Caroline

Dear Memphis,

I still hate your Walgreens on Cleveland. Yes, there are others but I live near THIS one and I'm sick. I would please remind you to evacuate all of your crazy people from the area when I need to get cold medicine. On more than one occasion I have been accosted by aggressive pan-handlers and other various riff-raff who are not at all shy about putting their hands on your door to prevent you from closing it until you give them money. This time, however, I thought I was in the clear as I managed to enter and exit with purchased cold medication and did not have to talk to anyone. (The resident bum this day was working the other end of the parking lot at the time I came through.) You have neglected to consider the sidewalks around your establishment as while i was exiting the parking lot a woman crossing the way first not only flashed some sort of "devil" sign at me but then flipped me off and then spit on my car. For what reason, I am at a complete loss since I had neither seen her before nor  was I edging her out of the way. She was somewhat well dressed and decidedly clean and since I was taking notice of her fingers at the time, noticed they were well manicured and freshly painted.

All this does is to reaffirm my desire to never visit your Walgreens establishment again. Probably any Walgreens in Memphis to keep it simple. I once tried to shop at the one on Union and I will never forget that experience.

So thank you, Memphis, for reminding me once again why it was I wanted to live on a farm in Ireland and raise sheep. At least the only one crazy for 30 miles would be me.

Sincerely,
Caroline

I'm off! To Europe, that is.

I might be stopping in from time to time to regale you with interesting anecdotes and pictures if I can get them on to a public computer.

A whole month away from work is probably the best part of it all...
Yay!

How Many Tums is Too Many Tums?
Apparently it's 10. Who knew?

All hail the death of the Monday Morning Express! I'm sure you're just heartbroken. They started blocking LJ here at work and are systematically hunting through pretty much anything with the word "journal" or "blog" in the title and blocking it as well. Facebook and MySpace have been a member of the badlands since even before I started there. Soooo, this means no more MME.

Also, probably no more Who Review. Maybe on the weekend. Maybe.

But with the cutoff of my artistic outlet (which, come on - admit it, my poems are award worthy, right?) I've turned to comics and have a short series of fairly amusing comics about a fuzzy orange sprite torturing a former co-worker current friend of mine for mouthing off (which he does with ease and frequency). At some point I will share them all but for now they are on my work compy and Flickr is also blocked. (surprised? didn't think so.) 

Our paper was finaly submittied today on which I am co-first author (yippie!!!) fingers crossed that we don't have to do any more work. I can't handle the all nighters and the weekends at work anymore. In fact....

I'm excited for MidSouthCon next weekend. Rachel is coming down on Friday and we get to totally dork out the whole weekend with costumes and junkfood.  I am steampunking out my Victorian dress which I hope is going to be awesome and there will be some sort of fairy-thing at some point. There will be pictures.

Anyway, that's what's the up.

This has to be the best just... advice I've ever gotten from a horoscope...

Libra

February 25, 2008

Today's favorable aspect may mean you are taken by surprise when someone seems determined to bowl you over with their passionate pleas and declarations. As you generally like to go at your own pace and take your time making such vital decisions, you may be feeling excited but nevertheless pressured. In actual fact, there is no real rush; if it is genuine, your admirer will still be around tomorrow.

I made about 200 gyoza this weekend and I didn't break a single one! Full and happy... full and happy. The rest are in the freezer. Apparently, I'm now an expert. I should look into getting a certificate.

Moments

Hold on to a moment
Try to make it last.
More than strength is needed
To keep it from the past.

I was going to ditch and take a walk this afternoon but it suddenly got cloudy and unpleasant. Sadness.

I have discovered some much more manageable Tardis plans in my meanderings. Plus some blueprints for a size guide. I entirely think this could be possible. Now if I only had a garage. And tools. And help. 

And in the land of the "oh my god, I must own this but probably never will" beast... lookie!

On to the goods. Today it's a Haiku. I didn't have any room left in my brain for anything else.

Overstuffed

Mexican for lunch.
Why did I eat that much food?
Think I'm gonna die.

Now, if I could just leave work early and enjoy the nice weather it will be a pretty good day.

It's been a very long while since the train has come in to the station. I hope it doesn't disappoint. Mardi Gras was big and awesome this year.  And for those of you that might know about what might go on next year all I have to say is.... holy carp! 

I've been working on this week's VBP for a while. It remains true to its Very Badness but I am pleased with it. It's not so much of a poem as a rap. So, dig deep down into your white chick rap roots and take a gander... 

The 80's

This here is an ode..
Listen as we take you back.
Ready.

I'm not down with Microsoft Vista
Commodore 64 how I've missed ya!
Playin text games that you got off a floppy
Load Runner - The original copy.

Slot in the front with the wheel for LeMans
Late at night dreamin' bout being TRON
Rainbow Bright save the world after lunch 
Out in the back yard - playin Star Wars
I was Leia - when she still had those buns!

Forget about that Apple 2E
Atari ain't got nothin for me.
Before Windows Magic Desk was the best
Travel Green Sky rockin' out with the quest.

I don't care what anyone says..

20 years later and it's still workin'.

Yeah.

Comma eight.

Comma one.

Take it to the sheets!

This was an ode.

I thought that once I got home I might get over my bead greed and actually get rid of some of the literally POUNDS of beads I brought back but I still can't seem to do it. They're mine... they're my preciousssss...
 

I feel much more at ease with the world now that I have had a chance to view the entire first season of Torchwood. It's only a temporary ease as the second season starts up in about 3 weeks and I won't be able to see those either. Can you feel my pain? No? Ok, just asking.

I have some holiday leftovers to heat up in the virtual microwave. Here is Pam's version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" which I find amusing if not a little bit plausible. Or Clausible.

I Saw Mommy Spanking Santa Claus

I saw Mommy spanking Santa Claus
Underneath the basement stairs last night.
He let his red pants drop
As she swung the riding crop;
Then she laughed right in his face
When she heard him holler stop.
Then, I saw Mommy tie up Santa Claus
Underneath the stairs she strung him tight
Oh, how he twisted and cried
With a twinkle in his eye
As Mommy spanked Santa Claus last night.

And who said romance was dead?

The circumstances through which this idea came about were both strange and convoluted. It, however tickled me in all the right places so I ran with it. 

With that, I bring to  you...

A Vampire Christmas
(to the tune of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus")

I saw mommy turning Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
He didn't make a peep
As she drained that portly creep.
I could tell that he was fucked
up by that grin that split his cheek.
Then, I saw Santa drink from mom a bit
Underneath that scar on her right thigh.
Now, Christmas will never be
A joy for kids you see..
Mommy vamped up Santa Claus last night!

Thank you and good night!

I usually really hate dreaming about work on the weekends. Particularly Sunday night. But this time was kinda cool. It was "surreal work". There was this new guy starting that day and I hadn't met him yet but everyone kept talking about him. Finally, when I did get to meet him, I thought he looked familiar but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Then my boss said his name was Sebastian and the whole creepy surreal work world started swirling around. It was weird because he was my subconscious' human interpretation of a character from my pen trilogy. It was at that moment that I realized the strange creepy familiarity I saw in him was because I created him. A whole fully-fleshed reactive human that never existed. I find that kinda awesome. 

I pulled out my cello this weekend as well. If not for one string the bridge would have been in the bottom of the bag. But damn if I didn't have that thing tuned plucked and playing sweet sweet music in less than 10 minutes. I still got it. Oh yeah.

I'm already registered for MidSouthCon next year! (Yay)  Need a couple of people to share a room. Anyone? Bueller? Damn you.

Undenied

Marked for death
by a poisoned pen
A gravestone etched
with dates not met
Fate is sealed
in an airtight tomb
The days of your life
written silent by loom

Let not these shadows
keep you in place
Spill the ink
crack the stone
Declare your time
and your space
When it's done
own your fate
With one thing 
left to do
Set fire to the tapestry
woven for you.

I need some motivation to apply for school. More than just the "I want to". Some passion. Some wild flinging spectacular windswept desire to go back. Ok, maybe that's asking too much. Just a bit.
 

I wish I could wear a costume to work everyday.



Party on dudes!

Yes, they had tickets and yes, I went. Lots of people must have bought tickets on Friday afternoon because the place was totally sold out today. If last time was a mixed bag today was like... a bag of mixed nuts. The kind with the coconut shreds and those little dried bits of fruit. Lots of little girls with their parents which I expected and a couple of retired people just tearing it up. Tonight's theme of dress was stripes. Which is funny since on Thursday Billy Corgan wore black and white stripes while the audience was decked in all black with hoodies while tonight the bands were in hoodies and the crowd wore stripes.



Wings, then eyes, then bed. Quickly as possible.

The Smashing Pumpkins were actually here. In Memphis. Tonight err.. last night. Whatever. I was fortunate enough to be not completely out of the loop to have actually gone to see them. The crowd was a mixed bag of new fans and old fans. Now, I know that these guys have been around since the early 90's and many of their early fans will be well into their middle-agedness but I hope that I never ever never find myself at a concert in belted high-waisted khakis and a polo shirt. Tucked in. I have standards! Other than that fashion catastrophe the general theme of the audience was if it's black and it has a hood: wear it. I fit RIGHT in. :)

 
Weekday concerts suck in general because you have to work all day and then again the next day so there just isn't as much energy in it. Fall Out Boy and Plain White T's are at Mud Island this Saturday. If they still have tickets tomorrow I will probably be going to that one as well.

Every good lab needs one. Here is our very own high class Rat Pimp.



He can get you the best tail. For a price. Mostly your pride.

I am delirious.. DELIRIOUSI say! But I will try to hold it together for just a little while longer. 26 minutes to be exact. Well, maybe a little longer so I can drive home and not crash.

So many new things... on TV.

Among them, the awesomely shown but terribly named Moonlight. Who didn't see alot of Angel in this show? You must be BLIND. Let me recall a few of my favorites. The fast cutting night city scenes, alot like Angel. The cheezy voice over with a brooding trench coat wearing vampire atop a building, at night. Did anyone happen to catch the pilot for Angel. Yeah, just like that. Lets get a little more specific shall we? Hmm.. too hot to handle vampire denying himself the "touch" of another for some 80 long years? A private detective (without the crossover baggage, of course) who not only is in love with a blonde chick but she also looks incredibly similar to the blonde cop that helped Angel in his first season except this one is an investigative reporter. He's got a psycho ex who may or may not be dead who actually turned him much like Darla did except this one looked like Drusilla. Eh, two for one I guess. And last but not least, ties with an evil CEO who he's against in conscience but still friends with. 

I did however still love it and it satisfies my Vampire fix quite nicely. Especially since Angel is caput. 

Ok enough of this drivel. On to the show!

Crazy Eighths

A tirade for
a broken mind.
Restless thoughts
on a pointless ride.
Decisions to be
cast in stone.
A blue-green sphere
or a lonely home.
Time is seems
winds steady past.
Broken hearts will hide
in the wind swept grass.

Still waitin' on that Halloween news.... *ahem*

I thought it was high time to have at least one bad poem adorning my page this month. 

Fan-tastic!

tiny portraits
adorn the walls
the surfaces 
and sides
one may find it 
annoyingly dull
to be Frank, my friend
I don't care at all.

I will probably never catch up with the Who Reviews. I think there are only 2 more episodes in this season so it's almost over anyway. Oh well. It still kicks ass, I've just been busy. Martha rocks!

I have done nothing for Halloween preparations. I have about 75% of an outfit but I'm not sure what I'm doing yet. If anyone has any ideas about what I'm doing I do wish they would tell me. *ahem*

I "collect" a lot of weird things and often people ask me why, especially when they see my house. Though I've never been able to put into words the swirling mists of reason I finally found someone who could: Steve Roden

So, if anyone ever asks me again I will know who to refer them to.

Smith decided to reveal himself today. (Not in that "indecent exposure" way...) So here he is... all growed up.

The Who Reviews have been neglected of late because of the arrival of the Potter. I read it. So can you. I otherwise got nothing done this weekend. I think it was a fair trade.

Look! It's Haiku Day again! Yay!!

The Answer

Asking won't get you
What you need to know from me
Give me chocolate too

And those are words to live by. Everyone have that better week. I'm available for Potter discussion if anyone needs it.

Somewhere around 11:30 last night I gave up hope that I could stave off the entropy in my living room. I have a feeling that someday it may take over the world but I'm fighting the good fight and keeping it contained. Though, sometimes it makes its way into the bedroom.

Why all this work? Harry Potter 7 arrives on Saturday. I can't welcome the prodigal tome into a dirty house!

Today's VBP(Very Bad Poem) is not so much a poem as it is a little song. I have a challenge for anyone who would take it.(which is probably no one) Take the words, I won't tell you what the tune sounds like, make your own tune and record it (a capella or with your handy dandy instruments) then send it to me. It can be as beautiful or beastly as you could possibly want it. Who knows, maybe my band will record it and you could be a hundredaire overnight!! 

So, here it is...

Misplaced

Left in a place
Stuck in a time
Where you knew
I couldn't follow

A race against
the tides of time
though I know
you won't return

I'm fighting for
a chance to be
the hero 
of the hour

A place and time
a space that's mine
Where I know
you would find me

Nobody told me
what I'm supposed to be
Nobody showed me
what I'm supposed to see
You can't tell me
where I'm supposed to be
'Cause you're gone...
'Cause you're gone...

There you go, some verses, a bridge and a whole world of possibilities. It's open to lurker's too, if you're there.

Do it!

From Slate

excerpt here:

Dear Prudie,
My daughter is 5 years old and has, like most girls her age, a hamper's worth of stuffed animals. While she has her favorites, she constantly wants more and usually connives to get someone (read: her grandparents) into procuring a new one every couple of weeks. The new one immediately becomes her favorite and she must sleep with it every night and haul it around half the day. My question is: Does this behavior indicate she'll be overly promiscuous as an adult, or at least unable to commit to a single partner?

—Perhaps Overly Worried Father

Dear Perhaps,
Of course that's what it indicates. You'd better start thinking now about what you're going to do when she's a young woman and throws over that big, chubby guy with the annoying laugh, Barney, for the sexually ambiguous Tinky-Winky, whom she then dumps for that moron, Elmo, who every time they come over asks you to get down on the floor and tickle him.

—Prudie