Down the Rabbit Hole with the Semi-Evil Squirrel

one way ticket to hell....and back

0955 hrs:
Happy December 1st!

I'm not much of a fan of Mondays, but today seems ok. I have a mini-monthly calendar of Maxine and this month it says, "If each day is a gift, I'd like to know where to return Mondays." Amen, eh?

It feels like a lot has happened since the last time I blogged - but not much in reality. Little things here and there make it seem like a lot. :)

On my drive home to South Dakota, I saw a few things that really made me smile. The first was a kid who was in the back of a station wagon. He was looking right at me. I couldn't help but smile. It took me back to when my older brother, sister and I would do all kinds of weird things on road trips to get the attention of other drivers. I'm sure we distracted a fair number of drivers, but we had so much fun. And our imaginations were so weird! We used to play what we called "credit card", which involved licking our palms and then pressing them against the rear window and saying "Here's your credit card!" after which we would burst into fits of giggles of course. I shake my head trying to remember the logic of it all.

Outside of Sioux Falls, SD I saw two wild turkeys running along a fence as if they were being chased. Seeing as it was 3pm on Thanksgiving day, I think they were safe, but it just seemed like they were making a break for freedom.

Also witnessed a red-tailed hawk fetch its dinner from right in front of my moving car when I was only a couple of miles from my parents' house.

The weather for the drive down was pretty amazing and I was very grateful for a smooth trip.

the wheels came off but i'm still on track

1235 hrs:
Today has been pretty good for a Monday, but I wouldn't mind if it went by just a little bit faster. *hopes* I hope everyone else's Mondays aren't too bad...

Seems as if my pocketbook is hemorrhaging lately. Lots of big expenses in a very short time. It is a relief to me that 2 out of the 3 big expenses are only once-in-a-while expenses. I had a set of 4 new tires put on my car (that was one of the big three) and my 6-month payment for car insurance is due this week (another of the big three) and then rent was put in the box this morning (thanks for remembering Nailz). *sigh* Luckily, tax season is coming up, so there (hopefully) will be a little bit of something to replenish my pocketbook.

While I was home this weekend, I watched two movies with my parents: Finding Nemo (yes, I FINALLY watched it for the first time) and Michael Clayton with George Clooney as the lead actor. Both were really good - especially Michael Clayton. I can't stop thinking about how handsome George Clooney is, though. I know that he's had some work done, but dang....I don't care - he's very easy on the eyes...

I need to restart a serious effort to start eating better and exercising. Today has been uncomfortable for me because my pants feel so tight around the thighs and waist. *depressed sigh* I refuse to buy new jeans - it was hard enough to find the ones I have now, I refuse to go looking for more! *pouts*

Well, guess that's about it. Hope all enjoyed their holiday!

PLAYLIST:
NEWS - Color
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (album)
Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke
The Decemberists - The Tain
The Decemberists - 5 Songs
The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts

Labels: birds, memoir, movies, playlists, quotes, SoDak, work

who made up all the rules? we follow them like fools.

1133 hrs:
I think that my blogging while at work might be decreasing. It seems that the more work there is to do, the more my mind goes blank on personal affairs. Yes, yes...I must be becoming a drone.

All I can think about right now is lunch - not that I have a tasty one or anything, but it is always nice to not have to be/look busy for a while.

I think there was something I was going to write about today, but I can't remember what now.

Anywho - here is something for Rudy (from my work signs book):

Reasons Why Alcohol Should Be Served at Work
-It's an incentive to show up on time
-It leads to a frank and honest exchange of opinions and ideas
-Everyone in the office looks more attractive and sounds more intelligent
-Being found slumped over the photocopier or weeping uncontrollably in a corner is no longer a social gaffe
-The stationery cupboard is finally put to good use
-It creates a level playing field - spouting incoherent nonsense is no longer the exclusive province of management

*lifts glass to Rudy* Cheers.

1458 hrs:
Ever get to the last hour of your work day and not know what to do with it? I'm feeling that way today. It's enough time to not be able to sham, but not enough time to actually get started on something else.

I'm about to post this, but I thought I would post about an important milestone in my life: I have been smoke-free for over 30 days now. I have survived all kinds of challenges like going out drinking, going to parties, going to concerts, being around other smokers and a drill weekend.

One of the biggest helps has been my best friend, Nailz. She's refrained from smoking around me on occasions where we normally would. Thank you and please continue to lend me your strong support! ^___^

Labels: blah, quitting smoking, quotes, work

go find another lover to bring a-- to string along...

0906 hrs:
I am typing this with gloves on. Considering that, I'm doing pretty well, I must say. It feels super chilly in the office this morning, but it might be that I'm just too sensitive to it. Thing is, it is 19 degrees outside and it would feel better to be outside moving around than to sit here in the office and freeze. Doesn't help that I'm sleepy. Then again, when am I not? I can't remember the last work day where I wasn't sleepy. There is just something magical about this time of the morning that wants to lull me to sleep.

I wish I could just close my eyes and take a nap. I feel so tired.... >_< I feel like I should not take tomorrow off, as I have already been gone one day this week (and unpaid at that!), BUT I really would like to sleep in tomorrow and just take it easy before my weekend shifts into high gear.

1358 hrs:
My mood has drastically improved since this morning. I'm not sure why, but I'm in a fairly good mood right now. Maybe it is the thought of Thanksgiving next week. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I haven't had my mom's Thanksgiving dinner in 3 years! I get excited thinking about it.

All day today I have been feeling like I am forgetting something important. I'm not sure if that is the case or not, but it kind of makes one paranoid, you know?

Do you ever listen to a certain song or album and it takes you back to a very specific time and place? I'm listening to The Wallflowers, Bringing Down the Horse. Every time I hear this album, I think back to the winter of 1996 to 1997. I was in high school, but I was head over heels for a college guy. I remember hanging out in his tiny apartment late at night, listening to this album (among others, such as Blues Traveler and Dave Matthews Band), doing homework and trying to win his heart. It never did work. I think back on those times and it feels like I was someone else; not anyone close to me. I can feel the coldness of the winter seeping in to the attic apartment through drafty windows and the crisp winter night sky. The memory is visceral.

1513 hrs:
Still have the pervasive feeling that I am forgetting something really big that I'm supposed to do. *sigh*

Here's a small embarrassment: Last night I was waxing my eyebrows (which I always do myself), but was really rushing through it. I accidentally waxed away a part of my right eyebrow. Oops. Thankfully, it is a small portion and not really that noticeable. It's interesting how many times people have asked me how I could do it myself and wasn't I afraid of waxing them off by accident....And not once until last night have I ever made an "oops...". Well, not a big deal - thankfully, eyebrows grow back pretty quickly anyway. *sheepish grin*

So tonight, Nailz and I are going to a concert. It's an early show, but if my evil plan goes right, we'll break backstage and get to hang with the boys. I'm pretty excited, but very calm at the same time. I haven't heard anything from the new album because I don't have it yet, so I'm hoping they play some older songs so I don't feel so unhip.

Well, guess that's about it. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite suggested excuses for not going to work (from my office joke calendar):

"I can't come to work today for the same reason you won't promote me. There is no reason."

"My stepmother has come back as one of the Undead and we must track her to her coffin to drive a stake through her heart and give her eternal peace. One day should do it."

Labels: music, oops, quotes, sleepy, work

come join the youth and beauty brigade

A quote from Trevanian's novel Shibumi (I added italics):

"...for the American version of representative government assures that such qualities of intellect and ethics as might equip a man to lead a powerful nation responsibly are precisely the qualities that would prevent him from subjecting himself to the debasing performances of vote begging and delegate swapping. It is a truism of American politics that no man who can win an election deserves to."

That pretty much sums up how I am starting to feel about American politics. Even though this was published in 1979, how startling and clearly it states what has long been the case.

Labels: politics, quotes