My little scaredy cat!

I love my Smokey Cat, but he really is a chicken in disguise. I'm in the livingroom stitching a little while ago (about 10:30PM) with the window across the room open, Smokey is in the window watching what's going on outside. My screen is a little loose but doesn't come out. All of a sudden there's a ruckus in the window and he jumps on to the table, does a weird hop-skip thing, and lands on the floor looking like some huge thing was over there. Of course, my first thought is that a garter snake or something came in the window lol. Not sure how possible that is, but my window is only about a foot or so off the ground. So, he's looking and looking from his safe spot on the floor, looking very concerned. I'm looking, also from MY safe spot, also looking very concerned, but don't see anything. After a while get gets back on the window sill but keeps looking down in the area of the floor and glass table where he did his little dance. Finally I see something move. I go over to investigate and I find...

a cricket. A stupid little black cricket. The thing will probably drive me crazy later but it got away from me because I was both laughing and disgusted by how that cat had me convinced something terrrrrrrible got in the house. Now back in the bedroom, he's practically attached to me at the hip. He's never been an outside cat, I know, but I can't believe he got so worked up over a cricket. I told him that he's suppoed to catch those things. Don't think that will be happening.

Yay, they're moving!

Don't remember if I posted this, but the loud obnoxious upstairs neighbors are moving! Of course, the downside is that they are banging around up there more and earlier and later than before, but it's for a good cause. This morning at 6AM I guess they decided to clean off their balcony, which is right above the window near where I sleep. It's been nice so the window's been open and all of a sudden there's this SPLASH because some of the water came in my window. I just slammed the window shut and figured I had to get up to go to work anyway.

Ever since these people moved in I've had lots of water problems. Before it was the kitchen sink, which was finally fixed when they put in a check valve. Only took a few years of flooding for that to get fixed, and now there's a decent amount of water damage in my apartment. With these people, I had water coming down into my kitchen because they were running a washing machine they claim not to run, then went out somewhere and it flooded their kitchen and came into mine. I'm also pretty sure they are the ones flushing things that aren't supposed to be flushed, which backs up my bathroom pretty badly. Every time this happens we find little blue aquarium rocks and they have an aquarium that holds these rocks. Now, I'm trying to get our landlord to do something about the bugs that have taken up residence. I've been there over 8 years now and this is the first time I've had this problem, and I'm pretty sure I know where it's coming from. Of course, if they'd spray the entire building at once instead of a little squirt in the apartment that is having the problem, maybe they'd get rid of them instead of chasing them.

So, I'm very glad these people are moving. I hope the replacements aren't worse -- it's always possible.

I'm so close to finishing Lady of the Flag it's driving me insane! I wish I'd had today off so I could finish the stitching. I'm down the the LIBERTY section at the bottom and have stitched some of it and a little of the area below it. I also was able to scratch a few items off my 101 list. Well, I posted here first but will be scratching them off momentarily. I did quite a bit of cleaning on Saturday and the backs of my legs are still pretty sore lol. I did a lot of scrubbing and I can't kneel because of a knee problem that causes a bump below my knee to stick out farther than my knee cap when my knee is bent and it hurts to put weight on it for very long. So, I guess I did more squat-type moves than I realized. Well, that's one way to get some added muscle. :)

Genetically altering people to be happy?

I heard something on the news previews this morning that really disturbed me. I can't find an article to support it, but they mentioned that rats had been genetically altered to be more happy and that it had some sort of application toward humans. Now, it was one of those teaser things, so I honestly don't know the "application" mentioned. However, I can't help but think of "The End of the Whole Mess" by Stephen King where the guy came out with something to make people happy and non-aggressive and put it in the water. Years later they found out it caused Alzheimers in everybody who drank the water. The thought of being genetically altered to be Happy Humans really disturbs me. Sure, it would be nice if less people were Prozac and similar drugs, but I'm sure there are better ways to deal with it.

Ick.

Learn something new every day

Got a few minutes here, but gotta get to work soon. I came in early to get extra work done, not blog. :)

Anyway, I didn't realize until yesterday that it's ASSumed that if a person at work asks a person of the opposite sex to lunch, they must be having an affair -- or at least, the person who did the asking "wants" the other person, if you catch my drift.

Apparently, I'm a very immoral person who intends to take away husbands from their wives because I have lunch with male coworkers at times. Granted, most of the people where I currently work are female, but in other places I've gone to lunch with a male co-worker. It was just the two of us, nobody else -- the horror!

Look, if you don't feel comfortable with that situation, fine. I guess, then, you need to be sure that your spouse doesn't get a job where he/she may need to travel with members of the opposite sex or have lunch meetings with a member of the opposite sex with nobody else around. I can't imagine it going over well with a bossman if somebody says they can't do their job because they have to eat or travel alone with a person of the opposite sex.

Maybe I'm just different. You know, Tim has hardly been home except for weekends for the past few months, helping his mom recover from her knee replacement surgery. This may be a huge shock to some people, but I TRUST HIM! I don't sit around and stew, calling him every second to be sure that's where he is. Another shocker -- sometimes he even goes to a bar and there are women there and he (gulp) talks to them! WHATEVER WILL I DO? Of course, he tells me that some drunk bimbo made a pass at him and laughs about it.

I'm sure there are people who think that, by "allowing" him to do what he wants, that I'm opening him up to temptation and that he'll cheat on me. Well, could be, but that's not my style and I'm more apt to trust my own gut and instincts than someone who doesn't know me. I'm also more willing to trust TIM than someone who doesn't really know me. I sometimes wonder how people live if they are constantly on the lookout for somebody trying to "steal" their spouse? I couldn't live like that, always wondering, watching every move he makes and that others make around him. What's the point of being in a relationship where you can't trust the person?

If part of your relationship is that your spouse feels the same way as you and doesn't put himself into any sort of lunch/travel/whatever with the opposite sex, great. It means you are both on the same wavelength and have the same thoughts about issues that are important to you. You trust each other to act a certain way. Well, Tim and I trust each other to also act a certain way, too.

Then again, I'm not married so my opinion doesn't matter. We don't have that little piece of paper that says we're legally married, therefore there's absolutely no committment, so it's just ASSumed one of us will cheat anyway, right?

Yeesh!

Been a while...

Didn't realize it had been so long since I'd been here. One good reason is that I went to the pool three times last week. It's so much easier going during lunchtime and working a little later than going before or after work.

You know how I went a little crazy a few months ago with the clothes shopping? Well, today I caught myself buying the newest "In Style" magazine for about $6. I don't think I've EVER bought a magazine that was only about clothes, makeup, shoes, etc. I have to admit there was some cool stuff in there, I really like a lot of the new stuff coming out. I intend to buy a few items, but probably a few trendy items at Old Navy or somewhere similar and one or two higher quality non-trendy pieces at Talbots. I honestly don't have a nice white collared shirt, and really should get one, and probably a few other staples. I really like that patterned and opaque tights are back. I love opaque tights! I need to be careful with patterned ones as I have big calves and even pinstripes will probably look really obvious going down them, but I like the idea of them, anyway. I also found a few places that sell boots for people like me -- short with big calves. I haven't worn tall boots in years and would love to be able to wear them with some of my skirts. I don't have a lot of winter skirts, but I have a few -- all black, of course. Well, there are a few that aren't black, but most of them are.

I think we're finally going to enter the 21st century and get DSL. I find that Cavalier has a good deal with unlimited long distance and DSL. I need to call them and find out how far from the closest transmitter I am, as if I'm too far away it won't be any faster than my dial-up and I'll go with Verizon instead. Verizon is more expensive, but I know the transmitter is 2 miles away because it's right outside the old Piano Lane office. We had great DSL while working there.

I'm almost done with a few items. "The Last Full Measure" is almost finished. I just finished reading about battle at Five Forks, and I believe that it's only a few days until the surrender. I'm also almost finished with the stitching on Lady of the Flag. The golden dress has gone on forever, but I'm finally down to the very edge or the dress that has a border and the blue area. Thank goodness! I love the design, but all that dress gets to me after a while.

Cool boss!

I love my boss, and work for a great place! I know I've said that before, but this time it's because of something completely selfish. She's letting me take an extra 30 minutes at lunch and make it up at the end of the day so that I can go to the pool during lunchtime! I sometimes could do this at my other job, but I often felt that they didn't approve even though I had permission. This way I can get in at least 30 minutes of swimming when I go, and then I can go back on Wednesdays for a class (or just swim before or after the class).

I also just noted on my 101 blog, that I finished "Gods and Generals" and started "The Last Full Measure." I can't believe that I actually had tears in my eyes when Stonewall Jackson died -- I'm a Yankee, dammit! Seriously though, I'm as interested in the Conferederate commanders as I am in the Union commanders, especially since many of the higher commanders in the Confederacy were much more competent than their equals in the Union, at least in the beginning of the war. I don't think that's a big secret. I also laughed out loud at the part near the end where Pickett makes his appearance smelling of some sort of cologne that he, not remembering the French name, calls it "fleur de frommage" -- flower of cheese -- and Lee thinks on it a second. I realize this is historical fiction, but the whole idea of that strikes me as pretty funny. Of course, I read both of these parts on the trainride home, so anyone who noticed me probably thought I was psychotic or something.

Various memes

I haven't answered the SBQ or Movie Meme in a while, so figured I'd do so before I forget.

Many of us have a few pairs of embroidery scissors and some even have
a "collection". How many pairs of scissors do you have? Feel free to
share a photo of your favorite pair or pairs with us! I only have 3 embroidery scissors. They aren't anything fancy but get the job done. One is for metallics only, the other two are for cotton and silk floss

Do you have a favorite needlework tool that you like to work with?
What is it and why do you like using it? I guess my favorite "tools" are my Q-snaps and my OTT-lite. I'll never go back to hoops again, and I can't stitch without that fantastic little light!

I personally collect film scores, the usually instrumental music played in the background of a film (like the Jaws theme). Do you tend to notice the score in a film or not? How many film scores do you own? Do you have a favorite? Do you have a favorite film score composer?

Oh, I totally notice the score in a film! I don't own a lot of them, though. I do own the one for LOTR: Return of the King and intend to buy those from the other two LOTR movies. I also own the Titanic score, although I don't listen to it much. I'd like to get the soundtrack to Clerks, just so I can have that "Chewbacca" song on CD. I liked the score to Gladiator, too. Well, there are a lot that I like. It also makes a difference if I don't like the music. I've said it before, but I can't watch Bladerunner because I can't stand the Tangerine Dream music.

Well, at least it's not 100 degrees anymore

I was hoping we'd get a bigger cold front than we did, then I remembered it IS August in Philadelphia, so I can't really expect it to get as cool as where my parents live in the Finger Lakes Region in NY. :) I went for a walk today and the humidity feels pretty low and I think the temp is in the high 80s. It's still a bit warmer than I'd like, but I'll definitely take it for August 5! I'm still looking forward to October.

I was very happy to see the other article about the internship programs for which I do PR in the Jewish Exponent on Thursday. It was a very well-written article and Jared was fantastic about checking all his facts and getting details. He actually called us to find out what types of flowers were planted -- great attention to detail!

I have made an appointment to see a car dealer at the end of this month. I just can't wait that many months before getting a car, I'll go crazy obsessing about it if I do, and take everyone else with me. My friend is going with me so it will be easier for me to walk away if I need to avoid being taken for a ride.

I've been working away at Lady of the Flag. Have I mentioned that her dress goes on forever? I think I'll be able to meet my 9/11 deadline, though. I'm on the bottom part of the dress well under the flag and right above the blue "Liberty" section. I'll get a picture this weekend after I stitch a bit more.

I'm almost done with "Gods and Generals." Jeff Shaara's writing isn't the same as his dad's, but it's pretty good. I like Jeef's "The Glorious Cause," also, but of course that's about the American Revolution. I'll probably start "The Last Full Measure" soon, but will read something else between the two. I'm also plodding along a bit on "Al Smith's America." It was written in the 1950s and I'm just not fond of the writing style, but I bought it for $2 at a used bookstore so it's not a big deal. I would like to finish it, though. I have learned a bit more about Al Smith than I knew, and that was the object. I also recently bought those little hardback classics at Barnes and Noble. They were on sale, buy 2 get 1 free, and are about $6 to begin with -- pretty good deal. I bought "The Brothers Karamazov," "Crime and Punishment" and "The Last of the Mohicans." If I like the way they handle, I'll buy more the next time they go on sale.