Thursday, November 30, 2006

It's so weird to be this nervous

I am petrified that I won't be able to find the place where I'm interviewing. It's at University Hall, Cal-State Fullerton. I've never even been to Fullerton. I have to get to the place, then find the right parking area, then find the building, then find the room. Argh.

Toyed with the idea of getting a hotel room close by, but decided against it. Instead, I'm borrowing my mother's car, bringing Charlie-boy to a friend's house, where I hope he won't make a... you know... mess, drive to Sherman Oaks, try to sleep, get up, get ready, leave by 7 o'clock, and figure out my way.

The interview is at 9 o'clock, and they suggest getting there half an hour early. God.

Most of these interviews are only 30 minutes long. So much drama for so little time. And so much riding on that little time.

However, I found out just tonight,that I can take Charlie with me after all! Whoo hoo! There are some hoops I have to jump through with him, but still, the wonder-dog will not be left behind! Most of you might think I'm a little over-the-top with him, but he's my family right now. I don't have a husband or boyfriend or girlfriend or children, just my puppy. I don't go crazy with silly accessories or expensive toys or treats... but I do love him. And now, one less thing to worry about if I get chosen.

Think good thoughts Saturday morning for me. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Poopala fiesta

Well, we made it through Sunday and Monday night, then yesterday I came home to another explosion of crap. This time I spent two hours scrubbing, and there are still stains. If there are still stains, doesn't that mean there is still shit on the carpet?

$34 dollars later for a prescription bottle of powder that I guess is puppy Imodium or something, and Charlie hasn't dumped anything since.

I feel bad for him, but now am starting to feel bad for me.

Fulbright Teacher Exchange interview is Saturday. Yikes.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Charlie and I, pre-Saturday night explosions

I love these quizzes

This seems pretty accurate to me. I do love a good book. Just wish there were more hours in the day, or that I didn't have to sleep. I could get so much more done.

Hmm...


What Kind of Reader Are You?
Your Result: Dedicated Reader

You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.

Literate Good Citizen
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You?
Create Your Own Quiz

Sunday, November 26, 2006

It could be worse

So, yesterday, the wonder-dog and I went with two friends wine tasting up in the Santa Ynez hills. Charlie boy was quiet and well-mannered, and we had a good time.

However, he did seem to have some...um... poop-edge problems. Really bad gas too, which is unlike him. Even so, he wasn't really acting sick or anything, so I didn't even think about it.

Went to bed early last night (the jet lag-ish thing caught up with me), and so did my canine buddy. Woke up about midnight to a sloshing sound out in the living room, and Charlie not in the bed. I knew it couldn't be good, but ew... it was bad.

In front of the front door (at least he tried!) was three lines of -- there's no way to politely say it -- brown, wet, goop. It was the consistency of tapioca, but with a foul odor attached as well.

God. Poor little guy. I cleaned it up as best I could, cleaned him up, threw the flip flop he pooped on outside, and went back to bed.

At three, I realized he was out of bed again. Not again.

Yep, this time in the computer/room of despair (I call it that because it's just never going to get clean again). And this time, there weren't little distinct lines, oh no, this time it looked like he had been flinging it every where. On shoes, totes, a little throw rug, on a box, the corner of my wine rack... it was all over. Oh man, my little buddy was not happy, and I could just picture him,
Squirt. Turn around quickly to inspect what he did. Squirt! "not again!" turn around, squirt... repeat repeat repeat.

It was not pretty.

So, yet again, I do my cleaning thing, get him cleaned up as well and went back to bed. Oh, before that I called the all night vet, just to make sure I do the right thing. He told me no food for the next 12 hours and then just boiled rice and cottage cheese until his tummy gets better.

Got up finally at seven, and washed the pooped-upon towels, threw away most of the other stuff that was hit, and brought out my mini-steam cleaner dirt devil. Spent my morning on my hands and knees scrubbing and vacuuming.

But, it could have happened while I was away, and it could have happened when I had to go to work, so I'm trying to be thankful for the little things.

Poor little guy.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Home

Man, you know how sometimes things happen exactly at the time you need them? I needed this little vacation, and it was wonderful.

Cold, but wonderful.

Back home now, have picked up the wonderdog, given him a bath, and have the first load of many in the washing machine. I'm actually going wine tasting with friends in an hour or so. Life is good.

More later. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Monday, November 20, 2006

New York Macy's

So yesterday, we went to Macy's and I bought a couple pairs of pants, a sweater and two shirts. Enough to last me until Friday. You know, if I washed my extra pair of socks and underpants every night.

You guessed it, my bag was delivered last night around 10:30 pm. Of course.

Although, I did love having an excuse to shop.


It's amazing how little I really needed to pack. I hope I remember this next time.


Oh, and I'm having a great time on top of all of this.

I love New York.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Day three

of wearing the same gray track pants.

Airline still doesn't know where my bag is. There were ten of us with missing bags, so you know they're all together somewhere, hiding, having a big laugh at our expense. Or, they are in France, wondering what the hell happened.

Shit. Of course, I did have an extra pair of undies and socks and a shirt.. but no other pants than what I have on... crummy shoes I wore on the plane. I had to put some of my toiletries into the regular suitcase; only one one quart ziplock baggy-full allowed. Means I have no shampoo, antiperspirant, or hair goo. I do have my facial lotion and my toothbrush, so that's something, I guess.

Yesterday I bought a tee shirt.


Grr...

Saturday, November 18, 2006

They lost my bags

God damn mother fucking son of a bitch.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Packing

Isn't it always a pain? I mean, I worry about bringing too much or not enough, or not the right thing or forgetting my underwear or my anti-perspirant, and if I will need a blow dryer and is it vain to worry about that?

They've eased up on the carry-on regulations a bit; but only 3oz or less of each toiletry item. Which means I went out and bought a few and have transferred the lotions and shampoo and such that I can't live without into.

(Yeah, I know, awkward sentence. Sue me.)

And then, there's the extra pair of undies and a shirt and a pair of socks. Why worry about it, Rebekah? Just bring a magazine and a pack of gum, and you'll be fine.

Maybe, but have you ever had your luggage lost? I have. And it's never lost on the return trip. You know, when you at least will be at home with the rest of your belongings. Oh no, it's always on the way out.

The worst was the time I flew out for a friend's wedding in Massachusetts. They were getting married on the 6th of July, and I flew out a few days before. The wedding was to be in Manchester-by-the-Sea, a little town about 40 miles outside of Boston.

The plane was on time, and we all filed off and waited for our luggage. Waited and waited. Watched the carousel go round and round...

Finally, the first few bags came out... a few seconds later, a horrible stench arose. Seems there had been some kind of frozen fish or seafood in the cargo hold that had become...um... unfrozen. Unfrozen and melted actually. All over and through people's soft-sided luggage.

It was bad.

The line to customer service was from one side of the huge room to the other. Still, I waited. Waited until there were just five fishy bags left, and mine wasn't one of them. Waited in line, was told my bag was probably on the next flight in and to check in then.

I actually felt lucky that my bag hadn't been one of the ones covered in goo. My friends picked me up, we went to dinner, and called United to find out if my bag had showed up yet.

Nope. Check back in at 10:15, there's a final flight from Los Angeles then. Okay, all out for a drink, and called again. Nothing.

"Give us your address and we'll deliver it."

So, we drove the forty miles to Manchester-by-the-Sea, and hoped for the best.

The next day was the big Fourth of July parade. I of course, was wearing a flag tee-shirt I had bought, blue plaid dress pants (Stop laughing! It was 1992!), and navy blue pumps. Everyone else was wearing shorts, and it was about a million degrees, with 98% humidity, but I tried to be good spirited about it. I actually did have the dress I was wearing to the wedding with me, but no other clothes.

We got back to her parent's house, where there were three messages from the delivery company. Basically they were lost, couldn't find the house, and threatened that if we didn't call back, they'd take my bag back to Boston. Being that we were at the parade, that's exactly what happened.

Called them back, they had given the bag back to United. Called United, got the bag sent back out again.

Later that night, my bag finally showed up. Well, most of my bag. One corner of it looked like the ear of one of the Wonder Dog's chew toys. Missing.

Zipper, fabric, just gone. The clothes inside looked fairly intact though. I've never figured out what could've happened. The delivery guys said it came that way to them.

Wedding was lovely, everyone cried, and the next day, instead of enjoying the festivities (those rich, old money family weddings last for a week!), I took the train in to Boston to figure out what happened to my damn suitcase. I had to rent a car at the airport anyway, because I was going to drive to Albany, to visit the same friend I'm visiting in Albany next week.

Stood in line at the United counter with the case, waited forever again, and then was told there was nothing they could do. Really, that's what they told me. I said the suitcase had been brand new, and not only had they lost it, causing me great inconvenience, it had been damaged in their care. I was polite, which I think they misread as weak.

Next I was offered a cardboard box, while the suitcase was sent for "repairs."

Yeah, right. I smiled. Not good enough. Repeated my party line. Now, I do look a bit younger than my age, but at 28, I looked barely legal. They didn't expect me to stick to my guns.

"I'm sorry Miss, but my manager is the only one who can authorize a new case, and he's not here until Monday."

I smiled again, crossed my arms, and said politely, "I'm not going anywhere until I get either a new suitcase or the money to reimburse me for this one."

Much hemming and hawing... then miraculously, the woman suddenly had the power to authorize a new bag for me. However, I was going to have to go to the luggage shop, about a mile away, to pick it up.

Off to rent the car, and follow the directions (Me! Driving in Boston! Not a great idea). Get to the shop, get the bag, put it in the back seat, and shut the door. And shut it again. And again. Check to see if the seatbelt or something else is in the door latch. Nope. Back door won't close. I try and try, nothing. I attach the belt to the door, and try to make my way back to the rental place. It works until I go around a corner, and the door flies open and the bag comes crashing out on the pavement.

I keep it together, a nice man stops and helps me jerryrig the door shut, and I get to the rental place. When they ask me to stand in a 20-person deep line again is when I do lose it finally. Tears, huge angry frustrated tears.

They worked. Got right to the head of the line, got the new car, and finally on my way.

Accidents happen, and I don't blame anyone for that. What I hated was how it seemed to be company policy to take as little blame as possible, and then make it unbelievably difficult for the customer, me, to get what should have been given to me. And an apology? Ha.

What's happened to manners in this world? Am I incredibly naive to expect them, and be surprised at the lack of them?

God, I sound like an old lady.

Have a good night all.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

I'm wondering

This has been bugging me since I saw it last week, and replayed it at abc.com.

You know that show Lost? How come, if Kate, Sawyer, and Jack have been prisoners for a while, at least a week, Kate has clean-shaven armpits? Both guys have beards growing in, yet she doesn't even have a shadow.

And although I love a nice steamy love scene as much as the next person, I just couldn't stop thinking how much both Kate and Sawyer must have reeked by the time they got together.

ew.

Monday, November 13, 2006

So, I made my fourth phone since November 1st down to payroll. For the fourth time I got voice mail. That's excepting the time the mailbox was full. I have a mysterious deduction (and huge, over $1100!) out of this month's paycheck. I can't figure it out, and I'm leaving for New York on Friday, and it would be nice to have this figured out before I go, so I thought, oh, you know, someone could actually tell me what this deduction is for?

Nah.

No one has time. No one has called me back, in almost two weeks. Today I asked the receptionist if ... let's just call her "Mean Lady" was still in; I'd drive down there and talk to her. Receptionist was very nice and said she'd walk over to Mean Lady's office.

Turns out Mean Lady was just leaving for the day, and leaves every day at four (even though the office is supposed to be open until five) and she was doing payroll this week and she's sorry she hasn't gotten back to me yet, but she's swamped and the soonest she can meet with me to discuss this is next Monday or Tuesday.

Huh.

You know and I know that a face-to-face meeting is not necessary. I need five god damn minutes of her fucking precious time for her to explain to me what the problem is with my paycheck. You know, like why almost a third of it was deducted? Yeah, that. She could bring up my check on her computer, and see exactly what I see when I look at my pay stub.

The only reason I was going to go down there today was to force her to talk to me.

Why does this crap always happen to me? I'm a good person, I'm kind. I think of others quite often, and I always return phone calls within 24 hours.

Have I done something so evil in another life that I'm just paying for it with annoyances in this one now?

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Is a Meme cheating?

Okay, so maybe it is, but I'm posting right?

What you do, is copy and paste the list below into Word or whatever. Then go back over it for yourself, bolding the ones that are true for you. Cinchy, right?

Here goes:
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly could
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Had an embarrassing "Wardrobe Malfunction" in public
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds (but I’ve lost 35!)
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Friday, November 10, 2006

Why don't lobsters like to share?

Because they're shellfish.

A day to myself... sortof

Yesterday the Kwanis Club honored the guys that went after the guy that attacked my sister. It was a big affair, and Sister wanted my mother and me to be there. The District Attorney of Los Angeles would be there, and other mucky-mucks. So, took the day off from work, after staying late Wednesday to create lesson plans for the sub, and left about 8:30 am to drive to Chatsworth.

We were in the car six minutes before my mother started complaining about work. Yeah, I timed it. I know this is what's going to happen whenever we are in a car for a while, heck, whenever I'm with my mother for a while. She complains. About her co-workers, her clients, the SUV that was riding her tail on the drive home, her demanding landlady/friend, the handyman, the grocery store clerk... there's always something.

I've been told myself that I complain too much, and it's a fear of mine that I'm just like Mom. I love her, but I wish she was happier. I do believe in the power of intention and focus. If one focuses on the bad things, that's all one will see, and you know... focus on the good stuff and...

So, I was trying to just zone out and let her be, not get too upset and uptight -- I thought about how I'll be on a plane next Friday, winging my way out to see my friend in NYC and then the other friend in Albany-- I thought about how I won't have to worry about making three pies and balancing them with a bottle of wine to get to my mother's house at 11:30 am on Thanksgiving morning, because she likes to eat early (and it seems to be getting earlier every year). I thought about how I've only missed four Thanksgivings with my family in my life. The three I spent in Japan, and one terrible one when I was 16 and hated everything.

There was a Thanksgiving, I think it was when I was 27, that I stormed out of my mother's apartment in tears. My brother and I were having an argument about something; he was probably trying to dissasuade me from being a teacher, and gosh, I can't even remember most of it now. I remember thinking Mom and Sister were ganging up with him on me, and repeating to myself on the drive home, "I can't be wrong about this, I can't be wrong..."


Oh yeah, it was a real important argument, I'm sure, since I can't even remember what exactly it was about.

Anyway. I love my mother, and I love my brother and sister. I'm glad I have the kind of family that I can count on, and I'm the kind of person my family can count on. My sister and I are getting along very well ever since she got attacked. It's kinda like we know what's important now.

However.

I am thrilled, that for one week, I don't have to worry about anything else but being a gracious houseguest.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Just can't seem to get the energy together

I have no excuse. No reason why I'm so tired all the time lately. I slept nine hours Saturday night, got up early in the morning... noodled around for a while, then went back to bed at 10:30 am for two more hours.

It's like when I was in college, and could sleep for 14 hours straight. My roommate would come home, see me in bed with the lights off, and say loudly, "Are you escaping reality again?"

Maybe it's my drug, I don't know. I'm sure it's more healthy than smoking or drinking something. Right now, I feel lethargic. It's only eight at night.

Oh, and some weird stupid thing happened to my Word program. The spellcheck won't work anymore. I think it had something to do with my CrapCleaner. You know, one of those free spyware cleaners. I can't imagine anything else that would have done it, but I don't know. About that part of computers I'm not so so savvy.

Chaperoned a group of 50 junior high schoolers to Magic Mountain on Saturday (hey, maybe that's why I'm still so tired?). I had no intention of going on any of the big rollercoasters, but my buddy had different plans. Did you know they've sold Magic Mountain? I still remember when it was built. I hadn't been in at least 12-13 years, maybe even more.

All the rides are so scary! Torn, you would have had a blast. And you would have been proud of me; I only closed my eyes once. It was on the Goliath. An absolutely terrifying couple of drops. My friend? The one who made me buy a "Fastpass" so we could go on even more scary rides? She actually blacked out for a moment on that one.

Oh yeah. Good times.

Oh my goodness gracious. I forgot to write it first. I got an interview with the Fulbright Peer Review Team! Whoo hoo! On December 2nd. Please think good thoughts about me that Saturday if you remember.

Yahoolamunga! That's one step closer to going!


Sorry I'm not more interesting tonight. Cheers.