This Life is Under Construction

Random

2009-12-10T15:41:50Z

I've just discovered that roughly a bajillion sites turn up when you Goolgle "geek dating".

OMG! Does the fact that I'm actually looking into this mean that I'm ready to actively start dating? Me thinks so. Yikes! When did that happen?

ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?!?!?

2009-12-03T15:08:52Z

So, I’m currently scheduled within an inch of my life, to get my plate cleared in time for the Super Important Evaluation that is beginning on Jan 14. It’s tight, but with a few late nights and a possible weekend or two, I’ll make it.

This morning I find a voice mail from my boss, saying that the start date for the SIE has been moved up to NEXT THURSDAY!!! Apparently she found out at 7:30 last night that the Marketing Manager has been working with our affiliate to get this thing going without actually discussing this plan with those of us who will actually be doing the work! So much for the novel concept interdepartmental communication.

This new schedule also means I'll probabally be working late on Christmas and New Year's Eves. Fa-la-la-la-la-la-fuck-ing-la

I'm suddenly kind of glad I already had a headache when I woke up this morning, because if I hadn't I'd definitely be getting one now. If anyone needs me, I'll be playing Tetris with my schedule and letting several people know why their projects won't be done until sometime after the start of the year.

*smashes head against keyboard several times*

Cats Rule!

2009-12-02T11:37:46Z

Only a kitten could get away with such a complete lack of respect for authority.

violet_helix @ 2009-12-01T23:50:00

2009-12-02T04:50:22Z

Just got home from watching a DVD of the final Broadway performance of Rent. While it was absolutely amazing, I would have been well advised to see it sometime when I wasn't quite so emotionally frayed to start with. Oh well, live and learn.

Good night all.

What a Fun Night :)

2009-12-01T15:04:50Z

Last night I needed to escape a bit of stress in the apartment, so I left messages with srakkt and rourkie to see if either one wanted company. Apparently I used my sad, slightly whiny, I-REALLY-need-to-hang-out-with-people voice. How embarrassing! And here I thought I was playing it so cool.

Rourkie got back to me and I joined him, mintybunny, aethan, iyu, teko and their friend K. at the Brattle Theater for the Sneak Preview of the Decemberist’s Here Come The Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized. I wasn’t familiar with The Hazards of Love and had a hard time following the music and the visuals together, but enjoyed the show overall.

After the show was over, everyone explained the story of The Hazards of Love for K. and me. It really is a beautiful love story, but definitely missing the “happily ever after” ending that makes the sickeningly sweet story I so dearly love.

Everyone was pretty disappointed with the animation. While it was well done, the feeling was that it was pretty generic and not worthy of the term “The Hazards of Love Visualized”.

Definitely a good night in my book!

Thanks! I needed a laugh.

2009-11-24T19:12:51Z

At work, anyone can use the PA system to page people.
I just heard this over the system:
"Joe Schmoe, please calllll... ummmmm... I. Don't. Know. "

violet_helix @ 2009-11-16T09:21:00

2009-11-16T14:21:32Z

I’ve just discovered that a couple of new-to-me songs that I really like are both by the Decemberists. This seems like a good reason to give them a closer listen. Can anyone recommend a good starter CD? Or better yet, could someone burn me a CD of their favorites?

Yet Another LJ Meme

2009-11-12T12:16:46Z

"Fold the long edges inward to the center."
Zoogami: An Original Menagerie at Your Fingertips
Gay Merrill Gross

Rules of the game: grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence in Comments and on your Journal, with and these instructions....
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST book....

C'mon folks. I know that everyone on my f'list has at least one book close at hand.

Humble Thanks

2009-11-11T13:26:05Z

I've been trying to come up with something eloquent to express my feelings today, but have failed miserably. So I will just say this:

To all those who have Served and Sacrificed to protect the way of life that I far to often take for granted, I sincerely thank you.

violet_helix @ 2009-11-08T10:27:00

2009-11-08T15:27:25Z

My cell phone is MIA. If you need to get in touch with me, email is currently the best way to go.

Update: Phone found. Now if anyone happens to know where my cable remote is, give me a call. *sigh*

wshew

2009-11-05T15:22:03Z

I have a confession to make. I’m not very good at my job.

Actually that’s not strictly true. Put me in a lab or ask me to write a protocol for an upcoming evaluation and I’m on fire. Need someone to troubleshoot an instrument’s wonky performance? I’m your girl. Customer returned a component and you need the failure mode root caused? I’m all over it.

Where I fall apart is in meetings. If it’s a discussion of a project I’m actually involved in, I’m fine. However, I’m frequently sent to meetings where I have little or no knowledge of the specifics under discussion. The closest I’ve been able to get to a definition of my role for these meetings is to serve as “the QA presence”. Occasionally, there is some glaringly obvious issue that I bring to my boss’ attention, but generally I’m just lost, trying desperately to make sense of technical details flying fast and furious about three feet over my head. Lord help me when someone asks “…and what does QA think?”. I generally try to nod sagely and tell them I’ll consider it and get back to them. If I’m really lucky, I actually know what I’m being asked about.

Given this, you can understand why my heart lurched into my throat this morning when my Grandboss came into my cube and asked to talk to me.

You cannot begin to imagine how relieved I was when he told me that QA is undergoing a re-org. I’m now going to be reporting to the new Customer Simulation Lab Manager! This means far more lab time and far fewer meetings!

This also means that my next evaluation won’t say that I'm "very skilled in the lab, but…”

violet_helix @ 2009-11-04T07:11:00

2009-11-04T12:13:47Z

I was already stating to feel a little down today. The news on Question 1 has just pushed me over the edge. I just wanna go back to bed and pull the covers over my head.

*sigh*

But no, off to work for me.

Well, that's embarassing!

2009-10-29T12:51:03Z

When I got into my car this morning, I noticed that I was really low on gas. Since there are no stations on my way to Rt2, I decided to stop at the Mobil on 95N. Immediately after blowing past said Mobil station in an early morning fugue, my car started to sputter and promptly died.

All I can say is thank goodness for AAA Gold!

violet_helix @ 2009-10-27T07:47:00

2009-10-27T11:57:37Z

1. I've come to realize that my chest-size. . .
can be an asset.

2. I've come to realize that my job. . .
isn’t fulfilling, but keeps the bills paid.

3. I've come to realize that when I'm driving alone. . .
I should stop and rest when I’m tired.

4. I've come to realize that I need. . .
to get my finances in order.

5. I've come to realize that I have lost. . .
much (but definitely not all) of my fear.

6. I've come to realize that I hate it more than anything when. . .
people are cruel.

7. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk. . .
I need to be with people I trust completely.

8. I've come to realize that money. . .
allows me to do fun stuff.

9. I've come to realize that certain people. . .
can’t be helped.

10. I've come to realize that I'll always. . .
want to try and help the people from #9.

11. I've come to realize that my sibling. . .
and I are very different kinds of people. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

12. I've come to realize that my mom. . .
is trying her best to understand me. I need to cut her more slack.

13. I've come to realize that my dad. . .
and I share a brain.

14. I've come to realize that when I get on Facebook. . .
I actually enjoy reconnecting with my past.

15. I've come to realize that I really want to. . .
learn to ride horses.

16. I've come to realize that life. . .
is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.

17. I've realized the best music to listen to when I am upset. . .
is really loud.

18. I've come to realize that my friends. . .
are steadily growing in number.

19. I've come to realize that this year. . .
is when everything changes.

20. I've come to realize that my ex. . .
is headed down a path that makes me afraid for her.

21. I've come to realize that maybe I should. . .
be less harsh on myself.

22. I've come to realize that I love. . .
myself... and Ben & Jerry's Phish Food.

23. I've come to realize that I don't understand. . .
blind hatred and bigotry.

24. I've come to realize my past. . .
has made me strong and compassionate.

25. I've come to realize that parties. . .
are actually not scary.

26. I've come to realize that I'm totally terrified. . .
of telling him how I feel.

27. I've come to realize that my life...
FREAKIN' ROCKS!!!

Lesson Learned

2009-10-21T00:13:32Z

Just because I feel better after sleeping on and off for 18 hours, does NOT mean that it's a good idea to go to the mall and knock a few things off my To Do list.

If you'll all excuse me, I'm going to go *thud* now.

Plaaaaaaague!

2009-10-20T11:23:12Z

So, I've got that nasty bug that's making the rounds. It just settled into my chest while I was sleeping, so I've called into work and cleared the day for an intensive day of sleeping and eating soup.

That time again, already?

2009-10-19T18:55:33Z

Aaaarrrgghhhh!!!!!!!

Time for my annual re-certification in Blood Borne Pathogen Training at work. This year's on-line system is even worse that last year's live workshop.

*sigh* The worst part is you can basically sum this up in three simple rules:
1) Always wear appropriate safety gear in the lab
2) Don't lick anything in the lab
3) Don't jab yourself with anything in the lab (this is most easily accomplished by not rooting around in the sharps container)

A weekend of WIN!

2009-10-19T10:21:48Z

Friday: Got a lesson in IPA History 101 and helped srakkt make my kick-ass boffers for next week end's Isles: Asylum event. (NOTE: 'Helping' largely consisted of handing him pieces of tape, as needed.)

Saturday: Scrapped my plans to go to the Nerd Fun Zombie March when pickypenelope and her Darling Boyfriend canceled in favor of staying home and cuddling on the couch (who can blame them for that call?) Instead, I spent a little alone-time shopping in Boston before heading to Davis to celebrate my oldest (duration, not age) friend's birthday at Redbones, The Burren and Sligo. Got to use my new found IPA knowledge when someone randomly said "I need to find out the difference between Pale Ale and India Pale Ale" over dinner. Was pleasantly surprised when miss_demeanor71 joined us at The Burren.

Sunday: Realized how narrowly I escaped a truly killer hangover. Did some chores, watched the first disk of La Femme Nikita, and had gentlescholar and desert_born over for dinner, conversation and Farscape.

At some point when I wasn't paying attention, my life became quite cool!

violet_helix @ 2009-10-11T16:27:00

2009-10-11T20:35:28Z

So what are you doing next Saturdy, October 17th? Come to the Boston Zombie Walk. You know you want to!

Here's the e-mail I just received from Nerd Fun- Boston
"Hello all who were thinking about attending Boston Zombie Walk 2009 (Copley Square), were on the fence about going, or who haven't heard about this event yet! I'm looking forward to it... so far we have 25 - 35 people going just with the Nerd Fun group alone!

I was thinking of meeting at the food court of the Prudential Center next to the patio windows, shoving tables together. I would be there at 1:00 pm sharp, a red MEETUP table tent on the tables. You? You could drop in at any time you felt like it, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. We could eat, socialize, then use the public restrooms to put on makeup (and get into character). At 2:30 pm we can start shambling down to join the Copley Square group. They start marching at 3:00 pm. I'll hand out small red MEETUP stickers one of our assistant organizers (thanks Amy!) had special ordered so we can distinguish our group from everyone else.

Don't want to come in costume? That's fine! I was thinking you could make a protest sign saying "Zombies are People, Too!" and just carry it along with you walking along with the group. Me, I will be going as a blood splatter'd "Mad Doctor" in a white lab coat, fake plastic stethoscope and all. I dressed up as zombies and vampires from age 10 to 15 for Halloween. I am kinda all zombied out, and it takes forever for me to remove the pancake makeup.

There is only one fly in the ointment. Er, do you know the web site 4Chan, and how it is inhabited by forum trolls who have dark / sick / edgy type of humor and try to get each other's goat? Well, a few years ago a group of them decided to go after the Church of Scientology, pranking them as this group called "Anonymous". This Boston Masquerade group is an offshoot of them. I am kinda worried that the parade route isn't described. If it looks like that the main group is going to go make trouble, go vandalize some Scientology church, or harass 'em dressed in anonymous "V for Vendetta" costumes, we can just divorce ourselves from the main body and go shambling thru the Boston Public Garden, Boston Common, and maybe even to Faneuil Hall if you want.

Just wanted to warn ya! :)

XXXXXXXXXXX
Assistant Organizer, Nerd Fun "

Multi-tasking at it's finest

2009-10-10T14:51:48Z

I woke up this morning, determined to catch up on my growing backlog of email requiring responses. When the subject of the fist message came out as "SoryI Hv'twtten so ln" I figured that it was attributable to more that my regular abominable typing skills. Rather than just dashing across the street and hoping that the convenience store carries the AAAs my keyboard so clearly needed, I grabbed the dog's leash and took him for a walk to Davis.

I'm now home with a functional keyboard and an empty dog. Way to kill two birds with one stone! Actually three, if you count "Get off your lazy ass and get some exercise."

violet_helix @ 2009-09-01T20:46:00

2009-09-02T00:48:02Z

The Good News: We're starting the drive to DragonCon tomorrow!
The Bad News: At 5 am O_o

How Pushy Should I Be?

2009-08-11T16:35:12Z

A little over a week ago, as part of Operation: Now-That-I'm-Single-I-Need-to-Expand-My-Social-Network (I definitely need a more concise name for this Op) I sent a message to action AT theatreatfirst DOT org, letting them know I'm interested in volunteering. I'm not at all fussy about how I pitch in, and I'm able to commit one night a week during rehersals and more during production. I was not nearly this explicit in the email I sent.

I know that rehersals started this week and I still haven't heard anything. I'm just wondering if I should:
a) Fire off another email letting T@F know I'm still interested
b) Show up at the rehersal space next week and see what I can do
c) Sit back and wait for the very busy people to contact me when they need my help

Any thoughts from those of you with experience working with T@F?

violet_helix @ 2009-08-10T11:58:00

2009-08-10T15:58:47Z

I saw this and it made me think of srakkt. Just wanted to share :)

see more dog and puppy pictures

Stupid Interwebs!

2009-06-27T03:49:02Z

So Googling +repo +coolidge turned up this link.

What it did not return was this, far more relevant, link. Note the fifth paragraph which begins"Sadly, ...". I didn't find this part out until I showed up to buy my ticket.

As the Mutant Enemy says: "Grrr... Arrgh!"

Now the big question is: Have I become obsessed enough about this movie to drive an hour and forty-five minutes to see it in S. Hadley on July 31? I'm not sure what it says about me that the answer is probably yes.

Road trip anyone?

violet_helix @ 2009-06-26T15:30:00

2009-06-26T19:33:13Z

I know this is very last minute, but I'm thinking of hitting the midnight showing of Repo! The Genetic Opera tonight at Coolidge Corner. Anyone interested in coming with?