So, how was everyone's Easter?
Mine was ... well, interesting.
Started with signing on to the computer today. I've been having problems with it lately and had asked Single Son to install some updates to our anti-virus program. He was available today to do it. He tried but was unable to do the updates so he did the scan manually. One known virus he found, as soon as he tried to remove it, opened one particularly nasty virus to my computer literally dozens of times. Great. Just what I didn't need!! Then things started to shut down. First my disk drive. Then my USB ports, then finally the entire computer shut down. He could get it started, but as soon as Windows logged on, it'd log off, too. "Mom, this isn't good." Ya think??!! So ... I finally told him to just reformat the hard drive, see if that would help the situation. No other choice really. Got things working again and it only took him about six hours! And luckily it worked!! No signs of any more viruses. Oh ... and the original virus came from the desktop application from the Weather Channel. I won't be putting that on any computer ever again, I tell ya!!!
You wouldn't believe all the files I lost! Thankfully I did have some backed up, but not all. Talk about a live and learn situation. It'll take me months to replace some of what I lost. Others I'll never be able to get back - like the last few months of Grandson's life. I hadn't uploaded those to photobucket - so they're all gone now. Grrrrrrr. And 600 + squirrel photos. Gone. All gone. Not to mention documents ... OMG ... and I'm just now thinking that one of those will be my genealogy files. I had them backed up, but not the most recent file I'd been updating.
Somebody kick me now, will ya??
But, at least we had a nice chance to talk, though. About a lot of different things. And we did have Easter dinner together. Well, if you count Chicken Alfredo as an Easter dish anyway. He was stressing that a simple half hour job (anti-virus program update) turned into a six hour ordeal ... but we did manage to get to laughing at it.
No sense crying over spilt milk, right?
Single Son told me that Alien called him last week. Seems she got a ticket from a local cop for speeding AND an illegal left hand turn in a construction zone, oh and no proof of insurance. Now, I'm not sure where you live, but here penalty and fines are doubled in construction zones. And she wanted him to fix the ticket. He told her hell no, he's not going to fix it. Especially another cop's ticket. It turns out he knows this other cop real well but hadn't seen him in years, so he called him. They had a nice reunion over the phone. And Alien still has a 2 point (now 4 because it was in a construction zone) ticket to face up to.
And she still hasn't called me. You know she's gotta realize by now that I've found out. Hell, she's told Married Son, DIL and Single Son. Not to mention it's all over her myspace page. But she still needs to own up to me - face to face.
Breathe deep ... hold it ... now ... exhale slowly ... hold it ... breathe in ... hold it ... now exhale slowly ... continue this until you pass out ... ah yes ... stress management!!
KUA
4/12/09
4/9/09
Thursday
I've been called a lot of things in my life. Some good, some bad. But I've never been called charismatic before today.
Yes. Me.
Coach, "A", and I were talking after Stress Management class. "A" had said something about how she looks up to me and is proud of the way I have learned to handle stress. Coach agreed, and then adds that she wishes I could be in all of her stress management classes. That I bring with me not only a supportive attitude, but fill the room with such a positive energy. Charisma she called it. Not to mention my humor, and outlook on life. That my participation draws out the shy students to interact more with class discussions.
My head swelled. Really. And all I could say was "Thank You". Talk about a make your day moment.
"A" and I got to talk a little in the parking lot after wards. Nice gal. About my age. Asked if we could keep in touch after the class ends in a few weeks. Sure!! I like her. Like I said, nice gal. Finally, it seems that there's a person I've met at school that's not a PITA (pain in the arse). At least she's not psychotic like most of the people I seem to meet around town. LOL!
Oh yeah, got the Stress Management test back today. The one I blogged about. The one I said that if someone didn't ace it there were real problems. Damn. I got a 95% on it. Not a perfect 100%. Seems I missed going into detail in one of the answers and lost 5%. She'll let us give the correct answers next week for half the points. To me it's not worth the 2 1/2% I'd gain back. Not when you consider I've already got so many extra credit points that I can sluff off the rest of the term if I wanted and not have less than an A in the class. Not that I'd sluff off, mind you.
Decided to go shopping after. Yes, me. Shopping!! We all know how I hate shopping. But "A" had told me there were some great deals up at the grocery store. Chicken drumsticks for $1.50 a pound. Had to run get mine!! I got four pounds. Just as I was about to check-out my phone blasts the "Keeping Up Appearances" theme. That means Mom is calling. LOL. Wanted to know what I was doing for Easter. Said she didn't want to cook, but wanted to know what our plans were. Told her all of our plans, including my plans to do that Accounting take home test and a ton of homework ... and have a ham sandwich for my Easter Dinner. I'm sure I'll be done with my homework before Easter, but I really don't want the family time right now. I'm sure I'd be cross examined about Alien's behavior lately. Something I just want to avoid. It's not my place to spill the beans. You know?
Came home from the store and cooked up those four pounds of chicken drumsticks. I won't be cooking for a while. I may get sick of drumsticks, but I won't be cooking for the rest of the week at least.
So ... whatcha all got planned for Easter?
Yes. Me.
Coach, "A", and I were talking after Stress Management class. "A" had said something about how she looks up to me and is proud of the way I have learned to handle stress. Coach agreed, and then adds that she wishes I could be in all of her stress management classes. That I bring with me not only a supportive attitude, but fill the room with such a positive energy. Charisma she called it. Not to mention my humor, and outlook on life. That my participation draws out the shy students to interact more with class discussions.
My head swelled. Really. And all I could say was "Thank You". Talk about a make your day moment.
"A" and I got to talk a little in the parking lot after wards. Nice gal. About my age. Asked if we could keep in touch after the class ends in a few weeks. Sure!! I like her. Like I said, nice gal. Finally, it seems that there's a person I've met at school that's not a PITA (pain in the arse). At least she's not psychotic like most of the people I seem to meet around town. LOL!
Oh yeah, got the Stress Management test back today. The one I blogged about. The one I said that if someone didn't ace it there were real problems. Damn. I got a 95% on it. Not a perfect 100%. Seems I missed going into detail in one of the answers and lost 5%. She'll let us give the correct answers next week for half the points. To me it's not worth the 2 1/2% I'd gain back. Not when you consider I've already got so many extra credit points that I can sluff off the rest of the term if I wanted and not have less than an A in the class. Not that I'd sluff off, mind you.
Decided to go shopping after. Yes, me. Shopping!! We all know how I hate shopping. But "A" had told me there were some great deals up at the grocery store. Chicken drumsticks for $1.50 a pound. Had to run get mine!! I got four pounds. Just as I was about to check-out my phone blasts the "Keeping Up Appearances" theme. That means Mom is calling. LOL. Wanted to know what I was doing for Easter. Said she didn't want to cook, but wanted to know what our plans were. Told her all of our plans, including my plans to do that Accounting take home test and a ton of homework ... and have a ham sandwich for my Easter Dinner. I'm sure I'll be done with my homework before Easter, but I really don't want the family time right now. I'm sure I'd be cross examined about Alien's behavior lately. Something I just want to avoid. It's not my place to spill the beans. You know?
Came home from the store and cooked up those four pounds of chicken drumsticks. I won't be cooking for a while. I may get sick of drumsticks, but I won't be cooking for the rest of the week at least.
So ... whatcha all got planned for Easter?
4/7/09
Ten Thoughts Tuesday ...
1) Quick! Somebody call CNN!! I remembered the ten thoughts this week!
2) The accounting exam was a total bust. I won't say my grade, but it was definitely "Titanic" ... that is, below C level. Get it? Sea level. The good news is that going through the exam during class we discovered that the answer key was wrong!! Yeah, almost a full 25% of the answers weren't correct on the damned thing. Not Teachers fault ... the tests are provided by the textbook writers. So, Teacher is tossing out this exam. Yeah!!
3) Before I could take a Law test today I had to run to the bookstore for more scantrons. Just so happens today was Student Fun Day. Coming out of the bookstore, one of the volunteers for the Fun Day grabbed me by the arm (luckily for that person I knew him from a previous class) and told me to "Spin the Wheel ... all Spins WIN". What the hell. I had a few minutes before I had to be in the classroom. Wheel spins ... spins ... spins ... and lands on "Money Shower". SHIT!! That means I have to jump into the clear shower curtain enclosure whilst they turn on the blower and see how much fake money I can catch mid-air. And with LOTS of witnesses, too!! Don't know what my exact dollar amount was, but I won a college t-shirt and a book bag with my earnings. And that was only using one hand to catch, the other to hold what I caught. Had I used my noggin I'd have zipped up my hoodie and stuffed "Raider Bucks" down my ample front. Ah well. Live and learn.
4) Law test went okay. Only a few brain farts during the hour long 50 question test. Luckily, I could find most of those answers in subsequent questions.
5) Tomorrow is my "Invention Presentation". Teacher asks for volunteers, so I'll see if I can go first. Can't wait. Got my power-point presentation all done. Should be fun. I used a lot of humor in this presentation. I mean, how serious can the "Project-a-Bowl" be? I did find the neatest flash drive while looking online for pictures to put in my slide show. It's a bowling pin flash drive. Too cool! LOL!
6) I think I need to take up bowling again. The "Project-a-Bowl" reminded me of how therapeutic is was to pretend the headpin was the person of my stress and to knock 'em down! Yes, when I was going through divorce #1 I used to pretend that Exie-pooh was the headpin. Damned if I didn't improve my average doing that ... and lowered my blood pressure, too.
7) Care to guess who I'd put an image of on a bowling pin? If you guessed Alien ... good for you. I still haven't heard from her either. It's to the point I quit trying. She'll get a hold of me when she's good and ready. I'm not going to stress over it.
8) Only four more weeks of school and then summer vacation! Yeah!! I'd never have thought at my age I'd be saying "yay summer break". But then ... who'da thunk that I'd be pushing 50 and finally getting that degree after all these years? LOL!
9) So ... knowing I'm so looking forward to no school for three months what do I do? I go and sign up for Ham Radio Classes! Yes. Can you believe it? Ham Radio!! What I'll do with the license I'll hopefully get at the end of the session I don't know. I'd hoped (still do) that I can work at least part of the year with Married Son and his Pilot Trucking business, where we'll use Ham Radios to communicate whilst on the road. But, that's up in the air until next summer (pilot ... up in the air ... really that pun wasn't intended). I'll be able to do Elsie's Attic from the road, too ... or else I'd never consider trying to do both.
10) Can someone please tell Mother Nature that spring is here? We got almost 6 inches of snow yesterday, and flurries all day today.
2) The accounting exam was a total bust. I won't say my grade, but it was definitely "Titanic" ... that is, below C level. Get it? Sea level. The good news is that going through the exam during class we discovered that the answer key was wrong!! Yeah, almost a full 25% of the answers weren't correct on the damned thing. Not Teachers fault ... the tests are provided by the textbook writers. So, Teacher is tossing out this exam. Yeah!!
3) Before I could take a Law test today I had to run to the bookstore for more scantrons. Just so happens today was Student Fun Day. Coming out of the bookstore, one of the volunteers for the Fun Day grabbed me by the arm (luckily for that person I knew him from a previous class) and told me to "Spin the Wheel ... all Spins WIN". What the hell. I had a few minutes before I had to be in the classroom. Wheel spins ... spins ... spins ... and lands on "Money Shower". SHIT!! That means I have to jump into the clear shower curtain enclosure whilst they turn on the blower and see how much fake money I can catch mid-air. And with LOTS of witnesses, too!! Don't know what my exact dollar amount was, but I won a college t-shirt and a book bag with my earnings. And that was only using one hand to catch, the other to hold what I caught. Had I used my noggin I'd have zipped up my hoodie and stuffed "Raider Bucks" down my ample front. Ah well. Live and learn.
4) Law test went okay. Only a few brain farts during the hour long 50 question test. Luckily, I could find most of those answers in subsequent questions.
5) Tomorrow is my "Invention Presentation". Teacher asks for volunteers, so I'll see if I can go first. Can't wait. Got my power-point presentation all done. Should be fun. I used a lot of humor in this presentation. I mean, how serious can the "Project-a-Bowl" be? I did find the neatest flash drive while looking online for pictures to put in my slide show. It's a bowling pin flash drive. Too cool! LOL!
6) I think I need to take up bowling again. The "Project-a-Bowl" reminded me of how therapeutic is was to pretend the headpin was the person of my stress and to knock 'em down! Yes, when I was going through divorce #1 I used to pretend that Exie-pooh was the headpin. Damned if I didn't improve my average doing that ... and lowered my blood pressure, too.
7) Care to guess who I'd put an image of on a bowling pin? If you guessed Alien ... good for you. I still haven't heard from her either. It's to the point I quit trying. She'll get a hold of me when she's good and ready. I'm not going to stress over it.
8) Only four more weeks of school and then summer vacation! Yeah!! I'd never have thought at my age I'd be saying "yay summer break". But then ... who'da thunk that I'd be pushing 50 and finally getting that degree after all these years? LOL!
9) So ... knowing I'm so looking forward to no school for three months what do I do? I go and sign up for Ham Radio Classes! Yes. Can you believe it? Ham Radio!! What I'll do with the license I'll hopefully get at the end of the session I don't know. I'd hoped (still do) that I can work at least part of the year with Married Son and his Pilot Trucking business, where we'll use Ham Radios to communicate whilst on the road. But, that's up in the air until next summer (pilot ... up in the air ... really that pun wasn't intended). I'll be able to do Elsie's Attic from the road, too ... or else I'd never consider trying to do both.
10) Can someone please tell Mother Nature that spring is here? We got almost 6 inches of snow yesterday, and flurries all day today.
4/5/09
Sunday Stuff ...
I really should be studying. Two tests this week, and a presentation to do on that invention I had to create (at least on paper). Nope. What am I doing instead? Anything but studying!!
I got to reading some of my old blog entries. Funny stuff. You realize I haven't even blogged about the gremlin in ages. Wonder where he went? I sort of miss him. Don't tell him that though! That's not an invitation for him to return.
I've also been working on a problem for Coach. We have this bird that repeatedly flies into the class room window. It's distracting to those who sit close to that window. I'm guessing from research that I've done that he's confused and believes that the bird he sees in the window is a threat to himself. I'm hoping a picture of a hawk (as recommended in my research) should scare him enough into backing down. I should probably film the birds antics before we plaster the windows with paper hawks. It's comical really. And he doesn't seem to be hurting himself, at least not yet.
Today is also the 16th anniversary of my brother's passing. I'm doing good with it. I think I've finally learned to let the bad go, and remember the good. 'Bout time that lesson soaked into my thick skull.
Speaking of thick skulls ... I should probably open my textbooks and study. These facts aren't gonna just pop into my head by themselves, you know?
I got to reading some of my old blog entries. Funny stuff. You realize I haven't even blogged about the gremlin in ages. Wonder where he went? I sort of miss him. Don't tell him that though! That's not an invitation for him to return.
I've also been working on a problem for Coach. We have this bird that repeatedly flies into the class room window. It's distracting to those who sit close to that window. I'm guessing from research that I've done that he's confused and believes that the bird he sees in the window is a threat to himself. I'm hoping a picture of a hawk (as recommended in my research) should scare him enough into backing down. I should probably film the birds antics before we plaster the windows with paper hawks. It's comical really. And he doesn't seem to be hurting himself, at least not yet.
Today is also the 16th anniversary of my brother's passing. I'm doing good with it. I think I've finally learned to let the bad go, and remember the good. 'Bout time that lesson soaked into my thick skull.
Speaking of thick skulls ... I should probably open my textbooks and study. These facts aren't gonna just pop into my head by themselves, you know?
4/3/09
Friday Stuff ...
Been a few days ... let's see what I can remember from the last few days.
Coming out of class on Wednesday I saw deer in the field on campus. Five of them. Little ones, grazing. I didn't see Momma, but I'm sure she was close by. Not a big deal for those of you who live in the country, but to a city girl like myself it was a neat experience. Not often I see deer.
Yesterday was Stress Management class. We got our two week journals back. I scored 210 out of a possible 200. Said it was one of the best journals she'd seen, and she'd seen a lot of good journals out of this class. Then it was a test. Open notes. Real easy ... we had a note session last week (or was it the week before). Group project. Answer the questions that your group was given, put them on the white boards and elect a team spokesman to read the notes to the class. Guess who was our groups spokeswoman. Yup, I was. Oh yeah ... we were given about an hour to copy the notes from the boards to our notebooks before reading them aloud. The test was over those notes. Nothing else. As I'm reading the test questions I realize she had given us verbatim the note-taking day questions, they were even in the exact same order, too. Anyone who doesn't get a 100% on that puppy has serious problems!! The last few questions were personal questions. What's your favorite way to relieve stress? (I said, "Visualization, listening to music or meditation CDs"). What did you learn from the journal project? (I said basically "to let go of the things I cannot control. Move on. Forgive."). Well, I thought and thought about that last question. As I wrote it out, it had me in tears, considering what has been going on lately - and realizing yeah ... let go and move on. Forgive. Like ya'll keep reminding me I need to do. Coach busted me with a face full of tears and told me to meet her in the back of the classroom. We talked. I felt better. She gave me some teen pregnancy information that I can pass on to Alien. A place where she can get pre-natal medical supervision, counseling and support and freebies for her and the baby.
Alien still hasn't contacted me, so she doesn't have the above information yet. I'm going to have DIL copy the info in her own writing and pass it along to Alien. Something tells me that if Alien thinks it's from me she'll disregard it ... at least she'll accept it from DIL. DIL will also work on making sure she follows through and visits this place. We'll see.
I talked to my mom today, too. No, I didn't tell her about Alien, not completely anyway. That's not my place. Alien made her choices, she gets the "fun" of telling everyone. Especially MY mother!! As it is, Mom had no idea Alien even moved out five months ago. Just too stressful on my mother to know everything that happens around here. Oh, she found out today alright! I told her all about it, about Alien running away ... the cops ... the whole thing. Told Mom, too, that I didn't want to stress her out, that's why she wasn't told until now. As soon as I finished talking Mom asked, "So is she pregnant?" OMG!! Talk about on the spot. And again, I'm NOT going to be the one telling Mom! So ... "well, Mom. I don't know. She hasn't said one way or the other." Well, technically I'm not lying ... Alien hasn't said one way or the other, not to my face anyway. I hate doing it this way ... but it's not my place to say anything.
This weekend is spent studying, working on Elsie's Attic stuff and making an invention. It doesn't have to actually work, but we have to invent something and then market it for my Marketing Theory class. So ... what I invented is a digital image projector for bowling alleys. Imagine ... you're ticked at your spouse, boss, or the mounting bills, or whatever ... you bring a .jpg file of the person/thing making you upset on your flash drive (or you can use generic photos from a photo library) and upload them when you type in your name on the lane computer. The image is projected on the headpin when it's your turn to bowl ... something for you to aim at. Take out your aggressions in a non-violent way ... and improve your bowling score at the same time. Think I could sell the idea to Brunswick? Hehehehe ...
Coming out of class on Wednesday I saw deer in the field on campus. Five of them. Little ones, grazing. I didn't see Momma, but I'm sure she was close by. Not a big deal for those of you who live in the country, but to a city girl like myself it was a neat experience. Not often I see deer.
Yesterday was Stress Management class. We got our two week journals back. I scored 210 out of a possible 200. Said it was one of the best journals she'd seen, and she'd seen a lot of good journals out of this class. Then it was a test. Open notes. Real easy ... we had a note session last week (or was it the week before). Group project. Answer the questions that your group was given, put them on the white boards and elect a team spokesman to read the notes to the class. Guess who was our groups spokeswoman. Yup, I was. Oh yeah ... we were given about an hour to copy the notes from the boards to our notebooks before reading them aloud. The test was over those notes. Nothing else. As I'm reading the test questions I realize she had given us verbatim the note-taking day questions, they were even in the exact same order, too. Anyone who doesn't get a 100% on that puppy has serious problems!! The last few questions were personal questions. What's your favorite way to relieve stress? (I said, "Visualization, listening to music or meditation CDs"). What did you learn from the journal project? (I said basically "to let go of the things I cannot control. Move on. Forgive."). Well, I thought and thought about that last question. As I wrote it out, it had me in tears, considering what has been going on lately - and realizing yeah ... let go and move on. Forgive. Like ya'll keep reminding me I need to do. Coach busted me with a face full of tears and told me to meet her in the back of the classroom. We talked. I felt better. She gave me some teen pregnancy information that I can pass on to Alien. A place where she can get pre-natal medical supervision, counseling and support and freebies for her and the baby.
Alien still hasn't contacted me, so she doesn't have the above information yet. I'm going to have DIL copy the info in her own writing and pass it along to Alien. Something tells me that if Alien thinks it's from me she'll disregard it ... at least she'll accept it from DIL. DIL will also work on making sure she follows through and visits this place. We'll see.
I talked to my mom today, too. No, I didn't tell her about Alien, not completely anyway. That's not my place. Alien made her choices, she gets the "fun" of telling everyone. Especially MY mother!! As it is, Mom had no idea Alien even moved out five months ago. Just too stressful on my mother to know everything that happens around here. Oh, she found out today alright! I told her all about it, about Alien running away ... the cops ... the whole thing. Told Mom, too, that I didn't want to stress her out, that's why she wasn't told until now. As soon as I finished talking Mom asked, "So is she pregnant?" OMG!! Talk about on the spot. And again, I'm NOT going to be the one telling Mom! So ... "well, Mom. I don't know. She hasn't said one way or the other." Well, technically I'm not lying ... Alien hasn't said one way or the other, not to my face anyway. I hate doing it this way ... but it's not my place to say anything.
This weekend is spent studying, working on Elsie's Attic stuff and making an invention. It doesn't have to actually work, but we have to invent something and then market it for my Marketing Theory class. So ... what I invented is a digital image projector for bowling alleys. Imagine ... you're ticked at your spouse, boss, or the mounting bills, or whatever ... you bring a .jpg file of the person/thing making you upset on your flash drive (or you can use generic photos from a photo library) and upload them when you type in your name on the lane computer. The image is projected on the headpin when it's your turn to bowl ... something for you to aim at. Take out your aggressions in a non-violent way ... and improve your bowling score at the same time. Think I could sell the idea to Brunswick? Hehehehe ...
4/1/09
Maxine
I love Maxine!!
These are just a few of my favorites from my massive collection of Maxine cartoons. Enjoy!
April Fool's Day ...
Had a test today in Marketing Theory. It was okay. I breezed through the first forty or so questions, then the next fifteen were difficult at best. Then a dozen easy questions followed by six extra credit questions (of which I only answered about half of them). Early dismissal, yeah!! I'm home and so ready for a nap. Haven't been sleeping well (worse than normal) the last few days and when I do, I have nightmares.
Her myspace banner greeting now reads (and I will not correct her typos) ... ~* Mommy *~ I'm about 6 weeks pregnant!!! 34 weeks left before I pop like a Watermellon thats benn dropped like a bad habbit! We're so excited! Can't wait to know Gender!!!
Gee ... could this be why I'm having nightmares about *me* being pregnant? Or ... being locked in a trunk and I can't find a way out ... or ... wandering and wandering in the deep forest being stalked by some huge ugly creature?
No pranks pulled today. But the day is still young.
Heard a good prank on the radio on the way in to class this morning. Craigslist ran a posting about a commercial casting at a local grocery store. All ages, races and genders needed. Bring portfolio and resume to store where casting agents would interview at 8 AM. Caller said he'd been there early, at 6:30 AM ... two hours later there were at least six dozen people waiting. Believing the casting agents to be late, someone employed by the store called at 8:30 only to find out it was a prank. Over 60 people pranked. Too funny!
Put a much needed smile on my face, I tell ya.
So ... what's your favorite prank to pull? Have you been pranked today?? Do tell!!
Her myspace banner greeting now reads (and I will not correct her typos) ... ~* Mommy *~ I'm about 6 weeks pregnant!!! 34 weeks left before I pop like a Watermellon thats benn dropped like a bad habbit! We're so excited! Can't wait to know Gender!!!
Gee ... could this be why I'm having nightmares about *me* being pregnant? Or ... being locked in a trunk and I can't find a way out ... or ... wandering and wandering in the deep forest being stalked by some huge ugly creature?
No pranks pulled today. But the day is still young.
Heard a good prank on the radio on the way in to class this morning. Craigslist ran a posting about a commercial casting at a local grocery store. All ages, races and genders needed. Bring portfolio and resume to store where casting agents would interview at 8 AM. Caller said he'd been there early, at 6:30 AM ... two hours later there were at least six dozen people waiting. Believing the casting agents to be late, someone employed by the store called at 8:30 only to find out it was a prank. Over 60 people pranked. Too funny!
Put a much needed smile on my face, I tell ya.
So ... what's your favorite prank to pull? Have you been pranked today?? Do tell!!
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