65 to 9 in 18 Hours

Today was a gritty day. A day I shouldn't have bothered brushing my hair. A day I should have worn goggles to protect my eyes from the blowing dirt.

It was a gorgeous 65 degrees today. We had sustained winds of 35 mph with gusts of over 50 mph. Holy smokes! I wondered if Michael would take me out on the boat on a day like today! It would take NO time to race across the lake, eh?

It's just after 10:00 p.m. and I am preparing for bed. I thought I would check the weather. It's just about 55 degrees, but they're predicting that it will be 40 by midnight with impressive thunder storms (my favorite) rolling in around 3:00 a.m. By morning it will be 27 degrees and snowing! Yay! And by noon it will be 9 degrees. That's -12.8 for my brother-in-law in Canada! Brrr! I can't help but wonder about the strange weather here in the 'Burg.

Another 45 Minutes

And the Embarq saga continues.

After the horrors of Embarq from Saturday (You can click here to read that post!) I came to school today ready to do battle again. This time I was armed with the knowledge that I could indeed live without the Internet, a phone, and a cell phone. I have done so several times in the past.

At 2:42 I picked up the phone and by 2:50 the automated voice told me my wait would be at least 15 minutes. It was. And then I spoke with Devin. I asked her for help in figuring out my bill. 1) Why am I being charged for a service I do not have access to? Long distance. And 2) What do I need to cancel to cut my phone bill in half. (How can I have a $200/month phone bill if I do not make long distance calls?!) I explained my 45 minute ordeal from Saturday. She commented that David made NO notes in my file, it was as if I had never called. (I am thinking of a very dirty word right now!). She commented that I had not made any long distance calls since October. I reminded her that I can't! We went back and forth and finally I said, look, I am going to have to cancel my services. I am not willing to continue with the expense, the hassle, and the headache. Would you please connect me with someone who can help me? (Thinking back to David assuring me that I would need to speak to another entity to cancel services!). She said, "that person would be me." And I said, "Alright. Let's cancel the following: long distance and home phone, Internet, and cell phone." She asked, "Are you cancelling because you're angry about the $30 for long distance?" "No," I replied, "I am cancelling because I am unhappy with the service I receive and I cannot afford $200/month for services that I don't even have access to and therefore cannot use."

Long story short. After a 45 minute chat with Devin I will continue to have local phone services, Internet and a cell phone (all the things I 'enjoy' now) and my bill will be $120/month. Imagine that. I still won't have long distance, but at least I cut by bill by nearly $80.

Wankers!

H is for Haiku

I never thought that creating The Encyclopedia of Me would take so much time and be so thought provoking at times. Twenty-six entries from A to Z- and here I am several months later and I have just reached the letter H. Fear not readers, I will not give up! Eighteen more letters to go...

Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that contains seventeen syllables in three lines. There are five syllables in the first and third lines and seven syllables in the second line. Haiku are usually written about the natural world with an emphasis on a particular season.

I am not Japanese.

he reaches for her
his eyes dark and full of promise
her body quivers

hip to hip ~ lips meet
fingers curl around fingers
fires kindle within

pleasure builds with heat
gasping they push to the end
trembling together

serious kisses
turn to shared laughter and smiles
holding each other

one drowsy couple
another day spent loving
afternoon sun fades

G is for Google

Where would I be without Google? Lost amid the turbulent sea that is the Internet. Without Google I would not be able to blog, or find my way into the city, check email and chat at the same time, or check the references on my dissertation. Thank goodness for Google: Blogger, maps, Gmail, and Scholar Google. Don't forget Google Docs and Google Gadgets. Check them out!

Hey, Hey Good Lookin'

My nephew is growing up and fast. He drives. He was wonderful over the Christmas Holiday- he took care of everything! He gives amazing back rubs. But alas, he's growing up! And he's handsome to boot! My brother sent me the following pictures from a costume party were Dominic went as Cary Grant! Dominic, you look mah-ve-lous!

45 Minutes

Or yet another reason I hate Embarq!

I spent 45 minutes on the phone and I am still not able to make long distance calls. I had about an hour before dinner and thought, let's call Embarq (again) to see what can be done about the phone. After being on hold for 25 minutes I got to talk to David. I explained that I was being charged for long distance but I was unable to use it. He said, "It looks like you have long distance." I replied, "Yes, I am paying for it, but I cannot use it." (This has been going on for months!). "Hold a moment." Five minutes later he comes back on the phone, "You're all fixed. You should have long distance within the next four hours." "That's great David," I say "but I am being charged for service that I have not had access to. While I do not expect to be reimbursed for October or November, I would like the December bill (due in about two weeks) and the current bill to be adjusted." (I am asking for a credit of $30/month for a total of $60. I already pay $200/month!) David coolly replied "We show no record of you calling to correct the problem so we cannot adjust your bill." I pointed out "I call from my office during business hours and haven't ever been able to hold long enough to speak to a person. It took 25 minutes to be connected with you." He repeated his previous statement. I asked to speak to his supervisor. He claimed his supervisor already denied my request preemptively (Is that a word?) and that was why I was on hold for the five minutes he said would take one. "Well then David, I would like to speak with someone who can help me cancel my services with Embarq." "Fine then, I'll connect you." I was on hold for another twenty minutes. I finally hung up. I still do not have long distance. And I have not been able to chat with a supervisor.

Warrensburg is a small town. With that there are some limitations, some drawbacks. Nearly all of them related to choice.

Shopping? Wal-Mart or Farm & Home
Groceries? Wal-Mart, Bi-Lo, or Parker's
Cable? Charter or Dish
Dinner Out? Appleby's or Rib Crib
Internet? Charter or Embarq
Telephone? Embarq
Trash Pick Up? Vic's Disposal, Warrensburg Trash, Heartland and the list goes on! There have to be TEN different trash companies in this town!

But only one phone service provider.

Considering Voice Over Internet Protocol like Vonage but then I still have to get Internet from either Charter or Embarq (and Charter's reputation for Internet service is worse than Embarq!). Cell phones from the Kansas City area may be thought (but I really never wanted to buy a cell phone! Ever!).

Monday I am going back to do battle.

If you think getting in touch with me is hard now! Just wait! I may be off the grid in no time!

W00T!!!

Hey there bowling fans! Despite the amazing cold and my six week hiatus from bowling I did very well! My scores were: 130, 112, and 107. Yes, I was getting tired. My average is up to 101. So I was just about 45 pins over my average.

Brrr!

How cold is too cold?

It was 1 degree Fahrenheit this morning when I left for work (at 10:00 a.m.). That's -17.2 degrees for those of you who speak Canadian . The low that morning at 6:30, just before sunrise, was -3 degrees (-19.5 Celsius). The afternoon it was a balmy 9 degrees. Just warm enough to make your hands burn like the dickens and the snot in your nose freeze during the short walk from car to office.

I could be getting old, but I think that last time I experienced a winter this cold I was in St. Louis. It was my first winter in St. Louis, January 1997, the high was -3 degrees and SLPS closed schools!

Brrrr!

By Now

Gentle readers, I am finally beginning to feel like my old self again. For weeks I have had no energy, no spirit, no enthusiasm. I had a bit of a nasty cold that left me even more cranky and more tired than usual. It has been a weird ailment with zits, crusty eyes (!), runny nose, sore throat, aches & pains, and a general malaise. But I am better now! I used my three day weekend well; I slept twelve hours for four nights straight and took two naps on top of all that. What did you say? You tried to call me this past weekend? Yeah, I was one of two places: sleeping or changing a load of laundry. Mostly sleeping. I didn't even check messages till Tuesday! In fact, I was so sick last Thursday I didn't even bowl! You know I had to be feeling poorly to miss the social event of my week!

By now, you have met some of my friends. But I'd like to take a moment to introduce them properly.


Jerry Garcia took a moment of his time (from heaven) to wish us a Happy New Year! Don't ever shave Jerry! I love your beard! As my Fortieth Birthday quickly approaches, I am reminded "what a long strange trip it's been."

You've met Maria Bamford and her dog Blossom as she sings about The Dark. This stand up comedienne has me in stitches. She has an entire series of three to five minute videos called the Maria Bamford Show. Check them out at Super Max. Northwest Arkansas readers, Maria will be at the University of Arkansas on February 7! I wish I could be there!


Then you met Cheryl Wheeler as she crooned Is it Peace or is it Prozac? I have my friend Sophia to thank for introducing me to this artist. I guarantee you will be seeing more of her here!


And who can forget the tragic and beautiful Amy Winehouse (You have to love her name!). Amy's song Rehab is one of my favorites. She has an amazing voice. Unfortunately, it seems she has a heroin addiction to boot. Get well Amy! Your music and talent are too good to waste!

Van Morrison, as always, remains my heart and soul. "Gotta get through January, Gotta get through February." We're nearly there Van. Nearly there.

Till the next post...

Three Days in a Row...

Three days running Orion has been left at the bus stop. Two days running I've called the bus company to remind them to get my child. I wonder if they will remember tomorrow?

My questions: How do you forget a child at a bus stop that you have been making for one and a half years? And if you do per chance forget one day, wouldn't you remember when you dropped him off that afternoon? "Say, I don't remember picking you up this morning..."

Being forgotten by the bus driver has not done anything good for Orion's desire to attend school these days. I wonder...

Just Say No!

What Accent?

I would have thought south or midland by this time...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The Midland
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

1967

Need I say more?

Get Funny Pictures at pYzam.com

Pasta and Mushrooms

I wish I had taken a picture...
This meal takes less than 20 minutes to prepare (If you can get your water boiling!). The onions cook nicely and release their sugars into the sauce mellowing the earthiness of the mushrooms. Not only was this recipe easy to make, it was easy on the budget. It tasted pretty good too and I am not a big fan of 'shrooms.

Pasta and Mushrooms

What you need:
12 – 16 oz mushrooms, sliced or quartered
1 onion chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 tablespoon of olive oil
2 tablespoon of butter
½ cup heavy whipping cream
½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese
salt, pepper, & thyme to taste
½ lb of fettuccine cooked al dente
snipped parsley to decorate

What you do:
Cook pasta according to your preference. In a skillet sauté the onions, garlic, and mushrooms in butter and olive oil until onions become tender. Add salt, pepper, and thyme to taste. Add cream and reduce. Add Parmesan. Stir thoroughly. Top pasta with mushroom sauce; decorate with parsley, and serve.

Rehab...

Sometimes We Know

Lyrics to Van Morrison's Sometimes We Know

Sometimes we know, sometimes we don’t
Sometimes we give, sometimes we won’t
Sometimes we’re strong, sometimes we’re wrong
Sometimes we cry

Sometimes it’s bad when the going gets tough
When we look in the mirror and we want to give up
Sometimes we don’t even think we’ll try
Sometimes we cry

Well we’re gonna have to sit down and think it right through
If we’re only human what more can we do
The only thing to do is eat humble pie
Sometimes we cry

’fore they put me in a jacket, and they take me away
I’m not gonna fake it like Johnnie Ray
Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry

Sometimes we can’t see anything straight
Sometimes everybody is on the make
Sometimes it’s lonely on the lost highway
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry

Gonna put me in a jacket, and take me away
I’m not gonna fake it like Johnnie Ray
Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry

Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry

Peace or Prozac

Dark

Happy New Year

Happy Near Year Friends! I promise I will return to my regular postings soon!