superbadG's Xanga

My blog has moved!

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 00:15:25 GMT

There's still some packing tape laying around and some foam peanuts on the floor, but overall we're settling right in! Please join me at the new (and hopefully improved) blog at http://x.superbadgirl.com/blog/

Things I might enjoy if I were a small dog

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 18:54:09 GMT

I might enjoy eating grass

I might enjoy following my owner around, even into the bathroom

I might enjoy standing under my owners legs while she's sitting on the toilet

I might enjoy barfing onto the rug under my owners legs as she's sitting on the toilet

All of these things, I might enjoy

OK, so I went outside to water my plants (and clevery finished up before the rain started, because, hey, the rains not beating ME to MY job) and noticed that the tuckpointers have removed all the downspouts from the gutters. This ought to be a reallllllly interesting weekend.

Was going to do some shopping, but I don't really feel like getting out in the rain, so eff it. Lazy Saturday on the couch for moi.

Best thing this week

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 05:05:02 GMT

I am not sure if I can ge this to display here or not, but it's one of the best things I've seen all week.

Distraction

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:45:12 GMT

OK, so I got distracted from going to the gym yesterday, but office mate Sarah (yeah, the one with the chocolate milk) and I have reasoned out that there's no way to do what I want anyhow, so I am going to have to alternate days, Monday-Wednesday regular gym, Tuesday-Thursday swimming. Which bites in a way, because that means going straight after work two days a week, but I don't think there's any other way to sort it out.

Still following the story of the Stolen Sidekick which gets progressively weirder, and is a better and better advert for Sidekicks. I can't help thinking "maybe I ought to go look at a Sidekick..." when I need Sidekick approximately as much as a hole in the head. I don't even use my cell phone ever! Although it would be nice to get my private emails during the day but not over my work server. Hrm.

So this weekend is Father's Day, and I face my annual dilemma. Can I buy a card for my Dad that says anything other than - "You're usually a big asshole to me, but thanks for making sure I had food to eat while I was growing up."? I can't find that one in the stores, incidentally. Maybe I should start a line of truthful greeting cards.

"You were a drunk and it ruined my life. Happy Mothers Day."

"I never forgave you for making me play "doctor" with 5 of your friends. Happy Birthday brother!"

"I was always ashamed to bring people home because our house was a scary sty. But you never burned it down. Enjoy the cigarettes, and Happy Birthday Mom."

Anyway it blows. Do I have to go out there and take them to dinner? Blargh. It will totally negate this week's therapy, that's for sure. Maybe I can do an online gift certificate... OH yeah! I got him into iTunes for this very reason! I am a smart cookie. Father's Day dilemma solved.

In other news, people on the east side are getting steadily more badass, especially the older ones, and I am considering buying a gun. When and if someone breaks into my house I would rather say "Take this .38!" than "Oh shit please don't hurt me." You know? But then again, I don't know if it's a good idea for people with a history of depression to have firearms around the house. But then again, I always have plenty of meds handy if I wanted to top myself, which I don't. Hrm. Must ponder issue. Can I be a good liberal femi-nazi with a gun?

I put the "fun" in wardrobe malfunction

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 13:04:41 GMT

OK so dilemma. Here’s my deal - I have changed around my gym schedule so that I have time to do about 45 minutes on the treadmill before my water-aerobics class. This means that I have to wear both shoes and clothing appropriate to that kind of exercise. So that’s fine, I throw my shower-shoes, my towel, my swimsuit and my aquajogger in my gym bag, all done and dusted, right? Of course not, nothings that simple. You see, begin that I am Sweaty McPerspiration when I do any cardio that’s NOT in the pool, my clothes get totally soaked. Then I have to go and change into my swimsuit (and that’s truly gross, to put on a swimsuit when you’re sweaty – ick) So I put my (typically) yoga pants, t-shirt, bra, underwear, socks and tennis shoes in the locker and head to my class. However, when I get out of class these things are by no means in a state to be put back on. Plus I hate to put regular tennis shoes on, I prefer my slip on Skechers. But unless I want to bring a third pair of shoes, that’s not an option.

Anyway, so after swimming I can either just freeball it home in my yoga pants, which honestly I would do anyway, and swimsuit top (meaning I have to bring a hoodie or something to wear over it) or I can put on the disgusting clothes from before. Eww. Or I can bring a totally THIRD outfit to wear home, which is then going to get damp and chlorine smelly from me putting it on after swimming. I totally am at a loss as to the best solution. I am thinking of trying some of those super “wicking” fabrics that are supposed to dry faster – has anyone ever tried those, and do they work? That way my workout clothes would be OK to just throw on and go home to shower. There’s no way I am showering there, gym showers are too disgusting for words. So if anyone has some lovely alternate solution that doesn’t entail me hauling half my closet to the gym, please let me know.

In other news – isn’t it a bad thing when we kill someone? I know that sometimes death is “necessary” in GWB’s war, but why is it something we have to glorify? Of course I am talking about Zarqawi. Yes, he was an ideologue who wanted to kill those he considered his enemies. Hrm… now who does that remind me of? Let me think. *think think think* Oh yeah, now I got it.

Anyway, celebrating any death seems to me wrong and macabre. And putting his dead face everywhere, and talking about the gory details of his death when you won’t even allow photographs of our soldiers flag-draped coffins to be shown – well that says to me that you don’t consider these people to be equal to us. They’re some kind of lower life form, apparently, which doesn’t require the same respect in death that Americans do. Oh, it’s so obviously wrong that I can’t believe all the media isn’t saying it, but they aren’t.

But of course, singing a song about them is "inappropriate and contrary to the high standards expected of all Marines." Remember, you can kill them, just don’t sing about them. If you have trouble keeping that straight, flash cards can be arranged.

In other news, two sections of my neighborhood burned down yesterday,

almost a year to the day since a large chunk of my neighborhood blew up.

Something tells me the June’s really not our month.

Still watching PB to see if her infection’s actually cleared up – she had a total meltdown when I tried to leave for work yesterday morning, I think because she could smell the smoke. Or because she was upset about the roofers coming every day. Last night I let her bark at them for about 10 minutes straight, to build her ego back up. (since when I am not there she apparently only cowers and won’t make a peep)

Oh, and props to the odd lady at my deep-water class on Tuesday who was wearing long black leggings, a black long-sleeved t-shirt and tennis shoes… in the pool. My favorite part was when she stood on the side, dipped her toe in and then made a face about it being cold. Hello? You’re wearing TENNIS SHOES. You can’t TELL if it’s cold or not.

Denise Richards wants a beat-down

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:44:03 GMT

OK, I am the last person in the world that I ever thought would say something like this - but if I was married to Denise Richards, I would beat her.

Something about her stupid, shit-eating "don't hit me" grin/grimace in every freaking photo that's taken of her, even this one where she's made up like a stupid. spoiled whore posed next to some chick who's WAY too old to be wearing that dress, makes me nuts. I never believed that whole "you make me hit you" thing that guys try to pull, but with her - damn, I am warming up the back of my hand.

Goddamn, this picture is surreal. And I almost think they planned their outfits to strike some effect, or foil each other, but it's just "weirdly dressed skank" next to "weirdly dressed skank" and those all kind of blend.

And isn't that old chick in the eyelet lace the sister of that total assclown Jonathan from that idiotic infomercial passing as a reality show on Bravo? The one who aggressively proves his hetero-osity 24/7 by calling every man he sees "Bro" and being a psycho freak on his staff? I think it is. I wonder what their homelife was like. Extra-functional, I'll bet.

Anyway, I heard he was dating Richie Sambora.

OK so my eyeballs hurt

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:54:38 GMT

Way too much computer time this weekend, including staring at grids in Hexagon for way too long, means that my eyes are seriously straining today. Just to look away from the screen is a relief. Too bad I get paid to look at computer screens all day.

Hexagon was pretty crashtastic, and has me thinking that I should really have invested in a new video card rather than that new digital camera I got a few months ago. I really do need a card that can handle OpenGL better. Maybe that would *gasp* stop the Bryce crashes as well?

I am making inroads into understanding Carrara, including the replicator, but I really do wish that there was a good book on it that I could sit down and read. Renders are pretty quick, but they absolutely eat my machine up, and I can hardly do anything else during. But the sheer number of settings that can be controlled is pretty amazing.

I found myself going on Saturday to see The Omen, and then I realized that I really did not want to see The Omen, and I was just looking for a reason to get out of the house. And once I went to the movie, the ATM for cash and got some popcorn it was going to be $20.00. And seriously, eff that noise for a movie I don't even want to see. Plus I am broke-ish for some reason, which I think must include the $150 in physical therapy I spent last month, the $200 on my art class and supplies, and $105 in gym reg fees and memebership costs. So, all of those unbudgeted expenses kinda wiped me out. I should recover this week, I think. But I am setting myself a challenge of NOT borrowing from my savings to cover any random money I want to spend this week. Because technically I shouldn't need to spend anything. I bring breakfast and lunch to work, and I've bought all the dinner groceries already. The rest of it is iced chai and magazine money that I shouldn't be spending anyway.

Princess B is off the meds, and seems better (no peeing in the bed at least!) so that's a great thing. Roofers are still in residence, as are tuckpointers. (who've classily placed an ashtray on both the window ledges, either side of the house. There's a certain "English Garden" symmetry to it that you have to admire.) The living room ceiling is still stained to hell.

Last and least is this hilarious but also disturbing video, which can't make a distinction between homosexual men and pedophiles. Ah, the 50's, the era of family. And little Johnny having to do favors for the man who gives him a ride home from school. On the flesh pony, if you catch my drift. Oh, I love people.

So fresh and so clean

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 02:36:22 GMT

Do you ever have those moments when you watch an amazing movie, or finish an incredible book - something that just transports you - and it's done and you feel like a new person? Like everything old and cobwebby in your brain just got washed away and something clean and relaxed is living there instead? Satisfaction, I guess you could call it. Peace with energy.

I just finished watching one of my favorite movies of all time, French Kiss with Kevin Kline and Meg Ryan. And I love that movie. It gives me that feeling, like things are good and possible. So does the Amanda Root version of Persuasion, and the BBC Pride & Prejudice. And now it's raining, thank the lord, and at the end of this completely wasted day I have done nothing I didn't want to, and that's nice.

Hexagon makes a bit of sense, and Carrara is still completely eluding me - I have too many applications that I don't even know how to use properly, so there's now a moratorium on software purchases. So there.

Note to Slovman

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 23:11:17 GMT

Go to bed already! You're going to be like one of those guys in that one episode of X-files! Did the army ever do any experiments on the back of your neck?

In other news...

I just went to let Bruiser out, and I was standing out there in super-white-trash mode, white camisole with pink bra totally showing, hair in a ponytail, yoga pants, no makeup, and this guy walks out of MyTodd™s apartment. (they're doing work there while he's out of town)

And he's all "You look totally familiar!" and I am all "Yeah, I have one of those faces." (cuz I do, people always think they know me when they don't) and then he's all "Do you work at XXXXX?" and I was all O.O... "Yeah."

He was a student at the college I work for! And really did know me! He just graduated, and there I am skanked out to the max with a totally furious chihuahua, looking like a complete tool. Why me? Jeez. Like I have to get dressed up to go let the damn dog out, in case I run into someone? Bah.

Update on vacation goals

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 15:54:41 GMT

OK, so it's been a week. Not exactly as relaxing a week as I thought, what with asshole landlords and moronic roofers and pig-pen-like tuckpointers from some filthy part of hell... but it's been vacaction.

As you may recall, I set some goals for myself, so I wouldn't slip into slothfull depression and slit my wrists in the tub mid-week. Here's how I did.

~~Buy an indoor/outdoor rug for my balcony so I don't have to walk on hot tar paper this summer (cost = $67 from Home Despot)~~ It was only $15.98! (subsequently ruined by tukcpointer dust, but hey I did MY part.)
~~Buy dirt and flowers and herbs to plant on said balcony (cost hopefully = $0 due to strategic shopping trip with maternal unit)~~
~~Plant some nice viney fast growing things out there, so the Republicans can't see me if I want to go out and read or something~~
~~Do at least 5 tutorials in Hexagon and learn more about how it works~~
Watch the director's cut of "Return of the King" (I've been saving it)
~~Finish the last book in the "His Dark Materials" series~~
~~Read "The Selfish Gene"~~ and that Noam Chomsky "Failed State" book. (I started "The Selfish Gene", and it's rocking so far. )
Get a recliner for the balcony. See if Mom wants to go shopping again.
Get a shelf for my bedroom and finally make some order of the design books I've been piling haphazardly.
~~Find a copy of "The Chronic" used somewhere in town, since it's not available on iTunes. Grrr.~~
Make serious progress on my graphic novel. Three pages per year is not an acceptable output level.
~~Take Bruiser to vet for annual checkup & shots~~
Go to gyno for fun yearly stirrups-fest. (don't need to go until July it turns out)
Write very nasty letter to Epson and demand refund for wasted ink cartridges. (waiting to see how guys at work did with printer repair)
~~Do some freelance work to get some money in the coffers.~~
Go to YMCA and sign up for summer water aerobics and try to meet Pilates instructor to see if I like him/her. (need to go there to get schedule of classes - maybe today? Probably tomorrow.)
~~Try to find out if I want to take that art class at COCA or that Artist's Guild place.~~ (Starting acrylics class this afternoon! Yeah!)
Break in new camera, and order new mini tripod to replace broken mini-tripod.
Update my online gallery, make new Flash version.
Do up the t-shirt designs that have been rattleing around in my head.
Go to the Zoo or the Art Museum.

So, as you can see, I have met many of my goals, with some as-yet unmet. But the day's not over. There was much drinking of chai, horsing around on the internet, spending of money in unplanned ways (Carrara, anyone?) and taking of naps. Overall, vacation was kind of lonely and boring and anxious and sad. I think because it was hot out, and as I said before, I feel cut off from the world when I am home alone with the airco on. Next year, if I take a week just to hang at home, I am going to make sure it's in cool or cold weather, so if I can't have the windows open, I can at least have the heat on and be cozy instead of isolated.

I am also probably going to sign up for a summer of the Pixel Corps, since I got an offer I can't refuse from them. I might be able to pick up some $$$ software for $ which is always good. I am moderately hopeful that this 6-week acrylics class will be fun and helpful, and that I won't look like a non-skillz-having ass in front of all and sundry. But then again, it's a beginners class, so if some genius takes a beginners class just to show off, then they're just a prick. So there.

I bonded seriously with princess B, worked on several neat (IMO) pieces of art, and kind of cleaned up around here.

I've almost justified myself to myself at this point, so I think that's enough.