As I type, I am comfortably ensconsed in my heated passenger seat in the truck, as we drive west on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. We are just outside of Pittsburgh. And I have Internet access via some Verizon connection thing my boss gave me to use when I travel.
So far, I have completed my timesheet for today, done some work, caught up on my email, and checked my Facebook account... all while sitting with my feet up on the dashboard and traveling at a pretty good clip.
I am limited only by the length of the battery in my laptop, as the USB cord I bought to plug it into the USB port in the car fits, but apparently does not supply juice.
Still. How cool!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thinking...
What's the point of having an appointment for 11:30 if they're not even going to take the truck into the bay until 12:50?
Yes, I waited until the last minute to get the oil changed before we drive across a couple of states and back. But sheesh, I have STUFF to do. Like pack!
Yes, I waited until the last minute to get the oil changed before we drive across a couple of states and back. But sheesh, I have STUFF to do. Like pack!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Heard...
Cell phone rings just before 3pm...
Me: Hello?
Keeper Boy: Hi mom. I think I missed the bus.
Me: OK...
Keeper Boy: Well, it's either really late, or we missed it. We're thinking we missed it because it's usually one of the first buses to get here. What should I do?
Me: Start walking.
He made it home in about 45 minutes. When he called he was making some hot chocolate to thaw out. He had a hat and a warm coat, but I don't think he had any gloves...
Me: Hello?
Keeper Boy: Hi mom. I think I missed the bus.
Me: OK...
Keeper Boy: Well, it's either really late, or we missed it. We're thinking we missed it because it's usually one of the first buses to get here. What should I do?
Me: Start walking.
He made it home in about 45 minutes. When he called he was making some hot chocolate to thaw out. He had a hat and a warm coat, but I don't think he had any gloves...
What I'm Reading...
One Day
by David Nicholls
Kind of an odd story of two opposites and their friendship, but I'm enjoying it. It takes place on a single day each year for a period of time. Not sure how long because I'm only about a third of the way through the book, but a review on Amazon.com says two decades. Even more interesting because the single day happens to be July 15; my birthday.
The movie version of the book has already been shot and is scheduled for release in 2011. Anne Hathaway plays Emma. I can see that. Never heard of the guy playing Dexter...
Publisher's Weekly Review:
The episodic story takes place during a single day each year for two decades in the lives of Dex and Em. Dexter, the louche public school boy, and Emma, the brainy Yorkshire lass, meet the day they graduate from university in 1988 and run circles around one another for the next 20 years. Dex becomes a TV presenter whose life of sex, booze, and drugs spins out of control, while Em dully slogs her way through awful jobs before becoming the author of young adult books. They each take other lovers and spouses, but they cannot really live without each other.
by David Nicholls
Kind of an odd story of two opposites and their friendship, but I'm enjoying it. It takes place on a single day each year for a period of time. Not sure how long because I'm only about a third of the way through the book, but a review on Amazon.com says two decades. Even more interesting because the single day happens to be July 15; my birthday.
The movie version of the book has already been shot and is scheduled for release in 2011. Anne Hathaway plays Emma. I can see that. Never heard of the guy playing Dexter...
Publisher's Weekly Review:
The episodic story takes place during a single day each year for two decades in the lives of Dex and Em. Dexter, the louche public school boy, and Emma, the brainy Yorkshire lass, meet the day they graduate from university in 1988 and run circles around one another for the next 20 years. Dex becomes a TV presenter whose life of sex, booze, and drugs spins out of control, while Em dully slogs her way through awful jobs before becoming the author of young adult books. They each take other lovers and spouses, but they cannot really live without each other.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Shock...
Shock doesn't begin to describe the feeling of finding out that one of Hubby's former co-workers (way back from the group home) was brutally murdered more than five years ago in Miami.
Obviously, we'd lost touch since this happened years ago and we had no clue. But when Hubby worked with him at the group home, we attended several parties and gatherings at the various homes he and his boyfriend owned in the time he was Hubby's co-worker. Other than a few Christmas cards in the first years after they re-located to Florida, we lost touch.
Ironically, my "archived" Christmas card list is what caused me to do a Facebook search on a couple people we no longer keep in touch with. I found a few, but when I searched this one particular guy, I came up with an In Memoriam page set up by his sister. From something posted on that Facebook page, I deduced that he had been killed. Curious, I googled his name and appended "murder" to the search. And I got the whole awful story.
I'm still in shock.
Obviously, we'd lost touch since this happened years ago and we had no clue. But when Hubby worked with him at the group home, we attended several parties and gatherings at the various homes he and his boyfriend owned in the time he was Hubby's co-worker. Other than a few Christmas cards in the first years after they re-located to Florida, we lost touch.
Ironically, my "archived" Christmas card list is what caused me to do a Facebook search on a couple people we no longer keep in touch with. I found a few, but when I searched this one particular guy, I came up with an In Memoriam page set up by his sister. From something posted on that Facebook page, I deduced that he had been killed. Curious, I googled his name and appended "murder" to the search. And I got the whole awful story.
I'm still in shock.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Open letter
Dear Fairfax County Public Schools -
I get it! Schools are closing two hours early. You have now called me with an automated message on my work phone. You have called me with an automated message on my cell phone. You have sent me an email message. You have posted to Facebook. You have posted to your web page. I would venture to guess I will find a message on my home voice mail when I get home, too. I am well aware that my children will be leaving school two hours earlier than normal. Thank you for your diligence in getting the inforamtion out. You can stop now.
I get it! Schools are closing two hours early. You have now called me with an automated message on my work phone. You have called me with an automated message on my cell phone. You have sent me an email message. You have posted to Facebook. You have posted to your web page. I would venture to guess I will find a message on my home voice mail when I get home, too. I am well aware that my children will be leaving school two hours earlier than normal. Thank you for your diligence in getting the inforamtion out. You can stop now.
Seen...
It's snowing... our first snow of the year (well, unless you count the dusting we got last week that was gone an hour later). The forecast is for 1-2 inches, but if it keeps up at the pace it's going now, I think it'll be more. Schools are dismissing two hours early.
I'm hoping this snow is contained to the east coast as my sister-in-law, niece, and nephew are en route to Ohio right now from Hawaii. It's bad enough that she's flying alone with the kids and it takes HOURS and HOURS and HOURS to get there, with a layover in Texas. If she gets delayed, it could get ugly!
Have I mentioned that I hate snow?
I'm hoping this snow is contained to the east coast as my sister-in-law, niece, and nephew are en route to Ohio right now from Hawaii. It's bad enough that she's flying alone with the kids and it takes HOURS and HOURS and HOURS to get there, with a layover in Texas. If she gets delayed, it could get ugly!
Have I mentioned that I hate snow?
Thursday, December 9, 2010
What I'm Reading...
Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain
By Portia de Rossi
Halfway through. Wow. She had a seemingly great thing going on when she was on Ally McBeal, but she in no way saw it that way. Anorexia and Bulimia are horrible, horrible diseases. Not to make light, but I am glad that I hate vomiting and being hungry... I don't think I could ever be in danger of drifting toward either disease.
From the front flap: "I didn't decide to become anorexic. It snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet, a professional attitude. Being as thin as possible was a way to make the job of being an actress easier..."
By Portia de Rossi
Halfway through. Wow. She had a seemingly great thing going on when she was on Ally McBeal, but she in no way saw it that way. Anorexia and Bulimia are horrible, horrible diseases. Not to make light, but I am glad that I hate vomiting and being hungry... I don't think I could ever be in danger of drifting toward either disease.
From the front flap: "I didn't decide to become anorexic. It snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet, a professional attitude. Being as thin as possible was a way to make the job of being an actress easier..."
Saturday, December 4, 2010
What I'm Reading...
Sharp Objects
By Gillian Flynn
Halfway through. Not riveting, but good enough to keep me reading while I'm on the treadmill. I'm pretty sure I've already figured out the "whodunit."
Book jacket summary: "Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille Preaker's first assignment at her second-rate daily paper takes her reluctantly back to her home-town to cover the murders of two preteen girls. As she works to uncover the truth, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims--a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming."
---------------------------------------------------------
Some of the other books I've read in the last six months:
Columbine
by Dave Cullen
[non-fiction] Fascinating; definitely recommend
Song Without Words
by Ann Packer
Didn't much like; don't quite get the hype
Seven Year Switch
by Claire Cook
Fluff, but an okay read; good for the beach
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
Excellent once you get past the first 40 pages... stick with it!
The Girl Who Played with Fire
by Stieg Larsson
2nd in the Millenium Trilogy; also excellent; page-turner from the get-go
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
by Stieg Larsson
Conclusion of the trilogy; another excellent page-turner
Heart of the Matter
by Emily Griffin
Complete fluff, but an okay read; good for the beach
House Rules
by Jodi Piccoult
Very good book about a teenager with Ausberger's and how his medical condition and his interest in crime scenes combine to create problems for he and his family
Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn
by Stephenie Meyer
Read the entire series again this summer because Keeper Boy was reading them. Loved them just as much the second time around!
By Gillian Flynn
Halfway through. Not riveting, but good enough to keep me reading while I'm on the treadmill. I'm pretty sure I've already figured out the "whodunit."
Book jacket summary: "Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille Preaker's first assignment at her second-rate daily paper takes her reluctantly back to her home-town to cover the murders of two preteen girls. As she works to uncover the truth, Camille finds herself identifying with the young victims--a bit too strongly. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming."
---------------------------------------------------------
Some of the other books I've read in the last six months:
Columbine
by Dave Cullen
[non-fiction] Fascinating; definitely recommend
Song Without Words
by Ann Packer
Didn't much like; don't quite get the hype
Seven Year Switch
by Claire Cook
Fluff, but an okay read; good for the beach
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
Excellent once you get past the first 40 pages... stick with it!
The Girl Who Played with Fire
by Stieg Larsson
2nd in the Millenium Trilogy; also excellent; page-turner from the get-go
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
by Stieg Larsson
Conclusion of the trilogy; another excellent page-turner
Heart of the Matter
by Emily Griffin
Complete fluff, but an okay read; good for the beach
House Rules
by Jodi Piccoult
Very good book about a teenager with Ausberger's and how his medical condition and his interest in crime scenes combine to create problems for he and his family
Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn
by Stephenie Meyer
Read the entire series again this summer because Keeper Boy was reading them. Loved them just as much the second time around!
Weird...
Just got the boys each a new pair of sneakers this afternoon. Keeper Boy's are a half size SMALLER than the pair we bought over the summer, even though his feet are BIGGER. Why can't different brands standardize their sizing? He tried on a pair of Adidas running shoes in the store and was wearing an 8 (men's). The ones we ended up buying are Nike, youth 7 (the largest youth size Nike makes, which translates to a Mens 7 without the extra cost). The ones he has been wearing, which are getting snug, are Fila brand, size 7.5. Weird.
The new ones are white, so they make his feet look ginormous!
The new ones are white, so they make his feet look ginormous!
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