Screwed

So, I've had my laptop for about a week now, and everything is going great! Except for the memory that I'd like to replace, because it would bump it from 2 gigs of memory to 4 gigs. I've got the new chips right here, and I've got a tiny screwdriver that should work... except the screws on the back of this laptop are in there so damned tight they won't budge. This calls for me taking it down to one of the computer stores and asking them to undo the screws, which I'd really rather avoid. Knowing most of these places would probably try and charge me for the use of a tiny screwdriver and their arm. I wonder what that would add up to... $20? Probably more, they'd consider it manual labor. Whatever happened to good old fashion kindness and customer service. You do realize that sometimes customer service IS kindness right? Well, I can but try and see what happens. 

This week, I think I'm going to try and see a movie. Now, the problem with this is that there isn't really anything out there currently that I want to see. I managed to miss the new Bond flick before it disappeared from theaters in my area, and then there was Twilight, which is only at night now and I detest night showings. Too many people in the theater with me. If there were a halfway decent horror film I'd go see that, because most of the populace isn't interested in seeing them at a matinee. What I'd like to see is Gran Torino with Clint Eastwood. He appears to have slipped back into his Dirty Harry persona, which I've always found most amusing, and was last really seen in the Rookie. (Ah, fond memories) Although my guess is that the character will go deeper than that. We shall see. 

Today I think I'm just going to watch some stuff on my computer and finish laundry.  I mean I'm going to go to this wonderful Anime site I found that streams Anime! And other Asian Dramas. At the moment I'm caught up in MARS (Drama side of the site under Taiwan), and probably will be caught up in Tactics later, which can be found on the Anime portion of the site. Oh, I do love this place, and its practically been home for the last few days. YAY! Anyway, I'm going to go enjoy my day off. Happy New Years to everyone! :)

Snow Dog

Everyone asks me at work if I got snow. Yeeesss, we got snow. Lots of snow, piles of snow... right around a foot and a half depending upon your location on the property. In some places it was up to my knees and in others it was mid calf. This was all last week though. My dog loved it! The chickens took one dubious look and disappeared into their hen house. They didn't dine to make an appearance again until the sun came out. My dog unfortunately had had surgery to have a lump removed from her chin (something I should've done long ago, but lacked money. When this took place I still didn't have money, but got it done anyway) which was looking kinda nasty. Hair loss, odd color... *shudder*

But enough about my dog's ex 5th appendage and on to the collar which kept her from scratching the hell out of her stitches. When she went out to potty, off came the collar, and out into the snow she went with glee. Behind her I was being towed. She liked springing though the snow like (sorry in advance for the pun) a bunny. Goof ball. Basically she loves the snow and I went and made it so she couldn't go running around in it. Very disappointing for the poor beast.

This morning I got a pleasant surprise when I arrived at work. A friend I hadn't seen for a while was waiting for me there. She tried hiding so it'd be a surprise when she jumped out. Except I recognized her car before I saw her standing up there with her son. So I parked the car leaned out the door and said,"Hi (insert a name)!" At which point she cracked up. That was quite fun and a much appreciated visit. Lots of laughing and catching up. Friends I don't see often are always welcome to show up and say hi. :)

Over the next few days I plan on doing nothing, but sleeping, playing on my computer and... maybe watching a few movies... oh, and maybe seeing if I can get the new memory cards installed on the computer. Oh joy. 

Computer Next

Okay, so I've been gone for a long long time and I'm not apologizing. Once your beloved laptop dies, and you go into computer with-drawl, its very hard to sit down with another computer and start up a relationship. Especially when its not your computer. Thankfully I got a new computer for Christmas, (thank you very much to my Uncle!!) so I continue to completely massacre this blog much to the entertainment of whoever reads this. 

Alas there won't immediately be pictures, or maybe there will be. I'll just have to get my hands on the other computer with all the photos on it. I'd put them on here, but Mac in its vast wisdom neglected to put iPhoto into the bundle with Leopard. Somewhere along the lines I will have to find a Mac compatible photo management program, otherwise I can't use my library of wallpaper, or put up pictures from this laptop. *sighs* Don't get me wrong, I am totally thrilled to have my own computer, but why in hell can't computer companies get their act together and put in a decent bundle? As in everything a user might need? Basics man, BASICS!! But no, I have to get a separate bundle ... with only one item I want on it. It'll cost lots of money too. Idiots.

Aside from that my life is been fairly normal. Work is still work, school is still school... Well there is the fact that I got myself a new car. No, you don't get to know what it is. I will say its small and black and brand spanking new. Very fun to drive, and I feel fairly safe in it compared to the purple monster I used to drive. Which attempted to commit suicide by dying in front of a speeding UPS truck. I think that was probably the last straw as far as death defying escapades for me and my purple steed. Sorry oh purple wonder, but as much as I liked you, I was tired of constantly mainlining adrenaline. 

For those of you... 'few' who actually read this, it was a wonderful Christmas. Got the computer, got an electric blanket, and got my aquarium, and yes, I'll post pictures as soon as its up and running.  And I got some extremely good tea as well. Such good stuff. I find myself swilling it much too fast. Yes, I'll slow down, but its soooooo good. YUM!! Now if only we hadn't forgotten to bring the left over food from dinner last night home. Right now I could be enjoying a ham sandwich, with a side of stuffing and jello salad. But... we forgot the box. Currently its languishing in my second cousins outside fridge. This means the care package will have to be rescued. I think Dad was given this vital job. 

Hopefully he will succeed. :) 

And THEN....!

Okay, it's a misleading header. Or rather its going to be something of a let down. Those of you who expected some fantastic post are going to have to go back to chewing on their blanket, staring at the tube, or chasing under-aged humans. You know who you are. Yes, the crooked finger has been pointed in a general direction. The rest of you are going to have to get used to never being told what this all means. Apparently my evil streak has stepped forward this week and taken the wheel, while I found some quiet spot to sit down, look at a comic book and wave a hand vaguely in distress. Uh huh.. yeah...

You might have noticed I haven't said anything about work in months. Or you might not. I don't think anyone reads this except me. Every once in a while I go back to the beginning and marvel at how enthusiastic I was about this whole idea, and wonder what the (cover the under-aged humans eyes, as there is a curse word coming up) hell happened. Maybe its because I had energy back then, or perhaps I was doing something at the time that I actually enjoyed. Right now I'm having trouble figuring out why I want a higher degree of education. On the bright side I have reminders of why I wanted a higher degree of education. They take shapes and forms, such as an oddly colored car. Or a little house which is for sale right next to where I work. Just think of all the money I'd save just walking across the street to work every day. Or maybe a new car would be good... I can't get any of that now, because what little money I've got is going to get funneled straight into a new computer.... so much for saving up. This is not what I'd intended to ramble about. It was work wasn't it?

Back to work. Well, things are going really well with branch operation, summer reading programs, and general checkouts have gone through the roof. Since I root for the glass-is-half-full-team, I chalk up all these wonderful things to extreme heat, unhealthy breathing conditions outside and the results of what happens when gas prices go through the roof. It was a nice roof too. Results? Everyone stayed home this summer. Everyone is stuck indoors, and everyone is freaking BORED, so they all come to the library for relief of said boredom, relief from the heat (we were asked by the county to keep our branches at a balmy 72 degrees F.) and of course... they could breath. Which means this isn't a normal pattern. I fully expect to get darned quiet again. Ah well. It was nice while it lasted. We won't be discussing other aspects, as I think it would be unwise at this point for me to vent online. Okay, I won't ever vent about this online. Sorry. You'll have to dust off those rusty rarely used imaginations. The evil me is cackling at the wheel, the rotten little abomination.

More wonders shower down from above in the form of lice... on my chickens. Chicken Lice. Do you know what this means? That I'm in good company. Nope, sorry. Joking. No, this means that I probably will have to go get nasty medicated powder from the feed store and dowse my chickens with it. Ugh!! And dust the chicken house... and dust the nest boxes. Crap! What a royal pain in the butt. *sighs* This is just not my month. Its better than some months I've had which makes me extremely glad its just lice/mites.. whatever. Its fixable.

Just stick me with a fork already. I'm done.

And yes. I'm cranky.

...bummer...

Ever have one of those days when you just wish something would go right? A day where your 6-7 year old Dell laptop wasn't pronounced terminal and sent home to die? Where your car didn't cough and sputter at each hill making you wonder at the wisdom of driving home on the freeway amongst the up and coming NASCAR speed demons. Its like running barefoot through a cow pasture. Don't hit a speeding cow, and avoid the messes they leave in their wake. A day where you knew you had a reliable car, in which you could get to your destination, and not chew your nails to the roots about whether or not it'll start when you come back to it. Or a day when you didn't have to start trying to figure out where you're going to find the money for a new laptop once your old friend passes on. I'm really going to miss my laptop. 

Its been a repugnant few days. Getting into trouble at work was the start, and I just... *sighs* After the rotten day at work Friday, I decided to take some advice and go to a Spa Party at my gym. The smoking hills have kept me cooped up at home, due to not being able to breath very well, so I haven't been for a while. I guess I was missed. There were many little stations to visit. Personally I took complete advantage of a lady who was giving massages, and then got dragged over to a table where a lady was doing mini manicures. Which is why my nails are now covered in peeling gloss. My nails are generally abused 24/7 at work, home and everywhere in between. Last but not least, I got to sit with a lady who was telling fortunes with runes. Not throwing them, just reaching into a bag, and pulling one out while you think real hard about your question. She tells you what the rune means, and what its most general fortune is... of course mine were pretty damned weird. Heh. I had a good time though, and the lady was nice. For a time there I even forgot about my rotten day. I guess I'm just feeling warn out, and I just need to rest. 

Feeling bluer than normal I guess .... is bluer a word?

Under the Kryptonian Sun

As I drove through smoke filled country roads this morning on my way to work with the windows down (No air conditioning, so to keep myself from becoming a smoked Ham, I have the windows open) I went over the perks of having a world populated with super heroes as opposed to what we have now. A world populated with... well, whatever they are, a good portion aren't super heroes. There are notable exceptions, such as the fire fighters out there battling a blaze in 100+ degree temps, in full protective suits, going 60+ hour shifts without rest, so I can sit here on my but in relative comfort and jabber at you on this blog. However, wouldn't it be nice if Superman could show up, just long enough to help them with the containment? Just for a short burst of time of course, because if he stays any longer god only knows who'd follow him onto our beloved little speck of space rock.

By the time I got to work, I'd pretty much set the entire line of though aside since I had work to pay attention to, and lately I need all my concentration just for that. Smoke clogged brain cells don't work very well. After work, I went out and goofed off with a friend/co-worker. Dinner was had at a place called the Macaroni Grill, and afterwards we sat a talked for a while. On the way back to my car, I happened to look up and see this big fat red orb sitting gravid in the sky. My God! When did Mars get that close?! Then I realized I was looking at the sun filtered through many many layers of smoke and ozone. Its Red. Like the sun on Superman's home world. I couldn't help grinning a bit at this given my earlier train of thought. If Supes charges like a battery under our yellow sun, what effect would a red sun have on us? I can hardly wait to see the results. On a side note, in the Superman mythos I don't believe a red sun does a darn thing for us puny humans, but hey, we're not in the DC universe, so those rules don't apply. Hmm.

So, above is the best picture I could get of Curly. She's awfully camera shy, and it didn't help that my idiot dog was running the chicks around in circles. The other chickens have figured out that if they immediately scatter in every conceivable direction once released from confinement (i.e. The Chicken Coop), my dog (aka the herding dog through and through) doesn't bother them for the most part. Although she does what my Mom refers to as "Exploding a Chicken", in which a certain inattentive hen is stalked, and then nosed violently. Result? A squawking, flying, feather ball of indignant surprise sailing into the air under its own power. I swear to god the dog stands there grinning with undisguised glee when she successfully punches another chicken's button.  The new arrivals on the other hand have NOT discovered the usefulness of running solo, or in smaller groups. My dog LOVES the fact that '7' chickens move in a group when she pushes with her presence. She never uses her teeth, but just runs around them trying to move them, which is very successful with our new cast of "the Young and the Ignorant." Someday they'll get a clue. I hope.

Well, once again I've run over the finishing line of midnight, and I'm just plain worn out. So, I will bid you all a goodnight and crash for my appointed sleepy time. Night. :)

Smazy Days of the Blast Furnace

Its so wonderful to wake up in the morning, stretch, yawn, and then look out into the bright lovely new day. Sun is shining under bright blue skies and you can hear the chickens clucking to be let out. Birds are singing, and the tractor addicted neighbor is outside ripping something to pieces. Sounds nice right? Well forget it. This will be week three of smoke, heat, and the disturbing feeling of sunburned lungs for me. Outside the window next to me is a swirling mass of malignant noxious yellow grey smoke (Thanks to you 10,000 acre fire. I raise my inhaler to you), full of fine particles that would make even the most brave hearted flee the scene. There is no night breeze to cool things down. There is only 100 degree dry heat out there, and it was worse at work. 10 degrees hotter. Imagine cranking up a walk in oven to 300 degrees, leaving all those burnt left overs in there. Now walk in... It literally feels like a blast furnace and smells like a baking experiment gone horribly wrong. So, what you do in fact wake up to are the clouds of Venus, yellow and deadly, swirling the air. Birds choking instead of singing... and my tractor addicted neighbor is still out there ripping something to pieces. Absolutely no worries about his own health I suppose... Eh.

Since its freaking hot, and we have no air conditioning in the house, I've been cooking the dogs given that I can't let them outside in all the smoke for too long. Otherwise they come in coughing and choking just like the birds. To show them just how much I appreciate their dedicated drive to melt, I got them these weird little mats that supposedly give off the feeling of being cool. I may just shove them off those mats and use it myself tonight given my sleep deprived state and my total devotion to being greedy. I jest. Stop eyeballing my blog like that.

I wonder if those mats would work for chickens? Hmm, its a thought. We'll see how well they work.

Speaking of chickens, I finally have pictures of the feather balls. Specifically the chicks with all their feathers in, and looking mighty fine. Except for Super Peeper who appears to have acquired the ire of a fellow chick. Make a wild guess who is denuding said SP? That's right. The insane Cochin, who we call curly. For a while there we thought she was a frizzle because her feathers were curly/twisted. Curly follows SP around and plucks his tail feathers while he's not paying attention. Its like watching siblings. "Hey, pay attention to me. Me! Here! Stop looking for bugs damn it! Look at ME!" Suspicions run high as to whether or not this is the reason for SP's total and complete lack of spine. Hmmm. More things to ponder.

One last note of no particular interest, but my Dad found a little visitor in one of the plastic garbage cans we use to store the chicken feed. Cute as a button. .. To me at least. WARNING: If mice scare you until you are unable to do anything but shriek, drool, and mumble incoherently DO NOT SCROLL DOWN FURTHER. If you must scroll down, please do so quickly to avoid permanent damage to the psyche.

And now... a Deer Mouse for your viewing pleasure. ;)

Hope your lungs all have a better day than mine. :)

PS. The chicken is a Dark Brahma. LOVE the color pattern!