I am?

Okay took the book quiz and found out that I am "Love in the Time of Cholera" funny thing is that I never knew this book existed until the movie Serendipity. Guess I'll have to read it now...

You're Love in the Time of Cholera!

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Like Odysseus in a work of Homer, you demonstrate undying loyalty by
sleeping with as many people as you possibly can. But in your heart you never give
consent! This creates a strange quandary of what love really means to you. On the
one hand, you've loved the same person your whole life, but on the other, your actions
barely speak to this fact. Whatever you do, stick to bottled water. The other stuff
could get you killed.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Empty Garden

there is a line in Elton John's song Empty Garden that keeps playing in my head today...

"it's funny how one insect can damage so much grain"

I know it's better with the music.

RealSimple Thought for Today

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.
— Pierre Corneille

Up to speed

I went on a trip to Atlanta with my sister this weekend. We left Saturday morning and got in early that evening. It was an enjoyable weekend overall - plenty of rest and shopping at IKEA & Dick Blicks (Art Supplies). Went in to the Atlanta office on Monday as my sister was in a payroll conference (the real reason for the trip).

As I was taken around and introduced to people in that office I didn't get any warm and fuzzies. My company was part of a recent acquisition and subsequently my department was transitioned to report to the corporate team. I manage our IT Helpdesk and there is also an IT Helpdesk in that office. I've been told we're keeping them separate so that both user groups get the support they need. But everyone I was introduced to had the same comment "oh I thought there was going to be one helpdesk". So feeling really secure now.

Oh well c'est la vie.

Got home late Monday night/Tuesday morning so I worked from home on Tuesday. Had a wonderful evening and horrible night. So now I sit at my desk in a foul mood...and now you're up to speed...

Thought of the day from RealSimple

August 24, 2007
A kiss is just a pleasant reminder that two heads are better than one.
— Author Unknown

Blood Pressure

So I'm going to tell you a little story about my Dr.'s office - The Dr. is part of a medical association and I have been going there for almost 10 years. This is the reason I am looking for a new Dr.

Using the wayback machine: I go to the Dr. for pain in my back and legs - Dr. runs tests and finds arthritis and bone spurs in my spine. Dr. tells me there is no cure for these things but that with medication I can control the pain. Dr. puts me on pain med (as needed-not narcotic - no Oxycontin for me), muscle relaxer, and arthritis anti-inflammatory (may cause stomach problems so make sure you tell us if it does and we'll put you on something else).

Flash forward to last month: I go to Dr. because I have migraine. I get them once in a while and it's been so long since I had one my medication is expired. Also my scripts for the other meds are expired so I need to get refills. Nurse tells me my blood pressure is a little high but that it may be caused by the migraine. Also tells me that MY migraine medication is no longer available.

Dr. asks me why do you get so many migraines?
ME: "I don't get so many - which is why my meds are expired..."
Dr.: Why do you take these meds? looking at the refill requests
ME: for the arthrtis in my spine
Dr.: who told you that you have arthritis - you're awfully young
ME: you did - see the tests in my medical records?
Dr.: Oh yeah

See a pattern here?

So as I already had a migraine and this was helping so much I foolishly approached the fact that I don't take my anti-inflammatory because it bothers my stomach, and could he prescribe something else instead? And I've been noticing that I'm swelling (retaining fluids) so is there something that can be done with that?

Dr.: well your blood pressure is a little high and it was the last few times you were in - so I'll give you a water pill that will take care of the blood pressure and the water retention. But for the anti-inflammatory we better look to see if any damage was done to your stomach before I prescribe anything else.

So I went through an endoscopy which showed no problems with my stomach. Next comes follow up visit:

ME: Endoscopy showed no stomach damage - and the water pill is helping.
Dr.: Yes your blood pressure is down too - I will keep you on this med. Have a good day see you at your next follow-up."
ME: Are you going to give me something for the arthritis?
Dr.: Oh I could but they are VERY expensive - just take Tylenol

TYLENOL? Are you kidding me? So he refuses to give me anything - which is why I went through the whole scope business in the first place....I'm upset and leave the Dr. Office...

A couple of weeks later I'm noticing my regular meds are low and I need to call in for refills - only one problem - HE DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY REFILLS! So now I have to call the Dr. office and see if I can pick them up - Oh and they charge you a fee if you get prescriptions without an office visit.

So I call the office and leave a message - mentioning that he didn't give me my usual refills and I was just in there a few weeks ago so it's not time for a follow up visit. I get a call back from the Dr. office - yes he will give me refills on the pain and muscle pills but he gave me 5 refills on the blood pressure med. So she tells me to have the pharmacy look up the original script.

Getting a little tired of the runaround?

I call the pharmacy - "pull the original"? Yes the original has no refills.

Call the Dr. "we'll give you a copy to show the pharmacy" (copy shows script for blood pressure med with 5 refills)

I take the copy to the pharmacy - "Can you show me the original? " OH the scripts are different? The prescription the Dr. gave me was for 3 medications all on the same script...the pain med, the muscle relaxer and the blood pressure med...with NO REFILLS"

The script they gave me a copy of at the Dr. office - I never received!...

So shouldn't be a big deal - just give me another script - with the refills and we'll call it a day? NO not that easy - the Dr. office won't call me back and NOW I really am going to need a blood pressure medication because this is causing my blood to boil.

What is the big deal? This is not a controlled substance - no one buys blood pressure / water pills on the streetcorner - Do they?

bland and blah

It's almost 9:00AM I've been at work for over an hour. Quiet day so far- nothing happening. Everyone who actually came in to the office today seems to be recuperating from their weekends.

I had a really lovely weekend myself - saw my in-laws and helped them get set up with their new computer. They have been using WebTV for about 10 years now. They recently bought a new computer though - so we went over to help get them set up with e-mail, and instant messaging. I'm happy to see them taking this step, and about 5 minutes into having the new e-mail they received their first video file from Guy's aunt in AZ. She's been waiting for a long time to send videos to them.

I think they all belong to the same e-mail club: The one that makes you forward EVERYTHING you ever received! I believe my parents are part of that same club. I have received dirty jokes and religious renewal e-mails sent at the same time. Just this weekend I received 11 e-mails ranging from Senior Moments to Forgiveness. E-mails telling me to make sure I forward to 11 friends so that I don't have bad luck for the next year...but??? what if they don't have 11 friends to forward it on to? Then I've caused my friends to have bad luck for a year?

The best e-mail I received Saturday:

Subject: Why you should never question a drunk

A woman was shopping at her local supermarket where she selected:

a half-gallon of 2% milk,
a carton of eggs,
a quart of orange juice,
a head of romaine lettuce,
a 2 lb. can of coffee and
a 1 lb. package of bacon.

As she was unloading her items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind her watched as she placed the items in front of the cashier. While the cashier was ringing up her purchases, the drunk calmly stated, "You must be single."

The woman was a bit startled by this proclamation, but she was intrigued by the derelict's intuition, since she was indeed single. She looked at her six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about her selections that could have tipped off the drunk to her marital status. Curiosity getting the better of her, she said "Well, you know what, you're absolutely correct. But how on earth did you know that?"

The drunk replied, "Cause you're ugly."


And so it goes...Next week I'll be helping to instal spam filters and spyware protection...but for now let them have their fun. I can't wait to introduce them to YouTube.

Guilty Pleasures

I was flipping through channels on the television last night not really interested - you know when you don't really know what you want to do? Watch a movie? Look for anything that may interest you? So I came across Frankie and Johnny. And I don't mean an Al Pacino movie - I mean ELVIS. Yes I admit it I am a sucker for an Elvis movie. I don't know why-and I don't try to figure it out - I just LOVE them!!!!! Elvis movies took a young girl from the middle of Iowa and transported her to places all over the world. When he was in Hawaii - I was in Hawaii! Years later when I actually did get to go to Hawaii, I secretly looked for places that I might recognize from Elvis movies. I probably drove my husband crazy singing songs from them. When I went to New Orleans - I was looking for balconies and people singing about Crawfish. And GI Blues took me to Germany - I haven't actually made it there yet, but if I ever do, you know I'll be looking for landmarks.

Especially dear to me are - Blue Hawaii, and Frankie and Johnny.

I think that Frankie and Johnny was the first time I realized the people on TV weren't really the characters they were playing. I was very young the first time I saw this movie and I knew Elvis wasn't Johnny - but there was Ellie May Clampett...on a showboat??? And did Jed know she was dressing that way and hanging around gamblers?

It's been 30 years since Elvis died, I was 11 years old and in the hospital for some minor thing when I heard. I rolled over and cried...sometimes I still do.

Squirrelly

Had a fairly decent day at work today - especially telling my team that the new company that bought us does their reviews on a different cycle than our old company so they all had one day to get me their self appraisals. They took it fairly well and all went to work on them, now the only slacker in the group is ME! I cannot tell you how much I HATE doing a self appraisal. I know that this is your opportunity to tell the world about what a wonderful asset you have been to the company. But it always sounds so contrived and just rings false. I am not a toot-my-own-horn kind of person.

Bummed a ride home with AGOL as Guy (husband) had to come to the rescue of a damsel in distress who locked her keys in her car. Getting off the elevator in the parking garage we were greeted by a squirrel who was trying to get something out of the garbage can. He was really cute and just froze in place staring at us...probably wondering which nut he could take down! AGOL struggled to get her camera out and capture the moment on digital film so she just kept telling me to keep staring at him so he wouldn't leave. After a brief moment she got the camera - just in time for the little guy to fall completely into the garbage can. The flip-top lid came closed and the squirrel was trapped.

Well, neither of us marshmallows could allow the little rodent to stay trapped in a garbage can - (although we did get a good laugh at the imagined sight of some poor unsuspecting facility person going to empty the trash and getting a squirrel surprise!) So I gingerly walked over to the receptacle and tried to push the lid in, hoping for a quick escape. AGOL stood there armed with the camera, presumably to fend off the little beastie if he attacked - but more likely she was hoping to catch me in a very funny moment of squirrel terror. (I was once bitten by a squirrel as a child - long story, but I know those teeth hurt!) Unfortunately every time I lifted the lid, the squirrel moved inside the can and I screamed - which did not endear me to the squirrel. I finally removed the lid completely and we walked away. Knowing that we had done our best to give him an escape route. As we walked to the car we looked back and he was scampering away from the can and out of the garage. All is well that ends well.

Kitty Shame

Just read a story about Thai cops wearing Hello Kitty armbands when they break the rules. This is intended to shame them and keep them from repeating the offense. Has anyone checked with Hello Kitty to make sure she isn't shamed? I mean really - being worn by rule breaking cops? That has to be a kick to the ego. Poor Kitty!

Subdued and Random Thoughts

Been going back and forth between watching the coverage of the bridge collapse and trying not to watch coverage of the bridge collapse. I am unfortunately one of those people who feels the pain of these families so strongly that it's hard to get through my own day to day issues. I know everyone in this country is feeling this tragedy and I don't mean to imply that I feel it more. But it's just how I am - I hate to see anyone in pain, a child crying for a toy can send me over the edge. I always try to be the stronger person when in front of people but behind the scenes I fall apart. For some reason emotional pain cuts me like a knife. So for my own selfish needs I keep trying to not watch the coverage. But then I'm drawn to it - wishing there was more that could be done for the families. Waiting for maybe that one miracle that so far hasn't come...

Back to Florida and the pressing issues in my own day to day existence. AGOL has been plagued by a flat tire this morning and is trying to make it into work via the tire repair shop. My hubby is dealing with system issues that kept him up testing things most of the night. And I am working though random issues as they arise.

I was thinking earlier this morning about the crazy quilt of people I call friends. People of various ethnic backgrounds, beliefs, and sexual orientation. Very different than if I had remained in Iowa all of my life. My graduating class had one person who was not WASPY...he was born in Korea, he and his sister were adopted by a couple in the middle of small town America. Whenever he was asked what nationality he was - he would reply Dutch, as that was the background of his adopted parents. He loved watching people react to that. He's now the police spokesman (spokesmodel?) for the Des Moines police department. My parents keep me up to date on how he's doing when they see him on the news.

Anyway, I was thinking of all the diversity in my life and how different it was from small town Iowa. I have friends of all different backgrounds - Asian, African American, Hispanic, Redneck, Liberal, Republican (barely), Gay, Straight, and some that the jury is still out on...you know who you are. My parents raised me to believe that people are the same no matter what...no one person is any better than any other. I firmly believe that - I don't appreciate discrimination in any form, and HATE it when I see it creep into my own thoughts. But one thing I have to admit I do is try to mess with people's heads when I see bigotry...I can't help but call them on it - mostly they don't even realize it because they don't think of themselves as being bigoted.

The one group I can honestly say I have problems with is stupid people...and I'm not talking about their IQ's. Being Stupid just for the sake of stupidity really pisses me off. Acting a certain way just because their friends or their parents or someone else acts that way just sets me off. THINK FOR YOURSELF!!!

Okay, enough random soapbox issues for now...back to my mundane life.

I'm so LUCKY

Apparently I've been chosen by a lawyer across the pond to be a part of an a 100% legal transaction. I will get 45% of 30.3 million US dollars. Seems some poor rich man in England died with no beneficiary (so sad - I hate when that happens).

"This prompted me to contact you. I want to front you as the next of kin and beneficiary to the late client thereby making you the legal beneficiary of the sum of $30.3M million U.S Dollars that is presently in the Financial and Security Company. I contacted you because it will be very easy for the Financial and Security Company to believe since they know me as his Lawyer and moreover i am working with a key member of the Financial and Security Company. The transaction is 100% legal and totally free of risks as all modalities has been perfected to ensure the hitch free success of the transaction."

And all I have to do is "send your full name, contact address, age and occupation, Fax and telephone numbers, company's name if any, a copy of drivers license or international passport for identification."

I've been born - but it wasn't yesterday...try someone else. The sad part is that somewhere, someone will get this and send their info. And the really sad part is "what if it's all true?"

Wait...where did I put that address?

Okay already

I was sorely scolded by a certain sprinkly person today because I didn't have links on my blog...so I've posted some.

BTW - is it me or is there something fascinating about watching Christopher Walken?

Power Ballads and Stuff

Helped give small birthday surprise to a woman in my office today - she seemed pleased which makes me glad. Sprinkles did most of the work as she always does. She's a great person and sometimes highly under appreciated. As evidenced by recent activities in her life. But that is her story to tell not mine.

Listening to power ballads today from the 80's - one of my guilty pleasures. I admit it - I'm a product of my environment and the 80's were definately a good time for me...I graduated high school in 84 - moved away and went to college, and met my future husbnd in 85 - married in 86 and had my children in 86, 88, and 89. I had my 3 kids close together which surprised a lot of people and they always told me I don't know how you do it. But now I am just into my 40's and they are all growing into their own adulthood. They are all wonderful in their own ways...and I am still young enough that I get to travel with my husband and enjoy our time together.

Back into the present - yesterday's drama with work friend was evidently laid to rest and she's a much calmer, happier person today. Which makes me happy - yes I am a closet sap...I hate to see people unhappy and tears will melt me like sugar in the rain. I try to have a hard candy shell to hide it. Sometimes it's not easy.

Continuing Drama

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
friend /frɛnd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[frend] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1.
a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.


Why do people misunderstand what friendship is? Being a friend is not about agreeing with each other on every little thing. Being a friend is listening even when you don't agree. Understanding that your friend needs to be able to talk to you about whatever she needs to - and knowing that you will be there for your friend when she needs you.

On another note....how do you deal with people in your office who are talk-talk-talking....and it's important information but all you're really thinking about is 'when can I go to the bathroom...will they ever leave?....can't you send me an e-mail with this information? That's why we have technology!!!!'

First Annoyance

Why is it that some people can't stand up for themselves or do anything without approval? I have a woman whom I work with who will constantly come to me and ask questions that I then ask of the upper management. Doesn't she have the guts to ask for herself? I know it's my fault for enabling her behavior. But I can't help it - that's the way I'm wired. If someone asks me a question I will get the answer - even if I have to ask the CEO.

Maybe that's the problem...is she afraid of people who's title is higher than hers? Title and rank does not scare me and respect is earned not awarded.

Work in Progress

Okay, today I start blogging...it may interest some and maybe not. But I will try to keep track of what interests or infuriates me at this particular moment...