I'm just too damn tired to write anything witty or even vaguely interesting. The commute is a real killer; I was in bed before 9 two nights this past week. I got a haircut yesterday and that's my pinnacle of accomplishment.
I had another dream on Thursday that someone taunted me and cut the cord to the earphones for my iPod music player right in front of me. I was absolutely furious -- shaking, sputtering, apoplectic mad and wanted to throw the nearest heavy object at them.
8/31/2003 10:25:00 PM
Saturday, August 30, 2003
Share the wealth, and the pain
Friday, August 29, 2003 12:15 PM EST
Rate Your Music and YACCS (blogger comment system) are down due to a server failure.
Services are expected to return to normal in 24 - 48 hours.
Thanks,
Hossein Sharifi
Update: (August 31, 12:25 AM EST): The server has been repaired; however, due to the fact that it is Labor Day weekend in the US, I may not be able to reinstall/reconnect the server until Tuesday, September 2 (or possibly September 3). I apologize for the downtime.
8/30/2003 10:29:00 PM
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Salling Clicker
I paid my shareware fee for this gem of a software program. It lets me control music or movies playing on my laptop through remote control on my mobile phone. It has a "proximity sensor" that pauses the music when I leave the room and start up again when I come back.
Isn't that cool?
8/27/2003 09:35:00 PM
Gran is encouraging me to become a transvestite.
Each night when I drag myself home from work, I have to recount to Gran whether the morning or evening train was on time and whether I got a seat. I believe she thinks my commute is worse than the Israelites' journey out of Egypt. Today, as always, I told her the evening train from Oxford ran a bit behind schedule and as a result the platforms were crowded and I had to stand in the aisle.
"Oh, that's just AWFUL. You should act like an old woman. Yeah, you should wear a skirt and carry a [walking] stick. Then you'd get a seat."
8/27/2003 09:31:00 PM
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
I'm saving for a down payment
My new best friend Mary Rose, her dog and I went out for the day yesterday (Bank Holiday Monday) to Broughton Castle, which is only 2.5 miles from Banbury. Mary Rose takes her dog to walk there all the time and invited me out for some fresh air. As its cooled down considerably since earlier this month, it was nice to walkabout in the gardens and around the estate.
You can read more about Broughton if you like.
8/26/2003 10:06:00 PM
Friday, August 22, 2003
Busy, busy, busy ... and crash
I'm so glad it's a three-day weekend. I honestly feel as if I could sleep through the 72 hours.
Yesterday's lunchtime interview regarding my National Insurance Number went off without a hitch. I had all the documents they needed to verify that I am who I say I am and am living and working where I claim. I should hear from them within three months with the new number. In the meantime, I can still get paid, as evidenced by the payslip I was surprised to receive today (early because of the holiday).
Last night after work I went to my colleague's house and met his wife. They live in a very nice neighbourhood just north of the meadows north of Oxford and after a lovely meal in their back garden, we had a nice stroll back into town along the river & through some protected parkland.
Today I went into Oxford a little late, as I met the letting agent Geoff at the house I've been eyeing. The skip I'd seen before in the front garden was gone, but it didn't look as if much else had been done to the inside yet; the laminate wood floors and carpet have yet to be put down, and there was no furniture yet. It was a bit smaller than I'd thought, but as I'm on my own how much space do I need? It does have a nice conservatory in the back and ample closet space, and most importantly is near the shops, pubs and transport. I gave Geoff my application & now will have to wait two weeks for approval.
No one missed me at work, but I was productive and finished the last of what I needed to before my supervisor's return, on Tuesday. Hopefully she'll approve the order for some furniture so that I can move into the office she's designated for me.
8/22/2003 08:54:00 PM
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Not a ha
Last night I dreamt that I had prostate cancer and three months to live. It wasn't very pleasant.
8/20/2003 09:52:00 PM
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
Sour Grapes
I've written a dozen emails since the weekend, and have heard back only from 2. One of those was an "out of office" reply, so I know my email is working. WTF?
This week will go by quickly, I'm sure, as it's my last before my supervisor returns from her holiday, and I haven't finished the list of things she gave me before her departure. I'm in IT; "stuff" always "happens."
So that I'm not accused of constantly bitching in this forum, let me note for the record that everyone I've dealt with at work has been very pleasant. I've had a few chats with people about non-work issues, and have even been invited to dinner at a colleague's house on Thursday. He's offered to show me around some of the neighbourhoods and indicate where not to hunt for flats. Not someone who I'll be best mates with, but it's nice to have a chance at a meal with someone I don't have to shout at.
Thursday I also have my appointment to get my National Insurance Number (equivalent to the US Social Sec #). Of course I don't exist in this country, and I may not get paid, until that's issued. Friday morning I have the house viewing with the letting agent, and Saturday, Sunday and Monday (as it's a Bank Holiday) are all blissfully unscheduled.*
*Except for laundry, of course.
8/19/2003 09:53:00 PM
An Ebony "D"
As I walked up our street after work tonight, I noticed a large white moving van parked in front of the house. Gran had mentioned that the house two doors down had sold--finally--and I assumed our new neighbors were moving in.
Feeling neighborly, I introduced myself to the woman standing beside the van & welcomed her to the neighborhood. She told me her name, pointed at her two children and indicated that her husband, who was helping her move furniture, would not be staying with them as they were recently separated. I asked them if they were new to Banbury and we had a short discussion about local amenities, Oxfordshire, my work, etc. I told her to call on us if she needed anything.
I went inside and, after answering Gran's daily List of Questions about my Day, I told her I'd met the new owner of #12. "Oh, does she have children?" Yes, I said, a boy and a girl around eight and ten I thought. "Did you meet the husband?" No, I didn't, I said, as they're getting divorced.
"Oh, well she's a black mark against her already then."
Don't volunteer for Welcome Wagon, Gran.
8/19/2003 09:14:00 PM
Monday, August 18, 2003
Monday's humour
Check it out: this guy's web site "Things My Girlfriend and I Argue About" is hysterical. It's even been published in book form.
Nothing keeps a relationship on its toes so much as lively debate. Fortunate, then, that my girlfriend and I agree on absolutely nothing. At all.
Combine utter, polar disagreement on everything, ever, with the fact that I am a text-book Only Child, and she is a violent psychopath, and we're warming up.
8/18/2003 02:50:00 PM
Have you taken your Nodoze?
For those of you whose daily existence depends on knowing the very latest in my flat hunt:
My fourth attempt at getting into a group house share in Oxford failed last week. Yet again, the existing residents said it was nice meeting me, but they decided on someone else. What. Ever. I haven't been wasting my time, though, and had contacted another letting agency after finding a really nice 2BR house in an ideal location. It's being completely gutted and renovated, and I'll get to put in my application after a viewing on Friday morning (delayed from this evening -- yet another case of "hurry up and wait.") The application will take upwards of two weeks to process. There's really not much point in my looking anywhere else in the meantime.
8/18/2003 02:38:00 PM
Thursday, August 14, 2003
Cough, hack
It's a glorious, warm sunny day out. The high heat and humidity have finally retreated, and I was able to venture out for a long walk during lunch today.
So can I just complain about something else?: smoking is absolutely disgusting. If you want to do it in the privacy of your own bedroom, fine, but don't subject me to it.
I didn't used to be so militant about it, but perhaps that's because the only time I've been exposed to cigarette smoke for the past few years has been the very odd occasion when I've been out to a bar or club. Restaurants have huge non-smoking areas, and smoking is prohibited in theatres, the DC Metro, most offices, etc.
It's a different story here. I see people walking down the street, in parks, on crowded sidewalks, cycling or jogging, in restaurants, on the train platform, all with a fag dangling from their yellowed fingertips. When a train arrives at a station, the doors are blocked by current passengers lunging for the doorway so they can burn through half a cigarette before the doors close & the train pulls away. And twice in the past week I've been sitting on a crowded bench on the platform, wishing for a breeze of fresh air, only to have a person sitting two down from me light up and blow smoke from her cancer stick in my direction.
If you smoke, you will die much sooner than if you didn't, and I've recounted before how big black bold warnings are on all cigarette packaging here. Each pack is at least $6.00. Who has that kind of money to throw away?
8/14/2003 04:29:00 PM
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
I'm not becoming obsessive compulsive. I'm not becoming obsessive compulsive. I'm not becoming obsessive compulsive.
Or, maybe I am.... This isn't meant to be a humorous post. I wonder if it's actually a good thing if you can admit that all's not well in your head.
An article in yesterday's Washington Post (which you can read if you like) brought the idea to the forefront again, but there have been many other instances or issues during the last six month or so:
my Gran has an aversion to refrigeration, buys "market" eggs and produce, and does the washing up with stale soapy water & an old rag
an article I recently read discusses new Superbugs which are resistant to antibiotics, and how little research is currently being done into stronger antibiotics, which aren't money-makers for the Pharmaceutical companies
another article I came across relates how some nurses take their uniforms home to wash them because otherwise they wait too long to have them done in the hospital laundry, but their domestic wash cycles aren't killing the germs they're exposed to daily
in each episode of a TV show I've seen a few times here, How Clean is Your House?, two women tackle the cleaning horrors of a different home and, in the process, thoroughly embarrassing the occupiers about their slovenly habits. On one recent episode, the hostesses explained to one woman that her allergies and asthma are probably exacerbated by the droppings from the millions of microscopic dust mites (from the arachnid family) in her bed, feeding off the dead skin cells she sloughs off nightly
the book I'm currently reading, Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything discusses the trillions of organisms living on and in your body, most (but not all) of which provide a valuable service
I refuse to patronize Kebab Vans, most fast food places and certain dodgy restaurants. I don't really want to think about what goes on in the kitchen. Mr. Clean's Washington Post article was disturbing
Essentially, the world we live in is filthy, teeming with trillions and trillions of microscopic animals and organisms. Logically, I know there's not much you can do beside taking certain standard hygienic precautions.
But every once in awhile, it really freaks me out.
8/13/2003 01:17:00 PM
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Fnahw
Ok, now I'm just tired of the heat. I'm really done with it. The UK all-time record was broken Sunday when it hit 100 at Heathrow and 101 in Kent a few hours later. It's cooled off marginally since then but it's still gross out and isn't much fun in the office which doesn't have any AC or circulation or a window to open. Each night I am a bag of sweat by the time I get home, and I don't feel like doing *anything*.
It's also not fun when the train is late and you miss your bus, which I've done three times this week. It means standing around for 29 minutes for the next one, or walking (in the swelt). Ugh.
Update: The bus home this evening dawdled, and the trains ran late (again) tonight, and there were no seats (again). It took almost two hours to get home. Let's see, four hours commuting, 7.5 hours of work. What's wrong with this picture?
Slugesque as I have been each evening, I've watched a bit more TV than normal. Yesterday Ground Force America was on, a spinoff from the popular BBC gardening programme, with most of the original british cast transported to tackle American lawns and gardens. Last night's episode took place at a home in Clinton, Maryland, and I had to cringe at the host family's manners: Tommy asked for a cup of tea to start and the woman said "you'll get your tea when you've done the work." Beyatch.
8/12/2003 11:16:00 AM
Luddite
"Yes, hello I'm calling from the Oxford office. I've been trying to fax something to you all morning, and I've not had any luck. Can I just confirm this back-up number you gave me when I called you regarding this an hour ago? Is it 0207 _____? Yes, well it rings and rings but there's no answer and the same thing happens when I call from my regular phone. Can you confirm that the fax machine is on? What's that? Oh, you've had a power outage all morning. Yes, that's probably why it's not receiving then. Yes, I'll try again later this afternoon, thank you."
8/12/2003 11:10:00 AM
Saturday, August 09, 2003
That was the quickest Mass I've ever been to
Father B skipped the homily completely, so Mass lasted less than 30 minutes. Good thing too, as half the congregation was missing and the other half was about to pass out from the heat. It was about 94 or 95 here today, which is just unbearable without AC. I was completely unproductive today.
Some good news, though: my Mom has booked her tickets for a flight over here next month, around my birthday. Hopefully the weather will be much more moderate, and I may even have an abode of my own.
8/09/2003 11:46:00 PM
Friday, August 08, 2003
A twist
I've been indirectly chastised for writing about something as breathakingly dull as flat hunting, so we'll change channels today and discuss something else at hand.
At my last job, I used to work with three other guys and, as was perhaps not unexpected, most conversations revolved around our technical work (rarely), sports, toys, women, sex, and the bathroom. More often than not, I wasn't an active participant in these talks.
The Bathroom was the one topic that polarized the group; should one do one's business and get out, or is it a Library and Temple of Solitude? Is it OK to walk in on your significant other, or should a closed bathroom door be considered a Locked Vault?
I, for one, spend as little time in there as possible.
8/08/2003 03:03:00 PM
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Perhaps I should hire Jim Corbett, the World Famous hunter (and game tracker)
Maybe he could track down a place for me to live. Matt rang a few minutes ago with an apology for keeping me waiting, but to let me know that he'll be renting his room out to another fellow. I'm glad he was up front and frank with me about it & he said, with apparent sincerity, that he and his other roommate Carl would like to introduce me to friends of theirs once I get settled. He offered me some great advice on where I should (and shouldn't) go as a next step in my Quest for housing.
We didn't break the heat record, but it was bloody hot, and as a result I've been extremely non-productive. Central London did break its All-Time High Temperature record.
I'm off to bed, perchance to sleep.
8/06/2003 10:01:00 PM
Dial Up Hell
I'm not a big fan of my work's internet connection, which is only marginally faster than 56K dial-up. The powers-that-be are planning to upgrade the network infrastructure, but that may be several months (years?) off. I honesly have 5x faster access at Gran's. I don't think it has anything to do with the heat, unfortunately.
No update yet on the housing situation; check back again later.
8/06/2003 10:24:00 AM
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Does Sears deliver to the UK?
I'd love to order a massive AC unit just about now; England is suffering from unusually high heat and humidity, with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s yesterday and today, and forecast to reach the mid 90s tomorrow and Thursday. We may even break the all-time UK record of 99 on Thursday.
The heat makes everyone miserable; even the hospital doesn't have AC, and the railways have been chaotic as trains were ordered to slow from 110 to 60mph in most places, causing delays and cancellations.
Fans can only do so much to relieve. I went out to a pub last night after work to meet up with Matt & Carl, who have a double room to rent in Matt's house. I'd seen the room before but hadn't had a chance to meet Carl before. It was nice to have a cold pint of cider (Matt works part time at the pub) & chat about Oxford & work & whatnot.
A decision about living arrangements will be made by tomorrow. Tune in!
8/05/2003 11:34:00 AM
Saturday, August 02, 2003
MMMMmmacaroni
About a fortnight ago I received in the post a care package from my sweetie-darling friend Nicky. She'd sent an assortment of american items from her local Safeway, from the list that I'd posted earlier.
Unlike sight or hearing, taste is not one of those senses which you forget. My mouth was watering even before opening the package. Gran was mystified, but I pigged out on half a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese last night.
8/02/2003 11:42:00 PM
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