Tales of Intrigue, Danger, Romance, and Boredom

Hump Day

2008-07-02T07:24:00.002-05:00

Whenever I think of that phrase I want to chuckle like Beavis and ButtHead (loved that cartoon, totally demented and stupid). I was a bit pressed on time yesterday morning so the best-laid plans and la la la...

Whatever.

I wish I didn't have to work this week as it is a holiday week but alas, I do. But only for today and tomorrow. Three day weekend though we expect to get slammed Monday. That's why I'm really going to try and keep my little group off the phones as much as possible this week so I can have us somewhat caught up for next week. I'm really trying not to stress out about this project but hey, I think if I get behind enough then I'll hear about it and I don't want that. Between this project, my own workload, and the upcoming training for the other project I'm set to be on... As my boss says though, job security.

Yeah. Whatever.

Happy Monday

2008-06-30T07:17:00.002-05:00

I never thought I'd write that but I figure if the rest of my day goes to shit at least I'll have this to come home to:

http://commanderbond.net/article/5282

Yes, it's the teaser trailer to 'Quantum of Solace', the new James Bond movie. And I think me and a few million fans had to hold back our screams at how good this looks. Of course since this is a teaser we don't have a lot of plot details (though what little there is is salivating) but the images are more than enough.

And Daniel Craig's shirt comes off.

Happy Monday indeed.

The Best-Laid Plans...

2008-06-29T11:58:00.003-05:00

This week is a four-day work week due to the holiday on Friday (three-day weekend- Woo Hoo!) so I guess this is a test-run of normal plans. Or better put, we'll see how often I want to get up early and exercise. And I really need to exercise because although the back pain has let off due to the heat it'll get me in better shape for the winter. That's my only intent with exercise- I really don't care about looking good. With a crooked back that ain't gonna happen.

I'm also trying to eat healthier, trying to edge more fruits and vegetables into my diet. I read a good tip this morning saying you should ease them into your diet. Good advice and I plan to take it. I do eat three meals a day (which is highly recommended) but I'm thinking that in addition to the sausage bisquits I love so much I should also add some cereal or fruit in the morning, too. Which I will, one stage at a time.

My cat is being a brat but what's new. I changed his cat box and he's busy making it his own. He baffles me with his effort as he is the only cat that lives here. I met a nice dog this morning- my neighbor and her little girl were out with him (the dog's a little dachshund- a wiener dog) and that little dog has a huge bark. But he's a friendly little fella and the lady and her little girl were real nice. Hope I run into them again soon.

I'm also in the process of trying to finish 'Renegade Soul' (this is just the first draft but I need to have a complete draft to tear apart later). The ending is slow going because I'm actually on the climax right now and I'm of course getting some twists and turns I'm having to navigate. As soon as I finish I'm putting it aside for awhile.

Well, I'm going to try and do a little more cleaning today (I've already vacumed and taken the trash out) then maybe unpack some more.

Scheduling Redux

2008-06-26T07:30:00.002-05:00

I've changed my work schedule and my best-laid plans have gone awry within two days. My original plans were to get up early, exercise, have a leisurely breakfast, blog, then go to work. Well... that hasn't happened. I exercised on Monday but Tuesday I wasn't up to snuff (and also the cat got sick). Then yesterday I just felt like a lazy ass just like I do now so no exercising. But I can blog!

And yes, my cat's doing better. He's being annoying which I didn't think I'd miss. He still needs to poop but after what they did at the vet's (the 'e' thing if you get my drift), I'm sure he'll need a little more time to recover. And boy was he a bad boy at the vet. When they took him back for the initial exam he was screaming his head off (of course he was in a lot of pain but still). Then, when I came to pick him up, they took me back there to try and calm him down because he was hissing and spitting at everyone. Jeez, I never knew my sweet and somewhat dim kitty could be so ferocious.

Anyhoo.... so with that under control I'm still fighting the usual back pain (which is never going to go away I think), allergies (it's very dry and dusty here), and the usual I-don't-want-to's. Sucks being me.

Devil May Care

2008-06-21T17:06:00.002-05:00

I finally finished this baby this morning and I'm glad I savored it like a good bottle of Bollinger Grande Annee (Bond's preferred champagne). This was like a visit with an old friend who is just as wonderful as you remember.

This book was written to celebrate the 100th birthday of James Bond's creator Ian Fleming. Now back when I was younger I read the original James Bond books by Fleming and loved them and this was definitely written just like Fleming would have done. What really delighted me were the brief references/remembrances of older books and people. And it was also nice to see Bond's oldest and best friend Felix Lieter show up (even as mangled up as he is- he lost an arm and a leg to a shark in 'Live and Let Die' the book).

Now I'm venturing into hard-core James Bond fan territory here so bear with me but it was interesting to see the character at the tail end of his career and there was a very nice surprise with the heroine (she wasn't a typical Fleming heroine in some respects but this was also the late 1960's when this book was set so women's roles were changing at this time). The villain was absolutely disgusting as usual and the historical bits were really well-done, and more than a bit interesting to see how they parallelled what's gone on since. For example, in 1966 (when this book is set) and like now, America is involved in an unpopular war. In France there is a large immigrant population and also massive drug trafficking like now. The only big difference between then and now is that Russia isn't the Soviet Union like it was in those days and Americans and Brits were still doing business in Iran (this was when the Shah was still in power).

But Bond is a timeless hero in that he still kicks major ass, and still has one great weakness (women!). Things change but good and evil doesn't and the bad guys are always hanging around waiting to cause havoc in the world. And yes, Bond is a bit of a super hero and he's still mine.

And on a side note, the trailer for the new movie 'Quantum of Solace' premiers June 30.

Fearless Fourteen

2008-06-18T19:28:00.002-05:00

This is what I call a comfort read. I've read every one in the series and buy them as soon as they come out. And I also read them at home as I burst out laughing every now and then and when you do that in public people look at you like you're crazy.

This is the Stephanie Plum series, and Stephanie is maybe the world's most inept bounty hunter there is but she's real. And the cast of characters, the regulars and the guest stars, are always a riot. Now there was a bit of a tempest in a teapot over Joe Morelli in this book (though once I read the ending I thought the brouhaha was more than a bit stupid) so I was curious to say the least. But it was just as funny as ever and one line that really cracked me up was when Steph said she and Morelli weren't ready to be parents. Duh.

There are times when you need a book you can just relax into and enjoy and the Stephanie Plum books are that. Now personally, I like the fact that Steph and Joe seem to be more on than off though Ranger has made it clear he's still available. Which is fun but at the same time, I'm a cupcake (one for Morelli).

Dad

2008-06-15T09:49:00.002-05:00

It's Father's Day and as I paid tribute to my mother on Mother's Day I thought Dad deserved a go-round too.

From my dad I inherited my blue eyes (and the severe near-sightedness), love of books (him and mom both), and my creativity. Dad's also been a writer and I used to fall asleep to the sound of his typewriter when I was a kid. Dad's done a lot of things though- construction, architecture, teaching, truck driving. But the role he's most proud of- and rightfully so, is that of husband and father.

Dad's on the down side of his life and though I'm fully aware of it, and prepared to deal with it, there's this little part of me that doesn't want to let go. He's had this God-awful cold and crap for the last few months now and granted he's not hocking a lung up he's still pretty worn out from it. Also, with his bad heart and lungs that aren't getting any better... He hates the fact that he has no energy and can't even drive around the area where he lives. And that's only because he doesn't feel he's at 100% to drive and isn't afraid to admit it. But I'll tell you one thing, when he is behind the wheel, he's still a hundred times better than most drivers ever will be. Granted he grouses at the traffic- which is nothing compared to what I deal with here in the city but he does that just to get a laugh out of me.

I will also admit to spoiling him. I bought him a little tv and cable and you would have thought I'd bought him a freaking gold-plated house. He loves being able to see the world from his recliner as he says and also watch his old movies and ball games. Of course I also buy DVD's for him and books (because he still loves to read and he doesn't sleep much). But hey, this was the guy who kept me in books, typewriter cartridges, and printer ink for how many years?

I call Dad a cranky old guy but in reality, he's not. Oh yeah he'll grouse about idiots but then so do I and we make a pair when we get going on that. Actually he's more grateful and content with what he's got than most people who have everything known to humanity. He's keeping it simple as he says and I'll do anything to make him happy with that.

This is also the person I check in with every day (sometimes more on weekends) and see once a week. Yeah, it's a hour drive on way but for me that's time to clear my head and also get out of town. And also I like spending time with him. We can talk about damn near anything and it stays in confidence so I can really bitch about work and life if I want to. He's my sounding board, soft shoulder, and friend.

Laundry

2008-06-11T09:45:00.002-05:00

It's a necessary chore though not a fun one like cooking. They still haven't gotten me my washer/dryer (don't know when either but I'm not going to fret over it). So later I have to schlep a couple of loads over to the laundromat to get me through the weekend. If need be I'll just do a load or two on my days off till I get my own.

I'm still hurting though I want to do so much in this place. I have to tell myself to do just a little at a time and take it easy. I don't recall feeling this happy about the last place I moved in. Of course that was the first time I was out on my own and I had absolutely no idea what to do (though I did discover the joys of not sharing a bathroom or having my leftovers raided). Also, the old place was right by the medical center so there were always helicopters going over, not to mention the sirens at all hours of the day and night. After a while I got used to it but here... it's quiet. And also, if I have neighbors I can't hear them. Which is a Godsend after the dumb elephant I lived below.

Now I haven't met any of my new neighbors yet but then I'm terribly shy and also, I haven't seen anybody out. But mainly it's the shyness as introducing myself to someone scares the crap out of me sometimes. I can force myself to do it in a social situation but just walking up to someone and introducing myself... no.

So it's off to do my laundry and some more unpacking.

I Survived

2008-06-10T20:45:00.002-05:00

Yes, I survived moving day though by Saturday night my muscles felt like jell-o. The place is great though and I'm having fun fixing it up though the study is scaring me as I have so much stuff in there. But I have time, and lots of space. And I'm not thinking about the rent (it's almost $200 more than what I've been paying but definitely worth it!)

Now moving day was a bit interesting because as I was moving out my old crank-butt neighbor came out and asked me if there was water running in my bathroom. Yes I told him, and also told him that I informed the scum-sucking landlords about a week ago but nothing had been done. Then he told me that when he got flooded out that they ripped out his walls and carpeting and whatnot but these scuz-buckets didn't offer to do that or anything for me. To say that I was ticked off was putting it mildly but after the run-around I got with just getting new carpet padding I figured it was a lost cause. Then... when I went back for the final sweep the maintenance lady was in there fixing the plumbing. She said she'd been on vacation for the last week but still. I just said whatever, I was out of there and none too soon. I slipped the keys through the mail slot and flipped the bird as I was driving away.

Damn that felt good.

Now I've just got to drop off the move-in sheet, have them fix a couple of teensy-tiny things here in the new place and get my washer/dryer put in. I have a ton of laundry I need to do and don't want to go to a laundromat to do it.

But it feels good to be home.

Moving Blues, Part Trois

2008-06-04T19:34:00.002-05:00

Yeah, even the Zucker brothers never got that far with their 'Hot Shot' movies. I wish they had.

Okay, survived the weekend pack-out but haven't done anymore today. Bad, bad, bad. But in my meager defense all I have is the kitchen and odds and ends in the bathroom and bedroom. The bedroom has the computer stuff and I won't break that down until either Friday night or Saturday morning. I've got the cable scheduled to come to the new place late Saturday afternoon so hopefully I'll be back online that evening. I've been without Internet before and within a few hours I'm climbing the walls.

What really sucks right now is that all my books are packed away and I keep thinking about them and going to look for one then realize that I can't dig through 20 boxes (yes, I have 20 boxes full of books). And I didn't pack them in any particular order other than the TBR pile separately. And even though I tell myself to take my time unpacking I have a feeling that I'll be unpacking those babies first.

Moving Blues, Part Deux

2008-06-01T13:51:00.002-05:00

It's actually more like 'ow ow ow' as my body is going to kill me this week for what I've done yesterday and today. I only have one shelf of books left to box (it's my To Be Read pile) then I have the desk area and kitchen left to pack. I may hold off on the kitchen till Wednesday so as not to kill myself because I really have to work this week (I've got urgent follow-up work that I can't let slide).

Boxing up my books is tons of fun and I didn't sort them in any real order so unboxing all them is going to be a load of fun too. Also, I have a feeling I'm going to want to do some serious culling. I've already got one box of get-rid-of's and I think I'm going to have another one before I'm finished. I'm thinking of either posting on Amazon.com or eBay for these things because I know the used bookstores are way overstocked.

I do not want to do this shit for at least another 5 years. I have the utmost admiration and respect for those that do this every 1-4 years (like the military). And the thing is, I've got boxes of stuff I never unpacked five years ago when I first moved. Sad but true.

After this is all said and done, I'm keeping the boxes.

Moving Blues

2008-05-28T19:53:00.002-05:00

It's not really the blues but a 'bleurgh' at how much I still have to do. I put in the change of service requests for the electric and cable and reserved the moving truck. I should have phone calls on those within the next couple of days. Since I've never done this before I'm hoping everything will go okay with it. I'm a bit paranoid about this move as I'm just flashing back to five years ago when I had to scramble with deposits and running around so this time I'm trying to do as much online as I can.

But I drove by my new apartment last night just to make sure the number they gave me was a ground-floor unit. It is and the building looks to be a couple of feet or so above the parking lot, which as good as I like being on the high ground when it's raining. And as I was driving out I saw a really hot guy walking around without a shirt on- he had a shaved head and a beard and yes, he reminded me a bit of Dominic Purcell. Now as it was only a drive-by glimpse my imagination could have been working overtime but I hope not as if there are guys like that living there...

I do hope I get better neighbors. The only neighbors I've had here that I liked were the older couple that lived next door to me. Sweet people and as nice as could be. The old fart that lives next door to me is a jerk and I won't say anymore about the idiot lady above me. Granted I'm a bit anti-social in some respects but trust me, these people wouldn't welcome the Welcome Wagon even if it came with a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolate.

Anyhoo, I have more packing and whatnot to do and this weekend will be the big push. Also in the midst of all this I'd like to try and get over to this computer place here in town that's offering trade-in deals on old stuff for new stuff. I wonder if my brick of a laptop is worth anything and I'm willing to throw in the monster monitor, tower, and scanner for a new laptop. I'm off next Wednesday so if I'm all packed up by then I might grab all the stuff and haul it over there and play let's make a deal.

Summer Memories

2008-05-27T20:01:00.002-05:00

It seems that with summer now here in South Texas (and thank doG for it!) my mind is tripping backwards. With Indiana Jones and the summer movie season upon me I begin to think about times past. And I know I should probably learn to get into new music and such but hey, this is my life.

I got a new CD in the mail, the second 'Miami Vice' tv soundtrack. There was an instrumental I wanted on it plus some other tracks. I have Jan Hammer's (the guy who did the score for the first four seasons of the show) 'Escape From Television' cd on its' way. This was a collection of stuff he did for 'Miami Vice' and yes, I'm back to that again. I used to watch that show on Friday nights and I got into it during summer reruns when I would babysit on Friday nights. Looking back it's a bit dated in spots but I still remember how cool it seemed and how hot it looked. I loved the 'Miami Vice' movie with Colin Farrell and Jaime Fox because it had that same feel- hot and sexy with a dark undercurrent.

In the summer it's like there's more color and depth to things. The sky's a bright blue, the sun is blinding, the heat intense and I just feel like my senses are more alive. In the car the a/c's blasting, the music's up loud, and even sitting in traffic I want to move. At times I wish I had a convertible I could put the top down on and run in, or just cruise around at night in (I'd get one if the gas mileage wasn't so bad).

As a kid I remember sleeping late, hanging out at the pool or in the backyard, then out at night after dark with the radio on. And then we'd either stay up late watching movies and MTV or playing video games. I really liked hanging out at night playing Frisbee under the streetlights and having the boom box on. After dark you could actually sit outside and not melt and you just remembered to put on some Off! before you sat in grass (I grew up in Houston where the mosquitoes are the size of small cars). But when you heard the mosquito control truck coming you ran back inside. :)

The summers since then haven't matched that kind of magic though this could just be nostalgia talking but now... that magic feels like it might be coming back.

Indiana Jones

2008-05-26T10:20:00.002-05:00

Yes, like a few million Americans this weekend I went to see 'Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'. As I said to my friend as we were walking out, it was a nice visit with old friends. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie but my all-time favorite is still the first one.

Harrison Ford is great but yes, he does look his age. He's still got the charm and the charisma and really dug into the part. The best scenes were with Karen Allen, who looks great and was just as good ever as Marion, and Shia Lebouef was great too. In fact I want to say that young man is definitely going places. He's got a lot of talent and really works his tail off and is pretty mature for his age. Keeping up with the Jones... :) I won't say anymore about that.

I remember going to see the first movie and I remember on its initial release there wasn't a lot of hype. It was playing in the smaller of the two movie theaters that were in my town back then. My mom and dad wanted to see it and it had Harrison Ford who I knew as Han Solo at that time so I thought 'okay'. It was more than okay. It was incredible. So many freaking great one-liners, exotic locations, a teesny-tiny bit of primitive CGI (the rest was good old-fashioned stunt work and makeup/creature effects). My dad and my brother and I went to see it again at the big theater and we got there just as the lights were going down so the only seats available were in the third row and this was before stadium seating so you had to slunk down in your seat to see the whole screen. But when that big boulder came rolling down it was like 3-D. Totally awesome.

The second one... Harrison Ford looked really hot in that one. I loved the little kid who played Short Stuff. But Kate Capshaw.... that woman needed a muzzle. Every time she was on screen I just wanted to gag. But I also remember how they kind of pushed the gross-out envelope and that's what led to the PG-13 rating.

Number three... Sean Connery. 'Nuff said. It was so freaking hilarious to see him play a bumbling professor-type. The scenes with him and Harrison Ford were priceless.

Now I also remember the tv show 'The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles' and especially Sean Patrick Flannery who played the young Indy. What a hottie (and he's still a hottie). That was cool as Indy seemed to be neck-deep in history. It's on DVD so I might pick it up.

But I think what makes the character of Indiana Jones so cool is that on one hand he's this bookish professor and on the other hand a swashbuckling adventurer. The dichotomy is fun and also because he's not a superman-type. One of my favorite exchanges in the first movie was: His friend Salah asks him: "What are you going to do now?" And Indy goes: "I don't know. I'm making this up as I go along."

And as Marion says in the newest movie: "I don't think he plans that far in advance."

Sunday Coffee and Other Things

2008-05-25T09:57:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's Sunday and I'm drinking coffee out of a regular coffee cup. On the days I have to work I drink it out of a to-go cup. Which is good because at work I'll forget it's there on a long call and the coffee's still warm. It's also good for traveling. But on Sunday and Wednesday I have my coffee like a normal person.

Though that might be changing... I put in a schedule change for an 8-hour day, in fact it's my old schedule that I had about a year or so back. I've liked the 10-hour/1 day off during the week thing but my poor back seems to think otherwise. Because there are days when I'm at the 8-hour mark, my back's tighter than tight, and I have to sit for another two hours. Now if I get this schedule I might try to change it a little so I can have an 1-hour lunch instead of 35 minutes like I got now. They do that so people can go to the gym during the day but I plan to exercise at home because 1) I need the space for my exercise mat and ball and 2) I've heard the gym at work is a zoo most of the time. So once I get my new apartment and my 8-hour schedule I can start exercising again.

I think part of my back problems over the last couple of months since I stopped seeing Mr. Wonderful-Chiropractor is a lack of exercise. I also think I need to have him crack me up again (and I may need to settle a bill there too) but if I just get off my lazy ass and exercise I know that'll help too.

So for the next 2 days... shovel out the last of the garbage, clean out the closet on my living room floor (I confess: I've been using my living room floor as a closet for I don't know how long). Then this week it will be to gather boxes and start packing.

Oh the flocking joy.

Mid Week Blues

2008-05-21T08:54:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I could sing the blues right now and really feel it.

I was out yesterday with a very hurty back. Sucker went off Sunday afternoon in Wal-Mart and Monday at work was a borderline nightmare but Tuesday morning was total misery. doG knows what I did to it but I wish the sucker would stop hurting. I'm able to sit up today though it still wants to tighten up and hurt if I sit for any length of time. So after this I'm back to bed and my pillows. I'm hoping to try and write but so far I'm hitting a brick wall there.

I'm on the turn towards the climax and end of this story and I'm not quite sure how to get through the turn. I know I'm going to need to rewrite/revise like mad when this is all done but I'm having some trouble shoving that thought out of my head. What it is these characters have past issues (especially Connor, my hero) and they're coming to a head. Also, my wonderful characters have realized they're in love with each other and have no idea what to do about it as they know the confrontation with the bad guys has the potential to be fatal (I know it won't be but they don't know that).

So I think one brief detour to paradise before the big showdown isn't too much to ask. It's just finding a way to write it.

70 Days of Sweat

2008-05-19T06:03:00.000-05:00

Remember that challenge I joined up a while back? The 70 Days of Sweat/Sweat with Sven thing? Well it ended Friday and I fell short of my goal. By about 20-25K words. Between this and that and whatnot I was hoping I'd be finished by now but if I get this first draft finished by the end of the month I'll be doing good.

I've done writing challenges before (Book In A Week was a popular one) and when I had free time and no bullshit distractions I kicked ass big-time. Now I can bring up a hundred excuses and whatnot but still. Granted I'm not on a contract deadline but it would be nice if I could keep my ass to the ground and my shit together writing-wise.

So I've promised myself that I'll work on the book on work days and concentrate on the move stuff on my days off. I shoveled out some crap though not as much as I could as my back doth protesteth. And I have no idea why as the weather is hot and wonderful. Oh well, let's not say I'm predictable shall we?

I Have a New Apartment

2008-05-18T09:12:00.002-05:00

Yep. I called over to the new people and I'm in. Nice lady on the phone said my app had been approved and all I had to do was come by and sign the lease before I moved in. Needless to say I was sweating bullets on this as I was having flashbacks to the last time I moved. Of course five years ago I was in a much different place financially then I am now.

Five years ago I'd never rented an apartment before, I'd been at my current job less than 90 days, had a gap in employment history, and so-so credit. Flash-forward five years: I've been at my current job for 3 years and was at my previous one for 2 with no gap there. I've had 5 years of one-time rent payments (and if those assholes I currently rent from had said otherwise I'd have kicked their asses!), the credit is a tad better than so-so (though far from perfect), and I make a lot more money than I did 5 years ago. So differing circumstances and an easier time swinging the place. Now if I could have just found a way out of paying these assholes I currently rent from an extra month's rent I'd really be happy.

Oh, and the plumbing in the bathroom's leaking. I was hoping that it would hold together long enough for me to get out of here as I do not want to deal with the assholes I rent from but I'm going to have to tell them about it as it's kind of unavoidable. The problem is I don't think it's from my plumbing but from one of my idiot neighbors. But I need to clean the place up then hide Jake during the day so they can get in here. If they want to tear the bathroom up while I'm still here then they will have another thing coming. All I want them to do is fix the leak- the cosmetic shit they can worry about once I'm out of here (though I have a bad feeling that's going to be a patch-and-repair job).

Sorry about the partial rant but to say that I want out is putting it mildly.

Service Rant

2008-05-16T06:44:00.001-05:00

ALERT: RANT ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE

Just thought I'd give you a warning as I'm about to rant on one of my favorite topics in the world (insert sarcasm here).

Wednesday with the apartment thing I realized that I want customer service to be proactive rather than reactive. By proactive I mean service providers who reach out to me and/or address service issues right then and there and get the job done right the first time. And when I go to cancel service I would like to see some attempt to save my business. I work for a company that takes saving business very seriously and we employees are encouraged to be proactive in addressing and rectifying things before it reaches that point.

So many businesses seem to approach customer service in a reactive manner, meaning they get all hot and bothered after there is a problem but not before. Also, they don't show a lot of care and concern for their customers either. I think with some it might be that they don't want to be perceived as nosey but I think there's an easy-to-see line between nosiness and genuine concern. Things like getting in touch with customers or doing follow-up is a big plus right there. But also during routine transactions it's good to reach to make sure the customer is truly satisfied with the service being provided.

And what really ticked me off about my apartment complex people was that 1) they didn't follow up on the renewal notice given to see if I wanted a new lease or not, and 2) when I did give them notice no attempt was made to get me to stay. Not that I would have stayed but I would have appreciated the attempt to keep me. But then if they had done #1 then they would have done #2. But in not doing either, these people showed that they really don't give a shit about their tenants. I've been a loyal paying tenant for five years and I feel bad that it has to end like this. But I also feel that without the follow-up an attempt was made to get me to pay the monthly rate instead of the yearly rate. Which is a bit shoddy to my way of thinking but either way, it shows what a bunch of shitheads these people are. I will be writing a letter to the owner of this place just to let them know my opinions, but whether or not they'll be addressed in the future I don't know. And I don't care. I just want to be free.

I'm not an expert on anything to be sure, but having been in the customer service profession for some years I've learned a few things. And being proactive is sure as hell better than being reactive because by the time it's reactive, the customer is out the door.

Happy Birthday To Me

2008-05-15T06:39:00.000-05:00

Yes, today's my birthday. And yes, I have to work, worry about the apartment situation, and a whole host of other crap. I think the only thing I'll do today is not cook and get a Starbucks Mocha Frappacinno later.

Ah birthdays. 34 (the current one for me), isn't a milestone year so it's a ho-hum kind of thing for me today. But I'm not crying in my Dr. Pepper or anything like that. Nope. I'm glad to be here, glad to be alive, and still believe that things will work out. I was a putz about the apartment as I should have checked my lease myself before the first of the month but I won't take all the blame for that one. That just goes to show you that age doesn't always bring on wisdom- at least for me.

I bought a new purse and backpack from Amazon.com for my birthday. The backpack is green camouflage print and the purse is a cute black leather with tiger stripes on the front. It's smaller than the bag I was carrying so I've pared down there. The backpack is just cool. Since I've been on my own I've always bought myself something for my birthday.

So my birthday wishes are that work goes well today and that I get the go-ahead for my new apartment.

I May Have a New Cave

2008-05-14T12:15:00.003-05:00

Doog doG I hope so.

I've spent the last two days on the phone calling around and getting prices and whatnot so this morning I decided to go and look at one apartment. Went and looked and it was 'meh'. I told them I needed to think about it. What I was hoping would happen today was that if I looked at a unit a little 'ting' would go off inside me. It's like a moment of clarity when everything lines up and your instincts are telling you to go with this one. I didn't hear that 'ting' when I went and looked at the first unit so I decided to move on.

But as I driving out I saw the apartment complex next door to them and decided to have a look around. I went into the office and met a very nice lady, told her what I was looking for and she showed me two units. The first was a very nice one-bedroom then she showed me a second one on the third floor, which tells how much I liked her that I would go up three flights of stairs just to look at a single apartment. The second one is a one-bedroom with a study. And I began to fall in love with the place and the fact that for more money I'm not only getting more space, but a washer/dryer in the unit. Then we started talking numbers and for only $20 more than the 1-bedroom she'd give it to me. So I put the deposit down, the application fee and am crossing my fingers and toes it goes through.

Update:
I called to check something on my app and found out that my current apartment people wouldn't release any info on me because I hadn't given them notice. So I went over there and gave notice and they said they'd given me the renewal notice some time back. Like fucking hell they did! Of course since it's my word against theirs and they're bigger than me I'm going to have to suck it up and pay another month's rent even if I move out before the end of June. I want to tell them they can keep my deposit and stick the rest of it up their backside. This is the biggest bunch of idiots and I do not feel sorry for them in any way.

The Need to Write

2008-05-13T06:40:00.000-05:00

To my way of thinking, when writing becomes a need and not a want I think that's when you've truly gone over the edge. At first you write because you want to give it a try and see if you can do it. Then when you start doing it you want to do more so you can get better. Then the stories and characters start bugging you and the only way to shut them up is to write about them.

That's not a bad summary but writing is more complex. Putting words onto paper (or a computer in my case) is a very old form of expression. It's similar to a musician's need to play or compose- they hear the melodies in their heads (like Mozart in the movie 'Amadeus'). And I think this is what separates the hobbyist from the serious artist: how often you pursue it and what drives you.

And I also think this is why the creative pursuits are so hard to walk away from (hence the old rock stars still continuing to tour year after year). I can't imagine not writing or pursuing something creatively. Even if I never sell I'll always have the stories in my head and want to get them out. That's been so much a part of me I don't think there's any way to get rid of it. Oh sure, the characters and places and all that change but the same need is still there.

Little By Little

2008-05-12T06:31:00.000-05:00

Last week I thought I would have a higher word count as I had four files on my AlphaSmart but all those files only came out to about 2500 words. That's not bad but there are times when I'm on Alphie that I think I'm doing more. Maybe because I split each scene into a separate file and not kept them one single file made me think that. Either way, it wasn't a bad week.

But with all this moving crap to do and phone calls to make my meager little lunch break will be shot for the next couple of days. I know 15-20 minutes of work doesn't seem like a lot but it's a good start for me so when I get home I have something to upload and finish. And that's how this project has gotten done- little by little.

I don't think it's so much as how long you write for, but that you write something during the time you have. And with working a ten-hour day the other hours have to be divided out for other things such as sleeping, eating, and other odds and ends. In the evening I usually work for about an hour or so before going to bed. I keep thinking about switching to an eight-hour day but right now I need the extra day off during the week so that switch is out. Granted, I can be a bit lazy on my day off but so what. On Saturdays I spend half my day just running for both me and dad and the rest recovering. Sundays I try to catch up on everything else and write.

Whine, whine, whine. Hey, it's my party and I'll cry if I want to. :)

Of course I'm coming up on the home stretch and I've got to figure out how to end this book and how I'm going to get them in and out of trouble. Of course I look at my word count and have a feeling that I'll either make it or come in under. Either way won't be a problem as I've got some room to maneuver and places I know I need to fill out so I'm not too worried about that.

I just wish I didn't have to start shoveling out my apartment and packing up and all that shit. So for the next few weeks it will be even more little by little.

I Don't Want to Move!

2008-05-11T18:46:00.002-05:00

But I have to. One, this apartment of mine is falling down around my ears. Two, I've been here for five years and the dingbats that manage this place aren't getting any better. My lease runs out this month (though again, the dingbats that manage this place haven't offered me a new lease. I bet they don't even know my lease is up.) So now I'm apartment hunting. Oh. Joy.

I spent the morning online looking at listings and have narrowed it down to six. I'm either going with a 1-bedroom/study combo, a 2-bedroom, or a bigger 1-bedroom. Either way I am taking my time and getting something I want. Five years ago I was in a bit of a bind and kind of jumped at the first place that would take me. And since then it's been a combination of finances and laziness that's kept me here. But four floodings, crappy plumbing, half-assed repairs, and complaining that would fall on deaf ears because the landlord is probably a cheapskate have pushed me to the limit.

Anyway, so I'm on the phone tomorrow getting prices then on Wednesday I'll probably start looking. But I'm still not going to jump into something right away unless I fall madly in love with the place and have to have it. But I'm not going to spend too much money either so I'm going hunting for a deal also. Of course I'll probably have to move fast as this is a popular time of year to move but not too fast. There are plenty of apartment units in this area.

My Desert Island Keepers (DIK) List

2008-05-10T06:44:00.000-05:00

I got this from http://bridgetlocke.blogspot.com/ so I hope I'm not duplicating anything.

These are my six desert island keepers:

1) Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts: For lack of a better word, brillant.

2) To Die For by Linda Howard: Keeps me laughing.

3) Maddy Lawrence's Big Adventure by Linda Turner: Because I think we can all relate to Maddy.

4) Jackson Rule by Sharon Sala: Jackson is an incredible hero.

5) Loose Ends by Justine Davis: Does the unrequited-love thing so incredibly well.

6) Dance With the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon: What more can be said about Zarek.

I hope I haven't duplicated anyone's title but I was trying to be careful and select books that aren't too well-known on most-popular lists.