so don't ask if you don't want to know
Amusing and/or interesting
Stuff other people might find funny or just mildly interesting.
It’s all good… except
Feb 15th
First I moved my blog from my friend’s server to Page.ly. I completely understand the security reasons behind the pain-in-the-ass restrictions with my previous host, but I decided I’d rather pay Page.ly a minor monthly fee (I had a coupon) than hassle every update for free. And it’s all good… except my categories are all out of whack.
Then I moved me to a new apartment. Actually I didn’t move me, Ginnie, Tyler, Max, Casey and Kira did. Yes, Kira was a lot of help carrying little things, running back and forth on her little younger legs. I’m mostly set up here. I still have a couple of boxes of books and stuff but everything else has it’s place.
- The good: Brand new carpets and blinds throughout. Washer is a bit loud, but at least I have one. I have a fireplace! The place is pretty big, first floor, covered parking.
- The bad: Slight smell of wet pressed-wood from the (fixed) leaky kitchen sink that I hope will fade. I’m a little close to Gilbert road traffic, and I’m on a front corner so I get a lot of resident traffic, but I only really hear it when the TV is off. School buses drop off right outside my door. And I can’t figure out how to get the static electricity out of my new plastic vertical blinds in my bedroom, so I feel a little exposed. They keeps sticking together at the bottom and leaving spaces.
- The ugly: Dead and dying cockroaches. Little ones and BIG ones. I was told they sprayed repeatedly before I moved in and there might be some crawling out to die. Right. Every morning there are at least a dozen little dead ones around on the floor, but the BIG ones take a little more… encouragement to die.
But I’m breathing 80% better and I like my neighborhood more. Everything I need within a 2-mile radius.
The best part? I’m alone!
Cabbage Patch Baby
Feb 5th
Thanks to Netflix, Kira and I got to sit together and watch Toy Story 3, twice actually. I took this opportunity to remind Kira that she should be good to her toys – not because they come to life when she’s not around – but for when they eventually get donated or gifted to the next child.
Which led to her ask if I had any of my toys from when I was a kid (no) or her daddy (no) or uncle Max (yes – pogs but explaining what pogs were is beyond me) and then Ginnie. Yes, Ginnie still has many of her stuffed animals and carefully tucked away is Jessica, her Cabbage Patch Preemie. And then of course we had to go bug Ginnie to see Jessica.
Baby Jessica is at this moment tucked lovingly under a sleeping SmallChild’s arm, after changing every single one of her outfits. And she still smells like baby powder after all these years, as do all of said clothes.
The thing is, Ginnie isn’t ready to give Jessica up. Kira is allowed to play with her tonight but she has to go back into storage tomorrow.
So now I’m on the hunt for a preemie for Kira. I prefer the preemies because they’re hairless and not as butt-ugly as the other Cabbage Patch dolls. I’m watching a few auctions on eBay, and I’ve even bid on one. Before I go through with that, I just wondered if anyone had a Cabbage Patch preemie laying around they didn’t want anymore.
I’ve learned to ask because every time I buy something someone comes along the next day and tells me they had the item and wanted to get rid of it.
That was weird
Feb 1st
Just sitting here watching the news for a change when I hear a car alarm stuttering outside. Took me a minute to figure out it was mine because I’ve never actually heard it. Ginnie’s bf Tyler heard it and I sent him out in front of me to check it out. He’s like, really tall and sort of menacing.
There was an older couple standing next to the open back door and Tyler shut the alarm off. The man said the woman (altered – drunk? mental?) got in the wrong car. Theirs was parked next to mine and it’s similar.
Okay. Fine. Whatever.
They went on their merry way, Tyler rebeeped my car and we came back inside.
Now I’m wondering… how did she get the door open? When you hit the lock button on my fob it locks ALL doors and sets the alarm. One click. There’s no way to alarm the car without locking ALL the doors. And it doesn’t alarm itself after x-amount of time like some cars do. If you don’t tell it to, the alarm doesn’t set.
So how did she get in the car in the first place?
Hmmmmmmm…..
Post WordCamp Report Thingy
Jan 31st
Great!
Better than great?
You know, I didn’t learn a damned thing (again this year) but that’s not because the material presented wasn’t top-notch and varied. Mostly it was either stuff I didn’t need to know, like multi-site and business or non-profit big site stuff, or completely and utterly over my head.
So what makes it great? Because there were multiple days full of multiple presentations and classes for people where it does matter. I watched many attendees around me learning and asking questions, working together on some new thing and generally getting so much information.
The event was so well organized with excellent sponsors, food provided on site (again, not anything for me eww-yuk genuine Mexican) and the best after-party I think I’ve ever attended. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to hang around these people.
In fact, I want to volunteer to work the next one. Just because… maybe because it’s not for me yet I believe it’s an excellent and important event for those people who do benefit from it. If you want to learn more about WordPress you should really go to a WordCamp.
The thing is you know me, I’m Ms. Negativity. And the fact that I didn’t personally get anything out of WordCamp and I still recommend it, it just has to be THE SHIT, right?
You can check out some picture of the fantastic after-party here. The official Phoenix WordCamp site. And I can’t remember who (or even if it was mentioned) designed the western logos and t-shirts and jackets, but I LOVE my t-shirt.
WordCamp
Jan 26th
“This is the biggest WordCamp in the world.” Okay then.
Today’s event is being held @Gangplank, and it involves some sort of debate about GPL and some company stole 1% of someone else’s source code and the guys showed up in suits. Which, if you’ve ever been to Gangplank, makes them stand out as uncool. I’m lost cuz I dunno what GPL is or how 1% makes any difference one way or another. Legal/debate talk.
But I get to see friends I haven’t seen in a while and had a free lunch. Tomorrow night I’m back here for Social Media WorkShop for Non Profits Led by Cox and Gannet. That one I might understand better.
The next event is Friday at Co+Hoots, some place I’ve never been but I understand it’s a similar coworking environment to Gangplank but it’s not free for walk-ins. The whole day learning about BuddyPress and Multi-site.
Saturday? Um, er, Saturday will be spent at Chandler Center for the Arts for the main chunk of WordCamp.
Saturday night is the party at Chandler City Hall and Sunday is back @Gangplank most of the afternoon. Maybe. I may be camped out by then.
Wizard of Oz Question
Jan 22nd
Almost every time we watch this together, SmallChild asks me the same question. Why does Dorothy live with her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry?
I’ve never read this series. Have you? Does it mention anywhere in the series why? So far I’ve answered I don’t know, but conversation inevitably leads to families and that she lives with her Daddy but will she live with her Aunt and Uncle when she gets older and where’s her Mommy?
I’d just as soon give her the correct answer (to the original question) if anyone knows it and avoid all the other pitfalls.
Just a peck?
Jan 21st
I’ve noticed many times on TV shows that just a peck thing. At the end of something professional between a man and woman, either the man pecks her on the cheek or she pecks him. For instance, tonight’s episode of The Mentalist, there’s an uptight math-is-life woman who – completely out of character – kisses Patrick Jane on the cheek. How is that considered professional?
I figure if two men in business wouldn’t dare think of kissing one another on the cheek, neither should a female in the mix. I haven’t been in the professional world in some time, so is this normal? Has the handshake between a man and a woman been replaced with the peck on the cheek?
It might be different in a working environment where everyone knows each other, feels something like family or whatever. But I keep seeing it between characters who are brought in for a short time. I would never think of kissing anyone I didn’t know well on the cheek, much less someone in a business relationship.
Am I missing something or are the TV writers and actors? Is this how people really act in a business matter or just on TV?
And wouldn’t this fall under sexual harassment?
Vibrams Five Fingers
Jan 20th
No, I’m not talking about anything dirty this time.
A couple of my friends are in love with their shoes. Or rather, un-shoes. They talk about these un-shoes on their blog, MyFiveFingers. Tyler has worn these for practically as long as I’ve known him, and Corey is a more recent convert. Another friend (Dani) has just started wearing them for her running, too.
No, I’m not going to take up running. But they’ve all mentioned that after the break-in period (several months) they have less pain in their knees and back. Once your body gets used to going virtually barefoot, all those misalignments from regular shoes goes away. That’s why I’m interested.
But they’re a little out of my budget. That’s why I got excited… well maybe not excited, but I perked up this morning when I read that MyFiveFingers is giving away a free pair every month for 2011. I’d like to try just wearing them for everyday wear, when I leave the house and stuff. I hate shoes and I hate walking – not just because of the breathing thing – because my back and knees ache when I have to walk any distance at all. I wonder/hope these will help.
These are the ones I want. They look like you can adjust around the heel and I have narrow heels. Sure would be nice to win a pair.
Tooth Fairy
Jan 18th
I received Tooth Fairy from Netflix today, and after yet another sit-through of Wizard of Oz, I suggested to Kira we try this new movie. We’re on our second run and I have some questions:
- If the Fairy Tooth Mother can arbitrarily slap wings on just any non-believer, why can’t she give Tracy real wings?
- Nobody in the entire ice arena had a cell phone out taking pictures (before their memory was erased) or video? People have the presence of mind to video accidents or UFOs but nobody recorded a popular hockey player suddenly having wings?
- If imaginary characters want people to believe in them so badly, why do they continue to hide their existence? I’m talking to you Santa/Tooth Fairy/God/Easter Bunny/etc.
- What’s the big hurry? Kids sleep all night, so why does Derek have stop mid-game to fulfill his tooth fairy obligations? Wouldn’t he have less objections and be easier to train if they didn’t keep interrupting his regular life?
- Seriously, we’re supposed to believe a cynic like Derek blogs, or is on Facebook. What the hell was that whole exchange about? “I’d love to poke you on Facebook.”‘ Really?
So Kira says she likes the movie, but she only pays attention to about half of it. I’ll be sending it back tomorrow and will likely forget the whole thing. It’s just… stupid. No matter how hot Dwayne Johnson looks in tight blue silk.
Character or Caricature
Jan 14th
I have this friend that a lot (most) people don’t really like. They only see the caricature, the snarky and sometimes nasty persona he puts out to the public. Although he has made strides in toning that caricature down, people are hesitant to forgive, to give him a chance.
But you know what? That man has character. He really does.
This man has always been invariably nice to me. I see him alienate people, only because he loves a good discussion and maybe doesn’t always know how to have it without doing so. I don’t always agree with his position on this or that but I know our disagreements are never personal. He just likes a good verbal sparing.
There was the time he and his girlfriend left a perfectly good party to take me (and my car) all the way to Phoenix to the emergency room. They didn’t have to do that. And they stayed hours even though they could have left. He insisted on waiting to make sure I was okay even though I knew I would be.
Every time I mention I’m moving he’s one of the first people to volunteer to help. He’s always posting links for people looking for work or looking to hire. He volunteers his time for his community and for events to help people better themselves.
That’s character. In this new age of “friending” everyone I actually count very few people as friends. He’s my friend.
Did I forget to mention who he is? Tyler Hurst. Look beyond the caricature and get to know the person. I’m pretty sure you won’t regret it.
