Taking Myself "Offline"

From the latest NIH MedlinePlus magazine: "If you're exhausted from constantly working... take a vacation--they're not luxuries, they're physical necessities." Amen, brother. So S and I are scheduled to go to, of all places, South Padre Island (his choice--remember kids, he's 5 years younger than I) the week of my birthday. This trip will celebrate both my b-day and his having graduated from the police academy on May 2! We haven't gotten away anywhere since our honeymoon which incidentally was only an overnighter and over 2 years ago to boot.

I texted G. to ask what else there is to do on S. Padre besides drink and go to the beach and he said that was pretty much it. But I got to thinking that maybe it'll be good for me to have a real down-time vacation where I am not constantly dragging myself to educational, cultural opportunities like museums and whatnot for once. (You should see me in action in NYC--I'm a nonstop crazed culture hag, trying to see as many museums, music venues, historical sites, etc. etc. as humanly possible.) If all I have to do in S. Padre is bring a bunch of books to read on the beach, and for S to bring a bunch of movies to watch on the laptop, that could be a very good thing for us. Best of all, the trip should be mostly paid for even by the time we go! I'm picking up as many hours at Job #2 in order to facilitate that. Plus, I had a small vacation savings account fund saved up already.

I'm also having to take this upcoming weekend off, sort of. I have not been able to go on patrol the entire month due to having to take care of the baby while S was doing Saturday academy training events, and having to work at Job #1 one Saturday. Tomorrow Job #2 has requested that I come in for one of their events, and since mo' hours there equals mo' pay, I said hell yes. But tomorrow night I definitely have to go see this 21 movie that's coming out, having just read the book it's based on, and Sunday should find me helping J. move into her new apartment. Sunday night is Wrestlemania, enjoyed at home! So, no time to patrol. I miss it, and I enjoy it, but man, is it work. I just hope I don't lose that killer instinct, heh heh.

Abandoned

I am all alone here at Job #1. Abandoned to do the ref desk duties all by my lonesome. Without anyone even telling me I would be left alone to do so. Fuckers! So since I'm large and in charge, I'm gonna spend my time between patron questions doing silly blog tricks.

You have to use three words to answer each question. No more, no less. And no using the person you got this from's answers!!!!
It's harder than you think.

1. Where is your cell phone?
on my desk

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?:
don't have any

3. Your hair?:
just been dyed

4. Where is your father?
God only knows

5. Cheesecake?:
heaven on earth

6. Your favorite thing to do?:
read, read, read

7. Your dream last night?
I recall nothing

8. Your favorite drink?
long island tea

9. Your dream car?
big black cadillac

10. The room you're in?
my warm office

11. George Bush?
lying war criminal

12. Your fears?
not being adored

13. Nipple rings?:
considered in past

14. Who did you hang out with last night?
my dear hubby

15. What you're not good at?
controlling my temper

16. Your best friend?
he's at work

17. One of the things on your wishlist?
some new jewelry

18. Where did you grow up?
Pasa Gitdown Dena

19. The last thing you did?
send an email

20. What are you wearing?
boring work clothes

21. Tattoo on the lower back?
no tramp stamps

22. Ketchup?
always in fridge

23. Your computer?
don't own one

24. Your life?
could be worse

25. Your mood?
eh it's ok

26. Missing?
my college buddies

27. What are you thinking about right now?
eating chicken salad

28. Your car?
blue PT cruiser

29. Your work?
eh it's ok

30. Your summer?
busy with work

Wheres # 31?
do not care

32. Your favorite color(s)?
blue, turquoise, black

33. When is the last time you laughed?
just last night

34. Last time you cried?
2 fridays ago

35. High school?
same as Beyonce

36. People you text today?
none so far

37. Last guy you kissed?
my hubby

38.Last phone call?
human resources associate

39. Tuesday?
april fool's day

40.Last time you got whoopie?
ladies don't tell

Our Dark Day

Here's me and R. on our Darkest of Days, a couple of Fridays ago. We are at the rodeo, trying to have a good time. I'm wearing sunglasses b/c my eyes are red and puffy from an afternoon of crying in anger and frustration at the idiot judge who said custody of the baby is not going to be reversed at this time and gave no reason. For her part, R. spent the day getting yelled at by unreasonable tyrants. I stole this picture off the Internet with my SnagIt software that I have here at work b/c the website wanted me to pay for it. Fuck them. (But that's why it reads "Proof" all over it.)

Well, things are a little better in the sense that some days have passed and things are going to naturally be better due to preservation of the species. My first instinct after that bullshit decision was handed down was to hand all future decision making over to S b/c I really completely lost it that day and saw no hope and doubted I had any more fight in me.

The fight's back. Winners don't quit. Mere setbacks do not stop me, never have. As the cartoon my mom gave me in college depicted, a swallowed frog is reaching his hand out of a pelican's throat to reach around and choke the pelican's neck while he goes down and the caption reads, "Never ever give up!"

My Birthday Is Coming Up

...on May 7. If anyone out there absolutely insists on getting me a gift, please consider what I need these days: booze. Coconut rum, vodka, whisky, gin, wine. Lots and lots of booze is what I need so that I don't go postal, and S and I can't afford to buy it these days. Thanks for listening/reading.

Bible Verses of the Day, Part 2

Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded. (Jeremiah 31:16)

For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. (Lamentations 3:31-32)

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. (Romans 16:20)

We still haven't heard anything. No fax has come through yet to our lawyer's office. Our lawyer is going to have to follow up sometime this afternoon.
My cousin called me to tell me that this judge is very busy running for reelection.

Bible Verses of the Day

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:6-8)

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:6,8)

We had our "temporary" orders hearing yesterday and the Judge said we would have his decision by fax by COB today.

Happy Fucking New Year!

I just had to title today's posting that b/c I need a laugh, big time. The story is that I have this friend named Johnny. I only see him out and about at live music venues, seeing live music shows. I actually have several friends like that, my "music" friends that I only know b/c we have the same taste in music and are always at the same shows. I even ran into one of my "music friends" at the Kroger on Saturday night. Anyway, Johnny is an older Mexican-American dude. He's the one who was with me when I fell in love with the song "Cowboys to Girls" and explained to me how sock hops got their name. I have several stories I remember when I need a big time laugh. One of them is when I ran into Johnny a few January's ago (4? 5?) and he was telling me that someone sent him a text message to his cell phone on NY's Eve that just said, "Happy Fucking New Year!" and he was perplexed by the technology. Besides being perplexed, his next questions were, "Who sent me this?" and "Do I have to pay for this?" It's funnier coming out of Johnny's mouth.

So I'm just a little stressed out today b/c we got our taxes done on Saturday and although the professional was able to knock our tax bill down by $400 or so, we still owe a lot. Then it just occurred to me a few days ago that next week is already Spring Break and that S and I better check the court order to see if we are supposed to have the baby all week or not. Today's check revealed that YES! we have her All. Next. Week. beginning this Friday b/c this year is an even-numbered year. Oops--hey, we're still new at all this court orders shit. And, of course, I have to work at Job #1 this Saturday and S has his first all-day driving lab at the academy. Ma is out of commission to watch the baby since my grandfather just got home from the hospital and it is chaos over there. Fortunately, the baby's Auntie J. should be able to pull through for us and she can even help us out next week. Thank you Sweet Jesus, you da man.

Then I got word from our attorney that this Wednesday's hearing where we officially wrap up the so-called "temporary" change of custody might be postponed due to the amicus! You never saw someone snatch up the phone so fast and dial that amicus as I did today. I didn't know what I was going to say but I had to at least try and figure out what incredible new brand of crack he is smoking. After all, he's the one that said no more delays unless someone dies. His words. He told me that actually, his conflict got resolved so we are still on for Wednesday, which was good b/c I was about to have a massive fuckin' coronary. Then he said he wants to meet with me and S tomorrow to which I said FINE! I also informed him that we took the baby to the dentist on Saturday and she has 5 brand new cavities. Thanks again, whore! It really, truly does seem that these lawyers and judges truly don't give a shit about anything but their getting paid and elected, as the case may be. I refuse to believe otherwise b/c the evidence JUST ISN'T THERE.

I'm glad we went to church yesterday b/c we hadn't been in a while and, like I've said before, if anyone needs churchin', I do. It was rodeo day, though I wear my cowboy boots all the time regardless. We sang "Uncloudy Day", "Amazing Grace" and even a Hank Williams Sr. song. You see, me and the Lord, we got an understanding. He keeps my head from exploding through all my many trials and I promise not to kill anyone on my "Needs Killin'" list!

And Now Begins the Itching

Man, why do I always have the weirdest, most fucked up side effects? So far my appetite seems to be fine but now that I've been on this Doxycycline for 2 days my head is itching. Sure enough, "itching" is one of its less common side effects. Me and chemicals just do not jibe. This is one reason I've never been a coffee/Coke drinker. I don't like caffeine!!!

However, I'm a little excited b/c I broke out the CrockPot this morning, after a loooooong absence. If everything goes right then me and S will enjoy chicken & dumplings tonight! No, not homemade but it's better than nothing.

I'm also excited b/c so far I am booked for 11 Teen Skin Care classes at the public library branches this summer. I gave myself a $5 raise this year so my price is now $80/class. That's $880 big ones, baby! Now let's see if the Doxycycline will do its job so that I am a credible skin care teacher.

Drugs, Take 2

All righty, now they're going to try giving me Doxycycline, which is also a tetracycline-type drug. Dizziness does not appear to be on the list of its side effects, but loss of appetite is. We'll see. I hate taking all this shit but I'll try it just to see if it helps.

Looking forward to going to the gym tonight. S and I were supposed to go last night but it was so cold and miserable we just couldn't do it. I am trying to eat more often throughout the day, like 4 times instead of my usual 2-3. They say that is better for your metabolism and lord knows I need the help.

Back to work, you!

No Longer Drugged, Now Just Appalled

I refused to take any more of that damn Minocycline after Friday morning. I have never had such a bad reaction to an antibiotic. I almost didn't make it through Friday night at my graveyard security shift. In fact, I didn't make it. I had to leave at 4am or I was going to DIE. I still can't believe I took myself out there in the first place. We were outside in a cold, dark park with nothing to look at but buildings, cars, port a cans, and the occasional feral cat. Tito J. had to keep me awake and amused, at least until my phone died at 2:30 am. My partner was ignoring me and brought along his laptop and portable DVD player to watch terrible movies like Maverick and The Spy Who Loved Me. I texted my Sgt. that this was the worst assignment in the entire world and to remind me to never ever volunteer for it again. Even if I hadn't been weak, dizzy, tired, cold and miserable, it still would've been one of the most excruciating nights of my life!

By Saturday afternoon I started to regain a little of my appetite. S brought me one of my favorite lunches and a brownie to boot, and I choked down the food but I still couldn't tolerate the idea of a brownie. That is sad. Everyone who knows me, when you don't see me eating, know that something is terribly, terribly wrong. Even in my worst illnesses such as colds, flus, sinus infections, the vapors, etc., I always have an appetite! In the past I've only lost my appetite for the most horrible, hardcore, painful things like tonsillectomy recovery and nightmarish breakups.

Ok, so why am I appalled today? Well, although I wanted to call in sick to work today so I could recover from last week, I also wanted to go in to work as we interviewed a new candidate for the entry-level librarian position. I wanted to grill him and have my say, you know? I shouldn't have wasted my time. This guy didn't even have an MLS. You know, Master degree of Library Science. The one that all the best (ha) professional librarians are required to have. The one that this position certainly required, we thought! That was a new low for Administration. I can't imagine what those crackheads are thinking. What a bunch of lowlife fuckheads.