Sunday, May 31, 2009

Park, park, I love the park!

I got a call from my neighbor Linda this (Sat) morning. She'd never been to a Shakespeare in the Park play and wanted to know if I'd go with her and her son. If you've never been to one of these plays, you owe it to yourself to go. I've never been to one that I didn't throughly enjoy. They're funny, different and free. Yes, free. They use the language of William Shakespeare, but dress in modern clothing. They include an audience member at some point, tonight was when one character was being chased by another and pulled a man in front up out of his seat to protect her. Then, in spite of multiple warnings to TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES, a phone rang up near the front. One of the characters (they move in and out of the audience), picked up the phone and answered it, then told the caller why the call-ee couldn't talk on the phone, then turned the phone off and gave it back. Needless to say, the audience was howling with laughter, and the silly dumb*** who ignored the instruction was completely embarrassed. 
The play was great. You can see that the actors just enjoy what they're doing. At the end of the play, they walk around with pillowcases and take donations. It's held at Falls Park, behind Falls Cottage. You can bring a blanket, and sit up front in the area reserved for blankets, or bring a fold out chair. Coolers-food & drink-are welcome. The shows start at 7pm, but to get a good parking spot and sitting spot, you need to be at the park by 6pm. To get  more info, go to this site:
Upstateshakespearefestival.org
Man, I sound like an ad for them, huh??! I just love going and would recommend this to anyone looking for an inexpensive evening out...free play, bring a pic-nik and you're set!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hee-Hee

barack obama, george w. bush, bill clinton
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This and That


For many years, my dept at work was run by a manager who was slowly spiraling into some serious emotional and physical problems. She has never had the insight to recognize this, and seemed to believe that everyone was out to get her. This was not true, we all were very concerned and worried about her. But she made work very tense and any contact with her was very uncomfortable. She was erratic in her professional behaviour, gave conflicting answers to questions from one day to the next, reacted to problems either by ignoring them or by becoming emotional and ranting, would not be honest-if she told you to do something that later turned out to be incorrect, she would deny ever telling you to do it and would go behind your back and complain to coworkers about you screwing up, brought personal problems that were better kept to herself to work and blabbed stuff we didn't need to know. This all is on top of a suspected drug problem, prescription drugs, and alcohol. 
We, as a group, used to get together for dinner, holidays...etc... but stopped all that after a particularly painful Christmas dinner. She showed up at the restaurant very drunk, continued to drink after we arrived, complained in a very loud voice about how crappy the salad bar was-the whole time she was putting together her salad, bitched, griped and complained about her meal and sent it back, I think 3 times. Then started complaining about her (grown) daughter's plate and tried to send it back too. Her daughter told her to quit complaining and told the waiter that her meal was perfect. This was at Steak & Ale, where there are 3-4 tables per room, so everyone in the room was subjected to this nonsense. The more she drank, the louder she became. It was embarrassing. I told several people after the dinner that this would be the last time I would attend any get together that she would attend. I think this was everyone's feeling as this was the last time we all got together outside work.    
Well, she lost her job about 6 weeks ago. I hate it for her, but it was a long time coming. I wish they could have found another position for her, one where she wasn't in charge of others. But I suspect there was a lot going on behind the scenes that we weren't privy to. It's been upsetting, but the tension at work is gone. I no longer pull into the parking lot and get a knot in my stomach when I see her car, or try to scoot unseen past her office door. That part was usually easy, as she'd wait until you got on down the hall then start yelling for you. I could just ignore that and claim I didn't hear her the next time I saw her.
Well, as we all know, yesterday was Memorial Day. One of the newest members of our team suggested a cook-out. It was held at a co-worker's house, we all bought dishes or supplies and we had a ball!! It was so nice to be able to get together outside of work. I think getting to know your co-workers outside of work can make your work relationship better. Most everyone brought spouses, kids or some combination. We got to spend time together, catch up, see how much the kids had grown and just had a wonderful time. OMG, it was so nice to be able to do that without the loud, drunk, obnoxious, inappropriate boss around. Those of us who could stayed and helped clean up. I took several bags of left overs to work to Kelli & Sunny, who had to work. 
I hope this is the beginning of many more such get-togethers.  And the beginning of a new phase at work with our new manager!  

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

My Tibbe

Isn't she a cutie! Yeah, I'm the weird cat lady. I'm on my computer, and she's napping on the comforter on my lap. I love my cats....Tibbe, Liu-Liu & Bacchus.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Lazy Day


Yes it is.
Temp has dropped quite a bit, it's rainy and dreary. Perfect day to say in, snuggled under a blankie watching TV, with one, or all three, of my kitties curled up with me. Right now, it's Tibbe, although she's not happy she's having to take a back seat to the computer. I feel guilty if it's nice outside and I don't feel like doing anything, but it's ok on a rainy day!
I did a portrait photo shoot downtown yesterday. The more of these I do, the better I like them. I had so much fun, then after, the person I did the shoot for brought a pic-nic and we all sat and ate lunch. Then coffee after with them reviewing the pics on my computer. I've been doing these for free just to get the experience, but that's about to end. I'm going to work up a price list and add this to my website.
Okay, gotta go work on those photos.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

funny pictures of dogs with captions
I would love to see a pic taken about 2 seconds later!
see more dog and puppy pictures

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Movie Time

OMG...I went to see the new Star Trek movie tonight. Now, if you know me at all, I rarely will pay full price for a movie. The vast majority of the drivel that passes for movies these days are not worth paying matinee prices, much less full price. But, I went after our pre Mother's Day dinner, with my step-mom & youngest sister. It was physically painful for me to pay that price, but I have to say that it was well worth paying the full price to see. Watching the old Star Trek tv series is one of my fondest childhood memories. I loved that show then and I love the reruns now, when I can find them. The next "generations" were ok, but not as good as the original IMO. This movie stayed true to the characters personalities, the wordplay and the relationship / friendship / competition...and even included a large role for Capt. Pike---ok any trekkies, do you know Capt. Pike and his relationship to the crew and the old series..??
Needless to say, I highly recommend this movie, especially to those who loved the original series...you will not be disappointed.
I can't wait till it comes out on DVD!  

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Cindy Moment

Okay, major Cindy type thing happened last night. I woke up at 4am-ish for a potty run. I, half asleep, stumble into the bathroom. Evidently my cat(s) have been trying to figure out what the heck the scales are and had pushed it out into the floor from it's usual resting place against the wall beside the toilet. As I stumbled in, I stepped on it, slid across the floor until my knees hit the toilet, then I flipped over the toilet and went head & left shoulder first into the bathtub. 

This was in no way, shape or form fun for me. In fact, from the time my foot hit the scales it was more of a pure, abject terror type of experience. It's really funny-odd-how many thoughts can go through your mind in such a short period of time, the main one being---OMG--will I survive this and if so, how long will I be hospitalized??

When I realized that I was still conscious and could move all my limbs fairly easily, I got up from the tub, very shaken. I then changed my sleep shorts....literally, I was going in originally to empty my bladder after all. It's very hard to remember to clamp down that bladder when you feel your very survival is possibly in question. Amazingly, I was able to go back to bed and fall back to sleep fairly easily. 

So, I had to work today for 4 hours. I got up a little sore, mostly a couple of toes on each foot, got ready, went in, had my yearly evaluation (excellent, btw), then went to my assigned post, which was sitting at a computer logging in paperwork. After doing that for a while, I turned to get up and had a really hard time doing that. My back hurt, my left shoulder hurt, my hips and knees hurt. And it had only gotten worse. I'm thinking I'm just too old to be nose diving into my tub. I will make a solemn vow to give it up, to the best of my ability.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Surprise Ending

Did not start out as a great day. I went to get my Mac outta my wheeled cart I take it (& other stuff) to work in and ....... no power cord. I called work, they didn't see it anywhere. I called the front desk to see if it was turned in to lost & found....not there either. DANG! Now I gotta go buy a new one. 
I called my niece to congratulate her on her last exam, last day of college today. She as at the mall & I went to meet her. We had so much fun, hung out, window shopped, got make-overs and just enjoyed each others company. I love spending time with her!
Then went to get my hair cut, then to meet a friend for Cinco de Mayo at Sabroso's. I headed to work after to retrace my steps and see if I could find my power cord. I parked where I did Sun night, walked the same route all the way to the lab, no luck. I went in the lab and asked Kelli if she'd seen it. She hadn't. I checked the top of the file cabinet where I usually put my backpack and my mail tray, not there. I plopped down in a chair and just happened to glance down and there it was, still plugged into the surge protector. I did the happy, happy dance. I can now play on my comp and stop those withdrawal symptoms. 
Yea!!!