some days are like this...

Update: I find this animated gif amusing more than my true mood today. The immolation stuff just isn't my thang, ya know?

Posted by jennj at 11:43 AM | Comments (3)

pepper update

Well. She's still eating and other stuff. The prednisone seems to be working a little, as she's getting up more and when she walks her back leg isn't falling out from under her so much. However, she can't do it for long and I've found her a few times lying on her side on the floor. Right now, my hope is that she'll survive long enough for chris to return and be able to say goodbye. Beyond that, I can't hope. It hurts too much.

Posted by jennj at 08:23 AM | Comments (2)

yikes

This is just plain weird. You can click and drag the body.....FYI...

Posted by jennj at 03:20 PM | Comments (2)

easier

Because it's easier to get angry at stupid work things instead of thinking about Pepper, you're going to love this.

When they gave me my new laptop a month ago, IT asked that I give them my network password (and this was like 3 weeks before installation). I told them that according to IT Policy XXX we are not allowed to give out our passwords and something else will need to be arranged. I ended up conceding to their request after talking to our IT management - yes, I did change my password before I gave it to them.

We got a notice today that they are implementing a new, more secure password scheme (you know, things like at least one capital letter, a symbol, certain length, etc.) to meet "higher security standards". Priceless.

Btw, thank you all for your kind words about Pepper. If I don't respond to all of you individually, just understand that I'm reading your loving thoughts and appreciate them.

Posted by jennj at 08:26 AM | Comments (1)

how f*ing apropos

For those that don't know, I have heart shaped lenses for my eyeglasses.

I just accidentally stepped on them and one of the f*ing hearts broke in two. The universe is mocking me.

Posted by jennj at 01:22 PM | Comments (2)

Pepper is on her last days. I took her to the vet this morning. I'm exhausted. Basically, she's either got a blood clot or tumor that has partially severed her brain through the spine to her back legs. The legs are not completely useless, some signals are making it through, but she really can't walk. Although, she did manage to move from the office to the living room on her own earlier when I wasn't looking. Probably some sort of dragging method.

The vet says she's not in pain or suffering, so I decided (with chris on the cell phone) to take her home for now. We shot her with prednisone cause it couldn't hurt and it may reduce swelling. I'm hoping the prednisone will be enough for her to live comfortably until chris returns next week.

I've setup the aerobed in the office, so that I can sleep with her (and it's air conditioned) for the foreseeable future. She obviously can't make it up the stairs. I've contained her needs to the office also, the vet suggested. So. I wish chris was here. This is horrible.

Posted by jennj at 12:10 PM | Comments (4)

just do it

"One of the things I forgot about mess staying with us is the blood." - me

Day 2 of pseudo running with mess (don't kid yourselves, he goes for his usual run before he goes out with me). I uttered the above statement when he took his shoe off last night and there was some blood on his sock from some sort wound on his foot. Tonight, there wasn't as much blood. He's gotta work on that.

I got an email from a co-worker this morning about batman begins that had only the following text: "I believe there should be a 2 hour movie of Christian Bale doing push-ups." Works for me.

Posted by jennj at 09:12 PM | Comments (5)

worst. commute. ever.

I drove into work today so I could sleep in and say goodbye to nbh before he heads off on a road trip with his bro to cleveland (I fly out for the weekend).

Unbeknownst to me, the air conditioning in my car is no longer working. It's 77 degrees and 73% humidity out right now. Crap.

P.S. Anybody know of a good mechanic in the Natick area?

Posted by jennj at 09:35 AM | Comments (2)

vermont

I now have a network "location" on my windows work laptop titled "Shithole" (hahaha) in honor of the hotel I stayed in on Thursday night in Burlington. My normal hotel and most other hotels in the area were sold out...and this is what I get for trusting the work travel agent...I should have done more research (who the hell has time?) on hotels in the area to give them a list to find availability for me. Oh well.

Posted by jennj at 05:46 PM | Comments (0)

breaking point

I think this is it. I think what happened on Mt. Monadnock today was the final straw. I want to be in the shape I was in pre-ski back injury. I've been spotty for the past two months since I declared a commitment to regular exercise, and I have lost some weight and am getting out more. But now I'm angry.

Deb, nbh and I headed up to Mt. Monadnock for a hike today (man, was it hot out). We did not summit because of me (Yes, I told them to please continue without me, but they didn't). The only other time I ever turned back while hiking was up in the White Mountains and there was just too much snow for us to continue.

I used to hike all the time. Mt. Monadnock (well, Pack Monadnock first) was the first serious hike of the season and then it was off to the White Mountains for the rest of the summer. Not today. Today, I gave up because I'm not in shape. Today, I gave up because for the past 2.5 years I've not gotten my ass back into a regular, active routine. I could not make it to the summit.

And that makes me angry. And frustrated. Anger can motivate, as long as it doesn't consume the soul. Let's see what the next few months of anger will do. I don't like this. I don't like this at all. Now I'm scared that I've posted this and if I don't get off my ass make things right again, that I'm uh, well, making an ass of myself. :-)

Posted by jennj at 05:15 PM | Comments (5)

before i leave...

Before I leave for my biz trip to VT, I thought I'd leave you with another installment of "Things Jenn overhears that amuse her".

Waiting for the elevator to arrive. Chatting with a co-worker. Asking what's in store for them for the weekend.

"I'm going to be on a boat and see the greasy pole."

Posted by jennj at 01:23 PM | Comments (0)

definitely need a clue

If you allege in your blog, for the whole world to see, that you have a high I.Q., make sure that you do not have typos in your post. Especially do not misspell the word "intellect" in said post.

Posted by jennj at 09:27 PM | Comments (9)

how many fingers am i showing?

Co-Worker 1 (CW1), CW2, boss and I heading on elevator down to staff meeting.

boss: "How was the x kick-off meeting?"

me: thumbs up signal

CW1: "That's not the finger you were using earlier."

Posted by jennj at 07:10 PM | Comments (2)

i'm a moron

I finally realized, after two years of .Mac webmail interface at work, that one can filter the mac webmail so I can find e-mails only from certain people or subject lines. I used to just scroll down, 10 at a time, til I found something buried 100 e-mails down. JEEZ. Sometimes I get so focused I forget to look up and see my surroundings on the screen.

Fortunately, my boss doesn't know I'm a moron, as he's just approved my biz travel to Amsterdam and then Paris the last week of July!!! HAHAHAHA. Yay! I so love Amsterdam and Paris.

Posted by jennj at 03:39 PM | Comments (7)

spring

TODAY is what spring is supposed to be like. And I have to work. I'm having an intense internal struggle in my brain this morning: one side is saying, "leave work for god's sake life is short!" The other is saying, "you've got too much to do in preparation for your biz trip to Burlington, VT later this week, you can't take any time off!"

The weekend was fun and full of surprises. Boring stuff is in the extended entry.

Friday was nbh's birthday and his bro Jeff called late in the evening and said he and his girlfriend were heading up from NYC the following morning for a birthday surprise.

We had the 2nd annual peanut press memorial bbq on Saturday. It was great seeing everyone and the weather cooperated for the most part. We have a ton of beer in the fridge. And it's all good stuff.

Went and saw Batman Begins again, Sunday matinee. I liked it even more the second time around. Like I've said, it's not perfect, but it's very satisfying.

And, I managed to get all of my homework (despite all the company and activities) done so I'm free for a few days....well, until I have to take an online exam tomorrow night.

I'm feeling good.

Posted by jennj at 09:12 AM | Comments (0)

things i like to stumble across

Will there be a "Serenity" sequel?
If this first movie does well… We’re all roped into a trilogy. We all signed for a trilogy so if this first one does well, we’re going to do two more.

Posted by jennj at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

mmm...chin....

So, apparently Bruce Campbell has a new book out called Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way. There was a quick little "interview" in the free newspaper I grabbed on the way into work on the train. The only interesting question and answer:

Q: Who would win a fight, you or director Sam Raimi?
A: True horror would be watching me mop the floor with "Mr. Big Shot Director".

Posted by jennj at 08:23 PM | Comments (0)

you have got to be kidding me

Jeb Bush is an asshole. (nothing new, I know, i just felt like saying it)

Posted by jennj at 02:32 PM | Comments (17)

batman begins

No spoiler info here: I highly recommend people see it.

Spoiler stuff in the extended entry. Click at your own risk.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

GO FUCKING SEE THIS MOVIE.

Look, I was excited that it was Christian Bale. And to be honest, he could recite the phone book and I'd be enthralled. So, I didn't go into the movie with really, really high expectations cause I was going for the hormones.

This movie is GOOD. Not perfect, mind you. But probably the best movie in quite awhile. Quite awhile. The movie industry is bitching that ticket sales are down and have been for the past 10 weeks or whatever. Well, you know why? They've been putting out shit.

Screw Tom Cruise and War of the Worlds. See this movie.

The way batman moves is awesome. I love what Christopher Nolan (He did Memento, folks) has done. There definitely is sequel potential (duh), and therefore, you must go forth and see this movie. Many times.

If you love me, you'll go see it a lot and make sure it makes tons of money so there are more movies made. Do you love me?

I'm already trying to figure out how to see it at least one more time this weekend.

Posted by jennj at 10:23 PM | Comments (7)

no surprises here

Well, no wonder why you didn't want to tell us where you came up with your environmental policy, Mr. Bush.

In briefing papers given before meetings to the US under-secretary of state, Paula Dobriansky, between 2001 and 2004, the administration is found thanking Exxon executives for the company's "active involvement" in helping to determine climate change policy, and also seeking its advice on what climate change policies the company might find acceptable.

But maybe people are getting smart as Bush's approval rating keeps getting lower and lower. Too little, too late....*sigh*

Posted by jennj at 03:55 PM | Comments (8)

yessssss!

Thursday evening, premium cinema, seats 505 and 506, 7:30p.m. tix. Batman Begins. Suh-weet.

Posted by jennj at 02:59 PM | Comments (0)

short attention span

There's a midnight showing tonight of Batman Begins. I wish I could do it, but it's a "school night". Christian Bale is yummy. Yummy, I tell you. I do not think I can wait until the weekend to see it. What would really kick ass is if it is shown at the Premium Cinema.

Posted by jennj at 01:28 PM | Comments (0)

so that's that

Well, it surprises me he's been found not guilty. I mean, come on folks, an adult having a slumber party with teenage boys, sharing and dozing off in a bed together? Creepy. But not what he was charged with. (I'm NOT talking about a scared kid crawling into bed with their parents cause they want to sleep there for the night.)

False accusations piss me off. It ruins the life of the accused. I'd say his life will never be normal again, but uh, that would mean it was normal before, now wouldn't it?

Posted by jennj at 11:29 AM | Comments (6)

plague of babies

First thing, CONGRATULATIONS to Peter and Rebecca on getting preggers. They are due in February.

Soooo....a friend of Kevin and April's has made a list of "100 things he wants to do before he dies". I'm sure one of the items is make the list.

I cannot make such a list. 1. It's too much of a commitment - both the time to make the list and the list itself. 2. I cannot limit myself to 100. 3. What happens when I reach 100? Do I die immediately or get a chance to create a new 100 list? I could go on, but then I'd be accused of making a list of why I couldn't make a list.

Pepper decided to pee on our heads last night. Well, not _on_ them, but nbh apparently moved his hand to grab the pillow space between us and it was wet. So like at midnight, we're grabbing two new pillows from a guest room and taking off the sheets and making the bed. I hate making the bed. Any time of day. But it really sucks when you've been happily asleep for an hour or two......ah, the joys of an old cat.

Posted by jennj at 08:21 PM | Comments (1)

safety first

On the drive home yesterday, somewhere in the state of Connecticut on I-84, we spied something that made us laugh and shake our heads.

We saw a guy on a motorcycle with no helmet, no leathers, tennis shoes, cotton pants and an orange t-shirt and the back of it said "Safety First".

Posted by jennj at 08:27 AM | Comments (7)

hydrated

That was a great wedding and reception. I believe that is the first time I've attended a wedding where a real cannon from the civil war was fired after the ceremony. Heck, any cannon. I drank _far too much_. You know that state where you know you are slurring your words and not making any sense and it's like you're watching someone else? Yeah, me too.

It was great seeing everyone, too.

No pictures of the chaise lounge races. The cleavage photos won't be posted. And no chum.

On the way to the wedding from the hotel on the bus (dan and heather):

The ceremony:

Mess and Annie married:

That's a big barrel....

Pinchy would have wanted it this way:

nbh, dawn, iwan, dan, kita, steve, devo, mike and jay:

Posted by jennj at 08:18 PM | Comments (7)

mm...free booze...

We're off to mess and annie's wedding down in Westchester County, NY. See ya tomorrow! Much drinking is in my future.....

Posted by jennj at 08:45 AM | Comments (0)

having a boss with a sense of humor

My boss has a great sense of humor. Even though I've had too much on my plate at work for too long now (yes, we work on it...and it's fine for awhile..then it creeps back...then we work on it...then it creeps back), I love working for my boss.

I gave a presentation earlier this week to a large audience for an event he sponsored. There were many presenters. It was fun. Etc. He sent me an e-mail thanking me for doing a great job on the presentation and he cc'd himself and said, "You're the best! (I'm cc:ing your boss too!)"

*snort*

Posted by jennj at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)

close call

Well, folks, at 7:15 last night I almost slit my wrists in frustration and despair.

Not really. I was working late on a document for an 8a.m. meeting today and had one of those "oh my god, where's the current version of this fucking document cause I'm not looking at it right now" moments. Thank god for version control systems. Somehow the "most recent" version was an older version and the next version down the one I wanted. Whew. This doesn't happen to me. Ever. It was a sign that it was time for me to go home.

Mac and Intel update: nbh's friend, John, has written an article on ars technica about his thoughts on the intel switch. My favorite line: "And if I didn't give significant weight to my feelings when it comes to my platform choice, would I really have been a Mac user for the past 21 years?"

Posted by jennj at 01:22 PM | Comments (4)

oh please....

So what if Apple switched to Intel chips? It seems to me like it's a good decision. They probably already waited long enough as it is without IBM delivering on the faster chips. How much longer should they wait, ya know? This slays me: "...no point in him buying a Powerbook if it was going to be obsolete in 18 months' time..." Dude. Technically, *anything* you buy nowadays in the computer world is obsolete in 18 months time. Heck, the minute you buy it, it is.

Posted by jennj at 09:23 AM | Comments (11)

did i ever tell you, you're my hero?

Someone left this on my whiteboard when I came back to my office earlier today. I have asked a few people, nobody has owned up to it. It made my day. Especially after the craptastic week at work I've had.

Posted by jennj at 06:35 PM | Comments (3)

can i get the icon in cornflower blue?

So, like, our admin the other day sent out an agenda for a meeting. And a senior director didn't like the layout (not content) so asked her to re-do it based on his aesthetic sensibilities. It's not like anyone outside the company was going to be at the meeting. A senior director worried about layout of a stupid, internal meeting. Jeebus.

Posted by jennj at 12:34 PM | Comments (1)

so true

This is so true.

"You hear that? That cheering and rejoicing and heavy exhausted sighing? Why, it's coming from the massively fatigued Prius-happy enviro-green set and it's all about the fact that sales of huge bloated oil-belchin' SUVs are in a major free-fall, down nearly 20 percent for the year and dropping faster than Jenna Bush can slam a bottle of Cuervo....."

"...Because the truth is, SUV sales are down not because people are becoming more politically aware and not necessarily because people are finally becoming more environmentally attuned..."

"Nope, SUV sales are down for one reason and one reason only: high gas prices...."

A little applause from me that the sales are down, but I know the reality: pure economics.

Posted by jennj at 12:33 PM | Comments (17)

i'm looking for...

10 inches. Oh wait, wrong Deep Throat. *snick*

So, anyone else think it's cool to find out that we now know who Deep Throat was? I read All The President's Men and saw the movie. And just a year or so ago I read In Search of Deep Throat by Leonard Garment. Boy, did he get it wrong. He thought it was John Dean. He had a compelling argument for it and the book was also a good overview of the whole scandal and fallout. I'm sure he's just happy to find out who it was, even if he was wrong.

Watergate wasn't only about Nixon's fall, but it also spurred some radical changes to campaign finance laws, back when people cared, as opposed to now.

Posted by jennj at 09:21 AM | Comments (11)