Archive of Marcia's Musings April 23-29, 2001
Sunday, April 29, 2001
Updated at 7:00pmGood Morning!!
Its amazing how a GOOD night's sleep can make you feel like a human being, isn't it? Yeesh!! Not a peep out of the apartment downstairs last night-- is that a surprise to anyone? On our way out to run errands yesterday, we went into the office (one door down from the apartment where the party took place) and talked with the leasing agent. He came out and we showed him the "remants" of the party: trashed flowers and bushes, broken window, beer bottles and cans, soda cans, something that looked like . . . okay, I guess it was salsa. He was not pleased. While I don't know how much of the clean-up he did, he did have to do at least some of it because it is his building-- the building where prospective tenants come to look at to see if living here is what they want and most of them do not want to live with a party animal. Well, DAHHHHH!!!!!!!! That makes sense to at least the occupants of the other 26 apartments here!!
Later, we heard the window being replaced. As he was leaving, the leasing agent came by to ask us to write down what we saw and heard. (We asked about the window but he is not the one who ordered it to be replaced-- they were at least that smart!!) He said that he had a number of people come into the office complaining about it. He is asking all of those who verbally complained to write it up so that the manager (who will be in today) will have it in writing in her file for "use" with the tenants in question. Hmmm, doesn't sound very good to me.
Filoli Gardens
Okay, I've finished the pictures for the Filoli Gardens trip-- I've got it linked on my Meanderings page even though it isn't an "official" Marcia & Brian trip. I'll take him there sometime soon-- he's gotta see it-- but in the meantime, you'll see my perspective of it. When we go there together, I'll replace these pictures with the ones from our trip.
Lots to Do
And very little time to do it in . . . strike that! Reverse it!! We are going to the grocery store for the weekly lay in of supplies and I need to make a run to the beauty supply store for shampoo and conditioner.
I'll be back later, I'm sure.
Have a nice day!!
Yes, yes!! Now remember this later in the week or next month when I have to take a night off for my own sanity!! I'm going to so that I don't get those nasty emails about not posting daily!! I've done two posts per these past two days so that has to give me a "credit" somehow.
Activities of the Day
Well, let's see, in addition to speaking with the manager of the apartment complex, the two of us took a little stroll around the staircase where the damage was and ran through some of the things that had been fixed before "Mom" came home from wherever she was on Friday night. The manager and I had a really nice chat about the situation-- Mom isn't going to be happy when the manager is finished "talking" with her.
My Sister's Site
Okay, so it belongs to her husband, too but what do I call it?? "Sue & Bill's Website" has been updated. Most of it is seamless stuff that you can't see unless you paid a lot of attention to the paths in the Location Bar before but something that's noticeable is that the journal and journal archive have new backgrounds. Dark backgrounds are "pretty" but they sure are hard to read!! I suggested they change the background and they chose a much nicer and more readable background for it.
BBQ
When we went to the grocery store, they had peppers on sale so we picked a couple of yellow ones up and that, along with some zucchini and mushrooms (for me-- Brian won't touch them) are going to make for a nice munch with our steaks for dinner. Nummmy!!! Speaking of which, I need to go start the marinade!!
Have a nice evening!!!
Saturday, April 28, 2001
Update at 6:30pmI Am Not Pleased
Last night's neighbor's party started out pretty okay. People started showing up around 7:30 or 8pm so I shut our front door. I can't stand the smell of cigarette smoke and I didn't want it coming into our apartment. Brian and I sat down and started to watch our movie but found out that "Whose Line Is It Anyway" was on so we watched that until 9 instead. After that, we started the movie and weren't very far into it when we heard breaking glass!!! We both ran for the door and down the stairs-- yes, someone had gone through the window but apparently just out of drunken stupidity as opposed to a fight. That's when it got a whole lot worse.
At one point, a neighbor from another building was doing her laundry in our laundry room which is across the way from where the party was being held. She walked across and told them to quiet down because of the door slamming (see below) and the drunken behavior! Of course, these "kids" knew better so they just turned up the volume and started talking louder!!
By about quarter to eleven, one of Janet's party guests had wandered upstairs to our patio asking what our problem was-- we'd been standing in our doorway watching, not saying anything. Brian told him to go back downstairs; Janet came back up after him and apologized. Brian informed her that an apology was not even remotely going to help this one-- I told her I was disappointed. When she had "warned" us that there was going to be a party, I assumed (I know-- that was my first mistake) that her mother was going to stay (if her mother was there, she had to have been drugged because she wasn't controlling this party!) and that there were going to be a few people there-- 10-20. There were probably 30 or 40 people there and they were spilling out onto the courtyard being loud, drunk and annoying.
Oh, yes, we called the police around 11:15 but my guess is that we're not the only ones who called the police. One of our neighbors called us and complained to us about the amount of noise that they were making and that neighbor lived across from the noise!! My guess is that there is going to be a mass exodus to the complex office to complain about this one today.
It finally got quiet enough to go to sleep around 12:30 or 1 in the morning-- it was quiet-ish after the police left but we could still hear someone playing guitar and every now and then the door slammed. (And that slamming, probably happened 60 or 70 times during the entire night-- no, unfortunately, that's not an exaggeration!)
So here it is almost 9 and Brian's still in bed, I'm awake and not happy. The good news is that two of the guys who work for the complex live in the next two apartments to our left on the second floor. At least one of them surfaced when the glass was broken-- nope, I don't think this tenant will be here for very long, either. The cost on the replacement window will be very high or hey, no one's under lease anymore so her rent could go up really high really soon, ya know?
We'll keep you posted-- I'm on to create a report page from yesterday and, if I can think of anything to put on it, a "Book Review Page" for the Netwidows. "Book Reviews" sound too much like "Book Reports"-- I've never liked that and always thought it should be left to the professionals.
I'll update again later when we finish our day-- have a nice day!
Brian and I went on a little adventure today to Stanford Shopping Center. He never tells me where we are going on these adventures of ours so I stupidly said: "Do I need to bring my purse?" and, of course, being in fear of another pair of shoes landing in my closet, responds with an emphatic "No." I've gotta learn to watch and listen for tones when he says those things!! We picked up a couple of things: he specifically went with the goal of going to Smith & Hawkin as there was a gardening coil that he wanted to get-- pretty neat, too. Now he has a "hose" going from the kitchen sink to the plants and it can reach all the way down to the last plant!!
We walked through a bit of Stanford Shopping Center because neither of us had been there in a long time. There's a "new" store that we hadn't been in before called "Cornelia Park". Colorful store-- looks like a lot of stuff bought/sold/traded out of the "Alice in Wonderland"-- see the table in the picture on the website I have linked? That's $14,000.00 of table!! It is really cool looking though because, and you can't see this from the picture, the legs on the table are painted uniquely (each completely different from the next) in bright and pastel colors and designs-- truly unique!! I don't know if it included the eight chairs that were set up with it but it is still pretty cool!
We really had a good time and it was lots of fun to do that walking around thing with him again-- I doubt that it'll ever get old!
Time Re-Schedule
Both of our time schedules are off today-- probably a lack of sleep and late rising combined. Its 6:30 almost as I write/publish this and, while I've accomplished quite a bit, I don't feel like it is much past two in the afternoon!! I hate that!! Oh, well, I'll survive. This afternoon I've been working on re-publishing my sister's site-- it has expanded a lot more than I ever thought and, as a result, I've kinda just thrown things together-- need to fix it up right!!
Onward and upward, as they say!! Its gonna be snack night for dinner since we had lunch at 2:30-- have a nice evening!
Friday, April 27, 2001Bandwagon
Yep, I joined it, too! See up there? Right above today's date-- can't miss it!! The person ya gotta read-- as I said to Dan Bowman today, "There's always so much to learn from her, ya know? Pretty humbling for a supposed 'grown-up'". As she continues on her travels, Happy Thoughts, Prayers and Whatever go with her-- send yours along to her now, too. We, this community we've built on the internet, are looking for another miracle-- the first one is that she is here now.
Filoli Gardens
My department and I were at work for about 3 hours and then spent the balance at the day getting lunch at Roberts of Woodside, eating on the sidewalk and walking through the house and grounds of Filoli Gardens. It was great-- we had a wonderful time and the pictures are gorgeous!! (I'll probably have them up tomorrow at some point as Brian is downloading them now.)
The grounds and overhead views were used on several occasions (including the opening credits) for the house in Dynasty, the television series. As we walked up to the residence, I remembered seeing the building and the flowers on the television show. The house is oppulent but not over-crowded with "stuff". It actually presents well rather than as overstated as the Hearst Castle was decorated.
At about 3pm, I left and came home to rest my back-- it was killing me from all of the walking around!!
Oh, Joy!
Our neighbor downstairs (who we've since the move in have discovered is actually a teenager living with her mother and brother) is having a birthday party for herself tonight. Thankfully her mother is home but she has warned us so we won't complain about the music until it gets to be WAY TOO LATE-- even then, we told her that we wouldn't call the cops but just come down and tell her to hold it down a bit. She had a new orange tint to her hair and a stranger shape to her cut but, she was definitely dressed for her birthday in red top and black skirt with matching black lipstick. Ah, the trends these days!! I make myself feel old sometimes!!
That's All Folks!!
That's about everything that happened today-- I'll have a photo report of the Gardens tomorrow but there isn't much else to report. The pizza for our date has been ordered and should be here in about 30 minutes.
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Have a nice evening!!
Thursday, April 26, 2001Now What?
Didja ever have one of those days where you just can't remember anything you did but you know you kept busy all day? Yeah, well, I had one today. The feeling is too weird, let me tell ya!!
I worked on documents and finished one up this morning, finished a couple of NDAs up and for lunch, we all took our admin, Nina, out for Admin Assistant's Day. She had to take her husband to the hospital for some tests (yes, prayers could help-- it was a test checking something in his spine so it is a little scary for them) so we couldn't go to lunch yesterday. (In my day, by the way, it was "Secretary's Week" and we were given flowers and lunch out and a card and a whole lot of nice stuff every day if they knew what was good for them!) After lunch, I was met by a phone call from John, the AVP, and it was busy-busy-busy from there until I left for a re-check at my dentist's office. (Everything's fine, thanks!)
When I got home from the dentist, Brian had already started the laundry so I worked on a documents that I brought home from work. Brian does the first part of the laundry (sorting it and putting it in the washer and the tossing it into the dryer) and I do most of the hanging and folding at the end. Then, I made dinner and finished up the documents afterward. They are off to the office to
arguenegotiate with the customer about tomorrow. Get this: The customer won't give me a workable version cuz he doesn't want me hiding anything in the documents. "Hey buddy!! Ever hear of a scanner???" (Not to mention my typing speed that's a leftover from the aforementioned secretarial experience.) Yeah, well, he got an email saying that I was scanning the documents in and there would be changes to at least one of them before we would reach agreement so the deal wasn't going anywhere tomorrow. I think I was getting tired by this time-- couldja tell?Non-Weekend
Well, our Friday night date plans are firming up: Brian's turn to plan so its pizza and a movie at home, specifically Blazing Saddles. We bought it on DVD a few months back and still haven't watched it-- that may be a good thing, who knows?
Saturday and Sunday are intended for really relaxing times with the exception of a few errands that we need to do and my ironing (we did laundry so ironing has to follow, right?). I've only got a few things to iron so if I don't let them pile up, I'll feel like I don't have a lot to do each time. Sounds good anyway.
Other than that, we have very little planned and I like it that way. I've got my desk to clean off and some writing to do of my own-- I am working on that new play now, ya know? Well, hopefully, I can get some writing done!!
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I'm going to give this a rest for the night-- you have a nice evening, 'kay? 'Kay!!
Wednesday, April 25, 2001Memories
I'm having a hard time starting this post tonight. Today would've been my father's 80th birthday. I remember my father even though its been 17 years since he passed away. The odd thing is that I can't imagine what he would've looked like if he had lived to be 80. He wouldn't look like his father because his father was taller and balder than my dad ever would've been. I suppose he would've followed the appearance of his mother but I didn't see her very much in the last few years of her life because I had moved to Dallas.
People quite often ask if I miss my parents: "Yes" is always my response-- I miss not seeing them but more importantly, I wish they could see me and my life and my wonderful husband now. Yes, I think of them daily.
Amongst Us . . .
Well, once again, Barbara Fritchman Thompson has graced the world with yet another excellent review of websites; this time, the topic was "Mystery and Crime Fiction on the Web". Besides being a pleasurable read, there's some really great info in there!!
Congrats, Barbara!!!
Interesting Search Responses
"can i wear white shoes after easter"
To which one responds in a thick and heavy Olympia Dukakas Steel Magnolia's drawl: "Oh, honey, its the ONLY time to wear white shoes, but only up until Labor Day, that is."
Don'tcha just love the fashion plates that started these myths? Unfortunately, I now have it infused into my very fiber that you don't wear white shoes before Easter and it looks strange to me-- verily, foreign-- if someone does wear white shoes before Easter. I tend to look at them as though they are either heathens or aliens from another planet.
"three way chat in icq" - Yep, that's happened on more than one occasion with me and my sisters-- a fun time was had by all!!
"fisherman's warehouse" - These guys have gotten their fair share of free advertising on my site in the past!
"who to get a dutch girl to like you" - That was a marriage proposal that I received. Oh, yes, he was shut-down, blocked off and immediately sent to the KILL file!!! (Thanks for showing me that, Honey-- it has helped!)
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Well, while it would ordinarily be "How To" night, for the next couple of weeks, that PBS channel is having their annual auction to raise funds. Of course, I don't have anything that I can spend AGAIN on the auction-- just ticks me off how this always falls right after tax time. Daah, people-- get a clue!!!
Oh, well, you have a good evening-- I'm going to go work on a play!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2001Happy Birthday, Brian!!!
Back Early
We're back earlier from dinner than I had expected!!! We went to dinner, for Brian's birthday, at his favorite restaurant-- Fiesta del Mar. He ordered carnitas-something and I had chicken enchiladas; both dinners come with beans and rice. Of course, we started out the meal with the chips and salsa-- they have the second best salsa there!! (The first best being Brian's salsa!) We talked and chatted and had a good time but, we did not tell the waiters that it was anyone's birthday-- that wouldn't have been nice!
I say that based on the fact that while I agreed to not do anything publicly about his birthday, I didn't say I wouldn't have fun privately!! I was planning on being nice in the restaurant so I was only "half-nice" in the store when I bought his balloons and cards-- two: one not-nice and one nice. I also bought some flowers for him. Brian has pictures on his site-- and he says he's not proud!
By the way, I posted the pictures from the "Just a Bunch of People Getting
Together For 'No Particular Reason' on a Sunday" party-- Enjoy!!!Weather Report
HOT!!!! Its supposed to be cooler tomorrow but, as I write this at 6:24pmPDT, it is 87F. Between "Winter" and "Summer", isn't there supposed to be a season called "Spring"??? Last week it was pouring down rain like a winter day and today, its summer so somewhere along the way we missed something . . . oh, yeah-- we missed spring!!! Hopefully, it'll stay nice the rest of the week but cool down a little because my department is going to the Filoli Gardens on Friday of this week. If the weather looks like its going to turn bad, we'll go Thursday instead but we've been trying to get there for over a year now!! It'll be nice to go there-- Yes, I'm bringing the digital camera along so there will be a ton-o-pictures!!
Happy Administrative Assistant Day, Nina!!!
This note is particularly for our Senior Contracts Administrator, Nina. Nina has been with us for over a year now and has taught us all about "Bonding" with each other. We've taught her all about contracts and how to address FedEx labels so its an even trade! In reality, she is great and although she's not nearly old enough to be our mother, she holds the crew together and has a wonderful sense of humor and laughter that can bring you out of the foulest of moods after a bad conference call!! Thanks, Nina-- we're SOOOOOOOOO glad to have you working for and with us!!
More Sad News
Kaycee gave us some new today . . . not news that we wanted or expected but news that we needed to hear. Our prayers and thoughts are with her, her mom and family-- now, as always.
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I'm going to go pull Brian out of the office-- its his birthday and we need to celebrate tonight!! (Get your minds out of the gutter!!)
Have a nice evening!!
Monday, April 23, 2001What a Demanding Bunch!!
Okay, okay, already!! Remember back a couple of weeks ago when I was doing two posts-- and long posts at that-- a day??? Yeah, well, go divide one of them up and then we're even, okay? Yeesh!! No, I didn't post yesterday-- my sincerest apologies already!! I was perfectly healthy but, I wanted to spend the last few hours that Natali was here with Natali-- too much to ask? Sorry!!
I'll make up for not posting over the course of tonight and Wednesday night's post-- tomorrow's may be kinda thin, too since we won't be here for awhile tomorrow night. You see there are no birthdays around here tomorrow so Brian and I are going out to dinner for no particular reason. (Please tell me that was a strong enough hint-- actually, better yet, tell him!!)
Sunday's Activities
Brian, Natali and I rendezvoused with Brian's sister (Barb), her husband (Mike) and Alex and Robbie, the "Little Ones", at my in-laws' house in Orinda yesterday for a lunch of sandwiches and salads and something that looked like a cake-- yeah, but there were no decorations or candles or anything on it. A good time was had by all-- I have really got great in-laws. (I know, I've mentioned that before but that always bears repeating-- its a really great thing to be able to mention repeatedly!!)
We came home and Brian retreated to the back and Natali and I watched "Erin Brockovich"-- Natali hadn't seen it for awhile so . . . We all ate leftovers from Friday night's Chinese dinner and had some chips to nibble on as well. Around 8:30, Brian came out and we played a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit-- well it was rousing 'til Brian and Natali couldn't read the questions anymore cuz they were too tired!!
Early Rising
For the first time since she'd left San Luis Obispo, Natali had to get up early-- I woke her up at 6:15 so she could be awake enough to get in the shower when I was finished at 6:45. Brian had bounded out of bed to get into the shower and start us on time this morning-- that helped a lot!!!
Natali had to get up early cuz she was going into the office with me and while she was there, I made sure she got a good breakfast in the cafeteria and met a few of my co-workers. She had a chance to surf the web and fax for her transcripts to be sent somewhere so she wasn't totally goofing off. At about 9:15, we left to go to the station and, for whatever bizarre reason, we got to the station at 9:30. Traffic for me was backed up in the direction that I would have to drive back through so I made a mental note of that. When I got her to the station an hour early for her train, I gave her a hug and told her to be careful and then, I set out to go back to work.
I called my own person "MapIt Guide" and received directions for how to avoid the back-up on Guadalupe Parkway (Left on San Carlos, Left on Market, Right on Santa Clara, and Left onto 101 Northbound). Perfect!! It still took me a half-hour to get back to work!! She's worth it though-- Natali is a really great person. Lots of fun to be with and spend time with-- she's even invited us to San Luis this summer; if her roommates leave for the summer and she's alone, she'll have the house to herself and have plenty of room for us to stay with her!
Background Vote
No, Bob-- Harry still didn't win!! Give it up already, will ya-- the fat lady has done her encore!!!
In a unianimous decision, the background style of composition notebook stays and, if the lines don't line up once in awhile, sorry but I am a geek's wife, not a geek and that's the way it just happens some times. Thanks to all of you who voted!!
Sad News
I'm sure most everyone has heard the news about the missionary plane that was shot down over Peru. Those were, indeed, friends and co-workers of Bill & Sue. Bill mentions it in the weekly journal update this week.
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On that note, I have pictures to edit so I can post them either tomorrow or Wednesday, depending on our schedule doing nothing . . . nothing at all!!
Have a nice evening!!!
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