Posts Tagged ‘Drama’

« Older Entries

Grandma, you’re a little late there…

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Dear Sheba
Queen of Sheba
Drama-Mama
Dame Pris de Panique
Grandma,

I am trying to come to a (grudging) kind of acceptance for your (possibly) well-intentioned, panic-stricken melodramas; because, I’m sure you’re doing this because you care on some level. (Or maybe you just enjoy hypertension and adrenaline.)

Thus, I did actually read your e-mail for the first time in months when you contacted us about a “dire” new computer virus that could “destroy our lives” if we don’t take immediate action.

I read it and laughed. No. I’m sorry, let me amend that: I lol’d. And then deleted it. (Only to regret it when I decided to share my amusement.)

Next time you decide to have a panic attack over a virus and send out urgent e-mails to everyone you know, you might want to check the date on the “proof” you’re using. The dates are all 2006. Oh, and the amended details indicating that the threat has been contained and all Operating Systems involved were patched.

What you’re circulating right now is a virus hoax chain letter with falsified details. While some details are true, it’s neither new or a major threat. It will not “destroy my life” or my computer. Actually, no virus will do that.

Please, take some deep breaths and maybe a Valium.

Sincerely,
~ Sally

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Drama, Family | Comments Off

My Monitor Blues

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Back when I built my computer, Mom surprised me by buying me a super nice monitor to go with my new rig. It had excellent depth of color and an unbeatable size. It was pricey when she bought it for me, but one she happily purchased.

The one drawback was that the base couldn’t be detached from the monitor. Only the foot could be detached and not easily. It wasn’t a big deal until the move hit. I spent nearly an hour trying to detach the foot and then avoided putting it back on unless absolutely necessary.

About halfway through the move, I noticed the colors had gone washed out one morning and the colors were flaring along the top of the screen. Whites appeared a flickering pink and all sorts of other bizarre effects. It’s only gotten worse as time has gone on. Matt offered me use of his old CRT monitor, but it almost causes more eyestrain since I’m used to a 22″ widescreen.

Now I’m working on a web design project for my friend and guildmate, James, for his catering business. The black design wasn’t too bad, but the green one is much darker than I realized. On my monitor, it looks like a nice mint green with lighter stripes. Switched monitors and realized how dark it really is. >_<

I realize it has every right to die after being stuffed in the trunk for 2000 miles. I just can’t really afford to deal with this right now. On the other hand, I really want to do a good job on James’ project.

This might be the thing that gets me over this hump on the job search front.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Life, Money, Web Design | Comments Off

Do they make a Beano for Brain Farts?

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Received a phone call just now from the human resource manager of a Dallas area company that makes VoIP security technologies as well as routers and stuff. In order to set them up, they provide a web application with their products.

It’s entry level, only basic level knowledge required. I’m giddy. Can he ask me some technical questions to test my knowledge? Absolutely!

“In Java, how would you set up two threads to count from 1 to 5 simultaneously?”

Brainfart… I stammer a basic loop structure.

“How would you do that in two threads?”

Brainfart. Ummmm….

“Have you had much experience in threads in Java?”

*whimper* Not much, I’m afraid.

“Okay, we’ll just move on. How would you hide an element in Javascript?”

Crap crap crap crap crap… I’ve DONE THIS! Several times in fact. …. brain fart.

“How would you underline an element using strictly CSS.”

text-decoration:underline

“Excellent. How would I look up a string of text inside of a text file in Unix/Linux?”

Great, big, stinking brainfart. I can’t believe my mom and pets can breathe this stench!

“I see you mention SQL on your resume, how would you look up a single line?”

SELECT FROM database… no, wait… (Thinking: SELECT geeks FROM WoW — btw, thanks! I wouldn’t have gotten that if your guild name didn’t spontaneously pop into my head. lol) SELECT fields FROM DATABASE WHERE keyfield

“Okay, great.”

Apologize for brainfarts, I know how to do this, but I just moved and all my resource books are still in storage.

“That’s fine. Do you have any questions for me?”

Recall Matt suggesting from now on asking how much experience they’re looking for.

“Not much, we’re looking for a junior member of the team. Someone who won’t need a great deal of training, but can grow with our company.”

Fantastic! Thanks so much!

*gives contact and other information* “Someone may contact you later in the week to schedule an interview. Thanks for your time and have a great day!”

Thanks again, have a nice day! Take care!

*head-desk* *head-desk* *head-desk* *head-desk* *head-desk* *head-desk*

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Drama, Life | Comments Off

Hanging On

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Pounded the pavement all yesterday, most of the mall stores aren’t going to be doing any hiring until they see what their holiday sales look like. Trying really hard not to let that bother me or the number of times I got sized up. The big box and other stores said they’d get back to us by early next week.

I don’t remember all the places I dropped applications or resumes off too. Kind of face-palming over that. So far, I’ve only heard back from Sears, who politely said I wasn’t a good fit. Tomorrow I’m going to drop my resume off with some local headhunters, see what they say.

I honestly don’t think finding employment is going to be an issue. There’s also a really neat program to help first-time home owners get a loan and everything.

It’s temporary housing that’s proving difficult.

We’ve been calling as many organizations as we can for help, but most want us to have a job first. The others offer to place us in a homeless shelter, but our girls won’t be able to come. We can’t afford to stay in this hotel indefinitely.

Luna is alternately awesome and puzzling. She’s acting up, which means she’s not too welcome despite being my assistance dog. She’s acting too much like a pet. But she panics if she’s left alone in the hotel room. I’m not sure what to do. I can’t find any visible injuries, but I can’t afford to take her to the vet either. Right now, we have to take her with us and leave her in the car. But that’s not going to work when we find jobs.

The kitties are just amazing. I can’t get over how adaptable they are. Wish they’d pass a little of that on to Luna.

I asked mom to give me a little more time, see if anything pans out next week.

Grandma is making things even more confusing. She actually talked to me over the phone and she wasn’t a witch. She’s been giving us advice and seems genuinely worried about us. I don’t know what to make of that either. We’re talking even more about continuing south and going to Florida. I can’t believe we’re considering that!

I just know I really don’t want to go back to Michigan. Poppa called our cell yesterday morning and got me instead of mom. Instant hostility. Talking with him just those few seconds sapped me of energy and confidence.

I need distance. A lot of it.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Housing, Moving | Comments Off

MapQuest: Why did you do that?

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

MapQuest, why on earth did you have us drive down that country road through West Virginia? That wasted a good couple hours driving at only 35 mph where you could have had us stay on a highway. Talk about brain-melting! Even Ohio’s flatness wasn’t that bad.

Got an early start this morning and made it through the mountains. You should have seen mom geek out over the Allegheny Tunnel! OMG, she thought that was coolest thing ever! ^_^

After we got through the tunnel we started hitting bands of blowing snow, but the views of the mountains were still fantastic. I’m sure the truckers were getting annoyed with us since we kept slowing as something really frigging cool caught our attention. (Mom: “Look! The rock strata is almost vertical!”)

That slow trip through West Virginia cost us valuable traveling time, which prompted us to stop in Warrenton, VA in a Howard Johnson hotel for the night.

The wi-fi is free and the fastest I’ve found so far. Not sure what I’m going to do with it, though. Right now, a hot shower and bed sound really great. The roads through West Virginia gave me much way too much time to think and I found myself feeling really afraid and depressed again.

I thought too much about Poppa and his decision he tried forcing on us. At one point, the cats started crying, but all it took was reaching into their carriers and petting them for a moment to quiet them down. Thunderous purrs for a bit and they went back to sleep. I couldn’t help but start crying.

We’ll reach Richmond tomorrow and hopefully will finally be able to meet our cousins who live there.

But before we get there, we’ll have to see how many more times we’ll get lost.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Drama, Life, Moving | Comments Off

It is ON!

Saturday, December 5th, 2009

Guess we couldn’t escape without Catty Karla getting one last lick in. While Craig and I were running another load of things to the storage unit, she came over to get some family paintings and stuff. She apparently lit into Mom. Mostly about my thing with Poppa over the phone, but also for us leaving.

It is ON. Karla, Poppa, Grandma, Caroline… I’m going to prove you wrong!

My fear will be a catalyst for my new life! I’ll take this leap of faith… I will succeed.

In the words of Yoda: Do, or do not. There is no try.

Gotta go. Love you all.

XOXO

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Drama, Family, Moving | Comments Off

Disowned

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

I finally broke down and calling my grandfather in an attempt to reconcile.

I spent weeks rehearsing what I was going to say, over and over.

Lets just say that just blew up in my face. I was wrong, I was mistaken, I was lying, I was making stuff up, I need to reevaluate, he doesn’t know where I got that, he doesn’t know what’s going on in my head, he can’t read me, he can’t understand me. It was all me, he did nothing… said nothing. I was the villain yet again.

I tried talking with him about the crap that’s gone on during the past 12 years. Like him literally throwing my things during one of our moves.

Him: “Well, you should have gotten out there and helped.”
Me: “Did it ever occur to you that I was already helping someone else?”

He’s threatened to harm our animals. Nope, he never said that. I point out his comment about his gun helping with our “cat problem” just a month ago. His response: “Gawd.” And then comes an ultimatum: get rid of our animals or say goodbye to him.

I told him I’ll find another option. I’ve been abandoned enough in my life, I won’t inflict that pain on another living creature. I’m more important than those animals, he says. I didn’t even bother to protest that Luna has saved my life numerous times as a hypoglycemia alert dog.

Then he literally had the balls to wax nostalgic over Brownie, our collie who died years ago.

Every point I tried to make, he said I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. My feelings are totally wrong.

He said I used to be his best friend, but I’m not anymore. He even declared I don’t love him. He’s been so gracious to offer to let us live with him, but for the sake of those animals we’re refusing. We need to think it over “real good.” The animals or be disowned.

I finally said “Goodbye, Poppa. I love you.” and hung up.

I made it out to the living room and just collapsed in the middle of the floor.

If I don’t love him, why in the world does it feel like I was punched in the gut?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Drama, Family | Comments Off

Lets Be Selfish!

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Poppa (Mom’s dad) is at our house even as we speak. Just dropped by. Tried calling twice, but we were outside. Rather than wait for us to call him back, he’s here right now.

Reason he stopped over? A local church is giving away food! Oh yes, lets defraud a church’s food pantry and say we’re from different households. We can be selfish, what they don’t know won’t hurt anyone! *snort*

Course, he arranges it with mom… not a word to me and Jass isn’t here to say “no.” Going to get an awful shock tomorrow, aren’t they?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Family | Comments Off

Mom’s Birthday Bull****

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

For the first time in years, my mom started out her birthday actually pretty chipper. I was delighted! Normally she’s morosely depressed for her birthday. This time, she actually seemed upbeat. We discussed getting her a lemon filled éclair with chocolate frosting and maybe seeing if we could get her a few instance runs on Adashi before the raids tonight. (Can’t afford real presents… but darnit, donuts and heroics we can do!)

Until Aunt Karla called. Nice conversation to start and then came the catty remarks. Among the zingers, she says she doesn’t know why she came back [to Michigan], the family doesn’t pay enough attention or something to her. Lets see… she puts us on her shit list, acts catty and mean whenever we see her, gives ultimatums that she won’t attend family functions if we’re invited, and then declares that? Wow, Dr. Phil would have a field day with this family!!

Now my mom is tearful, sighing wistfully, and morose. Gee, thanks Catty Karla. You’re a real peach.

And there’s still two more family members left to call to give mom her “birthday greetings” — Sheba and Aunt Kathy. Sheba better behave and mind her tongue. Or I might just have to hurt that hateful old hag!

Does “Don’t take it Personally” include a clause about wanting to choke a bitch? >_< Yeah, I’m not doing so well on the whole “not taking it personally” thing. *giggles*

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Drama, Family | Comments Off

Nothing Personal; Just Letting Go

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

We’re continuing to take things to Goodwill and consignment stores. There’s something very addictive and cathartic to letting go of all this stuff. I don’t miss anything.

Well… I did have a brief pang about my comic collection a couple days ago, but 2 months after the fact is a little late to recover them. Wasn’t like I was actually reading them.

It’s all just stuff and unnecessary. Besides, it’ll make the move far easier.

Also trying to work myself into a state when I stop taking things personally. It’s a waste of emotion to take anything personally. Frankly, very little of this has anything to do with Mom, Jass, or me. In some cases, the person dishing out the crap wants us to take it personally. It’s a reflection — or maybe a kind of misdirection — of themselves.

For example: I think Poppa finally realizes we’re serious. He won’t actually speak to Jass or me, but he keeps suddenly locating job hints after a year of “sucks to be you” attitude. Again, this has nothing to do with us. I still plan to leave and engage in that nice long vacation from our family. I just think he’s finally realizing he’s about to lose.

I can’t say it’s easy. It’s SO hard. Last 25 man raid in WoW, I wanted to take a snotty comment personally. Cue deep breaths, roll my eyes, and make the omnipresent cat on my desk squeal her indignation as I flip her onto her back to blow raspberries on a furry tummy.

I can’t take it personally anymore; I’m all out of Sunshine, binkies, and Scratching-Post Sisal. Thus, I refuse to accept: “Thank you for the gift, but I think you have more use of it than I do.”

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Drama, Family | Comments Off

« Older Entries