I made the mistake of leaving a show about Hurricane Katrina on tv.  I sat here for a good while thinking "how awful" and feeling sympathy.  My feelings started to shift when I heard the recorded calls to police with a woman saying "but we have two small children here, what do we do?" after the dispatcher told her that all officers were off the streets for their own safety.  I was 100% back to my previous attitude after seeing the clip of a woman calling to her dog at the bottom of a flight of stairs while the dog struggled to clutch to a floating table then she says "I think she's drowning".  I actually SCREAMED at the TV "get down there and save the dog you f*cking b*tch!"  Why am I surprised?  These people were too stupid to do something to protect themselves - Why would they put forth effort to save their dog?  Why wouldn't they expect someone to risk their lives for their children when they didn't bother to take action?

I may not make all of the right decisions, but if one I make leaves my life in danger, don't feel bad for me, I deserved it.  But for God's sake - save my puppies, they don't deserve it.

I'm TRYING to be productive, that should count for something.  Yesterday I left work a bit early since my time was in and it was so nice out but the deal was sealed when an electrician called back right away.  So, the lights out front have been out for how long now, it's about time I got off my rear to make the fix, right?  I was dreading it since it seemed like the whole plug was dead and I did NOT want to kill power to the whole house (since my circuit box would need a 5 chapter book to track what was where).

Turns out, how stupid is this, the exterior plug runs into a socket in the garage via a cord that plugs in.  Yeah.  All this time I thought those plugs were for the garage door etc.  Ok, so I feel a bit dumb, and who would expect an electrical outlet to be run in such a manner?  But and it's working again, so that's that.  B mowed last night, I pulled some weeds between the houses today, so it is looking fairly tidy outside.

Last night I also ran out and found myself a new champagne diamond ring as a congrats gift to myself for my successes earlier this week.  It's a good excuse to add to the collection, no doubt.

This morning I tried to get moving as soon as I was up, stripping the bed and tossing everything into the washer.  So, the big bottle I though was soap is fabric softener.  Turns out I have enough fabric softener to get me to the next millennium, but no soap.  Time to run to the store!  From there I spent some time brushing the girls outside and getting my daily clicks on the computer in on the deck.  I do love how the trees give me shade so quickly in the afternoon.  I'll never need an umbrella at this house.

Now I am trying to find the motivation to either go for a walk or to get cleaning inside.  Always time to run the vacuum and now to scrub the kitchen floors too.  Frankly, it's just too nice out there to not be in it.  Maybe I can use the excuse of getting a few extra shots in on the camera to get out and about around town.

Today I had the best review ever of my 12 1/2 (total) years at my current employer.  Past things that I continued to get zinged on were gone from my feedback and for that alone I am so excited.  Couple it with the fact that everything pulled together and resulted in a promotion and you're looking at one happy chic.  I truly didn't think I'd be seeing this progress before 40.

This all comes at a point when I continue to worry for some others, but I know I have to find the joy in this I've worked for.  To those I love with things going on, please don't think I've forgotten your troubles and dropped you from my ongoing prayers.

Hey Petco, "New Lower Price" tags should not be put on items that are not the same as a previous item.  That's right, I consider the 33lb bag of dog food that is sitting in a shelf where I previously bought a 40lb bag of dog food to be a different product and you damn well better believe it should be at a lower price.  Fortunately for you, the price per lb still works out to be the same (I'd take less in that case if you're offering), or I'd be forced to wield the keyboard of a strongly worded letter *smirk*.  Americans really are idiots if they fall for this crap.

It's been a bit of a sad week.  I watched one friend pack up his things to leave the company and I heard another is having even more surgeries.  My fingers are all picked to sh*t again. I really need my scheduled vacations, but in the mean time I stressing about meeting personal deadlines and accomplishments before said vacation.  I really am mental.  Spent too long last night running for a tarp and cutting it to go down over the garden plants as they were calling for a frost - nothing happened, thank goodness, but I did jockey that stuff around and hauled the plants in from the front porch again too.  What a pain in the butt.  C'mon nice weather, time to stick, maybe the sun will lift my spirits.

So, if I buy things that aren't worth what I pay for them and stop paying my bills because I'm too stupid to understand the concept of a budget and living within my means you'll cut me a break?  Really?  Is that the best thing to demonstrate to deadbeats everywhere Bank of America?
I'm referring to this article:  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bank-of-america-offers-principal-reductions-to-200-000-homeowners.html
 
I make my payments on time, hell, I'm ahead of schedule - you should cut ME a break.  But no, instead, people like me get punished for the irresponsible behaviors of other borrowers.  Please Darwin, help us out.

I neglected to mention that last night's show was pretty frelling good.  A bit heavier than what I'll typically go after, but I was definitely enjoying it.  There was some sweet drum work, fun visuals, and great company.  Thanks for a good time Samara.

I have three very displeased dogs today.  Vixen was already needing a bath, so when Saffy starting digging at the gate again (I really need to find a solution to stop that) and also needed a bath it was time for everyone to get one.  You'd swear there was some type of torture going on at my house based on the cries and yelps coming from the back porch where Saffy was contained to shake off while I took Vixen to the tub, then both of them having a fit while Dani was getting her scrubbing.  We've finally calmed back down a bit, two relaxing in the sun on the deck to dry and the other still all foul in the basement where her grumpiness is best contained.

This day has to go down in the records.  I briefly fought off getting up at 8am but embraced it pretty fast and got myself moving.  By 1:30 I had already hit the bank (to learn they do NOT do currency exchange, despite the email from them just weeks ago saying they do and explaining the fee structure), bought plants for the newly filled garden area (13 tomato plants, 4 cukes, 6 peppers), planted said plants, and stopped by Matthew's Party.  Got the other tragus pierced (since they have a good deal going and I have been debating it for a while) and dropped off images for him to work on my next ink.  Nothing better than bleeding from your ear as you walk out of a joint :/

From there it was too the couch, but in a productive way.  I created a draft memo of recommendation, a letter of intent, and transcript request forms created to be printed and prepared to send.  I still loathe that you have to pay for this.  I'll never understand why that can't be a thank you for the 30k you dropped with them.

I tried to grab a quick nap but wasn't really tired.  The best part of laying there w/ the windows open is that laundry was in the dryer.  With the configuration of the house the lovely scent of lavender can then waft back in through the open window.  So, now I'm heading out to an all ages show at Ace's - a friend from Toona's band will be there.  I'm running a bit early, so I think this is a good excuse to head out early and catch a martini at the Backdoor Cafe before hand.  I don't know if I'll make it through the evening to the finish line (Coney Island) but I know I'll be deaf in one ear as I sure can't shove in ear plugs.

Ah pharmacology - three cheers!  After the vet trip last week the doctor called today with Vixen's blood test results.  She has been on thyroid meds for a while now, partially because her levels were a bit low (and she's always been a bit heavy) but mostly because that could have been a factor in her moods.  There are two levels they re-check (yes, I know there are 6-panel test, but ours is 2).  For the one she has always been within range, even on the lower end, enough so that he would have upped her meds before, but in the second she was right at the top number threshold for where we wanted to be.  This time she came up lower.  Perhaps because she's gained weight or something else changed, but we'll be upping those meds.  I am hoping to see an even more distinct improvement in her moods.
 
To revamp for those not in the know, Vixen probably got told "knock it off" or "seriously, shut up" 20 times a day as she was always growling at her sisters and even stirring up fights that she ended up losing more often than not.  Since the meds we're down to like 5 times a day on those comments, so significant improvement.  Also, while I hate to say it out loud as it usually means a fight is in the imminent future, she's not stirring things up and even able to walk up to a person who they are competiting for attention from without raising my nerves that something could escalate quickly.  Thus, I am really hopeful things will become even better at our house.

It's so not fair.  It's darn near 80 out there and gorgeous.  I so would rather be outside than grading exams that I got the broken branch down and started scooping poop.  I mean, I can grade after it's dark right?  I really should get a walk in too while the warm holds.  For now, time to eat... it's going to be a long night.

And... within 15 minutes of discovery on a kick as balcony rate for a 7-night Bermuda I have a second cruise on my calendar for this year.  I'm mental.

The semester is pretty much over... I just need to sit down tonight and grade final exams.  Admittedly it is a bit of a relief, but it's been a fairly smooth semester.
 
So, the other big and related topic is that I have been looking seriously at another Masters degree, this one - cringe - is through Penn State.  I've started pulling together pieces I would need here at work to apply for reimbursement.  Fortunately, the new program has potential to help beyond the old one, which would be needed for this to be a real option for me.
 
It is a 2-year condensed program, meaning 7-week courses.  Yeah, I'm crazy, right?  I had ppl promise to talk me out of it if I ever started thinking this way again... but I have really had it on my mind.  I tinkered briefly with the thought of a doctorate, but I just don't know if I could survive that, nor do I think I have the deep ideas and opinions needed to ever aim for it.