Vibrant.(Still) Unrepentant. Badass. Old. Queer

"Good" Evening, Kittens. What a day of ups and downs ... A project I have been working on for awhile was about to "go live." I asked a couple of co-workers to test it. And they couldn't even access it. Boo. So, I called IT. They fixed the problem. Yay. So, I asked one co-worker to try it out. It seemed to work. Yay. Then, my boss (the one who denied my travel for training because there wasn't enough money) announced that, in addition to two co-workers who he's sending to Vegas for training (I'm not overly pleased about this), he now wants another co-worker to go ... because she needs this "crucial training" ... even though there is only ONE class (out of the 4 day training) that applies to this co-worker's job. WTF? BOOOOOO! So, I took a long lunch. Yay! When I got back from lunch, I learned that the test try my co-worker made on my project wasn't recorded for some reason. Boo. Then, I coordinated a very successful site vi...

Good morning, Kittens! What a craptastic day (already!). Since nothing really happened last night (I did laundry. I have a fabulous new comforter set ), let's bitch about Metro for awhile ... Metro is trying to RUIN MY LIFE. SEE?!?!: Labor Day Weekend. Every. Single. Metro. Station. North. of Fort Totten. CLOSED! WTF? Oh, there will be free shuttle buses (whoopee!). But, let's do the math. A 6 car train can hold how many people? Maybe 2-300? A bus can hold how many people? Like 4? If they are thin. So it looks like my fun-filled 4-day(!) Labor Day Weekend will be spent with many many many Metro Headaches. GAH! And, that's not all! In the good ol' days, when Metro was broke but still functional (as opposed to now when they are broke and dysfunctional), you were allowed to exit a station using your SmarTrip card even if you didn't have enough money to cover the fare. You could "go negative" as we say in the Metro-Ride...

Good Morning, Kittens. I hope you had a fun-filled Wednesday night. I certainly did - Thunder! Lightning! SMOOOOOOOOOOOG! And laundry. And Bridget Jones. And Vodka. And Chaka Khan. Here are a few questions I have floating around in my head this morning: 1. Are people not required to take driver's ed anymore? Because, srsly, no one seems to remember that an intersection in which the traffic signals are not working becomes a four-way stop, not a rampaging intersectional free-for-all. Makes pedestrianism a leeeeeeeeetle scary, fer sure. 2. Is not wanting to attend a talk on the afro-jewish experience wrong (as a certain naggy bf seems to be implying)? I'm not even mildly intrigued by the topic. If you are, let me know and I'll see if I can get you all the details. 3. Why am I surrounded by stupid people? 4. Can you tell I'm feeling a little cranky this morning? I have a hangnail and it's feeling a little owie. Maybe more coffee will help. More later. *smooches*

I am hating Y's evil advisor. 5 minutes before I got home for my lunch break, he sent Y a not very nice email regarding Y's research/future in the program. Can we say buzz kill ? Can we say someone walked all the way home for a little lunchtime nookie and all he got was a little lunch ? Can we say GRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......... ? So. Not. Happy. On the way home, I had an idea for a fabulous new business: Get it? It would be a pottery studio/ bar. During the day and early evening, it would function as a pottery studio. At night, the lights go down and the Super Hip bartenders serve fantastic infused vodka cocktails into pottery glasses *you* made! Fun, no? At least something interesting came out of my lunch excursion ... *le sigh*

... And it certainly was interesting to see/read what you had to think concerning my Alcohol-Free April. Meanwhile, I'm feeling cranky today. I haven't heard anything from the job recruiter, even though she said she would contact me Wednesday or Thursday. I'll probably shoot her an email after lunch. I'd rather not have to sit through the whole weekend without knowing any additional information. Also, people who don't read are driving me BATTY. There is going to be a public meeting at EPA next week, which was announced in the Federal Register. In the announcement it clearly states who to contact if you want to attend the meeting. It is not us. We are listed as a contact for general information (which, naturally, no one has provided us). However, guess who about 15 people in the past few days have contacted to request to attend the meeting? Here's a hint: US. GAH. I really want to reply to their emails much more snarkily than I am. Fortunately, there are l...

... and all he got was a big pile of NOTHING. Yesterday was an exercise in frustration. I got to the pottery studio around 4:15, and the kiln was on. There were no new bisque pieces on the shelves. There were shelves full of pieces to be glaze-fired, and the greenware shelves were empty. Using my amazing powers of deduction, I concluded that all of my pieces were in the still on kiln. Of course, this made no sense , because we had received an email from the studio manager stating that the last bisque firing would be Monday. Given that there were no new pieces on the shelves to be glazed, the kiln was not even fired on Monday. Which pissed me off. I made a special trip to the school to glaze my work based on information the studio manager provided. And it was wasted. Grrrr. I will probably be heading back to the studio today to glaze my final 6 (or 7?) pieces. Carolyn is going to call the studio this afternoon to verify that the kiln has been emptied. She will call (or email)...

Rather than dwell on my crankiness (I don't think I'll be feeling full strength until I hear from the recruiter, and, then, I'll either be ecstatic or doubly down dooby dooby down wah wah wah waaaaaaaaaaaah), here are the good things that happened this weekend: 1. I made green tea, using my hagiyaki, which, if you don't know, is one of the best pottery styles in Japan ... and my favorite. I own lots and lots of hagiyaki, including a v. expensive tea ceremony bowl. Love my hagiyaki :-) 2. I seamed one sleeve on the Never-Ending Cardigan of Doom. 3. I cast on and knit one band of the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter Scarf, which I promised a friend last year. 4. I weeded and tidied the garden area (with some neighborly help) in front of our building. 5. I planted the chocolate mint in the planter on our porch. 6. I planted the marigold and thai basil seeds in some small containers. If they sprout, I will transplant them into the garden 7. I transplanted the serrano chili ...

And cranky. Very cranky. Which means that (a) I bailed on the Non-Bris Party and (b) Y is a little peeved. I did manage to get up to go with him to brunch with his friend visiting from NYC. We went to the Red Dog Cafe ... a place I doubt I'll visit again ... Not just because the service was bad (like, um, hello? coffee refill? asking how the food is or if we need anything? would that be possible? apparently not), but also because the food was, not bad, but bland. Flavorless. Dull. Uninteresting. Things I can make at home ... and make better. Of course, b/c I was getting cranky at being ignored by the crap waitstaff, I was not as participatory in the conversation. Which caused Y to think that his friend will think that I don't like her (um ... whatever.). She talked like a mile a minute, and it was difficult to get a word in when I did feel like I had something to add to the conversation, which wasn't often because the conversation revolved around the following topics (1) Is...

I have finally noticed the opthalmic migraine pattern ... I get them mostly when I'm SuperTired ... SuperTired and Cranky. I'm very displeased with the "sick" co-worker. I was very looking forward to going home for a quick nap during my lunch break. Of course, if he is actually sick, I won't be as displeased. However, usually the more sick a person sounds on the phone when he calls in, the less I believe he is truly sick. I know. It's cynical. But, seriously, the whole whispered, pausing speech pushes the bounds of believability. The message left on my phone was something like this: "Hi. It's [co-worker's name] ... I'm still ... sick ... I feel so ... *gasp* ... weak" blah blah blah etc etc etc. Later on this morning, for the first time in a very long time, I had to hang up on a caller. The woman was KUH-RAY-ZEE. Usually, when I get a Crazy Caller, who is complaining about toxic chemicals and landlord conspiracies to make them s...

... If You Want to Date Me (long-term like) 1. When I am angry/upset about something (that is not you), I do not want your advice (no matter how lovingly given). I want sympathetic murmurings until I calm down (usually in 1 to 5 days). After that time (and only after that time) is it OK to offer advice.* 2. When I am angry/upset about something (that is you), I do not want you to defend yourself. I want you to apologize with little or no fuss until I calm down (usually in 7 to 12 days). After that time (and only after that time) is it ok to explain your weird rationale and why, even though you are still wrong, you think you are right. 3. After the first time I invite you to my home, you are no longer a guest. Please do not sit around expecting me to wait on you. You know where the friggin' water is. Get your own glass. And, while we're at it, helping out (like, y'know, cleaning up after yourself or making the bed) is also acceptable, if not highly desirable.** 4....

Whatever shall we do? I know! Let's all be late to work. And, thus, I'm the only one here. *sigh* Has anything gone right this morning? Slugs are eating my chrysanthemums.* My shoes are leaking. My socks are wet. Every. single. one. of. my. coworkers. is. late. On the bright side , last night, I hung up some of the Mexican banners and they look FAN-forkin'-TASTIC! YAY! Also, it would seem that one of the chili pepper plants in the Chili Pepper Graveyard has survived and is bearing fruit. *woot* AND, on my way out this morning (before I discovered I am wearing leaky shoes), I met SCGB. SCGB : I'm looking forward to the party. ME : Have you bought your pumpkins? SCGB : Yeah, we have two small ones, but I think we should buy a big one. ME : Size does matter. SCGB : It's not the size of the pumpkin. It's how you carve it. ME : Only people with small pumpkins say that. hearty laughter ** Plans for today: Bank. Shopping at Safeway***. Laundry. Cleaning. Waiting for t...

On my walk to Whole Foods to buy lunch, Perky GreenPeace Volunteer : Hi! Want to hear the story about how I got arrested? Cranky Someone : No. Want to hear the story where I kill the Perky GreenPeace Volunteer?

1. Arriving over an hour late for a dinner party in which you volunteered to bring the appetizers is not cool and does not endear me to you. 2. Low Blood Sugar VUBOQ = Cranky VUBOQ 3. New Rosh Hashanah food tradition: Apples soaked in honey ... and VODKA! For four days! Then frozen! YUM! [Credit the Supercute Y for this one. Although, VUBOQ would like to think that his summer-long vodka infusion experiments were somewhat of an inspiration.] 4. Sometimes very smart people say very stupid things. 5. If the Supercute Y thinks that Cranky Low Blood Sugar Annoyed at Smart People Saying Stupid Things VUBOQ did not have a good time at a dinner party [even if VUBOQ *did* have a good time ... once his blood sugar level returned to normal], there will be amazingly hot secks when they return home. *smooches* PS. OMG. I'm only on Chapter 12 of the Training Manual. AUGH! Need. Motivation.

Or even better Martinis Hours? After sending an email and making countless [unanswered] phone calls, I *finally* got in contact with someone at the Pottery Class Place. They had no record of my registration, but they've put me in the last available spot for Introduction to Wheel Throwing ... which I'm sure is much better than Introduction to Cow Pie Tossing . Since I forwarded them my confirmation email, I won't be double charged. Anyway, I hope that my friend also got into a class. This was a *very* frustrating experience. I hope the course is fun. And it is full of cute menz. I should have asked. Nothing else has happened all day, except for me getting crankier and crankier. I am very looking forward to Go Home Time ... and the Making of the Martini ... and the straining of the Chili-Pepper Infused Vodka ... and the Goofing Off in Front of the TV ... and, hopefully, the Hot Buttsecks with the Y .

I've been mulling over the concept of power for the past few days. A simple decision became decidedly more complex. And it's all about power. Power that's been handed to me on a plate. People may think that power makes you happy, but I am refusing to lower myself to pick it up. Now, my question is: If not power, what will make me happy. Apparently, the answer was not "a Chipotle Vegetarian Fajita Burrito." *Feodor Dostoyevsky (1821–1881), Russian novelist. Raskolnikov, in Crime and Punishment , pt. 5, ch. 4 (published 1866), trans. by David McDuff (1991).

I woke up a little cranky this morning. Actually, that's not true. I felt fine when I woke up, but, since leaving Y's home, the crankiness has grown and spread, filling every nook and cranny of my being. The overly cheery co-workers are really grating on my nerves right now. I'm not sure why I'm cranky. Actually, that's not true either. I know exactly why I'm cranky. For one, I don't sleep well at Y's. He is a night-owl, studying until 2:30 or 3 every morning. I don't really fall into a restful sleep until he joins me in bed. I have to get up at 6 to make it to work on time. He gets to sleep for another 3.5 to 4 hours. Two, work has been a total pain lately. Summer is supposed to be relaxing, but, with everyone taking off (and some not coming back when they are scheduled), those of us who remain have to pick up the slack. I really need a vacation. My mini-vakay to Atlanta this weekend should be fun. And, I am looking forward to my week ...

VUBOQ is feeling cranky, so here is a list of Things VUBOQ Currently is Hating : ~the weather ~his job ~the little zit that has suddenly appeared near his nose ~people who talk too much at all ~ people who leave the newspaper in the toilet stall ~clickyclicky keyboard noises (which makes typing very annoying) And, in case you've forgotten, this is what a cranky VUBOQ looks like: [taken at the Atlanta airport last year] VUBOQ still likes martinis. And he neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeds one. Or seven. NOW!

Yes, I see you out there. Reading my blog. And not leaving comments . Not telling me how much you love and admire me. I see you clickyclicketyclickclicking on my fun links . And reading other people's comments . So I thought I'd have a little contest to encourage people to leave as many comments as humanly possible. And what happens? Nothing. That's what. Well, ok. Not "nothing" per se, but there has not been the expected EXPLOSION of comments . It's been more like a small gurgle. Is it the prize? Is that the problem? You looked at the VERY CUTE hat and decided you HATED IT? Well, too bad. I don't care if you hate the prize . One of you lucky kittens is going to win it if it's the LAST THING I DO! [and, no, it's not going to be the last thing I do] [well, at least I hope it won't be] I'm leaving at 2:30 today to get the Intarnest connected. I fully expect a BOATLOAD of comments when I check back here tomorrow. or else.

MC w/ cool gay guys. Good-bye DC! - m4m - 31 I tried to like DC. I really did. I've been here for the past 18 months on a temporary work assignment and I thought I could make the best of it. Damn, I was wrong. Anyone who doubts DC is still a small town should took a good look at its gay scene. JR's is laughable. Each time I went there I felt like I was amongst a sea of farm boys disguised as collar-popping prepsters. Cobalt has the ambiance of a club in Des Moines and Apex feels like a gay junior high school prom on crack. And Duplex Diner? Yikes! Is there really a need to wear your work badge at 10 p.m. at night? Oh right, of course there is! How else are we going to know to ask you about your low-paying government job?! It's not just the bars/clubs, either. Parties, coffee shops, restaurants, galleries, museums- they're all a snooze. Quite frankly, this city is full of homos from small towns who somehow think their paper-pushing jobs have elevated them above the mere ...

Single White Female This not-able-to-type-titles thing is really wearing on my nerves . Anyway, first, a few snippets of fun little doodads ... 1. Y forwarded an email to me in which some school at UMD needs white females between the ages of 18-30 to participate in a research study on stress. UMD will pay $350 for a screening interview and two performance sessions. Y asked if I knew anyone who would be interested. After racking my brain for a good 10 minutes, do you know how many white female friends I have under the age of 30 (actually any age)? Guess. Give up? One. That seems ... well ... odd. So, if any of you are white, female, under thirty and in the area [and interested in making a quick $350 that doesn't involve having sex with senators ], contact me and I'll forward the information to you. 2. A funny article in today's WaPo Express ... "They're Ancient Sumerian Fertility Symbols, Darn It!" in which a town in Oregon has had complaints about 52 cement...