FROSTY FRIDAY

So I got up this morning (didn’t wanna) and got ready for work, intermittently watching the bottom of the TV screen, taking stock of school closings, etc. to try and determine the condition of the roads for the trip to work. It didn’t seem too awful bad.  Got the car out of the garage and headed first to the post office to mail something.  The hill from our house to “town” was a little slick and slushy.  It was snowing still.  As I was leaving the post office, I took these things into consideration and thought of the possibility that, with the additional snow and the low temperature, things would more likely get worse than better.  I promptly turned toward home and went there.  Came here, whatever. I called off work and am now truly enjoying my morning coffee instead of guzzling it.

And I’m actually posting.  Imagine that.  It’s Friday and cold and snowing and I’m staying home and happy about it.

Incidentally, if you haven’t read my previous post and clicked on the Runaway Dorothy links, please do.  Dave has enlisted my assistance in getting some PR underway for the band.  I vowed to do what I could. The rest is up to you.

PD and I had a wonderful Holiday.  Lots of family around to make merry with, tons of great food and yummy junk, lovely gifts, vacation from work.  All around great times.  May post some pictures soon if I find the time.

A few months ago I came across a place to get my old blog published.  I deeply loved that old blog while I just have a passing fondness for this one.  My writing here is for crap and my posting is sporadic at best.  But I have a deep fear of the internet disappearing one day and losing all that I’d written on Old One Wink at a Time so I decided to get it printed.  It finally came in the mail day before yesterday and I was thrilled.  Like a dear old friend came to visit.

Let me tell you about Blog2Print, a division of  SharedBook Inc.  The actual process of putting the book together was fairly easy.  You’re able to design your cover and choose if you’d rather have hard back or a soft cover.  If I remember correctly there is a set price for each and if you have more pages than they specify, you are charged a set price per additional page.  At the time I placed my order, they were offering free shipping and that was a welcome discount.  If you love your blog as much as I do, I highly recommend looking into getting it printed.  If you have any questions, I’ll be glad to answer. I have lots more to say about it but that would take at least an entire post and I have some mail to answer and some time off to enjoy.  And I could do some shoveling, but hey.

PS I just noticed that Blog2Print always offers free shipping… yay!

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WHAT YOU FIND*

*surfing the web at 1 am.  (On a weekend a while back, not recently…  I just forgot to tell you until now.)

My part is called “Working in a Clean room… A Technician’s View“.  It appears about 3 quarters of the way down the page.  It seems to be pretty much word-for-word, I didn’t check exactly…  Click here.

This was taken from something I wrote on my blog.  I guess I’m kind of flattered by it.  I was just really amazed when I found it.  It seems kind of funny too, it’s kind of smart assy on this real businessy-looking site.  The writer must have had a hard time finding good material…

DAY 5

Look at me, it’s only 5 days into NaBloPoMo and I’m counting the days already.   And I guess you can chide me for cheating too, because this isn’t really a post as much as it is a pre-cursor to a post.  That having been said…

I got a work rant brewing.  Don’t look so surprised.  If you read here, you know me well enough to have seen it coming.  The reason I’m telling you now is that I won’t have time to write it until the weekend and I want to give you time to email me in case you forgot the whole protected password drill.  It will be the same as last time followed by the number of the rant.

It’s going to be the kind of post that I just vent a lot and ask for sympathy.  You won’t really miss anything if you don’t read it.

On a lighter note… I’m also going to try and put together a post of music that I’ve been listening to lately.   I haven’t done one for awhile and I have some stuff that I’m dying to share.

And if you didn’t catch this in a return comment I made on my Fair post, I’m not going to be able to make it to the Fair this year.  But we have a family reunion coming up mid-month and I’m not going to miss that, no matter what.

Okay.  You go and have a good day.  And give yourself a hug for me.

DECISIONS…

So, if you spend as much time as I do on YouTube, you most likely have an account there.  You know, a profile page, subscriptions, favorites, the whole bit.  And if you spend half as much time on there as I do, you know that in the comments sections under the videos, often times you’ll find complete whack jobs who say the damnedest things.  And if you have half a brain, you’ll let those whack jobs make complete fools of themselves and just go about your business.

Or if you have a brain that boasts its number of remaining cells in the negative column, like mine, you might find yourself wrapped up in a scenario that goes something like this:

You receive in your email, notification that someone has replied to a comment that you left months ago on a video featuring a member of your favorite (at the time) band.  You click on it only to find that your glowing comment has been completely overshadowed by a mean, vindictive diatribe touting (mostly) the physical appearance of said band member.  You find yourself in a highly agitatated state and fiercely type a response in defense of the innocent musician.  And then you forget about it.

That is, until a couple of days later when you find a message from said whack job in your YouTube inbox.  (I am tempted to share it and the two consecutive messages that I received the following two days which were even more incriminating, but what’s left of my better judgment prevents me from doing so.  They were derogatory comments made directly toward me, I’m assuming based in the information contained on my profile.  Oh, yeah and what I said to him in a message I sent back before I blocked him. I don’t recommend that either…  But I learned a valuable lesson, thank you very little.)

Then when you are lying in bed stewing about it, you realize with a start, that your profile on YouTube proudly (ahem) displays a link to your blog and your mind starts racing as you further realize that the whack job, as well as the entire universe and all the whack jobs it contains has access to it.  To it, and all your cherished readers who are friends AND family.  In a mild panic, you race out of your nice, warm bed and down the stairs and proceed to remove the link to your blog from your YouTube profile page.  Mind still racing, the thought enters your mind that there is a very real possibility that WJ has already visited there an maybe even bookmarked it and your blog may very well have become a tool for WJ to hunt you down and use against you however (he) sees fit.

Okay.  Take a breath.  I fully realize that I may have over-reacted and/or imagined a result that is or could be all blown out of proportion.  On the other hand, you just never know, now do you?  You and I both know there are crazies out there who could be teetering on the fence between whack job and serial killer.  And all it might take is some innocent (what?) and naive broad like myself to tweak a nerve and get the twitching started.

But I want you to know that what prompted me to shut the old blog down was to protect you guys. Some of us are more anonymous than others.  I made my blog roll private.  I started disabling links to you and your blogs.  I’ve enabled comment moderation for the time being.  I would like to have your permission for the time being whether or not to post your comments. I need time to decide if I’ve over-reacted to this or not.  (Whether or not I over-reacted is not the issue here, I think.)  Right now I’m working on removing the comments listed on my sidebar.  I’m sure this is a “duh” and I will figure it out soon…

I need your thoughts on this.  While a possibility, even a teeny one, exists that I may have introduced an “unstable influence” into our midst or even if I haven’t, I want you to feel free to decide for yourself if you still want to comment here;anonymously or not, be removed from my Flickr pics or whatever.  And if you want to ask me anything, feel free, here or by email.

I also just want you to think about this for a bit… Because it sure has made me think.  And it will definitely affect the way I relate from now on on the good ol’ Internet.  If you come back tomorrow and are presented with a page that demands a password, it will only mean that my mind kicked back in protective gear.  It could happen.  I’m seriously thinking of deleting this whole blog and starting another.  To do that, though, would piss me off pretty royally.

TRULY ODDS AND ENDS

This is the weekend that I’m trying to finish my Spring cleaning.  Yesterday I got all my summer clothes packed up to go to the attic.  Forget that about half of what I packed, I never even wore this summer.  I should have taken the time to try things on and make a “get rid of” box, but who has time for that.  I’ll do it next year…  I have so many things on that list that I’ll never get through the year.

I’m slowly replacing all my wire coat hangers with the plastic tubular ones.  The wire ones are in a huge pile in the garage, being given to a friend’s father who’s retired and supplements his income by selling metal to scrap yards.  We’re amassing a nice collection for the dude…

I don’t often watch the news, usually only what is necessary to sit through in order to see the weather report before work in the morning.  But I have to tell you, it’s getting harder and harder to stomach what’s on there.  I think of all the people who watch morning and night and read the newspapers and I’m not surprised at the high rate of depression in people these days.  It’s hard to replace all that negativity with positive thoughts.

My grandson, Julian, who’s 8 years old has started a blog.  It’s so awesome!  I can’t share it with you because for obvious reasons, it’s password protected, but I just wanted to share that with you.  And according to JuJu, he’s just as addicted to blogging as all of us are.  (I wonder if he’ll get kid-oriented spam, like from toy companies and junk food stuff.)

Have you seen the new format of Rolling Stone magazine?  No more of those over-sized issues that never fit in my tote bag.  I like the new size.  Now if I could only find the time to read an entire issue…  The new issue has an article about TV on the Radio that I’m anxious to read.

I think we had our last warm day of the year yesterday.  It was nice and balmy here, although a little gloomy with not much sun.  But there are still brightly-colored leaves on some of our trees, so it didn’t seem so dismal.  I will miss them when they’re gone.  I already miss my backporch time.

I’m down to 9 cigarettes a day.  I should have been on 8 this week but I had a really hard time with that, so PD granted me a little reprieve.  Tomorrow my “ration” will go back down to 8 and I’m hoping I’ll do better this time.  I still haven’t put any extra weight on and am hoping that doesn’t change.

Speaking of, go over to Hazel’s and read her good news.

I’ve noticed lately that there are two words that I absolutely cannot type correctly the first time.  One is “hotmail” and the other is “because.”  Invariably, I type “hotamil” and “becuase.”  Over and over and over agian.  It drives me nuts.  Uh oh, there is another one!   What is happening to my brain?  My eye-hand coordination seems to be deteriorating!  Do any of you have this problem?

Okay, I have a list to tackle again today.  Maybe one of these days I’ll find some downtime.  Till then, Ta Ta.

MY LITTLE SISTER

I don’t know how many of you read Hazel’s Three Time Loser.  Or you may know her from the Peevery.  I do know that some of you who know me in real life, know her as my little sister.  And if you do, then you know how lucky I am.

PD and I were discussing her today over lunch.  PD has always admired Hazel’s forthright manner and honesty.  I’m not sure if those are typical qualities of a second-born child, which she is, but they are a refreshing contrast to the diplomatic sugar-coating that I’m so cursed with accustomed to using to deal with people.  It’s just natural for me, most importantly to cause no waves or conflict.  Hazel is Hazel.  If she likes you, great.  You’re in for a rare and wonderful treat.  She says it like it is, no beating around the bush.  I am deeply envious of her courage and ability to just say what she thinks.  And if there are consequences, she can handle those, too.  I think one of the reasons that I’m better at writing than I am talking is because before I utter a sentence, I go through this whole damn scenario in my head wondering what I’m saying is going to sound like and how it will be received by whomever I’m speaking to.  Lots of times it’s too much trouble and I say “screw it” and just don’t say anything.   If Hazel ever did this, I would be surprised.  Her convictions are strong and she’s ridiculously smart.  So if she says it, (seriously) she means it.  And if she says it with humor, you will laugh.  Her sense of humor can be dry and sarcastic and she’s made me laugh to the point of tears a gazillion times.  She’s got a gift for it.

I’ve not been a typical “big sister” to Hazel and I regret that.  Growing up, I was not the one who gave her advice about boys or clothes or make-up.  I was (am) two years older but I was always intimidated by her.  She was way more outgoing than I.  She had more boyfriends and was involved in more school activities.  She had a job before me and her own car.  I was the quiet, gawky, artsy hippie who brooded and read books.  She was the cheerleader who was always invited to parties and never stayed home on a weekend night.  I preferred being alone in my room with my music and books.   I was busy thinking and dreaming while she was doing all the doing.    We weren’t close…  I’m not sure if it was more that I was intimidated by her or that we were just so damn different.

At any rate, you may be wondering the reason for this post.  Hazel recently celebrated her birthday and today we’re honoring her with a surprise birthday party.  She’s been on my mind constantly since we started making plans for the party and I’m realizing even more than usual what a wonderful and loving human being she is.  I don’t know anyone else who constantly puts other people and their needs before her own.  There is no favor that she won’t gladly grant you.  She always finds the bright side of any situation.  She manages to do more in a week than I could hope to accomplish in a month.  She’s focused and adept.  Her brain amazes me.  She’s a whiz with finances and business things that I couldn’t comprehend even if I were able to concentrate long enough.  She’s great with people and animals.  She’s got heart.  Big heart.  She comes across as a pretty tough cookie and I could pinch her sometimes when I find out, after the fact, that she’d been dealing with something difficult.  She’s stubborn and I wish sometimes she’d just forget to be Superwoman and lean on someone instead of being the leanee so often.

I could never express here what a great lady she is, you kind of have to meet her to really believe what all is wrapped up in that little bundle of a sister of mine.  I could write ten more paragraphs.

I hope she’s surprised when she sees a whole bunch of people who love her gathered together in her honor.  And I’m glad that it’s Us doing something for Her, this time… kind of a little pay-back for all she’s done for all of us.  And I truly hope we get a nice warm sunny day!

I Love You, Happy Birthday.

A BUNCH OF STUFF

We’ve had our DSL back all day and I carried with me in my travels a happy little sense that when I got back home I would be able to catch up on all of your collective news and answer my mail.

I was ill-prepared to find that after I’d gone to the iTunes store to check on some music, a red light came on the modem and POOF, my connection was gone. After a reboot, an unplug and forty two cartwheels, it’s back on but don’t know for how long. Anyway…

You wanted to know how I qualify for Ignorant Person status. Here is proof that I am, indeed, one:

On Day One of our garage sale, which was advertised to commence at NINE O’CLOCK AM, I was busy finishing setting up in the garage at 8:10 am with the garage door still closed, when I heard someone come up the driveway. First I thought that the closed door might be a good sign that we weren’t “open” for business yet and the earlybird may have left. Not the case. PD had been adamant when the subject came up, and no, we wouldn’t give in to those “vulture types” (my words, not his) and let them rush us before we were ready. So I went outside and informed the white-haired woman clutching her little change purse that we were not yet ready for shoppers. She looked a little indignant and informed me that she would just look around. I politely told her that she wouldn’t be able to buy anything until 9 o’clock and she was welcome to come back. She promptly planted her hands on her hips, eyes flashing, and said quite plainly and with great conviction, “Well, YOU are an ignorant person!” She turned on her heel and marched away.

No, I didn’t see that coming. And I still can hardly believe that something so ridiculous could cause a person to make such a pronouncement to another. What is it with people anymore?

Now on to something that could possibly make you a little squeamish. < That is your warning.

Last night I agreed to sit with a friend’s two little ones so that he and his wife could go out for a couple of hours. It just so happened that they’d gotten a new puppy and their cat had had 4 4-week-old kittens (had had 4 4!!) and so I found myself with not just two little girls but six animals in my charge. The puppy is still being potty-trained so I took him outside a couple of times. He’s a little thing, so I scooped him up and started in the house when the mama cat came flying out of nowhere and high-tailed it out the door. She ran across the porch and I wasn’t sure if she would go under the banister, so I ran after her and reached down under her front legs to grab her. Well. That was not in her plan. She freaked and scrambled to get out of my grasp and all I saw were paws flailing wildly and then I felt the pain in my finger. By the time I realized that her claw had not only pierced the bottom fleshy part of my index finger, but had gone clear through and come out the other side, (I know!) she was hanging by just that one claw from my finger. It was completely surreal when I realized what was happening. Oh and yeah, it hurt like hell.

Now all I can think about is the gazillion cat germs that are probably multiplying inside my finger… I doused it with soap and water and peroxide, and then put antibiotic cream and a band aid on it. I figure it will have to be amputated at some point. PD said a current tetanus shot will probly not do me a lot of good.

I hope you caught The Kings of Leon on SNL tonite.  Great band.

PD and I spent about an hour today picking up three wheelbarrows full of sticks which were strewn all over the back of our yard, mostly under the cherry tree. My legs hurt already. I’ll not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

A Happy Birthday to my little sister Hazel today.  Love ya!

HOME SWEET HOME HERE

The Airborne Toxic Event – Does This Mean You’re Moving On

Worst thing about being offline for six days? Missing you guys. Second worst? Missing these guys (and Anna.)

WINDY

Haven’t had Internet access since the storm Sunday night until now (Tue at 6:30am)… So I am behind. Damn storm.  (Ok, it was off and on but mostly OFF.)

EPIC Part Four

After talking to Michael about our night at Mr. Smalls, I may have screwed up the chronology of things, but hey, I’m old, what do you expect?

I did remember this detail which I meant to share. When we met Noah, he was carrying his “performing shoes” which instantly reminded me of Paul Westerberg. They were white leather with pointy toes with a buckle across the instep. Much like this. When I told him that he made me think of Paul, he thought that was cool.

Last to emerge from the van was pretty, petite Anna Bulbrook. She met us with a smile, chatted a bit (She had her formal musical training in Boston) and apologized for having to move on, but she just had to get into some air-conditioning. I guessed traveling in a van with four hunky male musicians all across the US might warrant asking for some comfort wherever one girl might find it… She graciously posed and signed “Linda – Always a Pleasure! X X ANNA” in my magazine and off she went in her cheerleader outfit and if I remember, ballet slippers.

Shortly after, we were inside admiring the architecture and ambiance of Mr. Smalls. Mike and I found a nice spot at the end of the bar to hang, with the intention of going up closer to the stage when the music started. While we were standing there and it was starting to get crowded, I noticed a girl next to me, having a hard time gathering up about 8 bottles of Heineken from the bar. I leaned over and said that she looked like she might need help and she thanked me and asked me to follow her. We were delivering beers to The Band as it turned out and she motioned for me to hand one to “that guy” who turned out to be a smiling Noah who said “Are they putting you to work now???” and thanked me.

The first band who played was Electric Touch and I was really liking them. I’ve gotten four of their songs on iTunes. Here are some YouTube vids of them. Love In Our Hearts, Call My Name, Saved, and Sonic Touch (which I can’t seem to find a link for.) They had great stage presence and wonderful dance-ability. I spoke to one of the band members after their set and told him that I thought they had a great sound and he seemed real happy about that. Ok, yes, he was cute too. I did notice.

So by the time that Airborne Toxic Event came onstage, I was all warmed up. We were lucky to find ourselves about ten feet from the stage, a little bit to the left of center. I was thrilled that they played every single song that I wanted to hear. Even after having listened to them for months, I still can’t say that I have a favorite song of theirs. One by one I’ve dissected the lyrics; every note, hook and bridge and by the time I get through a song, I like it as much as the one before it. When they played Innocence, though, it took me to an entirely other place. It starts off with an ethereal viola played by Anna. I closed my eyes and just let the melody take me away. A few minutes into it, I was aware of a change in the sound. I opened my eyes and there was Noah, picking up where she left off, but playing his bass with a bow. It was truly awesome. It sounds like an entire orchestra is playing. Learning what I have about their background and what’s been happening in Mikel’s life the past year and a half since the band has been performing together, all their music has more meaning and depth for me. A lot, ok, most of their music is about the harsher side of life, the struggles we all face, heartbreak, loneliness- but it’s as if there was a conscious decision to take the sadness and angst (love that word) of the lyrics and put them to upbeat, exciting, in-your-face music. Which totally appealed to me from the very beginning.

As Mikel has a background in writing, his lyrics are descriptive and heartfelt and even haunting sometimes. I actually got tears in my eyes listening to them play Sometime Around Midnight. Not surprising, it often makes me cry. His stage presence was one to behold. He comes across quite genuinely humble but with just a teeny bit of cockiness… I think inside he knows damn well that he’s a genius. So we let the cocky part slide. It’s just barely there, I don’t think it even got noticed by most of the audience. I think he’s earned it anyway. Like when I asked if he’d take his glasses off for the picture. The way he chirped “nope” was so cool. With the accent on the “P”. It was with a tiny little smirk as if he was saying don’t even think of f—ing with me. That’s all I have to say about that ;-P

On that note, I can’t keep my eyes open another minute. My fantasy about being a music journalist (and why Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies) ? I don’t think I’d be very good at it. It’s hard work. But it would be oh so much fun!