Tuesday, December 25, 2007
The Holidays
It doesn't matter what Holiday you happen to celebrate this time of year, whatever it is, I hope it finds you in good company and good health. Happy Holidays everyone.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
What Is Going On?!
Today has been the weirdest day. Things are malfunctioning left and right!
I'll preface this by saying it is extremely cold where I live right now. About 15 degrees Fahrenheit which is like -10 give or take a few degrees Celsius. There is about 4 feet of snow outside and ice covers all the trees. Very cold!
At around 11pm tonight I noticed our house was getting increasingly cold inside. So I kicked the heat up higher and went on about my business. About 30 minutes later I noticed it was even colder than before, despite having cranked the heat up! So I went down and investigated the furnace room, particularly of course our furnace.
It would light, shut off, light, shut off, light then shut off again and after that the fan would kick on (the part that distributes the heat throughout the vents in the home). This is supposed to happen when the flame is lit, but ours obviously was not.
I wondered if maybe the gas had been shut off for some reason or another, but when I checked the pilot on our water heater -- it was still lit and responding to command (lighting when I turned the water to hot and diminishing when I turned the water to cold or off). So, I knew we did in fact have gas. Then what could the problem be? The furnace itself?
I decided rather than risk blowing ourselves up from gas being leaked instead of lit, we'd just suffer through a cold night and turn the furnace completely off. So I shut the furnace down and went back upstairs. The house got colder and colder so we just kept putting on layers of clothing to compensate.
Rather be chilly than dead.
At 1am, out of the blue, most of the smoke detectors in the house started going off in unison. So recalling the awkward state of our furnace we ran downstairs in a panic expecting to see a fire or smoke or something... nothing. Not a damned thing in sight!
Now we're worried about the alarms going off, but totally confused as to why they're going off at the same time! What the heck?
I run and open the front and back door to let air in, thinking perhaps it's something in the air we just can't see because it's slowly accumulated. I know a lot of times camping or at parties where there is a camp fire or people smoking you don't even notice the build up of smoke in doors because it's accumulated over time, not all of the sudden.
Opening the doors causes the alarm downstairs to stop going off, but the alarm upstairs in the hall is still screaming like a fat kid that dropped his cake. Chris detaches all of the fire alarms and we stand there with both doors wide open, house 10 times colder than before, utterly and hopelessly confused.
The alarms are electric with battery back ups, so it couldn't have been low battery. The alarm in our bedroom never triggered so it couldn't be an electrical surge, either. There was no smoke, at all. Which left us to wonder, could it be carbon monoxide?
This daunting concept was quickly dismissed though because our CO detectors never went off. Which either means it's not carbon monoxide or that our CO is crappy. Argh! Back at square 1.
I closed the front door and shortly thereafter the alarm upstairs in the hall started going off again. So Chris ran back up there and unhooked it, again. We waited a few more minutes and he hooked it back up. None of the alarms have gone off since... but we're still totally wondering what the heck happened!
I came upstairs to call my mom and ask her since she has indefinitely more life experience than we do, and she suggested if we were concerned to go stay at her house for the evening, but if we do that we couldn't bring our pets (because she's already got a house full of pets herself). If I don't feel safe staying in my house, I'm not going to abandon my pets in that house! So I decided we'd stay here, and just see what happens. We don't sleep for a few more hours, anyway.
Just as a precaution I cracked a window downstairs so if there is something we can't see or smell, it's at least being filtered out a little and not just building up and up and up. In the morning we can call someone to come out and inspect our furnace. There's not much we can do right now except call 911 which I really don't want to do unless I know there is definitely without a doubt a serious problem.
Last thing I want on my conscious is that someone died in a house fire because the minimal amount fire trucks available at 3am were at my house investigating this strange situation when they called for help. Because I live in a town where there is, quite literally only 1 fire truck.
Things finally settled down and we returned to what we had previously been doing before all of this. At around 2am our internet goes out. What is going on around here?! Internet is obviously back now, but still. This night/morning has been nothing but strange!
I'll update once the guy comes later today to inspect our furnace.
UPDATE:
A man came out at around 6pm Tuesday and took apart our furnace. Turns out the sensor which tells the furnace to turn on and off was broken, causing it to turn on and off and eventually stay off permanently. Luckily he had the part which needed to be replaced, but he didn't have it with him.
He left to pick up the part and came back about 10 minutes later only to realize he didn't bring the right tool. So he had to leave again and come back, again, this time with the correct tool.
When he got back he went about replacing the part, which was pleasantly quick, and then gave it a test run. It worked. Yay we have heat again!
I'll preface this by saying it is extremely cold where I live right now. About 15 degrees Fahrenheit which is like -10 give or take a few degrees Celsius. There is about 4 feet of snow outside and ice covers all the trees. Very cold!
At around 11pm tonight I noticed our house was getting increasingly cold inside. So I kicked the heat up higher and went on about my business. About 30 minutes later I noticed it was even colder than before, despite having cranked the heat up! So I went down and investigated the furnace room, particularly of course our furnace.
It would light, shut off, light, shut off, light then shut off again and after that the fan would kick on (the part that distributes the heat throughout the vents in the home). This is supposed to happen when the flame is lit, but ours obviously was not.
I wondered if maybe the gas had been shut off for some reason or another, but when I checked the pilot on our water heater -- it was still lit and responding to command (lighting when I turned the water to hot and diminishing when I turned the water to cold or off). So, I knew we did in fact have gas. Then what could the problem be? The furnace itself?
I decided rather than risk blowing ourselves up from gas being leaked instead of lit, we'd just suffer through a cold night and turn the furnace completely off. So I shut the furnace down and went back upstairs. The house got colder and colder so we just kept putting on layers of clothing to compensate.
Rather be chilly than dead.
At 1am, out of the blue, most of the smoke detectors in the house started going off in unison. So recalling the awkward state of our furnace we ran downstairs in a panic expecting to see a fire or smoke or something... nothing. Not a damned thing in sight!
Now we're worried about the alarms going off, but totally confused as to why they're going off at the same time! What the heck?
I run and open the front and back door to let air in, thinking perhaps it's something in the air we just can't see because it's slowly accumulated. I know a lot of times camping or at parties where there is a camp fire or people smoking you don't even notice the build up of smoke in doors because it's accumulated over time, not all of the sudden.
Opening the doors causes the alarm downstairs to stop going off, but the alarm upstairs in the hall is still screaming like a fat kid that dropped his cake. Chris detaches all of the fire alarms and we stand there with both doors wide open, house 10 times colder than before, utterly and hopelessly confused.
The alarms are electric with battery back ups, so it couldn't have been low battery. The alarm in our bedroom never triggered so it couldn't be an electrical surge, either. There was no smoke, at all. Which left us to wonder, could it be carbon monoxide?
This daunting concept was quickly dismissed though because our CO detectors never went off. Which either means it's not carbon monoxide or that our CO is crappy. Argh! Back at square 1.
I closed the front door and shortly thereafter the alarm upstairs in the hall started going off again. So Chris ran back up there and unhooked it, again. We waited a few more minutes and he hooked it back up. None of the alarms have gone off since... but we're still totally wondering what the heck happened!
I came upstairs to call my mom and ask her since she has indefinitely more life experience than we do, and she suggested if we were concerned to go stay at her house for the evening, but if we do that we couldn't bring our pets (because she's already got a house full of pets herself). If I don't feel safe staying in my house, I'm not going to abandon my pets in that house! So I decided we'd stay here, and just see what happens. We don't sleep for a few more hours, anyway.
Just as a precaution I cracked a window downstairs so if there is something we can't see or smell, it's at least being filtered out a little and not just building up and up and up. In the morning we can call someone to come out and inspect our furnace. There's not much we can do right now except call 911 which I really don't want to do unless I know there is definitely without a doubt a serious problem.
Last thing I want on my conscious is that someone died in a house fire because the minimal amount fire trucks available at 3am were at my house investigating this strange situation when they called for help. Because I live in a town where there is, quite literally only 1 fire truck.
Things finally settled down and we returned to what we had previously been doing before all of this. At around 2am our internet goes out. What is going on around here?! Internet is obviously back now, but still. This night/morning has been nothing but strange!
I'll update once the guy comes later today to inspect our furnace.
UPDATE:
A man came out at around 6pm Tuesday and took apart our furnace. Turns out the sensor which tells the furnace to turn on and off was broken, causing it to turn on and off and eventually stay off permanently. Luckily he had the part which needed to be replaced, but he didn't have it with him.
He left to pick up the part and came back about 10 minutes later only to realize he didn't bring the right tool. So he had to leave again and come back, again, this time with the correct tool.
When he got back he went about replacing the part, which was pleasantly quick, and then gave it a test run. It worked. Yay we have heat again!
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Cat Bath
The other day Neelix managed to get himself all dirty to the point where he required a bath before he got filth all over the house. Keep in mind this went down at around 9am, which is typically less than 5 hours after I went to bed and at least 3hours before I'd normally be waking up.
Chris won't deal with it because he's a pussy, so he wakes me up to deal with it. Letting the cat stomp around covered in grime in the meanwhile.
So I sleepily get out of bed and try to give him a quick rinsing in the sink. He's having no part in that, splashing water all over and generally just making an even bigger mess. So I resign to have to actually put him in the bath tub and give him a thorough scrubbing. This I was not looking forward to at all.
Spock did this once, and she hated every second of being bathed. She screamed for mercy and got water and soap everywhere as she desperately tried to escape from the tub. There's pictures of her in my Pets gallery of her clinging onto the faucet for dear life. So of course I expected pretty much the same from Neelix.
I filled up the tub with water and pet soap and then set him in it, closed the shower door and went downstairs to clean up the mess he made while Chris was being entirely unhelpful. When I came back upstairs I was expecting to hear him whining and trying to escape the bathtub... but he wasn't!
When I entered the bathroom and opened the shower door he was loving it! He was walking around in the water and trying to catch the bubbles. It was so damned cute! When I finished rinsing the suds off of him I drained the water and toweled him dry (mostly). I accidentally left the shower door open a crack and he was actually trying to go back in for another bath.
So, new discovery: Neelix loves taking baths.
Chris won't deal with it because he's a pussy, so he wakes me up to deal with it. Letting the cat stomp around covered in grime in the meanwhile.
So I sleepily get out of bed and try to give him a quick rinsing in the sink. He's having no part in that, splashing water all over and generally just making an even bigger mess. So I resign to have to actually put him in the bath tub and give him a thorough scrubbing. This I was not looking forward to at all.
Spock did this once, and she hated every second of being bathed. She screamed for mercy and got water and soap everywhere as she desperately tried to escape from the tub. There's pictures of her in my Pets gallery of her clinging onto the faucet for dear life. So of course I expected pretty much the same from Neelix.
I filled up the tub with water and pet soap and then set him in it, closed the shower door and went downstairs to clean up the mess he made while Chris was being entirely unhelpful. When I came back upstairs I was expecting to hear him whining and trying to escape the bathtub... but he wasn't!
When I entered the bathroom and opened the shower door he was loving it! He was walking around in the water and trying to catch the bubbles. It was so damned cute! When I finished rinsing the suds off of him I drained the water and toweled him dry (mostly). I accidentally left the shower door open a crack and he was actually trying to go back in for another bath.
So, new discovery: Neelix loves taking baths.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Mass Effect & Uncharted
So we're some of the first to get our hands on Mass Effect for the 360 and Uncharted for the PS3. Mass Effect is a TPS/RPG hybrid and Uncharted is an AA game. If I had to think of a simple way to compare them to other games it'd be something like: Mass Effect is like Knights of The Old Republic has a lovechild with Star Trek and Uncharted is like Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones got into a blender and made a videogame smoothie. Both with very unique outcomes.
I know a lot of people have short attention spans so I'll sum up everything I'm about to say right now: Buy Mass Effect, definitely at least rent Uncharted.
Mass Effect
While Mass Effect is not my usual cup of tea, it a wonderful game that combines superb graphics with an innovative combat system, great voice acting, fun gameplay, a convincing musical score, a well told and well thought out plot, and best of all it stays true to Bioware's style of letting you choose whether to be a good guy, neutral, or a total dickhead. My only real complaint is that I'd rather not cross genres when it comes to my RPGs.
Uncharted
Uncharted has got some of the best environmental effects I have seen ever. If you jump into a lake your clothing becomes visibly wet. If you pull out your pistol and shoot at a toucan it will squawk and fly off in a panic. The gameplay is fun, which is all you can really ask for. The game's NPC intelligence is top notch. Enemies will duck and cover in reaction to your offenses making it a real challenge to take them out. The voice acting is good as are the ambient effects around you. My only real complaint is that the game is much more muscle than mind. As fun as slaughtering can be, sometimes a challenging puzzle is equally fulfilling.
Much to my dismay both games suffer from "next gen" syndrome -- being too short. But! Don't let that deter you. Uncharted has a lot of replay ability through unlockables and though the main story of Mass Effect can be completed in around 17 hours that does not include side quests, hidden content, or varying scenarios, all of which you will definitely want to uncover.
I know a lot of people have short attention spans so I'll sum up everything I'm about to say right now: Buy Mass Effect, definitely at least rent Uncharted.
Mass Effect
While Mass Effect is not my usual cup of tea, it a wonderful game that combines superb graphics with an innovative combat system, great voice acting, fun gameplay, a convincing musical score, a well told and well thought out plot, and best of all it stays true to Bioware's style of letting you choose whether to be a good guy, neutral, or a total dickhead. My only real complaint is that I'd rather not cross genres when it comes to my RPGs.
Uncharted
Uncharted has got some of the best environmental effects I have seen ever. If you jump into a lake your clothing becomes visibly wet. If you pull out your pistol and shoot at a toucan it will squawk and fly off in a panic. The gameplay is fun, which is all you can really ask for. The game's NPC intelligence is top notch. Enemies will duck and cover in reaction to your offenses making it a real challenge to take them out. The voice acting is good as are the ambient effects around you. My only real complaint is that the game is much more muscle than mind. As fun as slaughtering can be, sometimes a challenging puzzle is equally fulfilling.
Much to my dismay both games suffer from "next gen" syndrome -- being too short. But! Don't let that deter you. Uncharted has a lot of replay ability through unlockables and though the main story of Mass Effect can be completed in around 17 hours that does not include side quests, hidden content, or varying scenarios, all of which you will definitely want to uncover.
Thanks
First and foremost I'd like to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope the holiday finds you all in great spirits and good health.
Secondly say what you may about the origins of this holiday, the ideal is a worthwhile celebration: being thankful. If my Native American grandfather can find a reason to celebrate this holiday, so can you.
Be thankful. Do not take anything for granted! I am aware of how fragile life is and how easily things can slip through your fingers until you've got nothing left to hold onto. I realize that a person could be there talking with you today, and dead tomorrow. The future is uncertain so make the best of your life daily.
I am thankful for everything. I have a roof over my head, I never go hungry or thirsty, I sleep in a warm bed, I am loved. What more do you really need? Anything more would simply be excess -- a bonus but not a necessity.
Secondly say what you may about the origins of this holiday, the ideal is a worthwhile celebration: being thankful. If my Native American grandfather can find a reason to celebrate this holiday, so can you.
Be thankful. Do not take anything for granted! I am aware of how fragile life is and how easily things can slip through your fingers until you've got nothing left to hold onto. I realize that a person could be there talking with you today, and dead tomorrow. The future is uncertain so make the best of your life daily.
I am thankful for everything. I have a roof over my head, I never go hungry or thirsty, I sleep in a warm bed, I am loved. What more do you really need? Anything more would simply be excess -- a bonus but not a necessity.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
anata wa watashi no Pocky
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| Yay life! |
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
You've Got To Be Kidding
I've mysteriously fractured a bone in my left foot. When? How? I haven't the slightest idea. It just started hurting yesterday out of the blue while I was watching an episode of Heroes. So I went to the doctor this afternoon and x-rays confirm the foot was in fact injured but I cannot recall what happened at all.
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| Fracture boot: so stylish. |
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Strange Pinata?
Found a pinata at Target last night, in the vending room. Why was it there? I don't know. There was a stick to bust it open and get the candy and everything. But no other signs of a party. No one else was around.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Vote or Die In A Fire
Tis the season to be voting and signs have popped up everywhere, as per usual. Vote for so-and-so! No, vote for such-and-such! Vote for her! Vote for him! Vote yes for this! Vote no for that! All of course in red, white, and blue. Cause it just wouldn't be patriotic in any other colors.
I never understood the sign thing. Most sane human beings are going to vote based on facts not some sign they saw on their way to Taco Bell. Furthermore all of these signs seem to be in competition with one another, as if there's some strange sign death match going on.
If you drive by the intersection near our shop in the morning you will see a couple of "Bob for Mayor!" signs chilling there. Drive by again on your way home from work and there will be those original 2 signs and about 40 others surrounding it all telling you to vote for a different person. It's silly. As if whoever puts up the most signs in 1 spot will win the election.
Most people already know who they are going to vote for, and have known since the preliminaries several months ago. These signs serve no purpose other than to litter the roadside, really. It kind of bothers me. Pointlessness aside, all of these signs are made from plastic, which is nonbiodegradable and I'm willing to wager nonrecyclable. Their signs may as well say, "Vote for me, I hate Earth!"
Edit: Just dug this up...
"Many of these signs are made out of corrugated plastic, commonly referred to as "Coroplast". Though the materials look the same, there are actually several incompatible varieties of plastic used in these signs. Each sign must be tested to determine its recycle category. Such testing is only effective in large industrial batches (i.e. 4,000 lb.), so unfortunately it is not practical to recycle corrugated plastic most people simply throw it away."
Now I can forgive a sign or 2 from someone just reminding you it's time to vote soon, make sure you're ready. Afterall voting is important, very important. But... sign wars are dumb. The people who participate in them are dumb too. And most of all anyone who votes based only on a sign they saw on the roadside is really really dumb.
On a less serious note, someone stuck a sign in the field near our shop which says: " Vote for Funari!" You know -- my impulsive fun loving evil twin.
I never understood the sign thing. Most sane human beings are going to vote based on facts not some sign they saw on their way to Taco Bell. Furthermore all of these signs seem to be in competition with one another, as if there's some strange sign death match going on.
If you drive by the intersection near our shop in the morning you will see a couple of "Bob for Mayor!" signs chilling there. Drive by again on your way home from work and there will be those original 2 signs and about 40 others surrounding it all telling you to vote for a different person. It's silly. As if whoever puts up the most signs in 1 spot will win the election.
Most people already know who they are going to vote for, and have known since the preliminaries several months ago. These signs serve no purpose other than to litter the roadside, really. It kind of bothers me. Pointlessness aside, all of these signs are made from plastic, which is nonbiodegradable and I'm willing to wager nonrecyclable. Their signs may as well say, "Vote for me, I hate Earth!"
Edit: Just dug this up...
"Many of these signs are made out of corrugated plastic, commonly referred to as "Coroplast". Though the materials look the same, there are actually several incompatible varieties of plastic used in these signs. Each sign must be tested to determine its recycle category. Such testing is only effective in large industrial batches (i.e. 4,000 lb.), so unfortunately it is not practical to recycle corrugated plastic most people simply throw it away."
Now I can forgive a sign or 2 from someone just reminding you it's time to vote soon, make sure you're ready. Afterall voting is important, very important. But... sign wars are dumb. The people who participate in them are dumb too. And most of all anyone who votes based only on a sign they saw on the roadside is really really dumb.
On a less serious note, someone stuck a sign in the field near our shop which says: " Vote for Funari!" You know -- my impulsive fun loving evil twin.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Following The Geese
Tonight is my last night in Ohio, tomorrow we leave at the crack of dawn to board a plane to Florida for a week. To pass time I will be toting my laptops as carry-on as well as my PSP. I've downloaded a new RPG for the trip called Brave Story: New Traveler. So I'll let you know the verdict on that one, but it looks pretty good.
They always serve the yummiest sandwiches on our flights to Florida. Sad thing about it is the sandwich is only about 3" long and 2" wide. Just large enough to make you realize you really wish it were bigger. I wonder if they will serve us sandwiches on this flight, because it's so early? Or if they will give us something else like muffins?
Don't get me wrong, muffins are great, but those sandwiches > muffins.
They always serve the yummiest sandwiches on our flights to Florida. Sad thing about it is the sandwich is only about 3" long and 2" wide. Just large enough to make you realize you really wish it were bigger. I wonder if they will serve us sandwiches on this flight, because it's so early? Or if they will give us something else like muffins?
Don't get me wrong, muffins are great, but those sandwiches > muffins.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Joy!
At 3:56pm my little sister gave birth to a healthy happy baby girl. She is 6lb. 12.5oz. 19 inches (the baby, not my sister). She is quite possibly the most precious baby I have ever seen. Words cannot express how happy I am for them. <3
Congratulations Holly!
Edit: Posted right at 4 PM, I win!
Congratulations Holly!
Edit: Posted right at 4 PM, I win!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Something Cool
On my way to the shop this morning I got stopped at a red light and the car ahead of me had the license plate: 2 UR HLTH
I thought it was pretty cool and it made me smile. Not everyone's a dickface.
I thought it was pretty cool and it made me smile. Not everyone's a dickface.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Life
As some of you may know, my little sister Holly is going to have her baby in less than a week if everything goes according to plan. I am so excited! She will grace us with a darling girl. That means I'll be an aunt not only to 2 nephews but finally a niece!
I'm on the edge of my seat everyday waiting for the call that she's gone into labor. Then I'll probably make myself sick with worry until I get the second call that everything went well. I wish I still lived up there so I could be there with her during the joyous yet icky event (lets face it as beautiful as bringing a new life into this world is, it's also pretty gross). I'll just have to be patient and wait to meet my new niece.
Finally, something to make September a happy month again.
I'm on the edge of my seat everyday waiting for the call that she's gone into labor. Then I'll probably make myself sick with worry until I get the second call that everything went well. I wish I still lived up there so I could be there with her during the joyous yet icky event (lets face it as beautiful as bringing a new life into this world is, it's also pretty gross). I'll just have to be patient and wait to meet my new niece.
Finally, something to make September a happy month again.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Rest In Peace
Ashley Adams 1992 -- 2007
John Nicotra Jr. 1983 -- 2007
Jason Hernandez 1986 -- 2007
Ashley:
March 1st 2007
"Streetsboro Middle School eighth-grade student Ashley Jade Adams, 14, died at Robinson Memorial Hospital on March 1.
Middle school principal George Hammond said Ashley was "someone who we are going to miss." He said it is "deeply unfortunate that this happened."
Ashley played baseball and was a cheerleader at the middle school. In the community, she was crowned Little Miss Streetsboro, was a Girl Scout, volunteered at Robinson Memorial Hospital and was a member of Faith Baptist Church. "
Her memory.
John:
June 8th 2007
"A 24-year-old Streetsboro man died in a boating accident Friday," authorities said.
John Nicotra Jr. went into the water after his boat overturned in a sand quarry behind Associated Ready Mix Concrete, 9551 Elliman Road, Mantua/Shalersville Township.
Other passengers with Nicotra 'made a rescue attempt prior to calling the fire department. Authorities responded to an emergency call and were on the scene at 2 a.m.
The Portage County Water Rescue Team did a preliminary search, and then returned at daybreak with sonar equipment and divers. Nicotra's body was recovered at 1 p.m. in 14 feet of water."
Jason:
September 7th 2007
"U.S. Army soldier Jason Hernandez, 21, of Streetsboro, was killed about 5 a.m. today -- his 21st birthday -- in a roadside bombing in Iraq.
Jason Hernandez, a 2005 graduate of Streetsboro High School, was married earlier this year while on leave from Iraq."
His cause.
John Nicotra Jr. 1983 -- 2007
Jason Hernandez 1986 -- 2007
Ashley:
March 1st 2007
"Streetsboro Middle School eighth-grade student Ashley Jade Adams, 14, died at Robinson Memorial Hospital on March 1.
Middle school principal George Hammond said Ashley was "someone who we are going to miss." He said it is "deeply unfortunate that this happened."
Ashley played baseball and was a cheerleader at the middle school. In the community, she was crowned Little Miss Streetsboro, was a Girl Scout, volunteered at Robinson Memorial Hospital and was a member of Faith Baptist Church. "
Her memory.
John:
June 8th 2007
"A 24-year-old Streetsboro man died in a boating accident Friday," authorities said.
John Nicotra Jr. went into the water after his boat overturned in a sand quarry behind Associated Ready Mix Concrete, 9551 Elliman Road, Mantua/Shalersville Township.
Other passengers with Nicotra 'made a rescue attempt prior to calling the fire department. Authorities responded to an emergency call and were on the scene at 2 a.m.
The Portage County Water Rescue Team did a preliminary search, and then returned at daybreak with sonar equipment and divers. Nicotra's body was recovered at 1 p.m. in 14 feet of water."
Jason:
September 7th 2007
"U.S. Army soldier Jason Hernandez, 21, of Streetsboro, was killed about 5 a.m. today -- his 21st birthday -- in a roadside bombing in Iraq.
Jason Hernandez, a 2005 graduate of Streetsboro High School, was married earlier this year while on leave from Iraq."
His cause.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Dusk
I like art. Particularly, I like to create art. I prefer traditional mediums to technological ones, for instance I'll always choose a pad of paper and ink over photoshop. But sometimes it's nice to just play around with digital mediums which is why I love art[dot]com's artpad feature.
When I get the taste for a little quick, clean, digital art I go there and paint without the clean up! It can be a strain though, I don't have a tablet so I do all the work with a regular mouse which sticks and jumps and makes me have to start over a lot.
Half the fun is the playback feature where you can watch the piece go from a blank canvas to a completed piece right before your eyes. Normally I'd just post that link for anyone who may want to peak at my mouse pad scribbles, but art[dot]com is broken today so I had to get screenshots instead.
When I get the taste for a little quick, clean, digital art I go there and paint without the clean up! It can be a strain though, I don't have a tablet so I do all the work with a regular mouse which sticks and jumps and makes me have to start over a lot.
Half the fun is the playback feature where you can watch the piece go from a blank canvas to a completed piece right before your eyes. Normally I'd just post that link for anyone who may want to peak at my mouse pad scribbles, but art[dot]com is broken today so I had to get screenshots instead.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Medicine is Icky II & A Carnival
The medication did not come in liquid form so I had to suffer through 10 days of extreme gross twice a day. Ew. But wait, there's more! I'm still sick so I've been put on another medication! At least this one is a liquid.
Now for something completely different!
I went to the local carnival last week with my nephews. They were really well behaved, little Bill walked around with us and we pushed Jaidar along in his stroller. Jaidar got scared of a ride we walked by and started crying so little Bill held his hand. I almost died from cute overdose.
There weren't a wide selection of games there this year but luckily one of the games that was there was the dart game. I used to play darts with my step dad and my uncles all The time growing up so I always peg this game and walk away with the loot. Despite the carnies' assumption that, as a woman I would automatically fail at throwing a dart, I won stuffed animals for both of my nephews. With my last dart I won a prize for myself as well. The carnie probably felt like a true dunce.
We then filled my nephews full of funnel cake, elephant ears and koolaid and dropped them off at my brother's house. ..
Now for something completely different!
I went to the local carnival last week with my nephews. They were really well behaved, little Bill walked around with us and we pushed Jaidar along in his stroller. Jaidar got scared of a ride we walked by and started crying so little Bill held his hand. I almost died from cute overdose.
There weren't a wide selection of games there this year but luckily one of the games that was there was the dart game. I used to play darts with my step dad and my uncles all The time growing up so I always peg this game and walk away with the loot. Despite the carnies' assumption that, as a woman I would automatically fail at throwing a dart, I won stuffed animals for both of my nephews. With my last dart I won a prize for myself as well. The carnie probably felt like a true dunce.
We then filled my nephews full of funnel cake, elephant ears and koolaid and dropped them off at my brother's house. ..
Insect Olympics
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| The Arena |
 | |
| Koi pond measuring 4'x3' filled with hungry fish! |
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| The Athlete |
The Reward: Your life!
The Rules: All contestants must start on the side opposite the underwater pagoda (see orange roof in photo for reference). Once in the water you must swim to the other side and find a means to escape the icy grasp of Death.
- If you exit the pond before reaching the other end you are disqualified.
- If you get swallowed by a goldfish you are disqualified.
- If you sink to the bottom and drown you are disqualified.
 |
| The Action |
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| Almost there, does he have what it takes? |
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| We have a winner! |
Disclaimer: no insects, fish or Inaris were injured in the making of this blog.
The cricket was already in the pond when I arrived.
I tried scooping it out to safety but it kept swimming away from me.
So I took its picture instead.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
I Am Livid
For the last several months I've had a family of sparrows living above the door at the shop. If you aren't aware, sparrows are my favorite bird and it's considered to be good luck if they nest near your home. So to have them nest right in front of the shop, I was delighted.
Every morning when we got to work I'd see daddy sparrow leave the nest to find food and you could hear mommy sparrow up there chirping to her babies and you could hear their tiny chirps back.
After a few weeks the babies would learn how to fly and then gradually leave the nest. Then we'd just have the parent sparrows hopping around the parking lot collecting new nesting material, little seeds and bugs, etc., until they laid more eggs and the cycle started over again.
They had raised three families in that nest.
I knew that one day the sparrows would need to be moved since the nest was near a light fixture, so we had planned on purchasing a cozy little birdhouse and mounting it on the storefront so the birds would find it more attractive and reconstruct their nest there. Because let's face it, man has interfered enough in nature's plan. The sparrows nest in buildings because we've cleared the forests for our stores, restraunts, and homes. They have to live somewhere and trees are becoming a little scarce in most cities. It's our fault, the least we could do is accommodate them.
Before we could put up the birdhouse the sparrows were evicted.
When I got to work this morning there was no chirping. Daddy sparrow was not sitting on the wire in front of the building. The light fixture had been gutted, all of the nesting material had been stripped out. The ground was littered with feathers and straw and the birds were gone.
Where did they go? What did they do with the baby birds? Yes, they did have chicks in the nest, hatched just a week or so ago... When the nest was cleared did they at least have the courtesy to take them to an animal shelter? I somehow doubt it.
The property owner can make up whatever justification he wants to help him sleep at night, but those birds had just as much right to be here as we do. I'm absolutely livid. The superiority complex most humans have over other creatures is disgusting.
Every morning when we got to work I'd see daddy sparrow leave the nest to find food and you could hear mommy sparrow up there chirping to her babies and you could hear their tiny chirps back.
After a few weeks the babies would learn how to fly and then gradually leave the nest. Then we'd just have the parent sparrows hopping around the parking lot collecting new nesting material, little seeds and bugs, etc., until they laid more eggs and the cycle started over again.
They had raised three families in that nest.
I knew that one day the sparrows would need to be moved since the nest was near a light fixture, so we had planned on purchasing a cozy little birdhouse and mounting it on the storefront so the birds would find it more attractive and reconstruct their nest there. Because let's face it, man has interfered enough in nature's plan. The sparrows nest in buildings because we've cleared the forests for our stores, restraunts, and homes. They have to live somewhere and trees are becoming a little scarce in most cities. It's our fault, the least we could do is accommodate them.
Before we could put up the birdhouse the sparrows were evicted.
When I got to work this morning there was no chirping. Daddy sparrow was not sitting on the wire in front of the building. The light fixture had been gutted, all of the nesting material had been stripped out. The ground was littered with feathers and straw and the birds were gone.
 |
| ... |
Where did they go? What did they do with the baby birds? Yes, they did have chicks in the nest, hatched just a week or so ago... When the nest was cleared did they at least have the courtesy to take them to an animal shelter? I somehow doubt it.
The property owner can make up whatever justification he wants to help him sleep at night, but those birds had just as much right to be here as we do. I'm absolutely livid. The superiority complex most humans have over other creatures is disgusting.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Medicine is Icky
I'm still not completely better from my pneumonia several weeks ago and with lackluster test results from my blood work my doctor decided to put me on medication again (I apparently have a secondary infection).
Now, anyone who knows me knows that I cannot swallow pills. I'm physically incapable of it. My doctor is also aware of this and normally prescribes me a liquid based regimen. In the late 90's it was realized by drug manufacturers that the inability to swallow pills is actually pretty common. Thus everything began being created in two forms, pill and liquid. Whereas before liquid medications were only available in children's dosages. Very rarely do I wind up having to chew or crush pills these days.
This last week though I saw my doctor's associate, because my actual doctor was out of town. When she called in my prescription I ended up with pills. I've crushed and chewed pills before so I figured I'd just do the same again. Boy was I mistaken.
These pills are so disgusting I can't even think of another gross enough item to compare them to. I have never tasted anything this bad before, and I have chewed pills of all varieties! Up until this the worst tasting pill award belonged to Midol (which tastes suspiciously like acetone). This is at least 20x worse than that.
They are like little round spheres of icky death.
On top of that the side effects make me feel worse than I actually feel just being sick. Sick I'm fatigued and have some muscle aches and pains. When I take this medicine I have a headache, I am dizzy, my stomach hurts, I'm exhausted... What the hell, right? I'm usually pretty tolerant but this is pushing it.
Last night after I had taken the medication and it made me feel so bad that a friend took me -- at 1am -- to get a milk shake because it was the only thing anyone could think of that could possibly improve the situation.
I'll be talking to my doctor this afternoon and we're going to see if she can perscribe me something in a liquid. I mean, if I have to pony up and continue with these pills, I will, but I'd rather not have to. Either way, I'll just be happy when I'm not sick anymore!
Now, anyone who knows me knows that I cannot swallow pills. I'm physically incapable of it. My doctor is also aware of this and normally prescribes me a liquid based regimen. In the late 90's it was realized by drug manufacturers that the inability to swallow pills is actually pretty common. Thus everything began being created in two forms, pill and liquid. Whereas before liquid medications were only available in children's dosages. Very rarely do I wind up having to chew or crush pills these days.
This last week though I saw my doctor's associate, because my actual doctor was out of town. When she called in my prescription I ended up with pills. I've crushed and chewed pills before so I figured I'd just do the same again. Boy was I mistaken.
These pills are so disgusting I can't even think of another gross enough item to compare them to. I have never tasted anything this bad before, and I have chewed pills of all varieties! Up until this the worst tasting pill award belonged to Midol (which tastes suspiciously like acetone). This is at least 20x worse than that.
They are like little round spheres of icky death.
On top of that the side effects make me feel worse than I actually feel just being sick. Sick I'm fatigued and have some muscle aches and pains. When I take this medicine I have a headache, I am dizzy, my stomach hurts, I'm exhausted... What the hell, right? I'm usually pretty tolerant but this is pushing it.
Last night after I had taken the medication and it made me feel so bad that a friend took me -- at 1am -- to get a milk shake because it was the only thing anyone could think of that could possibly improve the situation.
I'll be talking to my doctor this afternoon and we're going to see if she can perscribe me something in a liquid. I mean, if I have to pony up and continue with these pills, I will, but I'd rather not have to. Either way, I'll just be happy when I'm not sick anymore!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Drive Safely
I see so many accidents here (in our shop) it's ridiculous. Driving is not that difficult. One peddle speeds you up, one peddle slows you down, and the giant wheel right in front of you steers the vehicle. It's not rocket science or brain surgery, guys. It's not the roads fault either. It's flat, the lines are well marked, there are working lights and turn lanes...
So why do you people keep trying to kill eachother?
Every day I see at least one accident or one near-accident, sometimes more than one a day. Is it too much to ask that you get off your cell phones and pay attention to what you're doing? Two of the more major accidents I've seen here were so easily avoidable it makes me wonder how in the hell they happened in the first place.
The first was some guy in a van trying to turn out of Big Boys. Without even looking he backs out of his parking spot and pulls right out of the driveway into oncoming traffic. Some poor older man in a small car plowed right into him, though it's not his fault -- he had the right of way. The guy in the van pulled out right into the guy in the car. There was less than 5 feet between them and traffic on this road travels at about 45-50 mph. There was no way that the guy in the van could accelerate fast enough to beat the speed of the car (or any other car on the road).
Impatient jackass. As if he couldn't have simply waited another 3 minutes for the light to turn red so that he could pull out safely. Now his van is half smashed and the innocent guy in the small car couldn't even get his vehicle to start up again. Thank whatever power that you believe in that no one was seriously injured.
The second accident was even worse than the first and twice as absurd.
There were two cars in the turn lane waiting for the light so that they could make their turns and a third guy slowed down to pull into the turn lane behind them -- the semi truck behind him however decided yielding to traffic was for sissies and smashed into him at 50 mph forcing the smaller car sideways into both of the other cars in the turn lane. Metal and glass went everywhere!
The guy who had been trying to merge lanes? His vehicle was smashed, what had been a small ford truck was now about the size of a pinto, having been smashed from behind, the side, and the front. The two cars in the turn lane, innocent by standers? Also smashed. The semi responsible? Not even a dent.
I had to call 911 due to the severity of the accident. 30 minutes later the rescue teams still could not get the merging guy safely out of his truck-pinto. Luckily everyone else walked away with minor injuries and only the guy in the totally demolished truck wound up in the ambulance. But why did the semi not break in the first place? What could that guy have possibly been doing that was more important than controlling his vehicle?
I should have gone out there and kicked him in the junk for being such an inconsiderate careless douchebag.
Every time I hear someone lay on their horn or breaks screech I think I'm about to witness yet another act of senseless negligence. I'm afraid one of these days we're going to be watching people sealed up in body bags. If you want to kill yourself do it at home, don't endanger others with your stupidity. The disregard is disgusting. Please, please drive safely.
So why do you people keep trying to kill eachother?
Every day I see at least one accident or one near-accident, sometimes more than one a day. Is it too much to ask that you get off your cell phones and pay attention to what you're doing? Two of the more major accidents I've seen here were so easily avoidable it makes me wonder how in the hell they happened in the first place.
The first was some guy in a van trying to turn out of Big Boys. Without even looking he backs out of his parking spot and pulls right out of the driveway into oncoming traffic. Some poor older man in a small car plowed right into him, though it's not his fault -- he had the right of way. The guy in the van pulled out right into the guy in the car. There was less than 5 feet between them and traffic on this road travels at about 45-50 mph. There was no way that the guy in the van could accelerate fast enough to beat the speed of the car (or any other car on the road).
Impatient jackass. As if he couldn't have simply waited another 3 minutes for the light to turn red so that he could pull out safely. Now his van is half smashed and the innocent guy in the small car couldn't even get his vehicle to start up again. Thank whatever power that you believe in that no one was seriously injured.
The second accident was even worse than the first and twice as absurd.
There were two cars in the turn lane waiting for the light so that they could make their turns and a third guy slowed down to pull into the turn lane behind them -- the semi truck behind him however decided yielding to traffic was for sissies and smashed into him at 50 mph forcing the smaller car sideways into both of the other cars in the turn lane. Metal and glass went everywhere!
The guy who had been trying to merge lanes? His vehicle was smashed, what had been a small ford truck was now about the size of a pinto, having been smashed from behind, the side, and the front. The two cars in the turn lane, innocent by standers? Also smashed. The semi responsible? Not even a dent.
I had to call 911 due to the severity of the accident. 30 minutes later the rescue teams still could not get the merging guy safely out of his truck-pinto. Luckily everyone else walked away with minor injuries and only the guy in the totally demolished truck wound up in the ambulance. But why did the semi not break in the first place? What could that guy have possibly been doing that was more important than controlling his vehicle?
I should have gone out there and kicked him in the junk for being such an inconsiderate careless douchebag.
Every time I hear someone lay on their horn or breaks screech I think I'm about to witness yet another act of senseless negligence. I'm afraid one of these days we're going to be watching people sealed up in body bags. If you want to kill yourself do it at home, don't endanger others with your stupidity. The disregard is disgusting. Please, please drive safely.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
New Addition to The Family
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| Hello, tiny Neelix. |
What few ads we answered either never returned our calls, were trying to pass off 3+ year old cats as kittens, or had given/sold any kittens they may have at one point in time had.
We had just about given up looking and decided to just wait until next year. Then my friend Kristen forwarded me a link to an ad on Myspace for free kittens. I didn't even know Myspace had a classifieds section.
We went to visit them and fell in love with a small orange and white spotted one, whose mannerisms and personality I thought would get along well with Spock's. We brought him home and the two of them are getting along wonderfully. When we left for work this morning they were playing together in the living room.
Spock now has someone to keep her company while we're at work.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Happy 4th of July!
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| First mix the mango and the rum, then add a strawberry. |
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| The strawberry sinks into the mango-rum slush. |
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| The strawberry turns upside-down and shows you its heart. |
Friday, June 8, 2007
Pneumonia Blues
I've been pretty sick for about 3 weeks now. It started with body aches and a fever at first then more flu-like symptoms followed, those passed and I was left with the fever and a cough. It's a weird cough, where every time I inhale it feels like my lungs are filled with cold air and constrict forcing all the air back out in 1 quick cough. I've been to the emergency room twice and to my physician twice. Apparently I've had Pneumonia all this time.
So I'm on bed rest and medication. Hopefully I'll start feeling a little better now, I'm so tired of being sick. Ugh.
Edit: Posted right at 6 PM, I win!
So I'm on bed rest and medication. Hopefully I'll start feeling a little better now, I'm so tired of being sick. Ugh.
Edit: Posted right at 6 PM, I win!
Monday, May 7, 2007
Hello, It's Good To Hear You
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| Answer to all life's problems. Or at least half of them, anyway. |
It's not 100% better, as if I had never been deaf at all, but it is a whole lot better.
For the first time in several months I can clearly hear someone speaking at me without having to aimlessly guess what they're talking about. I can hear (to some degree) keys jingling, birds singing, music playing, all things I have not heard at all in a very, very long time. It's wonderful. It's essentially like hearing through a microphone. If I cup the device in my hands, it whistles and chirps.
Tonight I will watch Heroes for the very first time while able to fully understand what's going on at any given moment.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Soon...
I'll be able to hear again!
My insurance approved my hearing aid! Though they only approved 1 hearing aid, it should still help me considerably. I went last week and had an ear mold caste and sent out to the manufacturers. It was an interesting experience.
The first thing that is done is the audiologist inserts a small piece of foam attached to several small strings deep into the ear to prevent any possible inner ear damage. I had expected the material they insert into your ear to be icky like the slime you got out of a quarter machine as a kid but it was actually a lot more like silly puddy. It's warmed up so that it's more pliable and then put into a needle-less syringe type contraption and squirted slowly into your ear. It expands a little bit once it's inside and feels kind of like it does when you dive really deep into water and the pressure builds up in your ears.
You have to keep your jaw open while the mold sets so that the inner ear is really opened up. This apparently will make the hearing aid more comfortable to wear while eating or speaking.
When the mold had set she gently tugged on the strings attached to the foam underneath the mold and the whole thing slid out cleanly.
My audiologist said I have very unique and "artistic" curves to my inner ear which may be difficult for the people at Phonak to recreate, but that it should be possible for them to make me one of the more discreet pieces that rests inside the ear and not the more obtuse looking one which is actually composed of two separate pieces one of which goes in the ear and the other connected to it which rests behind the ear.
I was approved for this a couple of weeks before I had the procedure done but a change in my medical insurance made me have to resubmit for all on-going medical issues. Lucky for me the second application was processed much faster than the first.
All in all I'm pretty excited, I just got a call from the audiology department at the hospital and my hearing aid is ready! I need to go down there on Thursday to be taught how to properly use and care for it.
Hear ya Thursday!
Update: Got a call at like 8am Thursday morning from the hospital informing me that there had been a family emergency and my Audiologist wouldn't be in but they could fit me in on Monday. So looks like I'll be hearing you all Monday!
My insurance approved my hearing aid! Though they only approved 1 hearing aid, it should still help me considerably. I went last week and had an ear mold caste and sent out to the manufacturers. It was an interesting experience.
The first thing that is done is the audiologist inserts a small piece of foam attached to several small strings deep into the ear to prevent any possible inner ear damage. I had expected the material they insert into your ear to be icky like the slime you got out of a quarter machine as a kid but it was actually a lot more like silly puddy. It's warmed up so that it's more pliable and then put into a needle-less syringe type contraption and squirted slowly into your ear. It expands a little bit once it's inside and feels kind of like it does when you dive really deep into water and the pressure builds up in your ears.
You have to keep your jaw open while the mold sets so that the inner ear is really opened up. This apparently will make the hearing aid more comfortable to wear while eating or speaking.
When the mold had set she gently tugged on the strings attached to the foam underneath the mold and the whole thing slid out cleanly.
My audiologist said I have very unique and "artistic" curves to my inner ear which may be difficult for the people at Phonak to recreate, but that it should be possible for them to make me one of the more discreet pieces that rests inside the ear and not the more obtuse looking one which is actually composed of two separate pieces one of which goes in the ear and the other connected to it which rests behind the ear.
I was approved for this a couple of weeks before I had the procedure done but a change in my medical insurance made me have to resubmit for all on-going medical issues. Lucky for me the second application was processed much faster than the first.
All in all I'm pretty excited, I just got a call from the audiology department at the hospital and my hearing aid is ready! I need to go down there on Thursday to be taught how to properly use and care for it.
Hear ya Thursday!
Update: Got a call at like 8am Thursday morning from the hospital informing me that there had been a family emergency and my Audiologist wouldn't be in but they could fit me in on Monday. So looks like I'll be hearing you all Monday!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Today is My Birthday!
This means love, friends, family, good food, drinks, cake, and presents!
Talk to you all later!
Update for the curious: I got jewelry, money, two shopping sprees, and a lot of cake
Talk to you all later!
Update for the curious: I got jewelry, money, two shopping sprees, and a lot of cake
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Hear The World
Only a handful of people know this, but this is what has been bothering me lately.
A few months ago abruptly and without warning I lost hearing in my right ear completely. There was no pain, no ringing, no dire illness, no explosive sound causing damage, as far as I knew it was just gone when I woke up. Though I could still hear from the left ear, it became harder and harder to understand what people were saying because noise through the left ear sounded as if wind or static was in the background constantly.
At first I attributed it to a cold or something. You know, something that would go away. A week later with no improvement I began losing that hope and taking it more seriously.
I went to a regular MD, and later an ENT who had me on medications attempting to fix possible inner ear damage caused by a virus as well as an immediate MRI of the brain to rule out a tumor or other such growth in the brain. Awaiting the results of that MRI was the longest week of my life.
After many tests and examinations it was determined that the hearing loss in the right ear was severe where the loss in the left ear was only moderate. This meant I hear practically nothing at the moment from the right ear and can only hear well enough to understand from the left ear speaking to people in small groups, preferably 1 at a time. If there was a lot of traffic, or other background noise it made hearing (read: understanding) very difficult. Next to impossible, really.
To get an idea of what it's like to be deaf you can go here and listen through the moderate loss option, severe isn't even listed since people with my loss hear practically nothing. But it will give you an idea at least... Make sure you listen to the normal hearing afterward to compare the difference. Usually I'm just guessing at what someone has said to me and responding with what I think they asked/said/etc. Which creates a lot of misunderstandings, some of which can, at times be hilarious.
Anyway...
The medication did not help and the MRI came back clear. Which means I do not have a brain tumor. While that was definitely good news, it also meant that the cause of my hearing loss was irreparable -- I'd just have to live with it. Whatever had caused the damage in the first place had already run it's course. Based on my white cell count, the best estimate was fever.
I was told I would need a hearing aid in order to restore any of my hearing ability. That didn't seem so bad, I mean at least it's not fatal. I was then told that insurance doesn't cover most hearing aids because they are considered "medical devices" and that the very cheapest they come is $1000 and are as expensive as $25000!
Thankfully however Phonak does cater to people who are not rich and provides a line of products which are covered by many types of insurance.
I went to the audiologist for my consultation and submitted the forms to my insurance. Unfortunately this claim won't even hit the person who can clear it's desk until late April, so I probably won't have my hearing aid until sometime in May. Which of course means for the next 3 months I just have to do my best to understand what people are saying to me despite the fact I can't really hear them.
I was given a few guidelines to help me understand daily conversation:
1.) Always make sure to speak to people face-to-face so you can read their expression and the formations they make with their mouths.
I've actually tried this and it does help, but it's hard to get people to face you directly when they don't realize you cannot really hear them. I practically need to yell at them to get them to pay attention long enough for me to understand wtf they're saying. Most people don't have to deal with anyone who cannot hear them, so they just start talking and wander off, look at things around them, etc. It can be very frustrating.
2.) Try to avoid talking to more than 1 person at a time. This way what you do hear doesn't get drown out by two or more voices at once.
Granted this is a good idea, it's not really something I can apply very well. In my experiences people talk over one another all the time, usually without even realizing it. The fact they do it without realizing it is the part that makes it unreliable, even if I ask them politely to talk 1 at a time, they're still going to slip up.
3.) Avoid talking in areas with lots of background noise. Trying to hear someone over other people at a party, or over a radio is futile.
Yep, totally agree with the futile part. I can do this, but there are always going to be instances where I am in a social situation which revolves around that irritating "background noise." Watching a movie for example, or being at a party.
4.) Let people know you're hearing impaired.
You know, this seems like it would be the simplest solution to many of the problems listed above, but it's surprisingly not. Even people who know still do the exact same things the people who don't do. Not on purpose, but they forget, or get busy and that is very frustrating to me. I don't have the luxury of forgetting I'm hearing impaired.
Sorry just had to get that off my chest.
I'm not as pessimistic as this makes me seem. I'm honestly excited to receive my hearing aid in May and being able to hear the world again! My family has been great, though there are times I can't understand anything they're saying.
P.S. 11:11, I win!
A few months ago abruptly and without warning I lost hearing in my right ear completely. There was no pain, no ringing, no dire illness, no explosive sound causing damage, as far as I knew it was just gone when I woke up. Though I could still hear from the left ear, it became harder and harder to understand what people were saying because noise through the left ear sounded as if wind or static was in the background constantly.
At first I attributed it to a cold or something. You know, something that would go away. A week later with no improvement I began losing that hope and taking it more seriously.
I went to a regular MD, and later an ENT who had me on medications attempting to fix possible inner ear damage caused by a virus as well as an immediate MRI of the brain to rule out a tumor or other such growth in the brain. Awaiting the results of that MRI was the longest week of my life.
After many tests and examinations it was determined that the hearing loss in the right ear was severe where the loss in the left ear was only moderate. This meant I hear practically nothing at the moment from the right ear and can only hear well enough to understand from the left ear speaking to people in small groups, preferably 1 at a time. If there was a lot of traffic, or other background noise it made hearing (read: understanding) very difficult. Next to impossible, really.
To get an idea of what it's like to be deaf you can go here and listen through the moderate loss option, severe isn't even listed since people with my loss hear practically nothing. But it will give you an idea at least... Make sure you listen to the normal hearing afterward to compare the difference. Usually I'm just guessing at what someone has said to me and responding with what I think they asked/said/etc. Which creates a lot of misunderstandings, some of which can, at times be hilarious.
Anyway...
The medication did not help and the MRI came back clear. Which means I do not have a brain tumor. While that was definitely good news, it also meant that the cause of my hearing loss was irreparable -- I'd just have to live with it. Whatever had caused the damage in the first place had already run it's course. Based on my white cell count, the best estimate was fever.
I was told I would need a hearing aid in order to restore any of my hearing ability. That didn't seem so bad, I mean at least it's not fatal. I was then told that insurance doesn't cover most hearing aids because they are considered "medical devices" and that the very cheapest they come is $1000 and are as expensive as $25000!
Thankfully however Phonak does cater to people who are not rich and provides a line of products which are covered by many types of insurance.
I went to the audiologist for my consultation and submitted the forms to my insurance. Unfortunately this claim won't even hit the person who can clear it's desk until late April, so I probably won't have my hearing aid until sometime in May. Which of course means for the next 3 months I just have to do my best to understand what people are saying to me despite the fact I can't really hear them.
I was given a few guidelines to help me understand daily conversation:
1.) Always make sure to speak to people face-to-face so you can read their expression and the formations they make with their mouths.
I've actually tried this and it does help, but it's hard to get people to face you directly when they don't realize you cannot really hear them. I practically need to yell at them to get them to pay attention long enough for me to understand wtf they're saying. Most people don't have to deal with anyone who cannot hear them, so they just start talking and wander off, look at things around them, etc. It can be very frustrating.
2.) Try to avoid talking to more than 1 person at a time. This way what you do hear doesn't get drown out by two or more voices at once.
Granted this is a good idea, it's not really something I can apply very well. In my experiences people talk over one another all the time, usually without even realizing it. The fact they do it without realizing it is the part that makes it unreliable, even if I ask them politely to talk 1 at a time, they're still going to slip up.
3.) Avoid talking in areas with lots of background noise. Trying to hear someone over other people at a party, or over a radio is futile.
Yep, totally agree with the futile part. I can do this, but there are always going to be instances where I am in a social situation which revolves around that irritating "background noise." Watching a movie for example, or being at a party.
4.) Let people know you're hearing impaired.
You know, this seems like it would be the simplest solution to many of the problems listed above, but it's surprisingly not. Even people who know still do the exact same things the people who don't do. Not on purpose, but they forget, or get busy and that is very frustrating to me. I don't have the luxury of forgetting I'm hearing impaired.
Sorry just had to get that off my chest.
I'm not as pessimistic as this makes me seem. I'm honestly excited to receive my hearing aid in May and being able to hear the world again! My family has been great, though there are times I can't understand anything they're saying.
P.S. 11:11, I win!
Sunday, March 4, 2007
My Brother's Name...
So Chris and I went to dinner at my mother's house tonight. While there Chris and Brook were engaged in a conversation about music...
The theme song from Disney's Aladdin came up and Brook seemed totally stumped, as if he had never ever heard of it before. Not just the song but as if he'd never heard of the story, the movie, any of it.
So there's this moment of disbelief between the rest of us and then we all try to clarify the concept for him. Finally after some time Brook replies "Oh, that Aladdin!"
That Aladdin? What? Because Aladdin is such a common name you had him confused for any other Aladdin?
This is where the conversation got really good though. My mom turns to Chris and then to me and proclaims absolutely serious, "I should have named your brother Aladdin."
w-t-f?
The theme song from Disney's Aladdin came up and Brook seemed totally stumped, as if he had never ever heard of it before. Not just the song but as if he'd never heard of the story, the movie, any of it.
So there's this moment of disbelief between the rest of us and then we all try to clarify the concept for him. Finally after some time Brook replies "Oh, that Aladdin!"
That Aladdin? What? Because Aladdin is such a common name you had him confused for any other Aladdin?
This is where the conversation got really good though. My mom turns to Chris and then to me and proclaims absolutely serious, "I should have named your brother Aladdin."
w-t-f?
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Inari FAQ
1. PICK OUT A SCAR YOU HAVE, AND EXPLAIN HOW YOU GOT IT?
I've got a small piece of lead stuck in my upper thigh from being stabbed by some psycho with a pencil. It's been there for years now, it looks like a little blue circle.
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
Something I sketched and water colored.
3. WHAT DOES YOUR PHONE LOOK LIKE?
It's an older model cell phone, flips open and it's blue and silver.
4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
Anything that appeals to me at the moment.
5. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT DESKTOP PICTURE?
A plushie Mashimaro, it looks like someone took his photograph at a bus stop or on a park bench perhaps. The background is shot out of focus, but it's definitely a well lit bench of some kind.
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
My sketch pad. I was going to bring it into the shop but forgot it at the last minute. I've got this sketch in my mind and I can see it laid out perfectly, but I can't do a damned thing about it because I've got no suitable paper or ink here. It's of a girl sort of glancing off to the side, she looks to be contemplating a difficult choice or maybe considering the consequences of a difficult choice she's made in the past. Why? I don't know, it just popped into my head the other day and I haven't been able to forget it since.
7. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GAY MARRIAGE?
Are you comparing gay marriage to say, Santa Claus? Anyway, yes. Love is love, it's not my place to dictate someone else's lovelife.
8. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN?
Somewhere around 10am.
9. ARE YOUR PARENTS STILL TOGETHER?
I've never met my father, so I'm going to have to say no.
10. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
Panic! At The Disco.
11. DO YOU GET SCARED OF THE DARK?
Scared of banging my knees or stubbing my toes, maybe.
12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
Chris, he can be an asshole sometimes.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?
Victoria's Secret "Angels" smells very ethereal. Aptly named I guess.
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Dark and dark.
15. DO YOU LIKE PAINKILLERS?
No, even when I need them I always hesitate and wait until it's unbearable.
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?
Coffee.
17. FAVE PIZZA TOPPING?
Spinach.
18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A warm homemade cinnamon roll with gooey icing on top.
19. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?
Chris.
20. DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE?
English and senseless spanish. No comer la gato, etc. I can write in Phoehecian, Aurabesh and I used to be able to write in Japanese and Hebrew though now I only recognize a few of the characters. I know the sign language alphabet if that counts for anything. <--- Unbeknown to me at the time, it counts for a lot!
21. WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT SOMEONE GAVE YOU?
I'm still waiting for one from last year. I think the last was uhm... Viva Pinata, does that count?
My birthday is this Sunday though!
22. DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE?
Sometimes.
23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?
In a couple of places.
24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
Anything comfortable.
25. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM CAR?
A horse.
26. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTER-LIFE?
Absolutely.
27. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MARRIAGE?
It's something that should be taken more seriously by most people. You're devoting your life to another person, that's nothing to take lightly.
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Love isn't a choice.
29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Let them know, especially if you think highly of them. You should remind them often how important they are to you, you never know when it may be too late.
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED?
3!
31. BLONDE OR BRUNETTE?
I'm blond right now, but I'd rather not be.
32. WHAT IS THE ONE PHONE NUMBER THAT SHOWS UP ON YOUR PHONE THE MOST?
My mother. She has a tendancy to call me and hang up forgetting to tell me something important so she has to always call me again.
33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
Inconsiderate people.
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE U.S.?
I've been to Canada.
35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
Chocolate.
36. WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT YOU GAVE?
I got Chris a 2GB memory card for his PSP and hid it inside a box of chocolates for Valentines Day.
37. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY?
Thanksgiving because the family usually comes together.
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Not me... never... /sarcasm
39. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE THIS?
Taking a nap on the shop futon.
40. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I'd have them fix my Hello Kitty pencil, the little pocket clip broke off a few years ago. Oh, you meant something else didn't you?
41. WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Morgan, Milena, Janice, Holly, and Heidi.
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My art? I don't know.
43. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
Import vodka from other countries.
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
Hm, I actually have no idea. Something thoughtful or something fun.
45. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Jean was my grandmother's name.
46. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
Only shooting stars, sometimes airplanes if I'm drunk.
47. whats your favorite color?
Orange.
48. WHICH FINGER[S] IS YOUR FAVORITE?
My thumbs, do those count?
49. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Pretty long ago, I don't cry all that often.
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes.
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VEGETABLE?
Potatoes. Do tubers count as veggies?
52. ANY BAD HABITS?
Drinking a beverage to the very last gulp and then abandonning it. So I wind up with mugs, glasses, cans, bottles, etc. all with 1 drink left in them.
53. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF?
I don't put CDs on a shelf...
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably. I get a long with most people, even if I don't like them and they know it. I tend to still remain civil.
55. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL?
Yeah, but only to Chris. I tell him everything so if you have a secret you don't want Chris to know, don't tell me.
56. DO LOOKS MATTER?
No. What if you went blind tomorrow? The fact that you have a hot girlfriend wouldn't mean squat anymore if her attitude was sour.
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER?
I release a lot of emotion through my art, happiness, saddness, anger, pen and paper do them well. Sometimes a good old fashioned "#*$&!" works best though.
58. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
Our shop.
59. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
Not really, I'm very objective about people. I don't expect them to be douchebags, but I also don't expect them to be kind either.
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?
I had this little imported glow in the dark Hello Kitty toy when I was really young. I used to take it with me EVERYWHERE. Tragic story really. You know how things that glow in the dark glow brightest if you hold them up to the light before turning it off? Well, I stuck Hello Kitty in a lamp cover to charge her up real nice and good. Being the 4 year old I was didn't know that light bulbs got hot, so I left her there while I went and watched TV, I think I was watching David The Gnome... Anyway, when I came back she had melted. I was devistated.
61. ARE YOU AFRAID OF GROWING UP?
Growing up doesn't mean you can't still be a child at heart.
62. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Sarcasm, what's that?
63. ARE YOU RELIGIOUS?
Yes. But you would never know it.
64. DOES 11:11 MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?
It means I win! 11:11, 1:11, 2:22, 3:33, 4:44, 5:55!
66. DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS?
Yep.
67. WHAT IS THE MOST PAIN YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED?
Getting a spinal tap. In comparison nothing else comes even close. It is the pain by which all other pains are compared to reassure myself I can live through them.
68. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Depends on which shoes I'm wearing. If I'm wearing my old sprint shoes, yes. If I'm wearing my white and lime ADIDAS, no. If I'm wearing my military boots, no (they've got cheat zippers). If I'm wearing dress shoes, no cause they have no laces to tie.
69. LAST THING YOU SPILLED?
Fried rice.
70. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
Yes. I have 1 cat, a Mau/Maine Coon still living with my mother named Odin... and at home I have 1 American Shorthair named Spock, a beta named Sadeek, and two hermit crabs named Sven and Unaru.
71. WHAT IS THE LAST FURRY THING YOU TOUCHED?
Spock.
72. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS?
Orange, red, pink, blue, yellow.
73. WHAT'S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
The Hobbit.
74. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?
All of them, but they haven't come in yet, they're still well below the gum.
75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Yes. I command all of you to answer the quesions in this survey or face my iron fist (of doom)!
76. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM VACATION?
I've always wanted to go to southern Ireland.
77. LAST THING YOU ATE/DRANK?
Roasted chicken in gravy with peas and carrots and mashed potatoes. I'm drinking cranberry juice.
78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My grandpa.
79. WHATS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Their mannerisms.
80. DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?
Yes.
81. FAVORITE THING TO HATE?
SOE.
82. FAVORITE DRINK?
Hot Cocoa, though my choice may be influenced by the fact that it is below 20 degrees outside and there's 4 feet of snow on the ground.
83. FAVORITE ZODIAC SIGN?
I'm an Aries so that goes without saying. My favorite zodiac is supposed to be Libra.
84. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT?
Pingpong.
85. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HAIR COLOR?
This is a weird question. I think it depends on the person, whatever matches their skintone.
86. FAVORITE EYE COLOR?
I like unique eyes. Green, black, and all the mixtures in between.
87. DO YOU PREFER TALL OR SHORT?
Tall.
88. SIBLINGS?
1 biologically, 3 otherwise and I'm closer to those that aren't blood related than I am to the 1 that is.
89. FAVORITE MONTH?
October.
90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
Never had it.
91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
TMNT.
92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Hm, I don't know. Beginning of April is when all the tulips start popping up, so a day around there will do. Any day around there.
93. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
Nope.
94. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter.
95. Are you going to have fun this summer?
Guild vacation in Orlando, hell yes!
96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
Relationship. Singular.
97. WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
No clue. Me apparently.
98. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Probably Matt, yeah I'm calling you out grandma.
99. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?
Yes indeed.
100. WHO WERE YOU WITH LAST NIGHT?
Chris.
102. WHAT WOKE YOU UP THIS MORNING?
The alarm clock, but I went back to bed. Later on Chris woke me up.
103. WHERE ARE YOU?
In the bedroom at my desk.
104. DID YOU HUG OR KISS ANYONE TODAY?
Yes.
105. LEARN ANYTHING NEW LATELY?
You know, up until today I always thought that uh, that dogs laid eggs.
106. WHATS ON YOUR MIND?
Safety Dance by Men Without Hats.
107. WOULD YOU TAKE A BULLET FOR ANYONE?
I think I would without thinking about it for a few people... family mostly.
108. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?
In a comfy house. Doesn't have to be flashy, just cozy.
109. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A kid.
110. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?
Working at our shop, with a winter house in Florida and a summer house in Ohio.
111. WHO IS YOUR #1 ON MYSPACE?
Chris atm.
112. HAVE YOU EVER KISSED YOUR #1?
Yeah...
113. HOW OFTEN DO YOU LOG IN TO MYSPACE?
Daily. I have to check on my lil' sister!
114. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC DAILY?
Yes, we have internet radio playing at the shop.
115. ARE YOU A FAST TYPER?
Yes. Insanely fast..
116. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND?
We work on Saturday until 6 and on Sundays we go to dinner.
117. HAVE YOU EVER MOVED?
About once a year every year up until I was 15.
118. HAVE YOU EVER WON AN AWARD?
Yep yep.
119. DO YOU PLAY ANY SPORTS OR HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES THAT ARE UNUSUAL?
I spend all of my spare time playing video games. Many people think that's an odd hobby for women.
120. WHATS 1 PHRASE OR WORD YOU LOVE?
"lawl"
121. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY?
April 15!
122. WHEN WERE YOU THE SADDEST IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE?
When one of my best friends committed suicide.
When I was forcibly relocated to Ohio in 8th grade.
123. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SONG WRITTEN ABOUT YOU?
Yes.
124. WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO BEFORE BED?
Sometimes we fall asleep witht he tv on. Now that we go to bed early it's usually something like Forensic Files, CSI, or Family Guy. When we used to go to bed at 5am it was always a Girls Gone Wild infomercial. -_-
125. DO YOU HAVE A JOB?
Perfect PC. I don't just have a job, I have my own business!
126.WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
Spock, my Grandpa, my nephews, almonds in chocolate, crunchy Autumn leaves, tulips...
127. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5'9"
128. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?
Green-brown-gray, in rings around the pupil.
129. DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS?
My ears only.
130. WHAT'RE YOU WEARING?
An oversized "I eat NOOBS" tee shirt, and a pair of fluffy socks.
131. DO YOUGET MOTION SICKNESS?
Everytime I get into a vehicle or play an FPS.
132. IN 1 WORD DESCRIBE 2006: Wonderful.
133. FIRST KISS IN 2007: Chris.
134. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE IN PRISON?
I had an uncle there.
135. HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN A RIB?
A couple actually.
136. WOULD YOU RATHER BE A GUY OR A GIRL?
I enjoy being a woman despite the monthly annoyances.
137. HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN EATING DISORDER?
No. I love food to much to neglect or waste it.
138. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN AN INTER-RACIAL RELATIONSHIP?
Yes.
139. DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY INT HE WAR RIGHTNOW?
Yes.
140. ARE YOU STRAIGHT EDGE?
Drug Free? Yes. Caffiene free? No. Alcohol free? No.
141. WHAT KIND OF BIRTHC ONTROL DO YOU USE?
Ortho Evra. It's a weekly patch proven to be more effective than the pill.
142. ARE YOU A COUNTRY GUY/GIRL OR A CITY GUY/GIRL?
Combination of both.
143. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?
Ambidextrous.
144. YOUR HERITAGE?
Irish and Native American.
145. YOUR MOST MISSED MEMORY?
Catching frogs as a kid was always fun.
146. WHAT WERE YOU DOING...
1 MINUTE AGO: This survey...
1 HOUR AGO: Playing videogames at work.
1 DAY AGO: Going out to dinner with a client.
1 WEEK AGO: Playing Vanguard, double exp!
1 YEAR AGO: Playing SWG.
147. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?
Kicking a dumb bitches ass for messing with my sister.
Janice moving. :(
Tiger pride!
W.A.Y.C. and the ensemble.
The weird boy who would put Tea Animals (the little glass figurines) in my desk before I got there...
The time all the little cartons of milk went bad and the lunch ladies tried to pass off lumpy milk as "milk shakes".
Science camp at the end of the year.
Getting sick and almost dying...
148. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Moving from Michigan to Ohio.
Ms. Moran's Language Arts class.
Meeting Tali.
Nights Into Dreams.
Making costumes.
Lawn ordament thievery.
Teen Nights.
Tao's puppies.
The Renesance Fair.
Going to Geauga Lake just to chill.
149. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?
Skipping school when Tali got suspended.
Living at Tali's house (usually hidden under her bed).
Hiding kittens from Tali's dad.
Detention, after hours, and Mr. Peterson.
Spending weeks in the hospital.
Our attendance officer being THE most rude inconsiderate bitch ever.
Hanging out with all the girls (Tali, Ashly, Lena, Angela, Melinda, Lindsey, Gina, Dona) in Choir first period.
Thanksgiving at Lindsey's Dad's house.
Baking cakes with Gina in Home Ec.
Going to TPT shows especially at the fair when some redneck told me I had "purty hair."
"Lemon or Grape?" the great Jolly Rancher conspiracy in Algebra with Kim.
Raves with school the following day.
Driving around aimlessly.
Spring break in Florida with Ashly, and getting really sick.
Spring Break camping in the woods with the girls.
Mike Hunt getting a boner on our field trip to the Cleveland Courthouse.
Having to practically sneak out of the hospital in order to make it to Graduation.
150. There is no 150!
I've got a small piece of lead stuck in my upper thigh from being stabbed by some psycho with a pencil. It's been there for years now, it looks like a little blue circle.
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
Something I sketched and water colored.
3. WHAT DOES YOUR PHONE LOOK LIKE?
It's an older model cell phone, flips open and it's blue and silver.
4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
Anything that appeals to me at the moment.
5. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT DESKTOP PICTURE?
A plushie Mashimaro, it looks like someone took his photograph at a bus stop or on a park bench perhaps. The background is shot out of focus, but it's definitely a well lit bench of some kind.
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
My sketch pad. I was going to bring it into the shop but forgot it at the last minute. I've got this sketch in my mind and I can see it laid out perfectly, but I can't do a damned thing about it because I've got no suitable paper or ink here. It's of a girl sort of glancing off to the side, she looks to be contemplating a difficult choice or maybe considering the consequences of a difficult choice she's made in the past. Why? I don't know, it just popped into my head the other day and I haven't been able to forget it since.
7. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GAY MARRIAGE?
Are you comparing gay marriage to say, Santa Claus? Anyway, yes. Love is love, it's not my place to dictate someone else's lovelife.
8. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN?
Somewhere around 10am.
9. ARE YOUR PARENTS STILL TOGETHER?
I've never met my father, so I'm going to have to say no.
10. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
Panic! At The Disco.
11. DO YOU GET SCARED OF THE DARK?
Scared of banging my knees or stubbing my toes, maybe.
12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
Chris, he can be an asshole sometimes.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?
Victoria's Secret "Angels" smells very ethereal. Aptly named I guess.
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Dark and dark.
15. DO YOU LIKE PAINKILLERS?
No, even when I need them I always hesitate and wait until it's unbearable.
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?
Coffee.
17. FAVE PIZZA TOPPING?
Spinach.
18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A warm homemade cinnamon roll with gooey icing on top.
19. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?
Chris.
20. DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE?
English and senseless spanish. No comer la gato, etc. I can write in Phoehecian, Aurabesh and I used to be able to write in Japanese and Hebrew though now I only recognize a few of the characters. I know the sign language alphabet if that counts for anything. <--- Unbeknown to me at the time, it counts for a lot!
21. WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT SOMEONE GAVE YOU?
I'm still waiting for one from last year. I think the last was uhm... Viva Pinata, does that count?
My birthday is this Sunday though!
22. DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE?
Sometimes.
23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?
In a couple of places.
24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
Anything comfortable.
25. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM CAR?
A horse.
26. DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTER-LIFE?
Absolutely.
27. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MARRIAGE?
It's something that should be taken more seriously by most people. You're devoting your life to another person, that's nothing to take lightly.
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Love isn't a choice.
29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Let them know, especially if you think highly of them. You should remind them often how important they are to you, you never know when it may be too late.
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED?
3!
31. BLONDE OR BRUNETTE?
I'm blond right now, but I'd rather not be.
32. WHAT IS THE ONE PHONE NUMBER THAT SHOWS UP ON YOUR PHONE THE MOST?
My mother. She has a tendancy to call me and hang up forgetting to tell me something important so she has to always call me again.
33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
Inconsiderate people.
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE U.S.?
I've been to Canada.
35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
Chocolate.
36. WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT YOU GAVE?
I got Chris a 2GB memory card for his PSP and hid it inside a box of chocolates for Valentines Day.
37. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY?
Thanksgiving because the family usually comes together.
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Not me... never... /sarcasm
39. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE THIS?
Taking a nap on the shop futon.
40. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I'd have them fix my Hello Kitty pencil, the little pocket clip broke off a few years ago. Oh, you meant something else didn't you?
41. WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Morgan, Milena, Janice, Holly, and Heidi.
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My art? I don't know.
43. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
Import vodka from other countries.
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
Hm, I actually have no idea. Something thoughtful or something fun.
45. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Jean was my grandmother's name.
46. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
Only shooting stars, sometimes airplanes if I'm drunk.
47. whats your favorite color?
Orange.
48. WHICH FINGER[S] IS YOUR FAVORITE?
My thumbs, do those count?
49. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Pretty long ago, I don't cry all that often.
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes.
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VEGETABLE?
Potatoes. Do tubers count as veggies?
52. ANY BAD HABITS?
Drinking a beverage to the very last gulp and then abandonning it. So I wind up with mugs, glasses, cans, bottles, etc. all with 1 drink left in them.
53. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF?
I don't put CDs on a shelf...
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Probably. I get a long with most people, even if I don't like them and they know it. I tend to still remain civil.
55. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL?
Yeah, but only to Chris. I tell him everything so if you have a secret you don't want Chris to know, don't tell me.
56. DO LOOKS MATTER?
No. What if you went blind tomorrow? The fact that you have a hot girlfriend wouldn't mean squat anymore if her attitude was sour.
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER?
I release a lot of emotion through my art, happiness, saddness, anger, pen and paper do them well. Sometimes a good old fashioned "#*$&!" works best though.
58. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
Our shop.
59. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
Not really, I'm very objective about people. I don't expect them to be douchebags, but I also don't expect them to be kind either.
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?
I had this little imported glow in the dark Hello Kitty toy when I was really young. I used to take it with me EVERYWHERE. Tragic story really. You know how things that glow in the dark glow brightest if you hold them up to the light before turning it off? Well, I stuck Hello Kitty in a lamp cover to charge her up real nice and good. Being the 4 year old I was didn't know that light bulbs got hot, so I left her there while I went and watched TV, I think I was watching David The Gnome... Anyway, when I came back she had melted. I was devistated.
61. ARE YOU AFRAID OF GROWING UP?
Growing up doesn't mean you can't still be a child at heart.
62. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Sarcasm, what's that?
63. ARE YOU RELIGIOUS?
Yes. But you would never know it.
64. DOES 11:11 MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU?
It means I win! 11:11, 1:11, 2:22, 3:33, 4:44, 5:55!
66. DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS?
Yep.
67. WHAT IS THE MOST PAIN YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED?
Getting a spinal tap. In comparison nothing else comes even close. It is the pain by which all other pains are compared to reassure myself I can live through them.
68. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Depends on which shoes I'm wearing. If I'm wearing my old sprint shoes, yes. If I'm wearing my white and lime ADIDAS, no. If I'm wearing my military boots, no (they've got cheat zippers). If I'm wearing dress shoes, no cause they have no laces to tie.
69. LAST THING YOU SPILLED?
Fried rice.
70. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
Yes. I have 1 cat, a Mau/Maine Coon still living with my mother named Odin... and at home I have 1 American Shorthair named Spock, a beta named Sadeek, and two hermit crabs named Sven and Unaru.
71. WHAT IS THE LAST FURRY THING YOU TOUCHED?
Spock.
72. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS?
Orange, red, pink, blue, yellow.
73. WHAT'S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
The Hobbit.
74. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?
All of them, but they haven't come in yet, they're still well below the gum.
75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Yes. I command all of you to answer the quesions in this survey or face my iron fist (of doom)!
76. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM VACATION?
I've always wanted to go to southern Ireland.
77. LAST THING YOU ATE/DRANK?
Roasted chicken in gravy with peas and carrots and mashed potatoes. I'm drinking cranberry juice.
78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My grandpa.
79. WHATS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Their mannerisms.
80. DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?
Yes.
81. FAVORITE THING TO HATE?
SOE.
82. FAVORITE DRINK?
Hot Cocoa, though my choice may be influenced by the fact that it is below 20 degrees outside and there's 4 feet of snow on the ground.
83. FAVORITE ZODIAC SIGN?
I'm an Aries so that goes without saying. My favorite zodiac is supposed to be Libra.
84. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT?
Pingpong.
85. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HAIR COLOR?
This is a weird question. I think it depends on the person, whatever matches their skintone.
86. FAVORITE EYE COLOR?
I like unique eyes. Green, black, and all the mixtures in between.
87. DO YOU PREFER TALL OR SHORT?
Tall.
88. SIBLINGS?
1 biologically, 3 otherwise and I'm closer to those that aren't blood related than I am to the 1 that is.
89. FAVORITE MONTH?
October.
90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
Never had it.
91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
TMNT.
92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Hm, I don't know. Beginning of April is when all the tulips start popping up, so a day around there will do. Any day around there.
93. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
Nope.
94. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Winter.
95. Are you going to have fun this summer?
Guild vacation in Orlando, hell yes!
96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
Relationship. Singular.
97. WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
No clue. Me apparently.
98. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Probably Matt, yeah I'm calling you out grandma.
99. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?
Yes indeed.
100. WHO WERE YOU WITH LAST NIGHT?
Chris.
102. WHAT WOKE YOU UP THIS MORNING?
The alarm clock, but I went back to bed. Later on Chris woke me up.
103. WHERE ARE YOU?
In the bedroom at my desk.
104. DID YOU HUG OR KISS ANYONE TODAY?
Yes.
105. LEARN ANYTHING NEW LATELY?
You know, up until today I always thought that uh, that dogs laid eggs.
106. WHATS ON YOUR MIND?
Safety Dance by Men Without Hats.
107. WOULD YOU TAKE A BULLET FOR ANYONE?
I think I would without thinking about it for a few people... family mostly.
108. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?
In a comfy house. Doesn't have to be flashy, just cozy.
109. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
A kid.
110. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?
Working at our shop, with a winter house in Florida and a summer house in Ohio.
111. WHO IS YOUR #1 ON MYSPACE?
Chris atm.
112. HAVE YOU EVER KISSED YOUR #1?
Yeah...
113. HOW OFTEN DO YOU LOG IN TO MYSPACE?
Daily. I have to check on my lil' sister!
114. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC DAILY?
Yes, we have internet radio playing at the shop.
115. ARE YOU A FAST TYPER?
Yes. Insanely fast..
116. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND?
We work on Saturday until 6 and on Sundays we go to dinner.
117. HAVE YOU EVER MOVED?
About once a year every year up until I was 15.
118. HAVE YOU EVER WON AN AWARD?
Yep yep.
119. DO YOU PLAY ANY SPORTS OR HAVE ANY OTHER HOBBIES THAT ARE UNUSUAL?
I spend all of my spare time playing video games. Many people think that's an odd hobby for women.
120. WHATS 1 PHRASE OR WORD YOU LOVE?
"lawl"
121. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY?
April 15!
122. WHEN WERE YOU THE SADDEST IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE?
When one of my best friends committed suicide.
When I was forcibly relocated to Ohio in 8th grade.
123. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A SONG WRITTEN ABOUT YOU?
Yes.
124. WHAT DO YOU LISTEN TO BEFORE BED?
Sometimes we fall asleep witht he tv on. Now that we go to bed early it's usually something like Forensic Files, CSI, or Family Guy. When we used to go to bed at 5am it was always a Girls Gone Wild infomercial. -_-
125. DO YOU HAVE A JOB?
Perfect PC. I don't just have a job, I have my own business!
126.WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
Spock, my Grandpa, my nephews, almonds in chocolate, crunchy Autumn leaves, tulips...
127. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5'9"
128. WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?
Green-brown-gray, in rings around the pupil.
129. DO YOU HAVE ANY PIERCINGS?
My ears only.
130. WHAT'RE YOU WEARING?
An oversized "I eat NOOBS" tee shirt, and a pair of fluffy socks.
131. DO YOUGET MOTION SICKNESS?
Everytime I get into a vehicle or play an FPS.
132. IN 1 WORD DESCRIBE 2006: Wonderful.
133. FIRST KISS IN 2007: Chris.
134. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE IN PRISON?
I had an uncle there.
135. HAVE YOU EVER BROKEN A RIB?
A couple actually.
136. WOULD YOU RATHER BE A GUY OR A GIRL?
I enjoy being a woman despite the monthly annoyances.
137. HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN EATING DISORDER?
No. I love food to much to neglect or waste it.
138. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN AN INTER-RACIAL RELATIONSHIP?
Yes.
139. DO YOU HAVE ANY FRIENDS OR FAMILY INT HE WAR RIGHTNOW?
Yes.
140. ARE YOU STRAIGHT EDGE?
Drug Free? Yes. Caffiene free? No. Alcohol free? No.
141. WHAT KIND OF BIRTHC ONTROL DO YOU USE?
Ortho Evra. It's a weekly patch proven to be more effective than the pill.
142. ARE YOU A COUNTRY GUY/GIRL OR A CITY GUY/GIRL?
Combination of both.
143. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?
Ambidextrous.
144. YOUR HERITAGE?
Irish and Native American.
145. YOUR MOST MISSED MEMORY?
Catching frogs as a kid was always fun.
146. WHAT WERE YOU DOING...
1 MINUTE AGO: This survey...
1 HOUR AGO: Playing videogames at work.
1 DAY AGO: Going out to dinner with a client.
1 WEEK AGO: Playing Vanguard, double exp!
1 YEAR AGO: Playing SWG.
147. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?
Kicking a dumb bitches ass for messing with my sister.
Janice moving. :(
Tiger pride!
W.A.Y.C. and the ensemble.
The weird boy who would put Tea Animals (the little glass figurines) in my desk before I got there...
The time all the little cartons of milk went bad and the lunch ladies tried to pass off lumpy milk as "milk shakes".
Science camp at the end of the year.
Getting sick and almost dying...
148. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOST ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Moving from Michigan to Ohio.
Ms. Moran's Language Arts class.
Meeting Tali.
Nights Into Dreams.
Making costumes.
Lawn ordament thievery.
Teen Nights.
Tao's puppies.
The Renesance Fair.
Going to Geauga Lake just to chill.
149. WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?
Skipping school when Tali got suspended.
Living at Tali's house (usually hidden under her bed).
Hiding kittens from Tali's dad.
Detention, after hours, and Mr. Peterson.
Spending weeks in the hospital.
Our attendance officer being THE most rude inconsiderate bitch ever.
Hanging out with all the girls (Tali, Ashly, Lena, Angela, Melinda, Lindsey, Gina, Dona) in Choir first period.
Thanksgiving at Lindsey's Dad's house.
Baking cakes with Gina in Home Ec.
Going to TPT shows especially at the fair when some redneck told me I had "purty hair."
"Lemon or Grape?" the great Jolly Rancher conspiracy in Algebra with Kim.
Raves with school the following day.
Driving around aimlessly.
Spring break in Florida with Ashly, and getting really sick.
Spring Break camping in the woods with the girls.
Mike Hunt getting a boner on our field trip to the Cleveland Courthouse.
Having to practically sneak out of the hospital in order to make it to Graduation.
150. There is no 150!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Boredom & The Alias Game
1. YOUR REAL NAME: (the one given to you at birth, duh)
Inari Seng
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus -izzle)
Ina-izzle
3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)
Orange Elephant
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street name)
Jean Delores
5. YOUR STARWARS NAME: (first name: the first 3 letters of your last name & first 2 letters of your first name. last name: first 2 letters of mom's maiden name & first 3 letters of the city you grew up in)
Senin Hawya
6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink).
Pink Cranberry
7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of you dads middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name(no siblings than best friend), last letter of your moms middle name)
Nneaohs
8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mothers maiden name)
I'm supposed to be under protection!
9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black and the name of one your pets)
Black Kharma
10. YOUR PORNSTAR NAME: (first pets name and your first street)
Shadow Plum
Inari Seng
2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus -izzle)
Ina-izzle
3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)
Orange Elephant
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street name)
Jean Delores
5. YOUR STARWARS NAME: (first name: the first 3 letters of your last name & first 2 letters of your first name. last name: first 2 letters of mom's maiden name & first 3 letters of the city you grew up in)
Senin Hawya
6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink).
Pink Cranberry
7. YOUR IRAQI NAME: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, any letter of your middle name, 2nd letter of your moms maiden name, 3rd letter of you dads middle name, 1st letter of a siblings first name(no siblings than best friend), last letter of your moms middle name)
Nneaohs
8. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mothers maiden name)
I'm supposed to be under protection!
9. YOUR GOTH NAME: (black and the name of one your pets)
Black Kharma
10. YOUR PORNSTAR NAME: (first pets name and your first street)
Shadow Plum
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Obi-wan Kenobi Crabs?
While passing time in Kent waiting for my mother to get off of work for a business meeting pertaining to Perfect PC, I stopped by the super market to see what they had in the way of futons for the shop. While there I passed through the pet section to look at the fish. Let's face it, the fish are the coolest part of any super market. Across from the goldfish were little 3"x3" circular tubs with hermit crabs in them. Noticing two of the younger crabs trapped in much-to-small for them shells I decided to save them from their purgatory, and brought them home.
Well, that is a lie. I did not have time to stop by the house before the business meeting so I took the crabs to dinner. There's nothing quite like the strange looks you receive when your waitress comes to the table and notices live crabs sitting beside the condiments. Especially at a fancy restaurant.
Walmart was so ill-prepared to care for hermit crabs that it was mind boggling that they even had them in stock. The crabs I purchased are Ecuadorian crabs, meaning from the coastline and they had them all crammed into little containers of freshwater. They didn't even keep hermit crab food or vitamins in stock! So while you could buy them there you'd have nothing to feed them unless you made another stop elsewhere and bought it separately.
I wound up going to the nearest pet shop in Kent and picking up a bottle of all-around balanced nutritional supplement hermit crab food, though you can feed them anything (from fruit to french fries) it's important for them to have a healthy primary dish.
I'm now the caretakers of Sven and Unaru! They're living contently in a small 5 gallon aquarium with sandstone pebbles, a marble freshwater bathing pool (for hydration requirements) with a sponge in it (for humidity needs), various shells for them to move into when they outgrow their current shells (which will be very soon due to the poor conditions they were living in at the store), a small piece of driftwood for them to climb around on (Sven loves this), a lil' upturned clam shell filled with moist food and a second upturned clam shell filled with salt water because as Ecuadorian crabs they MUST have that to survive.
The crabs themselves are smaller than 1". In an orange shell we've got Sven and in a dark shell we've got Unaru. Aptly named I might add because Sven is always up and about first thing in the morning, whereas Unaru digs herself a hole into the pebbles in the morning so she can sneak in more sleep -- but you can coax her up by offering food. Similar to myself I'm told.
Well, that is a lie. I did not have time to stop by the house before the business meeting so I took the crabs to dinner. There's nothing quite like the strange looks you receive when your waitress comes to the table and notices live crabs sitting beside the condiments. Especially at a fancy restaurant.
Walmart was so ill-prepared to care for hermit crabs that it was mind boggling that they even had them in stock. The crabs I purchased are Ecuadorian crabs, meaning from the coastline and they had them all crammed into little containers of freshwater. They didn't even keep hermit crab food or vitamins in stock! So while you could buy them there you'd have nothing to feed them unless you made another stop elsewhere and bought it separately.
I wound up going to the nearest pet shop in Kent and picking up a bottle of all-around balanced nutritional supplement hermit crab food, though you can feed them anything (from fruit to french fries) it's important for them to have a healthy primary dish.
I'm now the caretakers of Sven and Unaru! They're living contently in a small 5 gallon aquarium with sandstone pebbles, a marble freshwater bathing pool (for hydration requirements) with a sponge in it (for humidity needs), various shells for them to move into when they outgrow their current shells (which will be very soon due to the poor conditions they were living in at the store), a small piece of driftwood for them to climb around on (Sven loves this), a lil' upturned clam shell filled with moist food and a second upturned clam shell filled with salt water because as Ecuadorian crabs they MUST have that to survive.
The crabs themselves are smaller than 1". In an orange shell we've got Sven and in a dark shell we've got Unaru. Aptly named I might add because Sven is always up and about first thing in the morning, whereas Unaru digs herself a hole into the pebbles in the morning so she can sneak in more sleep -- but you can coax her up by offering food. Similar to myself I'm told.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Inari > PSP
So after a day of thinking about it, I went to the store and I bought my shiny new PSP. I even paid in cash, which I never do because I dislike handling money. I had exact cash and intended to be all suave and pay that way, but I didn't include taxation in my equation so I wound up having to break another 20.
It's great because it's a version .71 (not the newer .82) so I can mod it and download old games that aren't actually available for the PSP.
This means any game I own now or in the future, no matter what console or handheld it was originally designed for, will be playable on my PSP with a little assistance from a computer. Because I would only ever download things that I've already paid for myself and already own. Obligatory disclaimer out of the way!
For example's sake: even though Square is only re-releasing FFVI for the GBA:A (which I also own, original pink import) I can technically buy it for my GBA, rip it to my PC's HD and reformat it for the PSP. Then hook up my PSP through the USB port and download it. Why? Good question really, since I already own a GBA and having bought the game (despite the fact it's US release is next month) I could just play it on my GBA... I guess the answer to that would be I like the PSP better.
Not that I intend to do this with FFVI's re-release for the GBA, that was just to give you an idea of what I meant since I know a lot of you noobs aren't gamers yourselves. Come to think of it, even WITH an example most of you probably still have no idea what I meant. So nevermind.
It's great because it's a version .71 (not the newer .82) so I can mod it and download old games that aren't actually available for the PSP.
This means any game I own now or in the future, no matter what console or handheld it was originally designed for, will be playable on my PSP with a little assistance from a computer. Because I would only ever download things that I've already paid for myself and already own. Obligatory disclaimer out of the way!
For example's sake: even though Square is only re-releasing FFVI for the GBA:A (which I also own, original pink import) I can technically buy it for my GBA, rip it to my PC's HD and reformat it for the PSP. Then hook up my PSP through the USB port and download it. Why? Good question really, since I already own a GBA and having bought the game (despite the fact it's US release is next month) I could just play it on my GBA... I guess the answer to that would be I like the PSP better.
Not that I intend to do this with FFVI's re-release for the GBA, that was just to give you an idea of what I meant since I know a lot of you noobs aren't gamers yourselves. Come to think of it, even WITH an example most of you probably still have no idea what I meant. So nevermind.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Computer Upgrade
So I bit the bullet and fully upgraded my PC for the release of all the new graphics-heavy games coming out this year. Bought the parts myself and had put it all together even though putting together PCs is one of my least favorite things to do.
The key component being my shiney new BFG Tech GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB PCI Express graphics card, featuring the world's first DirectX 10 GPU. The sucker's about 12" long and 4" wide with a height of roughly 1.5" and it emits a glow.
 |
| It makes the room look evil. Eviiiil! |
Monday, January 8, 2007
The 1 Thing
Target sells everything -- or so I thought!. You can go to one aisle and buy an LCD and walk a couple aisles over and buy a freaking slice of pizza, it's crazy. Any time I need something random, I always go to Target first because I always find exactly what I'm looking for, and they have those cool cement balls outside which are neat.
What is this 1 thing you ask? What could possibly be beyond Target's all-reaching economical grasp? Paint. Yep, paint.
I went there looking for some paint with which to paint our logo for shipping computers only to search the ENTIRE store and come up empty handed. To make sure I wasn't just somehow missing it, I asked a clerk. His response, "Ugh, yeah... we don't sell that here." and he sounded ashamed when he said it. Like, he knew they should have it in stock but for some maniacal reason they don't, ever.
So I say to you, wtf?
You probably thought this was going to be something deep and philosophical because of the title. You should know better. Really.
What is this 1 thing you ask? What could possibly be beyond Target's all-reaching economical grasp? Paint. Yep, paint.
I went there looking for some paint with which to paint our logo for shipping computers only to search the ENTIRE store and come up empty handed. To make sure I wasn't just somehow missing it, I asked a clerk. His response, "Ugh, yeah... we don't sell that here." and he sounded ashamed when he said it. Like, he knew they should have it in stock but for some maniacal reason they don't, ever.
So I say to you, wtf?
You probably thought this was going to be something deep and philosophical because of the title. You should know better. Really.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Schedule Alterations
Due to the completion of Perfect PC and our impending grand opening I have been forced to alter my sleeping habits. From going to bed at 6am to waking up at 6am! Yikes. Thus bedtime comes a lot earlier from here on out. No more night owl behavior for me! Not that it's a bad thing, well I will miss the silence and peacefulness of night time, but it's for an awesome reason! I feel like grandma Matt though.
Saturday, January 6, 2007
Viva Pinata
If you own an Xbox 360 and do not own this game, there is something severely wrong with you. It's horrendously addicting, you'll love it and never want to put it down ever. I'll admit watching the videos prerelease for the game left me thinking it was a ridiculous idea for a video game. However, once I bought it I quickly realized the ridiculousness of it all is what makes it so great.
I'm not even sure how to appropriately describe the gameplay... it's like Harvest Moon made whoopie with Pokemon and 9 months later this is the fruit of their loins. Only better. Buy it, buy it now!
Here's the run down. You lure wild Pinata into your allotted garden space using various nefarious means and coax them into living there. Once you've attracted 2 of a kind you can play a little mood music, dim the lights, and breed them to make baby Pinata. Then they can live happily ever after in their customized Pinata homes.
Or not. Pinata are also prone to eat each other, or get sick and die and by die I mean explode into pieces of candy and confetti. It'll keep you busy and giggling like a school girl the entire time, I promise.
I'm not even sure how to appropriately describe the gameplay... it's like Harvest Moon made whoopie with Pokemon and 9 months later this is the fruit of their loins. Only better. Buy it, buy it now!
Here's the run down. You lure wild Pinata into your allotted garden space using various nefarious means and coax them into living there. Once you've attracted 2 of a kind you can play a little mood music, dim the lights, and breed them to make baby Pinata. Then they can live happily ever after in their customized Pinata homes.
Or not. Pinata are also prone to eat each other, or get sick and die and by die I mean explode into pieces of candy and confetti. It'll keep you busy and giggling like a school girl the entire time, I promise.
Monday, January 1, 2007
2007, Here We Come
Happy New Year everyone!
In 2006 I experienced many things. I'll list just a few of them that I'm especially grateful for...
1) Chris and I moved in together!
1a) We then adopted our kitten Spock.
1b) Now we're starting our own business!
2) I found my long lost little sister!
3) Getting my hands on those next gen consoles!
3a) PS3
3b) XBox 360 HD
3c) Nintendo Wii
4) Watching my nephew William take his first steps and say his first words.
5) Witnessing my nephew Jaiden grow healthier.
6) The continued friendship of my friends both offline and those online.
6a) We met Rinna irl!
7) Meeting my mother's new puppy Ziggy.
8) The continued well being of not only myself but my friends and family.
9) The abolishment of smoking in all public venues in the state of Ohio.
10) The awe inspiring fantasticness of Viva Pinata.
My resolution is to procrastinate less!
In 2006 I experienced many things. I'll list just a few of them that I'm especially grateful for...
1) Chris and I moved in together!
1a) We then adopted our kitten Spock.
1b) Now we're starting our own business!
2) I found my long lost little sister!
3) Getting my hands on those next gen consoles!
3a) PS3
3b) XBox 360 HD
3c) Nintendo Wii
4) Watching my nephew William take his first steps and say his first words.
5) Witnessing my nephew Jaiden grow healthier.
6) The continued friendship of my friends both offline and those online.
6a) We met Rinna irl!
7) Meeting my mother's new puppy Ziggy.
8) The continued well being of not only myself but my friends and family.
9) The abolishment of smoking in all public venues in the state of Ohio.
10) The awe inspiring fantasticness of Viva Pinata.
My resolution is to procrastinate less!
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