Unfortunately, the only posts I’ve managed to get around to lately have been of the fill-in-the-blank types. Well, let’s see if I can add some actual quality stuff here. (Don’t get your hopes up.)

Flew home, had Christmas, lazed around a bit, flew back. I don’t recommend American Airlines. Delays both ways. It’s a pickin’ one hour flight, and both times my delays were… one hour-ish. Yeah. However, the trip back it was cloudy the whole way, and as we flew over the clouds, it looked like we were flying over the ocean. An ocean of… cappuccino foam. An ocean without waves, but it was still gorgeous. And it was really cool to look out over this ocean of clouds (that were so thick it took us several minutes to fly through them upon descent) and see shadows of still larger, higher clouds on the lower ones.

Other than that, not much is going on. Work. I went to Barnes & Noble last night and got some cool stuff with the giftcard from (I’ll have to talk about that later).

Got some cool stuff for Christmas, most notably a digital camera from . More exciting was that everyone loved what I gave them, which felt infinitely better than having received cool gifts.

I plan nothing for New Year’s Eve. Maybe I’ll stay up late enough to watch the ball drop, but I might just go to bed. No, it’s not sad, it’s choice. I really don’t like parties etc, especially the whole New Year’s Eve thing and kissing someone at midnight (which I’ve never had) and driving with all the drunks on the road and so forth. I haven’t done anything for New Year’s Eve since… sometime in college, when and I went, with her parents, to some friends of her parents and had a little shindig.

I’ve been outbid again on ebay. I’ll be busy with that until the close of work.

Have a safe holiday! I’ll be back on the 3rd of January, 2005!

popularity: 11%

Your New Years Resolution Should Be: Tell your boss to screw off

Seriously. You know you really, really want to.Life’s too short to have a job you hate…And though you may be a success, you’re secretly miserable.Time to try out a new career - maybe one involving g-strings?

popularity: 11%

1. What do you think you could do to help the survivors of Asia’s Devastating Tsumami? My cousin Katie and her husband Mike who are living there right now requested prayer. “*Pray for the millions of homeless, *That aid can get to where it is needed the most, *For rescue workers who are going to help *For families who still don’t know where their loved ones are *That there will not be outbreaks of disease and sickness (due to the displacement and death of so many people) *And pray that God will use this opportunity to open the hearts of Indonesians to Christ and his love”
2. How would you help if you were there when it happened? I’d like to think that I would get right down into the dirt of it and help, and that I’d be able to overcome my “issues” with germs, filth, and disease.
3. In what ways could you help from home? See question #1.
4. How did you feel when you first heard about this tragedy? The first I heard about it was from my Aunt Shirley who told us that Katie & Mike were safe, so I didn’t worry much after that. I should probably feel more compassionate towards all those who are directly affected, but knowing that the people I love are safe has tempered that a lot.
5. How do you feel now watching the death toll rising daily? It’s very sad, and completely unnecessary in this day and age. I know that a large portion of the world doesn’t live at the same standard that the US does, but I don’t think it has to remain that way. I know that there are worries about retaining culture and so forth, but I think that there are ways to do that while also advancing technologically and in terms of medical safety, etc.

Today’s Word of the Day
hoary (adjective) [HOR·ee, HOER·ee]

1. showing characteristics of age, especially having gray or white hair: “Holly patted the hoary head of her beloved sheep dog.”
2. covered with fine whitish hairs or down; ‘hoary leaves’
3. ancient; ‘hoary jokes’ adverb form: hoarily noun form: hoariness

Origin:Approximately 1530; from English, ‘hoar’: gray with age, grayish-white, from Old English, ‘har’: gray, venerable + the suffix ‘-y.’

popularity: 17%

1. holiday:: Christmas
2. fault:: no
3. beep:: honk
4. bubble:: gum
5. needle:: haystack
6. fare:: bus
7. treat:: candy
8. express:: limited
9. webcam:: ewww
10. capital:: city

popularity: 10%

“Not at all. I’m interested. I used to have a theory about these people. I think they’re freezing up.”

“What?”

“I think they’re growing like Swedes - Ibsenesque, you know. Very gradually getting gloomy and melancholy. It’s these long winters. Ever read any Ibsen?”

She shook her head.

“Well, you find in his characters a certain brooding rigidity. They’re righteous, narrow, and cheerless, without infinite possibilities for great sorrow or joy.”

“Without smiles or tears?”

“Exactly. That’s my theory. You see there are thousands of Swedes up here. They come, I imagine, because the climate is very much like their own, and there’s been a gradual mingling. There’re probably not half a dozen here to-night, but — we’ve had four Swedish governors. Am I boring you?”

“I’m mighty interested.”

“Your future sister-in-law is half Swedish. Personally I like her, but my theory is that Swedes react rather badly on us as a whole. Scandinavians, you know, have the largest suicide rate in the world.”

From “The Ice Palace” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

popularity: 10%

1. What is your favorite scent? Probably vanilla.
2. Can you get your favorite scent in a candle, spray or plug in? Yes, definitely, all of the above.
3. What do you use to make your home smell good? (ex: spray, powder, candles, incense, oils, stick ups or plug ins). I burn candles. I have a deodorizer thing by the litter box.
4. What scent do you dislike the most? Why? Really strong cinnamon I don’t care for. Anything too floral I find… annoying. Oh, and B.O.
5. Is there any natural scent that you really wish they could bottle? Fresh air. A day at the beach. The clean smell of the air when you’re out in the middle of nowhere hiking through a forested mountain.

Today’s Word of the Day

reprobate (REP-ruh-bayt) adjective Depraved. noun A wicked person. verb tr. To disapprove or condemn. [From Middle English, from Late Latin reprobatus, from reprobare (to disapprove), from re- + probare (to test, approve), from probus (good).]

popularity: 15%

Well, as cold as -9 degrees Fahrenheit is (with a wind chill of 25 to 30 below zero), it is sunny today, and for that I am thankful. We still don’t have snow. We’re not likely, and neither is Chicago, so it seems I will not be having a White Christmas. However, I don’t think that I’ve had very many white Christmases, so I won’t be missing too much.

Apparently, since we’re working on a skeleton staff today, they decided not to heat the building. It’s freezing in here! My fingers are cold, my coffee chilled long before I could finish all of it, and I’m afraid for Sequel over the long weekend. He’s a tropical fish, after all. I hope he’ll be OK.

Conveniently, I get to leave in a little over 90 minutes to go get my massage. I’ve never had one before, and am a little nervous, but thought it was worth it to pamper myself before the holidays. I’m not especially tense, but that right shoulder with the chronic muscle pain is bothering me. Winters are generally worse on my back, just because any time I spend with my muscles tense (as in waiting for the bus, warming up the car) is bad and aggravates the problem. HMOs don’t really cover chronic problems, and they’re not really interested in letting me go to a chiropractor once a month for the rest of my life. So, a massage it is.

I’m also nervous about leaving the kitties home alone. I feel so bad - at least they don’t know what Christmas is, because then it would be especially cruel to leave them all alone. As it is, they’re pretty oblivious. The upstairs neighbor can check in on them Saturday night, and is back on Sunday, so they should be well taken care of. It’s a good thing has a cat, though. I will miss mine terribly. It’s worse now that they’re really mine, and not shared with .

This will probably be my last post until next week. has dial-up, so I probably won’t be posting (and if I do, it’ll be short) while I’m at home.

I keep running through the list of things to do tonight. I’ve already printed my boarding pass and gotten cash from the ATM. My PDA is charged, but I need to remember to grab the charger to bring with. The headphones are already in my purse. I need to finish packing, lay out clothes for tomorrow, find a book to read, re-paint my nails, and get to sleep early (I’m worried about the 5:14 bus ride). Wish me luck!

popularity: 11%

1. Have you ever been to a support group for anything? If yes, what support group did you go to? Surprisingly enough, I have not
2. Do you know of any support groups in your area? Do you know which ones they are? I know that AA (as well as others) meet in several local churches. There are several GLBT support groups for teens that I know of, as well. My church just started a grief support group.
3. Do you think that support groups serve a need for people in the community? Definitely, especially for those who have problems they can’t talk about with family/friends, or whose problems are family/friends, or those who don’t have family/friends.
4. How could you benefit from a support group? I think it’s always beneficial to know that there are others going through what you’re going through.
5. Have you ever thought of starting a support group in your local area? If yes what support group would you start? How would you get started? No, I have not. Well, unless you count the parents’ group that we just started at church.

Today’s Word of the Day

eremite (noun) [AIR·ah·miet']

1. a recluse, especially a religious recluse: “Modern society deeply disturbed Jamie, so he chose to become a new age eremite.” adjective forms: eremitic, eremitical

Origin:Approximately 1250; from Middle English; from Late Latin, ‘eremita’: hermit.

popularity: 14%

1. What would you like to receive for Christmas this year? I had a couple of ideas, but now I can’t think of any of them. Hmm.
2. What could possibly be the best Christmas present given to you this year? A new bed. Or a permanent job for .
3. What are you tired of receiving every year? checks - I’d rather get a bad gift, or at least a gift card to a specific store, so I know you think you know me well enough to get in the ballpark
4. What could be the worst gift that anyone could give you this year? I really don’t like getting soaps and lotions from Bath & Bodyworks (or, quite frankly, any store). They’re so… general. And how much of that does one really need? I’ll buy my own, thanks.
5. What was the worst present you ever received for Christmas? See #4. I had a cousin who did this one year, even though I had specifically requested something else that was clearly within the price range. I gave it to , and she bought me something with the money she would have used to buy it for herself.
6. What was the best present you ever received for Christmas? In 2001, and I decided to buy diamond earrings for , and coincidentally she had the same idea for us, so we got diamonds as well.

Today’s Word of the Day

Philistine (noun, adjective) [FIL·i·steen', fi·LIS·tin, fi·LIS·teen'] noun

1. a member of an Aegean people who settled in ancient Philistia around the 12th century BC
2. a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits: “Since she started dating that Philistine, Catherine stopped attending the book club and began drinking beer!” adjective
3. of or relating to ancient Philistia or the the culture of the Philistines
4. smug and ignorant and indifferent or hostile to artistic and cultural values; ‘philistine tastes’

Origin:Approximately 1827; translation of German, ‘Philister’: enemy of God’s word, applied by university students to townsmen or outsiders, an uncultured person; from Late Latin, ‘Philistaeus,’ of or from ‘Philistaea’: land of the Philistines; from Greek, ‘Philistia’; from Hebrew, ‘Pelesheth,’ the derogatory sense is from, ultimately, the hostility of the Philistines toward the ancient Israelites.

popularity: 16%

1. Perfect Gift:: impossible
2. Santa:: fake
3. Lucy:: & Linus
4. Buckets:: of Rain
5. Recital:: Piano
6. Stamp:: Book
7. Teacher:: Apple
8. Matchbox:: Smoking
9. Spit:: Ball
10. Feeling:: Fine

popularity: 11%

1. Do you consider yourself a crafty person? Sometimes. I go through phases. Last year I was in a bead phase. Other times I’ve been in home decorating phases, sewing my own clothes phases, and taking pictures phases. Am I particularly good at any of these? No. But being creative helps me think better, and can get my mind off other stressors if needed.
2. What kind of crafts or hobbies do you like to do? List all of your hobbies and/or crafts that you like to do. I like interior decorating (as evidenced by the re-arranging of the furniture in my bedroom this weekend, for the fourth time since I moved in late September). I’m hoping that roommate will teach me to knit sometime this winter - tried years ago, but she’s left-handed and I’m not, and it just didn’t work. I’d love to be able to paint, but I seem to have no talent in that area.
3. Have you ever sold anything you’ve made? No, not that I can remember.
4. Did anyone teach you how to do this or did you teach yourself? If someone taught you how to do something who was it? taught me how to sew (along with some help from Home Ec in junior high).
5. Do you make things for other people and give them as gifts? I have been known to. Last year I made a necklace for for Christmas and she loved it. I also gave beaded snowflake ornaments to a bunch of people. For Christmas a few years ago I made a recording for both of my parents (of me playing the piano, which is a creative exercise, depending on how you look at it).

Today’s Word of the Day

ascetic (noun, adjective) [ah·SET·ik] noun

1. a person who practices self denial as a spiritual discipline adjective
2. practicing great self-denial: “I cannot seem to convince my ascetic husband that you don’t have to sleep in a tent when you travel.”
3. pertaining to or characteristic of an ascetic or the practice of rigorous self-discipline; ‘ascetic practices’

• adverb form: ascetically
• Origin:Approximately 1646; from Greek, ‘asketikos’: laborious, from ‘asketes’: hermit, monk, practicioner, from ‘askein’: to exercise, to work.

popularity: 14%

Work today has eaten my soul. First it was the horrible project that I don’t even want to describe, except to say that it involved writing the same web page 20 times over with minor details changed. It was my fault I had to re-do this work, but it was still tedious and annoying. Not to mention the fact that one of the managers placed herself in my cube (mistake number one - don’t enter my cube; it’s too frickin’ small without you in here!) and demanded it be done (mistake number two - I don’t respond well to demands; I barely respond well to requests, unless they’re very prettily packaged). I told her it would probably take a day, and while it only took me a few hours (I’d forgotten that I could eliminate some of the repetitive work), it was still obnoxious nonetheless. I wrote an email to her and the other person involved, and post-dated it for 4:15 this afternoon. See, so very often in this office people think they can come up to me and ask something to be done for them, and they need it in the next 15 minutes. Your poor planning is not MY problem. So I thought I’d set them off the trail a little by delaying the response. Unfortunately, she checked up on the work earlier, and came over. THEN, she had the gall to say that she thought I’d just been putting off the project because I didn’t want to do it. Excuse me? WHAT? Are you implying…?

I tried very hard to remain cool, since she is a manager and all, and I did not beat her down like I wanted to.

This afternoon, I had to go to a “focus group.” With the loss of our director and the merger of the department, it seems that we need to re-focus (or some other popular management term) our branch’s objectives and streamline so that we serve more consumers with less money, yadda yadda yadda. Whatever. I don’t work with consumers. I have never worked with consumers. I have no idea what they do out in the field offices, so I wasn’t much help. The problem was that this meeting also had three of the people in my office who annoy me the most. And they wouldn’t SHUT UP!!! At one point, the presenter/moderator forcefully made them be quiet and told us the meeting was over and to leave, because otherwise we would have been there all day. I had one small opinion and couldn’t even get a word in edgewise, for an hour and a half. And the one co-worker, when she gets excited (which is always, she’s a little, make that a lot, high-strung), she starts talking louder and faster and louder and faster and it was all I could do to not get up and slap her to calm her down. I sat there chanting to myself, “shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up” (much like my chant on the bus ride to work, “too fast, too fast, too fast”).

Staff Christmas Party tonight, and I am totally dreading it. I hate parties; I’m much too anti-social for them. Well, I don’t mind parties all that much if I have someone to walk in with - that seems to be the big one for me. Going alone sucks. And while I’m allowed to bring my “significant other,” since he has yet to introduce himself to me (at least in a way I’ve recognized), I’ll be going alone. And I’m supposed to bring an appetizer. I’m at a loss.

So I have low expectations for this weekend, especially since it’s starting out so crappy. Today basically sucked. But maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised by the weekend. It’s better than being optimistic, only to be disappointed later.

popularity: 11%

You Are Socks!

Cozy and warm… but easily lost.You make a good puppet.Is it bad if I’m actually wearing the above socks today (only in pink)?

popularity: 10%

I need to take a break from my no-good, horrible, awful day (and it’s so terrible that I don’t even have time to explain why) to express my one moment of joy for the morning (aside from walking through the Skyway and feeling the sun shining, despite the 12 degrees it is outside). There is a man who has the amazing job of getting to walk through the Skyway downtown St Paul, dressed as Santa Clause. He walks up to everyone who is sitting alone, says hello to everyone he passes, and asked me if I was smiling. I think it would be amazingly uplifting to be able to take a break from the crappy day-to-day and spend some time doing that.

popularity: 10%

I’m drinking a hazelnut mocha from Starbucks in memory of the two Ferrero Rocher chocolates I had for breakfast (so that’s how she keeps her girlish figure!).

I’ve been having… well, not nightmares exactly, because I’m not waking up in terror or sweating or screaming… bad dreams lately. Apparently I’m a little stressed and don’t know it. A couple of nights ago, I dream that a co-worker confessed his “love” for me and I had to let him down (which was very reminiscent of a similar situation I lived through in college, but that’s a story for another time).

Then I dreamt that it was Saturday afternoon and I realized that I hadn’t made the last of my recruiting phone calls for bell-ringing for the Salvation Army. First I thought it was OK, until I realized that my first time slot, from 10:00-12:00 had already long passed, which caused me to think I was a failure.

Finally, I dreamt that I was on the bus in the morning, and as usual, I was running about half an hour late, which was fine until I realized that it was Christmas Eve and I was going to the airport, and being half an hour late would not work very well.

So… dream analysis? Is it I feel that my life is out of control? Or that I’m missing out on stuff? Or I’m under-achieving? Or does it mean something entirely different?

popularity: 9%