Let me break the silence this once to bring you up to date, then I'll be quiet until the new year.
Last Wednesday Rob K's father passed away, and unfortunately I was the one who had to get hold of him to let him know. Thursday night I went out with Nicky and some of other friends (Fado's) and got to see her brother Sean again. I know I can't get maudlin about it, but I will miss these friends when I depart next spring. Terribly.
Rob picked me up on his way down to Waynesboro Friday night after work, and the funeral was Saturday afternoon. His mom has a lot of family and friends providing support, and I think she and Rob will do OK. He drove me back up here late Saturday.
Sunday I was at Beth & Kelly's for her annual festive dinner. A very nice, relaxing meal and another chance to spend time with some of my favorite people.
I had to work Monday even though I'd asked for it off, as the other guy I worked with quit & Friday was his last day. It was slow at the office, though, and my supervisor let me leave early. I got some cards written (finally) and some gifts wrapped. Tuesday (Christmas Eve) was another slow day at the office & an early dismissal. I tried getting some last minute shopping done at Hechts but it was a disaster. Dad picked me up when he got off work and we drove to his place. We had some flurries & went out for Chinese for dinner before opening gifts. I made an early night of it.
Today there was more of a wintery mix, and some snow on the ground. Very nice to wake up to. We were at the Boivins for the usual goodies & treats and gift exchange, except this time with Kelly's mom who'd flown in to be with Kelly as she couldn't travel with her broken foot. I made out like a bandit yesterday and today, and am stuffed silly. Much to my annoyance, I have to work tomorrow as Chemical Safety Board apparently doesn't celebrate Boxing Day.
4:01:00 AM
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Having said all that, like David, I am taking a break. I'm trying to decide whether there's much point in continuing this in a public forum. I mean, I talk to Beth a couple of times a week as it is.
See you in the new year. Perhaps.
4:22:00 AM
To catch up:
I picked up the medicine (for Kitty) and the special diet (for Elsie) after work Thursday. I was budgeting around $200 but it was only $40, but they'll both have to be on it for the rest of their lives.
I don't remember what I did Friday. I think I watched a DVD - Margaret Cho's Notorious C.H.O.
I forgot to mention that I found out last Thursday that the other contractor guy from my company who works at Chemical Safety Board with me turned in his 10 days' notice: this Friday is his last day, which is not good for me as I don't know half of what I should about procedures, where things are, etc. Work has been lousy the past couple of days, as two people have been commandeering all my time for some special project, which they can't tell me about: I just get requests for equipment or for something to be installed. Every. Ten. Minutes.
My cousin Jennifer apparently didn't come into town for the weekend as she had planned.
Saturday morning I got up early and drove Rob K's mom and aunts to Princeton, where we saw Rob's christmas concert. It was quite impressive, with many different groups (including choirs, handbell ringers, a brass ensemble and several christmas readings). We stayed the night at the Peacock Inn in Princeton, which was very nice. Up very early Sunday morning for the continental, then back to DC. I had a short nap before meeting my dad to drive to George Mason for the Canadian Brass concert with the Boivins. They have three new members since the last time I saw them, and included an opera for brass -- "Hornsmoke" written by Peter Schickele of PDQ Bach fame.
I finished my christmas shopping after work today & am now heading to bed. Tomorrow is the office christmas luncheon & white elephant exchange.
4:20:00 AM
Thursday, December 12, 2002
I got a follow-up call from the vet yesterday afternoon, after the blood tests had been run. Surprisingly, since she had no physical symptoms, Kittie has tested positive for Hyperthyroidism and will need to go on medication to regulate it, but she should be OK in the long run. Unfortunately, Elsie has Kidney Disease which will eventually lead to chronic renal failure. The vet has recommended a special diet and some medication, which I'll be picking up today after work. She should be OK for the short to medium term, but it's a very common condition for elderly cats, similar to heart disease in humans.
9:01:00 PM
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Ouch! That hurt!
I had an eight a.m. appointment with my favourite dentist, to remove the temporary crown he'd put in last month and cement in the permanent one which arrived from the factory last week. What I thought was going to be a simple in and out procedure turned out to be 45 minutes of dental hell which required novocaine, grinding, more grinding, chipping and finally the foul-tasting cement. Tell me, in this day and age, why can't they make dental goo that at least tastes like something you'd want put in your mouth? ... At least I didn't have to sprain my hand reaching for my wallet, as I'd paid in full at the last visit.
Ouch! That hurt!
Which I can't say was the case when I finished up with my late-afternoon visit at the vet. I'd been to the Capital Cat Clinic on Kenmore Dr. last year, when I paid out $900 to have Art's cat spayed (& something repaired), and to have his kitten checked over. So I knew they were nothing if not thorough. I didn't realize until today though that they'd been voted by Washingtonian Magazine readers as the Best Vet in the area. I was pleased with the care my two kids received, and was also happy to hear that (so far) they seem to be in great health, considering they are both geriatric. I was even somewhat prepare for the $561 bill at the end. There go my ebay winnings....
Ouch! That hurt!
I was in a mad rush to get to the vet after work, and having no car I had to book a taxi. Struggling to extricate the two cat carriers, I somehow fell out of the cab and into the cab's window. I felt like a fool walking in to the reception area, cat carrier in each hand and blood running down my forehead. "Excuse me," I asked, "you wouldn't happen to have a bathroom I could use to clean up in, would you?" It doesn't look so bad now but is definitely swelling & I've no idea how I'm going to answer the 40 people who are going to ask me what happened tomorrow. Perhaps I should print something out to take in with me & hand out.
3:35:00 AM
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Have you ever tried any of those sleep-aid remedies, like Nytol or Sominex, or their herbal counterparts? I ask because I have had trouble falling and staying asleep for the past ten days or so. I can't remember the last time I didn't wake up and/or get up two or three times during the night. Inevitably, when the alarm goes off at 8:30, I'm in deep sleep & have trouble rousing myself. I think I may try something, at least for a night or two. I could use a good back massage, too. Any volunteers?
3:41:00 AM
Last Friday night after work Leo & Beth picked me up at the metro station and we went off in search of the Boivin's tree. This is an annual tradition and one in which Beth must be involved in or else criticism and complaints are certain ;-) After Thursday's snow I wasn't relishing the idea of manipulating a sodden mass of bark and branches, but we found a nice Frasier Fir at the Burke Nursery and made it home without accident. Kelly and Cathie had been keeping the homefires warm, baking and decorating. After dinner we got the tree set up and--after finding some suitable Christmas carols to throw in the CD player-- Leo & I tackled the lights. Not the best part about decorating the tree, but it has to be done. The decorations were next, and Sara, Beth and I took turns while Cathie and Kelly directed. I think we got it about half done by midnight, when I lost my 3rd wind. A fun evening, which I shall surely miss next year.
2:54:00 AM
Monday, December 09, 2002
My goal for the weekend was to go see either Harry Potter 2 or James Bond 20, as other good movies on my list will be released in the next week-10 days. So go ahead, ask me how I liked Harry Potter.
Well, the first time I went to see Harry Potter I arrived just as the first of two shows was starting. I figured I'd wait for the second (fifteen minutes later) in order to have time to get a coke & a seat far away from the rugrats. I succeeded on both counts, but the theater was full & more and more people came in, even after the picture was supposed to have started, and had trouble finding four or five seats together (hey -- why don't you try arriving a few minutes *before* the movie starts next time?).
It was getting hot in the theater and I had drunk half of my coke which was supposed to last me through the 3 hours+. By the time the movie was 25 minutes late, I got up and demanded (and rec'd) a refund. Seems the projectionist "forgot" to start our film.
So I tried again today at lunch and it was OK, an entertaining 161 minutes. It will be interesting to see what another director does with the next one.
3:37:00 AM
Well, you won't believe it but after almost a year I've finally fixed the buttons on the right. I've also added a few more blogs I peruse and links to my Amazon wishlists. It's pretty tidy around here now!
3:29:00 AM
Sunday, December 08, 2002
I had a dream last night that I was in a relationship again. Not with anyone I know currently. It was nice.
9:15:00 AM
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Have you been reading the comics?
I have been selling a ton of stuff. What has surprised me the most is that I have auctioned off several sets of science fiction and fantasy books, most of which I bought between 10 and 20 years ago, and most while I was in the UK. These books were about $2-3 each when I bought them, and are just paperbacks, but gently read & stored. Nothing special.
I sold the CS Lewis Chronicles of Narnia set (of 7) online for $24. I currently have the Dune series and David Edding's Belgariad series online (with several days to go) and already have bids of $10.50 and $18.50. And I sold one book--which you can buy right now from Amazon.com for $11.20, for $31.50. Bizarre.
Buyers pays shipping, I make out like a bandit & have less to ship later.
7:36:00 PM
We've just got the word: we can leave at 3.
I had a nice lunch at Au Bon Pain, the third time this week. For some reason, I got a craving for soup a few days ago and they have a delicious pumpkin soup which isn't too rich. Today's was Corn Chowder and it hit the spot, particularly on a miserable day like today.
7:28:00 PM
The first snow of the season has fallen, and in a big way; we're expecting about six inches when it finishes up later this evening. All the local area schools are closed but the Federal Government (and thus, my office) is open. Of course, getting here was a nightmare as the metro was packed and short, four-car trains were being run at a slower-than-normal schedule. I had to let two trains go by before squeezing myself onto the third.
Once I arrived, a half hour late, I realized almost everyone else has taken liberal leave. The place is a tomb. Lots of web surfing will be accomplished today. And I just finished my amazon.co.uk christmas shopping.
At the moment, plans are still on to get the Boivins' tree and decordate tomorrow.
4:19:00 PM
Wednesday, December 04, 2002
Why do I find this news item surprising?:
WASHINGTON - Some passengers still haven't gotten the word about what they can and can't take on airplanes. Seized at airports during the American Thanksgiving holiday crush: 15,982 pocket knives, 98 boxcutters, six guns and a brick.
And just why, exactly would you need to bring a brick on a plane? Need to practice for your masonry test? Expecting poor entertainment on the in-seat display?
7:32:00 PM
OK, so I've been a bit busy during the last week.
Unfortunately, as you may have read already, Kelly broke her foot late Thanksgiving night after dropping me off. She'll be fine in the long run, but it's making for some major short-term headache. Beth picked me up at the metro on Saturday and we got pizza and ice cream before hanging out with Kelly for the evening, watching Trading Spaces (inferior to the British product) and While You Were Out on TLC.
The rest of the weekend was devoted to sorting and posting stuff for sale. I also scoured the net in search of the best deals and have my Christmas shopping about 80% finished. I very nearly bought some stuff from Amazon's Canada store, as with the exchange rate items were listed at bargain basement prices. If I weren't concerned about having enough time to get them & turn around to send them out to Midwest folk, I just might have. As it is, the first of the christmas deliveries has already arrived.
I called in sick today. Rough night last night & I haven't been sleeping well. I'm actually not complaining about the cold, though, as it quite brisk and refreshing to go out for a walk in it. We're supposed to have 4-8 inches of snow tomorrow night won't that be fun for the drivers hee hee hee.
4:19:00 AM
New Layout! It's definitely winter here in the nation's capital, and time for a change of scenery.
4:11:00 AM
I have been selling a ton of stuff. What has surprised me the most is that I have auctioned off several sets of science fiction and fantasy books, most of which I bought between 10 and 20 years ago, and most while I was in the UK. These books were about $2-3 each when I bought them, and are just paperbacks, but gently read & stored. Nothing special.
I sold the CS Lewis Chronicles of Narnia set (of 7) online for $24. I currently have the Dune series and David Edding's Belgariad series online (with several days to go) and already have bids of $10.50 and $18.50. And I sold one book--which you can buy right now from Amazon.com for $11.20, for $31.50. Bizarre.
Buyers pays shipping, I make out like a bandit & have less to ship later.
