Holy shit it 2010!!!

I a little mssed up right now, yeah I know I shouldn't livejournal and drihnk lol but you all know I can be so fucking entertaining in this condition haha :).

New Years was awesome this year cos Greg had the night off from his doorman job :D. We kinda kept it low key by going to a chruch family frineldly function but we were allowed to bring our own boooze so we did and I am a lil fucked up right now lol.

I can't believe that the Jewels gave me the WHOLE FUCKIN DAY OFF. WOOT!!!'

I love you people so much I wanna cry right now so I better get off of here before I do.

Greg I love you more t han life itself *sniff*. :').

Well here it is, a few hours until a new year, and I cant say it feels any different. This year hasnt been the best for alot of you, I cant really say it was either good or bad. Some good stuff happened, and some bad stuff happened. Thats the way things go. But I dont blame anyone whos glad to see it end, and heres hoping the next year is a great one, for us all. I hope all of you have a pleasant and safe New Years Eve, and a great New Years day. I'll be crashing early, I have to go in early since Steve will be drunk, but I'll be off early. See you all next year, my friends!

I just got back from taking Mom to the emergency room again. She had been doing very well until today, then she started getting cold chills, shivering, etc.

We spent a few hours there and, once again, they did all kinds of tests (blood teat, chest x-ray, EKG, etc.). They said that everything looked good except that she does still have an infection (she is still taking antibiotics) and that she was a bit dehydrated. They gave her some saline solution through an I-V and released her with instructions to drink a lot of water and cranberry juice.

They told her that last time, though, and she didn't listen. This really is like having a disobedient kid.....

Ok, got the Dyson ball vac today. I can say its pretty nice, its light, turns on a dime, and has good suction. My only complaint is, the directions didnt make it real clear how to put the handle on it, but eventually I figured it out. Was it worth 365$? If it lasts and does as well as it has so far, I'd say yes. I looked at regular vacs and the cheapest ones still run over 150$, so I suppose if something is well built, you get what you pay for.
Also today, Booch and I caught a matinee of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, THE SQUEAKAUL. I really liked the first one because of the CGI 'munks. They were really cute and funny. The bad part was putting up with Jason Lee and his goofy tooth gawping grin and annoying voice. I am happy to report however, this one has very very little of him. This one had much more of the 'Munks and they were funny and cute even more than the original. Its probably not normal a guy like me would enjoy a movie like this, but Booch and I constantly get reminded of the weasels watching the 'Munks.
After a week of balmy temps and melting snow, it got significantly chillier.I still have an inch or so snow in the yard, and amazingly, most of the mud had disappeared, apparently my soil drains very well. Even though its nippy now and even a forcast of some possible snow over the weekend, I'm already looking ahead to Spring. I have alot of outdoor projects to try and get done this year, last year was indoors, this year will be outside. Need to redo a walkway from the driveway to the front porch, right now it has square stones which are irregularly spaced. I want to do a walkway with the odd shaped flag stone. Also need to make a flower bed alongside it at the end of the house to help keep the mud down. Booch's brother is a really decent carpenter, so I may have him put decks on the front and back of the Highcienda. What I really need is a good chunk of change to help finance all this and a few other things. LOL. Well theres always the lottery. I'm a bit worried once I get all this done the assesment of the place will go up and my taxes too....

Yesterday Gitta & I caught a late matinee showing of Avatar.

I have to say that we were both blown away by it. In fact, as the end credits came up, the whole audience started applauding. And Gitta says she wants to see it again!

When I first saw little clips of it, I thought I would like it but that it would basically be a special effects movie. While it is visually spectacular (especially if seen in 3-D), it is also very much driven by the story, which can be taken as an allegory of current events, or of history in general. That is to say, it is a condemnation of imperialism, exploitation and the rape of nature -- things that have been going on for much of human history.

But whether one chooses to see it as an allegory or enjoy it as a straight science fiction adventure story, it is completely absorbing. Gitta remarked that, even though the movie was nearly three hours long, when it ended she thought, It's over already?

I think it's very likely that Avatar will win the Rondo, the Hugo and maybe -- just maybe -- the Best Picture Oscar.

Man, what a day. Booch went up to see the family yesterday AM, she left at about 9. She got up at 5 to clean the weasels before she left and let them play. When I got up, I checked them for food and what not before I came to work. Everything looked good, peace on earth, and I even picked up a few stray poop piles which were near the litter boxes in their cages, knowing it would be late last night when I got home to clean them. So I rolled in about 11 and pitched in. Holy shit. They went nuts and made a mess from hell. I suppose alot of it was they are used to being out before 18 hours but still. There was food scattered all over, shit everywhere, a right mess. So, I started cleaning. We let them out to play while we clean. Mind you,ferrets will use a litterbox, but its not 100%. Sometimes they hear natures call and obey, whereever they happen to be. Of course last night it seemed everyone was letting the chips fall where they may. It took quite awhile to get everyone fed, cleaned, watered and put to be, and I finally crawled in mine around 3-ish. Only to be awakened at 9 by that fucking idiot little bumblenuts calling and wanting me to come in at 1 instead of 4 so he could go out to Camp Upshur. Fucktard. Up and at 'em, well the kids didnt look TOO bad, but I suppose they knew I wasnt in a good mood anyway. They proceeded to get into EVERYTHING, drop presents everywhere, climb in and out of cages I was trying to clean, pooping in clean cages before the litterbaxes where back in, making each other EEEEKKK and generally being total pain in the asses. I regret to say I was less than nice to them. I yelled at them alot and even bopped a few noses. I know it was stupid, they really dont know, but they were getting on my last nerve. Anyway finally got them all clean and put up, but felt kinda shitty for being a piss ant. Then I came to work and had to put up with lil bumblenuts ignorance before he left. Topping it off, the hell snow is really melting now, temps around 50, which is making everything outside a swampy morass, and if theres one thing I hate its mud. I feel like I'm living on Dagobah. I expect to see Yoda camping out on my lawn. Well, I got 3 hours of OT for nothing, Booch will be home any minute and shes going to give the kids extended playtime tonight. I guess I'll make up my bad temper to them tonight or tomorrow. Since I had to come in here early, I didnt pack any vittles and ended up having Taco Hell. Nice post X Mas supper. Now if only COnnie doesnt call out, everything will look better after a good nights sleep... I hope.

It has been a tiring couple of days!

Last week, as most of you probably read, Mom was ill with a bladder infection and the doctor put her on antibiotics for five days. They ran out on Friday the 18th and, on Christmas Eve, she didn't seem well. She was getting cold chills and sleeping most of the time, so I took her to the emergency room.

We got there a little past 11:30 pm and stayed until 4:00 am. Fortunately, the place was not crowded and Mom was taken right away. The triage nurse made note of her symptoms and other info and got her into an examination room, then another nurse took care of her and then a doctor -- who looked as though she were about 20 years old -- came in and talked to us and ordered all kinds of tests. They took a urine specimen, they took blood from both arms, they x-rayed her chest (they said it was because she had a slight fever and they wanted to make sure she didn't have pneumonia) and did a CAT scan on her stomach.

All of this took quite a while, of course, but eventually the doctor came in and said that the tests were good except for the urinalysis. She said that a urinalysis can have three readings: 1) definitely infected, 2) definitely not infected and 3) a gray area in between, which is where Mom's test fell.

So she gave her an antibiotic pill, gave her two more pills to get her through Christmas Day, plus a prescription for another week's worth of pills.

Mom was relieved that she didn't have to be in the hospital for Christmas. As I said, we were there until 4:00 in the morning, I didn't get to sleep until 5:00 and was up at 9:00 to do the cooking and make perparations. Am I good or what?

Gitta arrived a little after noon. She had made red cabbage to have with dinner and pumpkin mousse for dessert.

We all chatted and exchanged gifts while waiting for the turkey to get done, then had dinner, which was very yummy indeed (even if I do say so myself). Then Gitta and I watched a movie I had bought out of curiosity -- Christmas on Mars. It was bizarre, to say the least. I think Gitta hated it but I may have to watch it again to take it all in. It's a science fiction made on a very low budget by the band The Flaming Lips and it ventures into some very surreal David Lynchian territory.

I think that's about all I can say about it. If you're curious you will just have to see it for yourself.....

Aynway, I am grateful that Mom seems better now that she has been on the antibiotics for a couple of days, and that we had our Christmas as normal. And I want to thank my good friend, nurse extraordinaire sharkbait for her advice and support during Mom's illness.

And I also want to announce that Gitta gave me a son. Well, sort of, She made a Hujoo for me -- a vampire boy named Kip. She tooks some pics of Kip and Nyssa (the first Hujoo she made) standing in front of my spooky black Christmas tree. When she uploads them to her Flickr account I will post a link here so you can all share in our joy.

Ok, so where the hell have I been? Lets review...
Last Friday I was off, went grocery shopping with Booch who was also off. Weather said heap big snow come, so we figured fuck it. By the time we got home and put stuff away, it started snowing...and snowing...and snowing some more. When we got up Saturday AM, we had over a foot and it was STILL snowing like hell. By mid afternoon, the reading was 19" and still snowing. At this point, I went out and began to try and make headway so I could get the truck out. I had parked it just a bit down the driveway facing out. By somewhere around 9 ( STILL snowing) I was able to get the truck to the road, which was bad, but had I needed to, I could have gotten around. Booch was supposed to work next AM, so I knew we could get her there. About 10, little bumblenuts called from work to ask if I wanted to come in, he'd been stuck 2 shifts and looked like no relief in sight. I told him "NO" because I wouldnt have gone in if he was dying, anyone else, yes but fuck him. Somewhere around 1AM snow stopped. Final total at the Highcienda: 22".... Sunday I got up and took Booch to work, then back home cleaned weasels and started digging my Lil Black Bastard out. While standing at the head of the driveway, shovel in hand looking at the road, some dickweed with a tractor and plow came by pushing the edge of the road and despite SEEING ME STANDING THERE, proceeded to bury the entrance to my driveway again and nearly me with it, then drove on laughing. Good thing for him I wasnt armed. I fetched Booch from work and came home to collapse, done in. Monday I spent digging her car out and making the parking area wide enough for all 3 vehicles. She took her car to work Monday. Tuesday was my first dayshift for the month. I tried to call out, but nobody else was coming in and Connie couldnt stay. As an added bonus bumblenuts was off because of some imaginary problem, so I went in and had a good day. I found out we had a DEQ inspection Wed and I knew Steve was out of leave, so Wed I DID call out and I got errands run and got the final things for X-Mas dinner. Thursday I came in for dayshift knowing it was 1/2 day and then got a good present...bumblenuts took off again. I bought the boys breakfast and then sneaked out at 11 and came home to begin cooking. Booch had to work until 7, so I was cooking and then cleaned weasels before the kids came for supper. We had an 18 lb ham, oyster stuffing mashed taters and gravy, rolls, sweet taters and cranberry sauce. We did the presents with the kids ( I got a large Texas Longhorns rug with the football field marked on it.) Also Wed I went by the Insane French WOmans and took the cookbook back to her. Her worthless spawn didnt help her during the snow at all which I found hilarious. And so we still have over a foot of snow, but its raining like hell. Booch took a quick run up to see the family and give them their gifts and I am back on 4-12 until Monday. Hope you all had a great X-Mas!

Just want to wish all my friends a Wonderful and Merry Christmas! I love you guys!

Greg...I love you too baby, Merry Christmas <3<3<3!

I spent a couple of hours or so yesterday evening hanging out with my old friend crazyoldman52 at his house. I gave him a Salvador Dali alarm clock for Christmas and he gave me a couple of t-shirts -- a black and white Beatles Abbey Road shirt and a retro Batman shirt. Very cool apparel!

We watched a lot of cool videos on YouTube, talked about times past and present, mourned all the people we have loved and lost over the years -- basically a mixture of happy and sad talk with occasional forays into silliness.

That's what Christmas is all about.

Holiday debuggery

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Curtains

Thanks, again, for reading. Here's wishing you the very merriest of holidays. We'll see you next year!

I got a message saying that someone has added two months of paid time to my Live Journal account, but it didn't say who.

So, to my benefactor, whoever you are, I would like to say a big Thank You!

Gitta's boss gave all the employees in her department $15.00 gift cards from Barnes & Noble for Christmas.

What did our boss give us? Very flimsy, cheap looking (actually I suspect she got them free at some conference) tote bags that say, "Got books?" on them. We all noticed the irony, since the powers that be at this so-called library are getting rid of more books all the time.

Jeez I cannot believe how fast time has gone by this year. Yeah I know I've been saying that in nearly every post I've made this month. SHUT UP lol.

I am ahead of where I was last year shopping-wise, got Xmas cards out earlier than usual (i.e. before the 20th) but am behind in decorating. Which is actually ok cos no one sees our place anyways and I at least got the tree sorted out and plugged in. I still have to buy family gifts but they are gift cards so not hella stressful. Greg still needs to finish his shopping, but I am tempted just to buy the stuff for myself and pretend to be suprised on Christmas morning lmao. I love him so much :X.

There were two parties we attended a couple weeks ago, one for Yelp Chicago and an unofficial work party (with no bosses lol). Lotsa drinking and other naughty things muahahaha (pix on Facebook).

I've also been working quite a bit, not as much as before Thanksgiving but probably a hell of a lot more than I will be working next month. I am excited that I am getting out early on Christmas Eve and hopefully the same for New Year's Eve. It will be Greg's 1st NYE in 5 years that he is off and we can actually do something WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Now to get some dinner and relax :).

I woke up a little before 8:00 this morning, only to find that the power had gone out again!

I was speaking to my neighbor, Carla. She is a waitress and works the breakfast shift at Ryan's and she said it went out sometime after 5:00 this morning.

Fortunately it came back on at around 10:00. Carla had spoken to the power company and told me something I didn't know. This neighborhood is on the same grid as the fire department, so when there is a massive power outage, we probably get high priority for repairs.

Anyway, I had some breakfast once the power was back on and went outside to shovel snow again (more had fallen since yesterday). I managed to clear a path on the front walk to the street and the driveway to the street. Now I just hope they treat the street sometime before I leave for work tomorrow morning, and that I will make it off this hill and onto the highway without incident.

While I was shoveling, Carla was talking to her 3-year-old granddaughter and she asked, "Where do you think all this snow came from?" The granddaughter replied, "Maybe the skies are angry." Wise words for a 3-year-old!

And Carla's son came over to help me shovel snow (guess he took pity on me in my old age). Afterwards I tried to give him $20 but he wouldn't take it, saying, "That's what neighbors are for." That was very nice.