Something Scary

In the News:
July 19, 2007

Bush Outlaws All War Protest In US
In one of his most chilling moves to date against his own citizens, the American War Leader has issued a sweeping order this week outlawing all forms of protest against the Iraq war. 


President Bush enacted into US law an ‘Executive Order’ on July 17th titled “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq."

It says: 

”By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended, the National Emergencies Act , and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, 

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, it is in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004.” 


They've already started arresting protesters and taking their stuff. Like, all of it, guard your flip flops people! I'm waiting patiently for the day when some other government will step in and bring democracy to the United States...what?...we have that?? Wait...did you just say that we are in fact "setting an example of democracy" for the rest of the world? Pshhaw who are you kidding??

I Apologize in Advance

Because I don't really have anything to say, but feel that I should post something, since it's been nearly a week. I may end up rambling so feel free to zone out at any time.

Enjoy the gratuitous picture of Nikaia practicing her island dancing

My ankle is somewhat better, badly bruised just below my ankle, kind of deep dark purple, and then a larger, fist sized bruise up further just below my calf. I think the ace bandage has caused this, but Justin disagrees and says that that sort of pressure wouldn't cause this sort of bruise. I don't know why he knows that. I'm still supposed to go get an x-ray to make sure there's not a hairline fracture, but I'm hesitant to do this, as we have not yet met the deductible on our insurance so the cost will be out of pocket, and we really can't afford that right now. Besides, if it is a hairline fracture, won't they basically just make me do what I'm doing now ie: staying off of it, wearing a splint etc?

My sister has asked me to be a bridesmaid. I agreed to do this, thinking that it would cause more problems to decline, I don't want to insult anyone or anything, but the thing is, I'm having a really hard time finding a dress that a) fits b) is the correct color (brown) and c) is even remotely affordable. Her other bridesmaid (who I don't know) snagged one at JCPenney for around $35. Unfortunately, JCPenney hasn't carried anything in my size since I was in high school. I dunno, there's a month and a half til the wedding, but I'm starting to wonder if I should bow out.

If we can scrounge around enough money I think we're going to see Harry Potter tomorrow, or maybe Hairspray if my aunt goes with us...that's all for now. I guess I did have something to say...

About Once a Year

I sprain an ankle. Last year it happened a few weeks before the wedding, so I guess it was due. We went to my parents for dinner last night (where, I might add someone finally put up a picture of me and Justin), and after eating my sister and I were going to come over here to my house to get her some antacid and the perfume I got for her for her birthday. Stepping out the front door, which has a small step down to the ground, I'm not sure what happened but when I put my foot down my right ankle just sort of crumpled up. Luckily there were a whole handful of people around with several different levels of medical training to give me ice and radio for an ambulance and keep me from hyperventilating. This is the worst sprain I've ever had. It feels sort of like nothing is holding my foot on except skin and that it's just sort of flopping around down there. I'm in an ace bandage and an aircast for extra stability and D'Liesa is bringing me some crutches later today. I don't usually ask for pain meds, and I didn't last night either, but when I got out of Xray they had sent Justin to the pharmacy so I've got two different pain killers, both of which make me drowsy. I slept amazingly well last night. They think I might have a hairline fracture but I'll have to go for another xray when the swelling goes down later this week... I'll let you know.

A Failure.

Upon further consideration they decided not to give me the job.

I feel worthless.

I don't want to talk about it.

Sniff Snort Sneeze

Today is the local "festival" known as Early Settler's Day. I usually get really excited and want to go downtown to watch the parade and eat the junk, and buy some stuff, but this year I'm just totally not motivated. I actually slept through the parade, due to an overdose of Flonase, Claritin, and and alcohol. (Just one drink, nobody panic.) Anyway, none of those things seemed to help the horrible allergy attack that I've been having for the last 3 days. I feel like my whole body is just full of snot. It's not pleasant.

Tonight was supposed to be my last night at my current job, I had actually planned to just not go in, since they didn't accept my two week notice as an actual 2 week notice, thanks to the jerk that took my paperwork, and I'll be considered "not rehire-able" anyway. However, the hospital (and everyone involved in this process) seems to be dragging their feet. They haven't gotten the results of my drug-test and background check back yet, and the HR woman is out of town so I won't know anything 'til Tuesday. I don't want to be potentially jobless, so I've extended my notice by another week and I'll continue slaving away until then. Assuming that everything is clear. If not (which is a possibility), then I'll have to slave away for the crazy deaf people indefinately. (Please note, I don't think all deaf people are crazy, just the ones that I'm dealing with.)

Ugh. I'm actually starting to get really worried about this so everyone think good thoughts or say prayers or whatever your particular kind of help is that everything works out and I can start at a new and wonderful job sometime next week.

Also, for anyone who might be wondering, my TB test was, as predicted, negative. Have to go for another one on Tuesday just to be extra sure.

Poked and Prodded

Today I went to HR to fill out the applicable paper work for my new job. On the way I stopped in the bathroom. Hospitals are the best place for that sort of thing because unless something terrible happened the moment before you walked through the door, they are generally clean.

Anyway, filled out the paper work and then headed to Employee Health to get my TB test and drug screening. Damn. Shouldn't have gone to the bathroom. After three tries I was finally able to um...produce. bleh. While we waited I went ahead and got my pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, they were, after all, free. I have to go back on Thursday for them to look at my TB arm and then the next Tuesday to get it tested all over again. Hopefully by then I will already be working and it'll just be a short trip down the hall. I have no idea when I'll actually start, but my last day at my current job is Thursday...so hopefully Monday. I also don't know how much I'm getting paid. I assume they'll tell me at some point, but right now, no one seems to know so I'm not the only one in the dark.

I have to go to bed now. My whooping cough arm really hurts.

Just an added note, I have never seen anything that color in a syringe before. Are any IV drugs neon blue? Must be Kool-Aid.

An Orphan

So, as most of you know, we live next door to my dad, step-mom and younger brother and sister. In their living room is a table that is covered with family pictures, the whole thing, there are probably 15 or 20 pics there. Over the weekend they had some friends in town staying with them, and one of the friends is a photographer. She took some pictures of my step-sister in her wedding dress and some pictures of her two kids, Hannah and Hunter, and she was going to take some pics of my dad, Sussan and my brother in their fire department regalia. So today I was over there and the pictures on the table have been updated with the new pictures. There are pictures of my dad and Sussan, pictures of Hannah and Hunter, Pictures of Stacy and Steven and pictures of D'Liesa and James. There is not one picture of me. There is not one picture of me and Justin. I know that they have some. I gave my dad a framed picture of him walking me down the aisle at my wedding. They also have a non wedding picture of me and Justin together that looks like the other 700 pictures of me and Justin, several of which have been posted here. And, if for some reason they have lost those, like I said, there are lots available all they have to do is ask. So, I asked about it. I said "Hey the new pictures look great, but there's not a picture of me in there." I didn't make a big deal about it, just mentioned it in passing while looking at the other pictures. Immediately Sussan went defensive saying that she wasn't "finished yet" putting the pics on the table. Trust me, there's not room for another picture there, besides, what was there to finish? They already had the pictures, in frames. So my feelings were really hurt.

But it gets worse. I was flipping through the albums of their new pictures from over the weekend, and there is a picture of D'Liesa, Sussan and Stacy. Sort of an "all the girls" pic, but um, I'm not in it. They said " oh you're not in the pictures because you weren't here," but I was there yesterday. If they had planned on taking family pictures I feel like they should have told me. I feel like I'm not a member of the family anymore and it really really hurts my feelings.

It's not just the pictures either, their friends don't know about me. I know that seems like a weird thing to say, or to feel bad about, but the thing is, they all do know Stacy, Steven and D'Liesa and her kids. When I went to the party at the fire station on the 4th of July people didn't know who I was. I'm now "Stacy and Steven's sister" instead of "Susan" or "Bobby's daughter." At a community function with my dad a few weeks ago, a woman actually said something like "oh I didn't know you had another daughter."

My feelings are so hurt. I don't feel like I can talk to my dad about it because I know that he'll just take Sussan's side. I actually did ask him about the picture thing a few weeks ago (there hasn't been a pic displayed of me in about a year), I said "hey, where's that picture of you and me that I gave you? It's not on the family table" and he said that it was on his night stand, but it wasn't, and when I told him that he couldn't think of where it might be.

The worst part is that they made me put a picture of Sussan up on my family picture magnet board. I was resistant to doing that because I don't have a picture of my step-dad up there, so I thought that was fair. Apparently not. She had a fit and so now there's a pic of her in my house, but not one of me in hers. I feel very very rejected. *sigh*

My dad and Sussan have been married for half my life now, and they always pretend that everything is equal and that we're one big happy family with no "steps" involved, but It's becoming very very clear that she's functioning under an "us versus them" mentality. I guess it was clear all along, but she's becoming bolder in the way that she's making her statements and I don't know what to do about it...

Actually, now that I think about it, it's really more of an "us versus Susan" kind of thing. I don't think I'm going to go over any more. My dad can come see me here.

Happy 4th

I enjoy Independence Day mainly because it's the only holiday that can be referred to only as a number. We aren't doing anything special, I'm going to the fire department for a hot dog (my dad's a fireman, I'm not just showing up to crash their party), and then I'll probably go back to bed. We have to work later tonight and I'll need a little more sleep, but who can resist a hot dog cooked outside? Certainly not me.

I put in my 2 week notice at my current job this morning. I dated it July 2, which is a little bit of a lie, but no member of management has been there since then anyway so whatever. I'm scheduled for my TB test on Tuesday. Not that I think I have TB but I'm the sort of hypochondriac that has thought processes like this:

"There was that guy in Alabama recently who didn't feel sick or anything and by some fluke, like a car wreck or something, he had a chest x-ray and they found a lump of TB in his lung the size of a baseball...and here I've been coughing for a *year*!! I'm going to die!!! And lose this job!!!"

And then I have some cake and feel better, with no guilt regarding my neurosis (or sugar intake) at all.

That's a true story by the way, the baseball TB guy. And that's exactly the way I heard it too...does TB come in lumps??

Didn't get the fireworks picture last night. A recent break in my insomnia has occurred at a rather inopportune time and I slept til time to go to work. Maybe tomorrow...anyway they'll be here when I get them. For now, you can pretend the one that is on here is mine, even though it most certainly isn't.

Beverly Sills has died. There aren't many great ones left...

I Got It!

The job that is. Yes, it's been quite the busy week. On Thursday I had an interview at the hospital for a job to be different than what I thought it was. The people didn't seem to like me and I was totally not interested in the job so I figured it was mutual and that I'd never hear from them again. While I was at the hospital, I went and turned my application in directly to the supervisor of the department that I wanted to work in and she was quite impressed. She set me up for an interview on the spot for the next day. Then the supervisor at the cancer center where I thought I might want to work called me and set up an interview for Tuesday (today). My cup runneth over.

Thursday night the people whose job I didn't want called and offered it to me. Apparently they liked me after all. Huh.

Friday I went to interview in the department that I liked and it was *terrific* the best interview I've ever had. One member of the panel hugged me. They told me to wait in the lobby while they talked about me and then a few minutes later they came and told me that they wanted to hire me but had to clear it with the management people and that they would call me.

It was a Friday so of course all the management types went home at noon. I had to wait out the weekend, as you saw, in my previous post. Yesterday they called and offered me the job Yaaay!!! I wanted it so bad. The people there are so great and I really feel like I fit in there and will be happy. I haven't felt like that since I moved away from Canyon 3 years ago. The job is in the admissions office and there are only about 10 people working there so its cozy and they bring a lot of food for impromptu parties. My kinda place, plus they like me...like a lot. Clearly they think I'm much cooler than I actually am.

So, today I had to go to the interview set up last week because even though I got the job I wanted, its good to make connections in as many places as you can. My little (excuse me, younger) brother works at the cancer center and I thought that if I liked the job and liked the people that it would save some gas to work over there. It was not the job that I applied for, and I did not like the people. That made my decision much easier. Not that they've offered me the job yet, but they will.

Anyway I'm really happy and excited and I get to buy some fancy black scrubs.

Justin and I are going to attempt to take some pictures with fireworks tonight so everyone hope that we don't set ourselves on fire.

No Distraction

Post Secret didn't update today. How the heck am I supposed to distract myself until I hear back from my potential new boss??? I really want this job...*sigh*

This Picture Makes Me Cry

It's time for this to stop.

At Last

I can post the news and perhaps someone will end the frenzy ( You know who you are ) My sister is engaged!! James (the fiance) told us last weekend that he was going to propose to her this weekend in San Antonio so we've all been aquiver with anticipation. So you see, I couldn't post the news until the proposal actually happened because she sometimes reads my blog. Hurray! Yes I know this isn't all that super exciting for those of you outside of my family but it is for me. D'Liesa has been a single mom for a few years now and her ex was/is a real jackass so this is all very good news. Also, I'm hoping that she'll let me test out my wedding photographing skills on her...

Here's a pic of the happy couple:

She doesn't like this picture, but I do because she looks all doe-eyed and James looks like he has a secret...apparently he did because moments later I took this picture:


James and our parents after he asked their permission and swore us to secrecy.

Together they have three children (and two supermen apparently)
Hannah, Hunter and Sean (from left to right)

Hannah is 3 the boys are both 6.

So, there's the news...everyone can relax...except the wedding planners I guess...

My Hero

Patrick emailed me this a week ago, I can't believe I just got around to watching it. This girl is totally my hero. I hope that she becomes a huge star. Joy Nash, remember the name.

Ok People

I'm not sure exactly when I'm going to post the exciting news. It sort of depends on when the person who it most directly involves finds out about it. I think it will probably be Saturday. There's been some speculation among you (Terroni) so I am going to go ahead and tell you that it's not what you think it is, because I know what you think it is. Let's face it, it's not that exciting. *grin*

I'm quite sure you will all be disappointed, but I'm excited about it anyway.

Oh my god I just saw the funniest commercial I have ever seen.

It's a porcupine, and she says "when I have a feminine itch"
and then a skunk says "and there's odor"
and then a blowfish says "do people notice?"

Well sweeties I'm pretty sure the first thing they notice is that you gals are um talking...

I have no idea what this commercial is for, as I fast forwarded after the animals were gone but I don't think I've ever been so entertained. I'm going to rewind and buy whatever it is that they are selling, even though, to save myself from embarassment, I'll say at the cash register "I don't actually need this product, but the commercial is great!!"

For Summer:

Justin's Stuffed Jalepenos (very easy)

As many Jalepenos as you want
Cut the ends off
Split them in half
Scrape out the hot stuff (seeds and veins)
(it's important to do this under running or a sink full of water because if not it will burn your eyes and lungs, or if you're brave, you can leave the hot stuff in)
Spoon cream cheese into pepper halves (as much as you like)
Wrap pepper/cream cheese in half a piece of bacon
Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until bacon is crispy.

Don't touch your eyes, nose or any sensitive bits for several hours, even if you wash your hands....unless you're into pain.

Father's Day

Still can't seem to post titles for my posts...

I haven't done a play in years. Haven't been involved in the theatre in any way except as a rapt audience member. I was pretty sure that I had the drama bug out of my system, but, as I watch the Tonys (Tivo'd) and see Bernadette Peters, I still make this noise : "ahhhheeee!"
David Hyde Pierce just won his first Tony after many many years in the biz and this makes me unspeakably happy. I know every line and every word to every song in A Chorus Line. I guess the bug is still with me.

Yesterday was Father's Day. We had dinner with my dad, steaks and potatoes and corn on the cob. Justin made stuffed jalepenos. It was delicious and a really good time. In honor of Father's Day, I'm posting a picture of my dad:


Justin brought me flowers last night after he went to the store with my brother. One of them is behind my dad's ear. Here are the other ones (and me):


Ok so that's all for now. Cross your fingers that we hear something about Justin's potential new job today. I actually have some other big exciting news, but I can't post it 'til next week 'cause it's a secret...

Click Your Heels...

We're home. It took 9 hours and it rained on us most of the way, but no drama anyway. We survived the visit with my mom with only minor scathing wounds to my ego, so all in all I'm calling it a success. Maybe is very happy that we are home. anyway I'm very tired now so I'm not going to write anymore. Maybe tomorrow.

Why can't I give this post a title? Is anyone else having this problem??

We Made It

We're at my moms now. We flew down yesterday. The first flight was ok, not very full and Justin and I got to sit together. Except for the stop on a dime landing you get anytime you land at Dallas/Love Field (which is to be expected) it was fine. We had a 2 hour layover in Dallas (I took artistic pictures of ketchup packets at the airport McDonalds, when I get home I'll show you) before our flight to Austin (by that time my mom could have actually driven to Dallas to pick us up, by the way) and then headed to Austin, which was a completely full flight, and as Justin and I didn't print our boarding passes early enough we were in the second boarding group and did not get to sit together. The guy that sat next to me was very cute though, and nice. The guy that sat behind me was Justin who kept kneeing me in the back, and the person that sat in front of me smelled like diapers. (Not dirty ones, just you know, that plasticy smell bleh.cloth diapers for my future kid. Remind me ok?) Anyway, that supposedly 30 minute flight tunred into about an hour and 15 minutes because they had to route us around Houston to miss a big storm. Anyway we got to Austin and my mom picked us up and then we drove 2 hours to here. I got to buy a watermelon on the side of the road on our way. It will be delicious, even if it makes my throat close and Justin sneeze. That's why they made Benadryl. So anyway, we're having a good time so far and today we might go to the Bluebell ice cream factory for a tour and free ice cream.

Whatdayaknow

Something else wrong. Naturally. Something is wrong with the dryer. It goes, but it doesn't get hot so the clothes don't get dry unless I leave them in the dryer for days and days (which I'm sure is doing wonders for our electric bill). Anyway, so the system now is that I wash the clothes and my younger sister comes to get them to put them in their dryer next door. Then she brings them back either folded or I fold them. It seems to be working for now. I'm not sure when we're going to get around to fixing the dryer as the car is a more pressing matter. (In case you didn't read the comments, our alternator has now died as well as the back 2 tires.) Everyone cross your fingers, hopefully Justin will hear back from the manager at the job he interviewed for last week. This job will make things so much easier...I also put in an application at the hospital where my younger brother works. Maybe that will work out too...they love him over there, maybe that will work in my favor. We're leaving on Thursday for Bryan to pick up the truck that my mom is giving Justin. I don't know if I'll have time to post, but I'm taking the laptop so maybe.

There's Always Something

So, we're all moved in and everything is unpacked. (with the exception of a box of wires in the computer room. That's not my territory.) We managed to corral the other two cats with only minor injuries (to me, not the cats), and everyone seems to have settled in nicely. Justin had a very successful job interview this weekend, which we're hoping will turn into a better paying job with better hours. So, naturally, since everything is going well something had to go wrong.

I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but on the way home with the U-Haul last week I had a blow out in the car. Justin was ahead of me and he didn't know so I had to wait for about an hour for my dad to come get me. The tires are only about a year old so we thought that surely they would be covered under the warranty that my aunt got when she bought the tires for us last year. Apparently the alignment in the car was off (which they didn't tell us when they put the tires on), and that is what caused the blow-out. This is considered our fault so the tires are not under warranty. We have to replace both back tires on the car. They are a weird size and so the cheapest they come is $75 per tire. Fantastic. We have enough money to do this right now, but not to do this and buy groceries, gas, etc until our next payday. However, in order to get to work and have a next payday, the tires have to be replaced. Justin is in Lubbock buying new tires now. *sigh*

The timing of this would have been terrific if only we had been able to make it for 5 more days. We are flying out to Bryan on Thursday because my mom and step-dad are giving Justin a pick up. Unfortunately, our tires will not last going back and forth to work for the 5 days in between. There is always something.

I will post pics of the new house as soon as possible.