helped. It hurts again now which, of course, makes dinner-making interest as usual.
I didn't have much to catch up on at work since nothing seemed to move forward . . . don't know the explanation for that other than I'm going to have to call the AVP for the area tomorrow to find out what's up with a deal that we've got going. Its one of the biggies for the quarter and everybody's being really quiet about it which of course, makes me very nervous.
I hate to say it but there is very little to report tonight. Its better that way, I suppose.
Don'tcha think?
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