I didn't eat anything weird last night but I had the oddest dream. It happened in two parts. The first part was visiting some futuristic city where visitors are housed in some subterranean area and the only way to get above to the city is to take an elevator with fingerprint access. Plus, the only way to get back down was scanning a visitors pass. I was a stowaway who was hiding from some guys. I think I was carrying some person's hacked off hand to navigate.
The second part involved being in some kind of existential orientation based out of my workplace. I wound up staying late and bumped into my boss in some big auditorium with a ton of shoes. She was doing something with her computer and there was some guy who was a technie helping her. He isn't anyone I know. We chatted about computer stuff and I kept trying to leave but when it was finally time to leave, I could find my shoes in the huge pile of random shoes. In the end, I found my shoes neatly stowed behind my boss' desk - which made me very suspiscious. Then I woke up.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Best Healthy Chili Ever
I got this recipe from Fix-it Forget-It Lightly
2lbs 99% fat free ground turkey
2 medium onions, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced (Feel free to use more. Just 2 is a bit bland)
1 green bell pepper, diced
2/3 Tbsp chili powder (More powder is okay if you want your chili with real kick)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cumin
16 oz can of low-sodium sewed or diced tomatoes
2 12 oz cans od low sodium tomato sauce
2 16 oz cans of Mexican chili beans
1. Brown turkey with onions, garlic and green pepper. Drain
2. Combine all ingredidents in slow cooker
3. Cover. Cook on low 6-8 hours.
Serves 8. Just 320 calories (40 from fat).
Monday, January 28, 2008
Valentine Question
This weekend I realized that my assumption that XOXO means hugs (X) and kisses (O) isn't an absolute fact. The way I look at it, an X looks like two people hugging. O's look like the mouth as you kiss. Anyone out there who wants to challenge me?
Verizon: Be Warned
Now that Verizon is able to offer tv service to many MA towns, I thought I'd take advantage of the bundle they are offering. I already had their phone service and loved the FIOS internet. Add in television service and I would be paying $99/month plus I'll be getting a free HDTV! Sounds good, no?
What they don't tell you is that the free HDTV takes 4 - 6 weeks to be available and you will have to pick it up yourself. I was all ready for my new TV when I was installed last month and now my entertainment center has been empty for 5 weeks.
It's not just the free TV rigmarole it's also their customer service. I got warning phone calls and a letter asking if I had requested a new email, which I didn't. I tried to talk to customer service and was hung up on. So, I emailed them and got back a message saying, "Oh nevermind!" My router stopped working last week and the rep I spoke to mailed a part to me. I called later last week for another problem and was informed that I could just bypass the router and be connected to the internet. Basically, there are so many glitches and mis-communications I have memorized their customer service phone number.
This is so disheartening considering that their entry as an internet provider has been awesome. Good service, good speed, and great customer service. It's like they added this premature business unit full of dysfunction to cover television service and it is gumming up all the works.
What they don't tell you is that the free HDTV takes 4 - 6 weeks to be available and you will have to pick it up yourself. I was all ready for my new TV when I was installed last month and now my entertainment center has been empty for 5 weeks.
It's not just the free TV rigmarole it's also their customer service. I got warning phone calls and a letter asking if I had requested a new email, which I didn't. I tried to talk to customer service and was hung up on. So, I emailed them and got back a message saying, "Oh nevermind!" My router stopped working last week and the rep I spoke to mailed a part to me. I called later last week for another problem and was informed that I could just bypass the router and be connected to the internet. Basically, there are so many glitches and mis-communications I have memorized their customer service phone number.
This is so disheartening considering that their entry as an internet provider has been awesome. Good service, good speed, and great customer service. It's like they added this premature business unit full of dysfunction to cover television service and it is gumming up all the works.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
On Being Fat
I've been overweight for most of my life. There are a couple years here and there when I was actually skinny When I was 4, 11, 19, and 26. My mom made us organic, healthy meals when I was 4. I had a huge growth spurt when I was 11 and I biked all summer. I wound up losing the freshman 15 thanks to marching band. When I was 26, I went on a crazy low calorie diet and exercise regimen which got me down to my lowest adult weight ever but I had a sinus infection that lasted for 4 months.
Growing up, I was a pretty active kid who loved to stay outside all day. We didn't have cable and my parents limited how much tv we watched. If I wanted dessert, I had to eat a piece of fruit. That set up a weird penalty/reward dynamic between fruit and sweets. No matter how active I was or what I ate, I was chubby. I wasn't teased in elementary school at all. I had ballet, Girl Scouts, chorus, and oboe lessons.
Since I hit puberty early, all my weight stretched out when I was 11. I joke that since I started early, my growing stopped early and if I had continued to grow, I would be drop dead gorgeous now. I was 5'1" in 5th grade and I am 5'5" now. A bunch of friends and I got really into biking everywhere that summer hence my unusual skinniness.
Middle school was when I started putting on a lot of weight and when I started getting teased a lot. The more picked on I was, the more crap I ate. I just went to school and came home because if I was seen out and about, I was harassed. I also started refusing to go with my parents grocery shopping. In my mind that was like painting a huge target on my back. I still call this time my "black hole years".
My family never teased me or commented on my weight. It was nice to have a respite from the self-consciousness at home. One of my grandmothers used to make fun of my weight but she made fun of her whole family's weight. I don't believe that weight is solely genetics because that's just an excuse. But from looking at both sides of my family, I could see that I had an uphill battle and that my natural weight would probably be higher than what was considered normal.
Marching band was the perfect kind of exercise - sneaky and regular. I didn't pay attention to how many miles I marched thanks to rehearsals 5xs a week for hours. I still ate crap but it got burned off thanks to band. Granted, spring semester, without band, I gained some back. College was a very eye opening experience for me eating-wise. I met my first batch of eating disordered people and had someone call me on my binging eating patterns. I was horrified but reverted back to my unhealthy habits but more covertly.
You'd think being morbidly obese and having a stroke at age 24 would wake me up about my weight and health, right? It did for a bit. I stopped eating sugar for years and worked out like a fiend. As I worked out, I would chant to myself, "You stupid fucking piece of shit. Keep going or you'll die from your next stroke." Angry working out helped me mentally to deal with what happened to me. I told myself that the stroke was my punishment for being fat. I lost 90lbs on sheer screwed up self loathing and anger. I couldn't fall asleep without a growling pit in my stomach. Since I got so ill on this diet, I fell off the wagon but I still tracked what I ate. Weight Watchers was a bust for me since I hated the meetings and weigh-ins. I haven't gained back all the weight I lost but I'm getting up there.
This is how I operate now. I track what I eat online and barely get any exercise (joining a gym priority #1 when I go perm). I watch those documentaries about 500lb people while snacking thinking, "At least I'm not that far gone." It's those documentaries and eating disorder docs that fascinate me. It's the discipline on one end and the obliviousness on the other that sucks me in. I don't believe the whole line about metabolisms going to hell after 30. I am going to find an exercise I like and get healthy darn it!
Growing up, I was a pretty active kid who loved to stay outside all day. We didn't have cable and my parents limited how much tv we watched. If I wanted dessert, I had to eat a piece of fruit. That set up a weird penalty/reward dynamic between fruit and sweets. No matter how active I was or what I ate, I was chubby. I wasn't teased in elementary school at all. I had ballet, Girl Scouts, chorus, and oboe lessons.
Since I hit puberty early, all my weight stretched out when I was 11. I joke that since I started early, my growing stopped early and if I had continued to grow, I would be drop dead gorgeous now. I was 5'1" in 5th grade and I am 5'5" now. A bunch of friends and I got really into biking everywhere that summer hence my unusual skinniness.
Middle school was when I started putting on a lot of weight and when I started getting teased a lot. The more picked on I was, the more crap I ate. I just went to school and came home because if I was seen out and about, I was harassed. I also started refusing to go with my parents grocery shopping. In my mind that was like painting a huge target on my back. I still call this time my "black hole years".
My family never teased me or commented on my weight. It was nice to have a respite from the self-consciousness at home. One of my grandmothers used to make fun of my weight but she made fun of her whole family's weight. I don't believe that weight is solely genetics because that's just an excuse. But from looking at both sides of my family, I could see that I had an uphill battle and that my natural weight would probably be higher than what was considered normal.
Marching band was the perfect kind of exercise - sneaky and regular. I didn't pay attention to how many miles I marched thanks to rehearsals 5xs a week for hours. I still ate crap but it got burned off thanks to band. Granted, spring semester, without band, I gained some back. College was a very eye opening experience for me eating-wise. I met my first batch of eating disordered people and had someone call me on my binging eating patterns. I was horrified but reverted back to my unhealthy habits but more covertly.
You'd think being morbidly obese and having a stroke at age 24 would wake me up about my weight and health, right? It did for a bit. I stopped eating sugar for years and worked out like a fiend. As I worked out, I would chant to myself, "You stupid fucking piece of shit. Keep going or you'll die from your next stroke." Angry working out helped me mentally to deal with what happened to me. I told myself that the stroke was my punishment for being fat. I lost 90lbs on sheer screwed up self loathing and anger. I couldn't fall asleep without a growling pit in my stomach. Since I got so ill on this diet, I fell off the wagon but I still tracked what I ate. Weight Watchers was a bust for me since I hated the meetings and weigh-ins. I haven't gained back all the weight I lost but I'm getting up there.
This is how I operate now. I track what I eat online and barely get any exercise (joining a gym priority #1 when I go perm). I watch those documentaries about 500lb people while snacking thinking, "At least I'm not that far gone." It's those documentaries and eating disorder docs that fascinate me. It's the discipline on one end and the obliviousness on the other that sucks me in. I don't believe the whole line about metabolisms going to hell after 30. I am going to find an exercise I like and get healthy darn it!
Week Back
It has been a tough week back. Rasputin meows non-stop all evening. I started responding by asking,"What?" in a sickeningly sweet voice. Now, I respond by telling him, "You know I'm going to kill you, right? When I get home from work, he has gotten into some kind of mischief. Today, I found a dish sponge in my bed.
Work has been okay. Monday, I forgot to adjust my computer from central to eastern time so I accidentally worked until 6pm. I looked pretty darn diligent at least! It is crunch time for the next couple of weeks since I have to firm up my year end report numbers for analysis. When I started the week, I had 4 months worth of reports to fix. Now, I have 1. It's one of those tasks where you get so sucked in, you forget that time is passing you by. Especially if I find a problem that can fix all the reports. That's how I wound up finishing 3 reports in one day!
This morning I got a really disheartening call from my staffing rep who basically told me that he has left message after message at my boss's numbers with no response and if I wanted to look for a new job, have at it. Wonderful! I could feel my blood pressure sky-rocketing. This afternoon I had a nice sit-down with a HR person who has made me feel much better. She told me that 3 months is the usual temp time line and she'll speak to my bosses. Answers finally! 3 months will be Feb. 14. I can deal with that.
Work has been okay. Monday, I forgot to adjust my computer from central to eastern time so I accidentally worked until 6pm. I looked pretty darn diligent at least! It is crunch time for the next couple of weeks since I have to firm up my year end report numbers for analysis. When I started the week, I had 4 months worth of reports to fix. Now, I have 1. It's one of those tasks where you get so sucked in, you forget that time is passing you by. Especially if I find a problem that can fix all the reports. That's how I wound up finishing 3 reports in one day!
This morning I got a really disheartening call from my staffing rep who basically told me that he has left message after message at my boss's numbers with no response and if I wanted to look for a new job, have at it. Wonderful! I could feel my blood pressure sky-rocketing. This afternoon I had a nice sit-down with a HR person who has made me feel much better. She told me that 3 months is the usual temp time line and she'll speak to my bosses. Answers finally! 3 months will be Feb. 14. I can deal with that.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
More Rasputin Coverage
If I had my camera handy, I would have caught him carrying a bag of mini pitas the other morning. So cute!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
My First Business Trip
Guess what? I haven’t stroked out or died from a pulmonary embolism! Which means that I can start traveling again without fear.
Wow, business trips are nothing like regular trips! We worked our butts off and each day became more and more tired. It was great meeting new people and seeing the sights around Dallas. I ate so much meat, I think I was close to a protein overdose. My company is a hard drinking crew but I tried to limit myself to one drink a night since this was the week when me going perm is going to be decided. Some co-workers sucked down drinks at dinner and then went out to a bar afterwards. I did break my one drink rule at a Mexican restaurant – I can’t say no to margaritas. Plus, someone bought all of us a shot. The best restaurant we went to was Hard Eights
Unfortunately, our hotel was under construction so that was a blemish on our stay. Nothing worked in our rooms, an entire floor had to be moved. I had internet connectivity in my room for one night and that was handy. The complementary breakfast was a sad affair since they didn’t have a functioning kitchen. I have no idea why the hotel was even open. It became a running joke for the week.
My flights were pretty good. Logan compared to Dallas Fort Worth is horribly designed and really inefficient but the terminals have good stores. Dallas Fort Worth has a ridiculous assortment of high-end retail stores and restaurants. My flight back I was in the window seat next to an over 6 foot guy who refused to switch with his wife to sit on the aisle so I had to deal with his constant jabbing me and spread legs. I was able to spot Waltham on our descent and that made me pretty excited. What looked potentially horrible turned out well; I was sitting behind a baby. The little guy cried once and slept for most of the trip. A perfect little traveler
Wow, business trips are nothing like regular trips! We worked our butts off and each day became more and more tired. It was great meeting new people and seeing the sights around Dallas. I ate so much meat, I think I was close to a protein overdose. My company is a hard drinking crew but I tried to limit myself to one drink a night since this was the week when me going perm is going to be decided. Some co-workers sucked down drinks at dinner and then went out to a bar afterwards. I did break my one drink rule at a Mexican restaurant – I can’t say no to margaritas. Plus, someone bought all of us a shot. The best restaurant we went to was Hard Eights
Unfortunately, our hotel was under construction so that was a blemish on our stay. Nothing worked in our rooms, an entire floor had to be moved. I had internet connectivity in my room for one night and that was handy. The complementary breakfast was a sad affair since they didn’t have a functioning kitchen. I have no idea why the hotel was even open. It became a running joke for the week.
My flights were pretty good. Logan compared to Dallas Fort Worth is horribly designed and really inefficient but the terminals have good stores. Dallas Fort Worth has a ridiculous assortment of high-end retail stores and restaurants. My flight back I was in the window seat next to an over 6 foot guy who refused to switch with his wife to sit on the aisle so I had to deal with his constant jabbing me and spread legs. I was able to spot Waltham on our descent and that made me pretty excited. What looked potentially horrible turned out well; I was sitting behind a baby. The little guy cried once and slept for most of the trip. A perfect little traveler
Driving Miss Anna
I don’t have many requests when getting a ride. Here is simply what I’d like
- Don’t go to the dump right before picking me up thus permeating garbage scent throughout the car
- Don’t leave the windows open to try to vent the smell if it has just snowed which will force me to sit in melting snow.
- Please get in the correct toll booth lane
- Please drop me off at my destination and don’t yell at me when I mention which wrong exit you took.
This is the reason why my stress level and blood pressure were sky high when I left for Dallas Texas last Tuesday.
- Don’t go to the dump right before picking me up thus permeating garbage scent throughout the car
- Don’t leave the windows open to try to vent the smell if it has just snowed which will force me to sit in melting snow.
- Please get in the correct toll booth lane
- Please drop me off at my destination and don’t yell at me when I mention which wrong exit you took.
This is the reason why my stress level and blood pressure were sky high when I left for Dallas Texas last Tuesday.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Holy Smoke
After a month of being a hermit due to pneumonia, I finally felt like having a life this weekend. I finally saw "Juno" (everyone has to see this movie NOW. It kicks ass). Had dinner at Geoffrey's Their martinis are perfect. When I got back to my friend's place, I nearly got a contact high from all the pot smoke seeping up from the downstairs neighbors. The next morning I had a mini tour of Roslindale square starting with breakfast. I had their Hungarian omelet and it gets a thumbs up from this half Hungarian. I also had a food epiphany. After a lifetime of thinking I hated marmalade, it turns out I love it! So, when you turn down a food try to remember if your opinion was formed when you still had your baby teeth. Then we went to the most amazing cheese store. I am this | | close to moving to Roslindale.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Child of Illusion and Parent of Disillusion
Since nothing is happening in my love life, I have resorted to dreams to get my fill of romance. It's funny how my mind sorts through past loves and concocts scenarios where they declare their true love for me. Once I've run out of past loves as dream contenders, I use a cypherman. He has a body and voice but his face shifts like the agents in "A Scanner Darkly".
Spending yet another holiday season single and speeding towards my mid-30's, has gotten me thinking. I'm not panicked yet. I'm not cynical or bitter about my chance for finding love - yet. It kind of feels like a puzzle, when I click in the final piece it will happen. Right now, I just have the borders and some sky. Online dating isn't for me but it is a good tool to get in the dating zone and out there. I am going to avoid Eharmony since they are insanely expensive and I politically object to their services (they refuse to match homosexual couples). Plus, the ads are very creepy. My best results have come from friends of friends.
Spending yet another holiday season single and speeding towards my mid-30's, has gotten me thinking. I'm not panicked yet. I'm not cynical or bitter about my chance for finding love - yet. It kind of feels like a puzzle, when I click in the final piece it will happen. Right now, I just have the borders and some sky. Online dating isn't for me but it is a good tool to get in the dating zone and out there. I am going to avoid Eharmony since they are insanely expensive and I politically object to their services (they refuse to match homosexual couples). Plus, the ads are very creepy. My best results have come from friends of friends.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
The Job
I am going on my first business trip next week - which is exciting and a bit terrifying. I have been a temporary employee for 2 months so far. Since this position is supposed to be temp to perm, I am getting antsy for the perm. A couple weeks ago, I got up the courage to ask one of my managers for a perm timeline. I mentioned that since I came down with pneumonia and am a temp employee, I had to decide between getting better and making rent so I'd like to know the permanent hiring timeline. I was informed that discussion/ decision will be made next week during my business trip. No pressure!
The stress feels like it's killing me. I'm exhausted all the time, forget/ lose things left and right. It's like a 2 month wooing process where I have to be the smartest, most efficient team player in the world and I would like a rest. Next week is going to be the wooing process times ten. Additionally, I'm taking my first long flight in six years to attend this business meeting. So not only am I stressing about going perm, I'm stressing about overcoming my fear of long flights. Logic doesn't help me. It doesn't matter that I have a heart implant so I can never have a stroke again yet I could get a pulmonary embolism. It doesn't matter that I take 325mg of aspirin daily and weigh less than I did when I had my stroke. It doesn't matter that I'll be wearing compression socks. I better get permanently hired if I have to go through so much mental anguish!
The stress feels like it's killing me. I'm exhausted all the time, forget/ lose things left and right. It's like a 2 month wooing process where I have to be the smartest, most efficient team player in the world and I would like a rest. Next week is going to be the wooing process times ten. Additionally, I'm taking my first long flight in six years to attend this business meeting. So not only am I stressing about going perm, I'm stressing about overcoming my fear of long flights. Logic doesn't help me. It doesn't matter that I have a heart implant so I can never have a stroke again yet I could get a pulmonary embolism. It doesn't matter that I take 325mg of aspirin daily and weigh less than I did when I had my stroke. It doesn't matter that I'll be wearing compression socks. I better get permanently hired if I have to go through so much mental anguish!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
My name is more important than myself
Since I have been writing on this blog for over two years, I thought it was about time to explain the URL and name. The URL is fairly easy. I wanted something didn't incorporate my name (for legal reasons). I am a fan of Futurama and one of my favorite episodes is "Fry and the Slurmfactory" I didn't think my blog should be comparable to worm slime but I liked the highly addictive nature of Slurm. Therefore, I hoped my blog could become highly addictive before the ingredients could be revealed. Bwah ha ha ha!
The blog started out as being named "My Life" which wasn't too inspiring. Around the time I got into Judaism, I started thinking that there could be a Hebrew word that encapsulated my blog's theme/mission. I looked for translations of the word wisdom since that is basically what I'm trying to attain throughout my life. I came across Chokmah A couple aspects appealed to me. That Chokmah corresponds to the right hemisphere of the brain, it is the 22nd prime number and means the potential to be. The right hemisphere of my brain is a damaged mess thanks to my stroke and I was born November 22. It seemed like a word that describes the path I'm on, marrying the intellectual and spiritual with endless possibilities.
The blog started out as being named "My Life" which wasn't too inspiring. Around the time I got into Judaism, I started thinking that there could be a Hebrew word that encapsulated my blog's theme/mission. I looked for translations of the word wisdom since that is basically what I'm trying to attain throughout my life. I came across Chokmah A couple aspects appealed to me. That Chokmah corresponds to the right hemisphere of the brain, it is the 22nd prime number and means the potential to be. The right hemisphere of my brain is a damaged mess thanks to my stroke and I was born November 22. It seemed like a word that describes the path I'm on, marrying the intellectual and spiritual with endless possibilities.
Playing With Rasputin
This was my first attempt to record Ras. The toy is new and has been a hit since day 1. I'm pleased I caught his distinctive trill meow in the beginning. He didn't do his cute roll upside down happy playing move though. I'll catch that eventually! Please pardon my porno heavy breathing.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Movie Weekend
This weekend I tried out my new Verizon tv system* by enjoying the offerings from On Demand. I checked out three movies, 2 pay and 1 free
Eragon - thank goodness this was free because it absolutely sucked. It's like someone vomited Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings onto the movie screen. I did like the dragons and the technicalities surrounding them. Piss poor acting at every turn (except for Jeremy Irons).
Rescue Dawn - I don't understand Christian Bale's obsession for roles where he has to tranform his body. I swear the amount of strain he has put on his heart isn't healthy! The movie is pretty good and tense. I wasn't a fan of Jeremy Davies performance. It seems like he was just channeling his Charles Manson character. I was pretty impressed with Steve Zahn. I've loved him since Happy, Texas.
Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - the first hour is pretty fun but then the movie JUST DOES NOT END. I have always been pretty uninspired by the love story but Jack's antics kept me pretty entertained. I couldn't understand half the things Calypso said due to the actress' atrocious accent.
* By the way, that free TV you can get from Verizon for getting their tv service takes 3 - 4 weeks to be shipped to you. Something they neglected to mention when I ordered my service.
Eragon - thank goodness this was free because it absolutely sucked. It's like someone vomited Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings onto the movie screen. I did like the dragons and the technicalities surrounding them. Piss poor acting at every turn (except for Jeremy Irons).
Rescue Dawn - I don't understand Christian Bale's obsession for roles where he has to tranform his body. I swear the amount of strain he has put on his heart isn't healthy! The movie is pretty good and tense. I wasn't a fan of Jeremy Davies performance. It seems like he was just channeling his Charles Manson character. I was pretty impressed with Steve Zahn. I've loved him since Happy, Texas.
Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - the first hour is pretty fun but then the movie JUST DOES NOT END. I have always been pretty uninspired by the love story but Jack's antics kept me pretty entertained. I couldn't understand half the things Calypso said due to the actress' atrocious accent.
* By the way, that free TV you can get from Verizon for getting their tv service takes 3 - 4 weeks to be shipped to you. Something they neglected to mention when I ordered my service.
Pneumonia The Aftermath
After a couple weeks I'm basically symptom-free except for some wheezing when I breathe out, a hacking cough, and a general feeling of being run-down. I have enough energy to go to work, anything beyond that wipes me out. I've armed my illness fighting arsenal with fruits and veggies, Airborne, Danactive immunity, and vitamins. Airborne has been excellent so far. But night-time Airborne knocks you out so make sure that you have at least 8 hours for sleep. Danactive tastes okay but the bottles are so tiny, I doubt they pack much of a wallop.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Deaf Denial
My dad is 75 years old and he is going deaf. His hearing has been getting worse for a couple of years. It started out as not being able to have a conversation with him at a restaurant. Now, it has gotten so bad that he has trouble in a perfectly quiet room with you just 3 feet away.
The most difficult part is that he is in complete denial and likes to fake that he hears you. It makes holding a conversation a convoluted exercise for other family members as we try to figure out how his response fits into what we just said. For example, I was mentioning how great it is to have the Burlington mall so close to me and his response had to do with weather patterns (how Boston and south mostly get rain). I have no idea what he thought I said. When I try to call attention to his hearing problems he blames the speaker. I speak too softly. Or the waitress didn't ask him the question he expected.
Is there such a thing as having an intervention for someone going deaf?
The most difficult part is that he is in complete denial and likes to fake that he hears you. It makes holding a conversation a convoluted exercise for other family members as we try to figure out how his response fits into what we just said. For example, I was mentioning how great it is to have the Burlington mall so close to me and his response had to do with weather patterns (how Boston and south mostly get rain). I have no idea what he thought I said. When I try to call attention to his hearing problems he blames the speaker. I speak too softly. Or the waitress didn't ask him the question he expected.
Is there such a thing as having an intervention for someone going deaf?
Friday, January 04, 2008
Car Inspection Woes
I finally got my car inspected today at the Shell station. 962 Main St in Waltham. Everything seemed to be going fine. I had a brake light out and the whole process took maybe 15 minutes. As I got into the car and put the paperwork in my glove compartment, I realized that the mechanic never gave me my registration back. So I asked him for it and he told me some other mechanic had it and left. He took down my phone number to call me when it turned up. By 3pm, I had recieved no call so I called the Shell station. The mechanic's new story was that I would get my registration Monday. I simply could not believe his idiocy. Legally, I cannot drive my car without registration and he was asking me to stay housebound for an entire weekend due to his screw up? Oh yeah, did I mention that he called me "Honey"? I demanded to be refunded $15 (the cost of getting a replacement registration). Now I have a printed out letter saying that I ordered a replacement which allows me to legally drive my car. The upshot is do not use the Shell station on 962 Main St in Waltham (it's the one located where 20 and 117 branch off). The garage is run by idiots who do not comprehend basic Massachusetts motor vehicle laws.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
It's 2008 So Pay Attention
Obviously, Rasputin is paying attention! 2007 was way too early for me to care about the Presidential election. Sure, I'd hear snippets and would just shrug and think "When it's an election year, I'll start caring."
The Candidates
Since I'm a Commie Liberal, I'll focus on the Democrats and weigh in on which Republican is less awful. I also know that looking into the candidates' platforms is basically useless since once elected, candidates completely sell out. Oh for a viable third party! Sigh...
Hilary - lowering middle class taxes, affordable/accessible healthcare, ending Iraq War, clean renewable energy, GI Bill for 21st Century, pro-choice, fighting government corruption
Obama - expand hate crimes statutes, middle class tax relief, ensure freedom to unionize, tuition tax credit, invest in clean energy, government ethics reform, ending Iraq War, revise taxes, affordable/accessible healthcare
Joe Biden - plan for Iraq (no immediate pullout, put in place infrastructure that can support a country), affordable/accessible healthcare, tuition tax credit, fuel efficiency, end genocide in Darfur, protect social security, defending Roe v. Wade, fighting breast cancer, worker visa system,
John Edwards - universal healthcare, end Iraq War, energy independence, end genocide in Darfur, equal rights for same sex couples, pro-choice, keep social security
Chris Dodd - end Iraq War, fuel efficiency, national service plan, affordable health care, bankruptcy reform, maintain social security
Mike Gravel - end Iraq War, carbon tax, national sales tax, universal healthcare, support Roe vs. Wade, supports same sex marriage, revamp social security,
Dennis Kucinich - universal non-profit healthcare, strengthen social security, sustainable energy, no NAFTA or WTO participation, supports gay marriage
Bill Richardson - end Iraq War, clean energy nation, affordable health care, combat Darfur genocide, supports domestic partnership, bankruptcy reform
So, most of the platforms are the same. Hell, I cut and pasted a lot! But, I find it interesting that the top 2 candidates, Hilary and Obama, don't discuss same sex marriage on the issues page of their website. I like that Biden and Edwards mention Darfur. Plus, Biden has an actual PLAN for Iraq. It would be fun to have in this pack of clones a candidate who supported the Iraq War and was pro-life just for some variety you know?
On the Dumberer side, as a MA resident I am obligated to say that Romney is pure out and out evil. He's a career politician and sways with the wind. Even though I admire Huckabee's weight loss, he's as clueless as Dubya. We're trying to get away from that kind of "leadership" mmmkay? Giuiliani is an out and out asshole who's milking a national tragedy for all it's worth. But I like how liberal his social policies are.
Popular Baby Names
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I have never met an Ava in real life so I have no strong opinions for or against. I've had good experiences with Ryans so that gets a thumbs up from me. The runners up are Matthew (okay name taken by a cousin), Michael (okay name taken by a cousin), William (okay name yet the nickname permutations turn me off) and Jacob (a kid in middle school named Jake used to make my life miserable but I like the name regardless due to it's cool status in Jewish history). Plus Isabella (I had a great aunt named Isabella then she changed her name to Huntley - I like Huntley better as well), Sophia (the Golden Girls ruined this name forever however Sofia could be doable), Olivia (I have adored this name for ages so this is in my personal top tier) and Emma (I am not Rachel or Monica from friends so I'd opt for Emily).
I have never met an Ava in real life so I have no strong opinions for or against. I've had good experiences with Ryans so that gets a thumbs up from me. The runners up are Matthew (okay name taken by a cousin), Michael (okay name taken by a cousin), William (okay name yet the nickname permutations turn me off) and Jacob (a kid in middle school named Jake used to make my life miserable but I like the name regardless due to it's cool status in Jewish history). Plus Isabella (I had a great aunt named Isabella then she changed her name to Huntley - I like Huntley better as well), Sophia (the Golden Girls ruined this name forever however Sofia could be doable), Olivia (I have adored this name for ages so this is in my personal top tier) and Emma (I am not Rachel or Monica from friends so I'd opt for Emily).
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Eating Good in the New Year
Today, I decided to try Sarah's pork pie recipe. Everything went well besides being temporarily incapacitated by mincing onions. It never fails. Even though I love eating them, cutting onions leaves me a swollen eyed runny nosed wreck. As I was dishing out the filling into the dough cups, I realized I had a ton of filling and leftover dough bits. So I made a pork turnover and since the recipe basically is pork meatloaf, I made pork cupcakes. Mmmm... I just ate two of my finished products.
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