My TV is back! If I could roll around naked with it, I just might. YAY!

It's 10pm already. I went to sleep early (for me) last night, fell back asleep w/ the dogs briefly in the morning, got in my full day of work (I'm up by a couple of hours for the week right now), stamped all of the new catalogs, graded what is complete of the week 2 and 3 participation assignments, started my taxes (which is always a complete nightmare), and even cooked myself a REAL dinner tonight.

Life truly is becoming a blur anymore. I don't have time for anything but siting in front of a computer. I realized last night while lying in bed (I told you I have a hard time wiping out w/o my bedroom tv, but more on that in a minute) and it struck me - 2 years. I have 2 years until my 20 year class reunion. Of course, that realization occurred after I scorned myself for not making the venture onto the treadmill a two-night in a row thing. (Notice I didn't have time to get my ass on there tonight either, sigh.) Either way, I need to get back in shape before that happens. Does that classify as a long term goal?

As for the TV, I got an email yesterday that it was being returned. Of course, Samsung's ppl didn't bother to update the self-tracking information to tell me what they did. I guess I should just keep my trap shut and be happy it works when it returns, yes?

Do I have proof that my mailman doesn't deliver my mail properly? Yesterday I opened an advert from Kohl's, woot - 30% off! Then I realized it was valid Jan 12-19. Bastage! Today I get one from Old Navy that was good for Jan 20-24. Seriously not frickin cool. SUUUURE... you can deliver my tenants mail to me, and mail for people that live next door or on the neighboring street, and you can deliver crap for "Nonmon Shell" whoever the frell that is, but you can't bring me my crap in a timely manner.

Proud of myself for dusting off (literally) the treadmill last night. I was only on there for a half an hour, but it did make me feel a lot better. I had bought a pair of those funky shaped sneakers when I found them at Ross uber cheap so I broke those out. I figure they'll only be for the home treadmill so they'll stay clean enough to be worn in the living room. Walking in those feels a bit off at first but I got use to it. Butt isn't sore this morning (those sneaks are suppose to target there), so perhaps I'll try for a longer session next go round.

I know I should be at work right now and not blogging but I'm just sluggish this morning. So dreading the next snow storm that is on the way. I just want to bundle into my bed and puppy cocoon and hibernate for a week or so.

Speaking of puppies, Vixen is officially old. It seemed to happen overnight but she suddenly has speckles of gray/white in the black hair at the top of her head.

Frick. I KNOW I have an overstock gift card around here somewhere. Way to hide shit from myself.

Goals for today:
- Get the week 3 materials together and ready to post for my class.
- Write a curriculum vitae and teaching philosophy statement for an open position that sounds like it was written for me.
- Put away all of the clean clothes that have been waiting for WAY too long!
- Vacuum (ok, I might ask the roomba to help in the dining room)
- Cook myself up some sgetti to go with the meatballs I defrosted (major yum)

Very doable. Maybe I'll get on a roll and keep going. Don't hold your breath everyone.

Add to the list not choke puppy that stole half of my english muffin. You'd swear they don't get fed. I should also try and figure out what I want to do vacation wise later this year... do I stick with Alaska or scrap it and replace it with Iceland or multiple smaller cruises?

I finished "Under the Dome", which I started right before leaving for Texas last month. One month for a 1000 page book is amazing progress for me. I've got to say, I wasn't overly impressed. The only joy I got from the ending was the dog's reaction to things. Meh. Now to finish Full Dark, No Stars. Hopefully I'll find that one a little more fulfilling.

Time for some another "are you frickin kidding me" reviews of the news...

First story: Family of teen stowaway sues TSA - Let me get this straight, you're shitty parents who have a 16 year old that was stupid enough to climb into the wheel of an aircraft and not only are you idiotic enough to admit it to the world you think money will solve it. Personally, I think the airline should counter sue for endangering each one of those passengers.

Also, I have to mention how excited I was today to get a few moments of geekdom. I slapped XAMPP on the machine and got myself up and kicking in under 10 minutes. I've done that part before, but it's been years. Then I got a rudimentary version of drupal up and breathing too. Yay me, something new to dig into and get on the resume - it's been an even longer time since I got to do that! Sure, it was paltry, but I walked to the bathroom with the Officespace-esque "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta" going through my head.

Mom turned 79 on Friday. Happy Birthday mom! I had several plans in the State College area this weekend, so I packed up the girls and headed to mum's for the night on Saturday. Saturday afternoon was a Miche meeting and Sunday morning I headed back that way for my 13th tattoo. This time, it's not what you'd think. This one had anesthetic involved, probably a good thing, as it was for my eyes. I officially have permanent eyeliner - yay! No more squinty eyes screwing up my eyeliner within an hour.

Check it out, before and afters below. Yes, I look like I had been crying but that effect is from the watering my eyes were doing and the goop put on after she finished. Ignore my 10 second attempts to clear out the zits.


It will lighten and thin out a little as it heals and over time, so I think I'm going to have a fabulous end product.

I'm pretty sure I laid out the preliminary complaints about the latest car and TV issues... but if not, here's the short stories with updates as applicable:

Durango: door lock was acting goofy - started sounding like it was hitting metal instead of the nice gentle locking sound when it reached 15 miles per hour. Now it's making this horrifying squeal. Hiss. It goes in Thursday.

TV in the bedroom: was making a groaning noise when I tried to turn it on and then not turning on. Subsequent attempts to turn it on would work. I did some research on my own and learned that this seems fairly common in this and similar models and is a result of capacitors blowing. The research also told me that it would eventually stop turning on all together. That's what happened tonight, so I fought w/ Samsung's website to get the things I needed to get it fixed. Fortunately, it's still under warranty (3 years is surprising for a TV if you ask me), so I am to ship it off for repair or replacement as they see fit.

Ok, I shouldn't bitch about that, but in the mean time I have no TV in the bedroom again and that is quite disruptive to my routines.

My badge at work went all wacky on me too between yesterday and today after a request to add access through the back parking lot door. Solar flares? My magnetic personality? What gives?

Interesting day... so, they've changed all of our horror-scopes to have 13 instead of 12 signs. Love the number of course, love even more that I'm still a cancer. Yay!

Finally, after 35 years I've learned my blood type... I'm A+, which is amusing since my mother dismissively responded at one point saying "I'm O+, I think your dad was O, so you probably are too". Guess he wasn't eh?

Snapped and called one of the local places to come plow my driveway. Best $20-25 spent since... well, since the $25 I spent for lawn mowing services!

Finally, looks like some six-month long worries are fading away. It's not definite, I'll wait til the check arrives but it sounds promising - which is a good thing since my new horror-scope for 2011 says "Avoid changes in residence and major career moves now."

Is it wrong to think...

...how did that ugly-ass end up with that gorgeous person?
...that the ugliest baby on earth or what?
...it would be easier to be stupid?
...less of someone than you use to for their changes in priorities and attitudes?
...you should just be like so many other women you've known who lie, cheat, and steal their way to the man they want?

Had to tend to the furnace after it had another "episode" this afternoon. The exhaust switch was stuck... sup w/ that? Prb the same issue that cost me how much for the plumber not too terribly long ago. I guess I should just be glad I was able to fix it quickly and by myself, but I guess I need to research what is causing it, now that it's happened twice.

My weekend is dedicated to preparing for the class I'm to teach this term. It's all about writing notes at this point, so it should all be doable. Next weekend has already been eaten alive, so I know I need to get some other things done around here, wish me luck! At least the several inches of snow deters me from wanting to go much of anywhere.

It's been a busy couple of days. I did my fair share of cleaning around the house early in the weekend so I was ready for a double-dose of company on Sunday. First up was my next to last Christmas, this one with the Law's. They got to check out the recent work around the house, we scarfed some pizza, and we enjoyed some time today. As always, so nice to see them and get to bs.

From there my purple kitty's friend came to visit for a few days while in town. As a result, the girls have been quite chipper and excited to have someone to play with and we've been planning some good grub out and about. Snagged some cider, gotta heat it up and pull out the buttershots!

I missed most of the morning at work today thanks to a doctor's appt. I finally met my replacement gal doc and was told to go for a blood draw. As you well know, blood, needles, and I aren't a good threesome. Finding out it was seven vials about sent me running back out the door, but I survived it. I was just ready to get it done and over after waiting for the appointment itself, then waiting in Conemaugh's blood draw place before I decided they were too gross to actually let them stick me with a needle, then heading to Richland to get the deed done. (Frankly, if you are handed a container with pee in it and you place it on the table, then immediately turn to do a blood draw on someone I'm not cool with that. I already wasn't too happy that we had a clear view from the waiting area as I have a bit of a preference for privacy.) I figured while playing pin cushion to stop in for my allergy shot too - it's been a bit of a lapse since my last shot thanks to vaca.

No matter how many birthdays and new years eves I've 'celebrated' somehow, I'm always end up feeling a little down as nothing feels different or new. C'mon 2011, don't let me down.