faster pussycat... type! type!

Hey kids, are you having a nice holiday? It hasn't hit me, yet, that I am unemployed, as we would have been closed this week anyway. I'm sure things will starting appearing out of whack on the 2nd. I'm so out of touch with the outside right now, I didn't even know about Sadaam.

I wanted to take a minute to wish you all Happy New Year. It's been a roller coaster year, I don't know about you guys. We are staying in tonight, Jack's over. We'll probably have a Veronica Mars Season 2 marathon later on, with jiffy pop. I'll see you all when I get home, and we'll figure out what I'm going to do with myself now.

Posted by jodi at 18h32 | Permalink | Comments (7)

Canadians are so nice. On Christmas day, the ferry ticket guy gave me a candy cane and a free one way walk on ferry ticket Yesterday morning. Then, inside the terminal, the general goods store, which was one of the stores open at 7:30 xmas morning, gave me free candy bars.

I felt bad. Here they are, working on Christmas, and they are giving me the presents. I didn't get them anything.

Posted by jodi at 20h49 | Permalink | Comments (6)

I love you guys! No, seriously, I do!

I'm leaving way early for Canada this morning, I'm catching a 9 am ferry, and I'm leaving some buffer room for the border, as I really don't know how busy it will be. So it will be still be dark when i leave.... I might even run into Santa. I'll say hey for you if I do.

Happy Holidays!

Posted by jodi at 4h48 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Amelia: Hey, what happened.. .it's dark. I can't see.
Me: it's ok.
Amelia: I feel funny.
Me: It's ok... you are rolled up.
Amelia: Rolled up?
Me: Yeah, we're leaving. We're taking off.
Amelia: We are? Are we going to go exploring?
Me: Yeah
Amelia: Sweet! You know I'm a bit of an adventurer, don't you?
Me: I've heard that about you.
Amelia: So where are we off to now?
Me: How do you feel about... Canada?
Amelia: Beauty, eh!
Me: Precisely.

Goodbye, P.O.E. I will miss you. You are the best company I've ever worked for in my life, truly world class. You've been very good to me. And I hope that I, at least the majority of the time, have been good to you.

Posted by jodi at 9h38 | Permalink | Comments (5)

Because you needed to see her, here is a picture of Tangwen, my Lvl 28 Night Elf Hunter, her pet cat, Hobbes, and her new axe, Dexter. Dexter, who has many special "buffs" I can't recall right now, was a present from her gf, Ikilu. Who is my bf. It's terribly complicated. No, the game does not make you name your weapons, I just like doing that. Her sword is named Joan.

Yes, I am that big of a geek.

Posted by jodi at 19h52 | Permalink | Comments (1)

• yoga pants - check.
• new balance sneakers - check.
• printed t-shirt, hopefully one that mentions a brewery of some type - check
• grey hoodie - check.

man, I gotta do some laundry.

Tomorrow is the last day, kids!

Posted by jodi at 9h25 | Permalink

What horrible Edward Gorey Death will you die?

You will be smothered under a rug. You're a little anti-social, and may want to start gaining new social skills by making prank phone calls. Take this quiz! Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Posted by jodi at 16h02 | Permalink

I hesitate to write this blog entry. It definitely falls under the TMI category. It's not gross, but no one really needs to know this detail about my life. However...

As I mentioned, I went to the doctor last week. I was trying to convince them to give me back the birth control pills. They took them away from me over a decade ago, when I suddenly had high blood pressure. It's very odd for a 26 year old to have high blood pressure, so they ran all manner of tests, and I found a doctor visit that is actually more humiliating, more humbling, and more painful than the trip to the ob/gyn.... the urologist. But, they found nothing wrong and just proclaimed me a high pressure freak of nature. It wasn't until recently that I wanted to revisit my method of birth control. They took my pressure last week, and it was a very respectable 120/70. This is low for me. Very low. The lowest it's been since before it went high. I thought it was a fluke, but didn't say anything, since I wanted them to give me The Pill back. They read my history, they didn't fall for it.

Which is why I went back yesterday. For a "fitting." Sorry, but it's part of the story. I mean, it's why I'm writing this in the first place. The blood pressure is a B plot. An aside note. Yesterday it was 110/70 - FREAKISHLY low for me. So, I guess it's not a fluke. And here's the thing, it's not the meds because, and I know this dumb, I haven't been taking it. I forget a lot. And then I run out. So I guess I just have gone low pressure. Maybe I have a pressure leak? An escape valve?

So, all the ladies will know what it means, when I say I was undressed and draped, sitting on the table when the fitter came in the room. Let's call her Sally. Sally is British and has a delightful accent.

Sally: Sooooo, you came for a fitting. Wonderful! Let's get the gloves, oops, wrong size, I need small... small hands... Sally small hands! So much the better for the patient, eh?
Me: Do they call you that?
Sally: What?
Me: Sally Small Hands.
Sally - confused: No. They call me Sally.

After Sally gets a feel for you, she picks a size, explains the details of the device and then, well, inserts it. Then she made me stand up. While holding the sheet about my waste, she made me jump up and down, squat, and wiggle my butt. To make sure it was comfortable. When I wasn't as active as she wanted, she joined me. And together, we jumped up and down, squatted, and did a dance similar to the Chicken Dance of wedding reception fame. Although, she had pants on and I tried to hold the sheet around my waste to keep from exposing my ass. Which I was wiggling. All this was to check the "feel" and "fit" of the device. Or humiliate me, one of the two.

Still, not as bad as a trip to the urologist.

Posted by jodi at 11h55 | Permalink | Comments (4)

Get Your Monster Name

Posted by jodi at 10h12 | Permalink | Comments (1)

The bandwidth hasn't been the only issue to impede my blogging. Friday's 50 Word Fiction was preempted due to the BIG STORM. And, believe me when I say this storm deserves all caps. It started Thursday afternoon. It took me an hour and 45 minutes to get home Thursday night. I might have made some tactical errors, navigationally speaking. But not so much that it should cost me an hour and 45 minutes. I was driving down Lk. Washington Blvd watchings sheets of water just poor off the cars around me. Those parked looked dangerously close to being stranded due to flooding, so I can only imagine what I was driving through. Torrents were rolling down the hill from Lakeside Dr. It was insane. That night the wind howled it sounded like logs were being dropped on my roof. In reality, they were only large branches, but they sound worse coming down.

My power went out on Thursday night. When I woke up Friday morning, I took a quick shower in the dark, and went out to make a path on my driveway. I know I've mentioned the ginormous pine tress in my yard before. I had enough to make five separate xmas trees. Then I left for work.

My neighborhood looks, and still looks, like a war zone. It was completely powerless. Not just my subdivision, but all the main streets and business as well. As it turns out, over 1.1 Million People lost power. My first route to the freeway was blocked by a large tree. Last night, I came down that road, it's still closed to incoming traffic, and crews are still working. It's right next to a large forested park. It took me over 25 minutes to even reach the freeway. It's usually about 3 minutes. Once on there I sat and sat and sat and sat. Barely moving. Finally I found out, on the radio, that my bridge to Seattle, the 520, was closed. I gave up. 45 minutes later, I made it back home.

It was too cold, and I wasn't the only one who did not make it in from the Eastside, so I said screw it, there is heat in the rental car, let's head up to Mt. Vernon and pick up Lola. A thousand bucks later I was heading up to Canada, which was well powered and heated.

When I got home Sunday night, I had power, but many around me did not. Evildeb does not. In fact, a tree fell through the roof of AlmostCertainlyGoingToEndUpEvilMaggie's bedroom in the middle of night. No one was hurt. Evildeb spends some time at the local Tully's, which has coffee beverages and free wi-fi. She said she was listening to a woman who has been told she may not have power until after Christmas. They are hoping to get their power back tonight or tomorrow, depending on if there is any damage done to their house by the tree. I mean, besides the roof. They have a wood burning stove and a gas water heater. So they are ok. But the entire Evil family is out of clean underpants. It's insane how much damage this storm caused. We may be declared a disaster area. If they saw my yard, they'd have no question. I will try to take a picture before Ron comes back to town and starts trying to clean it up.

Posted by jodi at 14h11 | Permalink | Comments (2)

I don't know if you noticed the downtime, but I exceeded my bandwidth for the month. By the 17th of December. I never exceed my bandwidth, I'm not that popular. It was very unusual. After some frantic please to support, and some guided investigation, I found that two blogs still existed on an old install of Moveable Type, on uberbrain.com. Both of these hosted blogs have been moved over to my jodiferous.com install, as I have an unlimited author license there. However, spammers had found these vestiges and bombarded them with spam. For instance, one had 47+ thousand comments, only 19 of which were legitimate and those were from two years ago. The rest all came in in the last 30 days. This is the only thing I can find that is unusual, activity wise. So I took care of it, added a couple of gigs for the rest of the month, and we'll see how it goes. All the spams seemed to originate from in IP in Amsterdam. Which leads me to wonder if maybe pot is more dangerous than we original thought.

Poor Amsterdam, I know you don't all smoke pot, and I'm sorry that, for many, the first thing that pops into our heads when we think of you is pot. However, I will tell you this, I very very very much want to visit Amsterdam and I have heard nothing but glowing remarks about it, from friends who have visited. And only some of them were even interested in the pot. I'll try hard to think of "canals" from now on, when I think of you. Or maybe Anne Frank. Possibly the red light distract.

So this is my last week at work. I'd be more excited except I'm a little drained today. I'll be happy when this week, and the holidays, are over, frankly. I'm feeling disconnected from Christmas, even though I have tried to get into the spirit. I still have shopping to do, most of my shopping has been online. Which is great, but maybe that's why I'm not feeling the jingle bells. I don't even have my wrapping paper for this year. I usually pick out my wrapping paper first, I look forward to it. I'm very picky and never used left overs from last year. Picky, not frugal. But this year, I'm thinking I might just do that. Use the left overs. But, the week is not over, I still have to go to the mall, we'll see what happens when I hit the Container Store's Gift Wrap Wonderland.

Posted by jodi at 12h36 | Permalink | Comments (6)

I don't work for company mentioned in the article, but I work in the same approximate place. It's all true. Except, I don't drink coffee.

Posted by jodi at 14h23 | Permalink | Comments (2)

I haven't posted a Then and Now in a while, because I haven't really had anything that inspired me. In fact, I became bored with my music, so I started to look for something new.

This is what I've found. I LOVE IT, because the drummer tap dances the percussion. How cool is that?

Bad Education - Tilly and the Wall

Posted by jodi at 11h52 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yesterday I had a dr's appt. A FEMALE doctor's appt. The doctor was female as well. Anyhoo, it's the bestest most fun kind of appt to have, any gal can tell you that. They ask you all sorts of really personal questions. "Are you sexually active?" That was always fun, when I was single. Well, define "active." Why do they call it "birth control?" It's not the birth you want to control, it's the conception. They should call it "conception control."

Having a "partner" adds a new twist to their questions. I guess they assume we have grown up discussions where we plan the details of our future and construct a timeline. If they saw my life, my home, my car, the inside of my purse, my cube at work... they'd know better than to think I'm that organized. I'll tell you what I've planned. I'm moving to Canada. That's about it.

Them: Are you planning on having children?
Me: Uhhh... ok.... yes? sorta.
Them: Have you thought about when you might want to become pregnant?
Me: pregnant? ohhh... ummm...
Them: At your age, the window of opportunity is starting to narrow.
Me: oh dear.
Them: It's something to think about.
Me: Well... I HAVE A BOYFRIEND!
Them: Yes, well, that's an excellent start.

But, you know, no pressure or anything.

Posted by jodi at 10h28 | Permalink | Comments (1)

So, weeks and weeks ago I asked you if you believed in ghosts and then never told you why I asked. Silly me.

Last month, my mom and her husband, Bob, came up to Victoria to visit and meet Wil. We took them for brunch at my favorite brunch place, John's place. And we took them on a Historical Ghost Walk of Victoria. Victoria, it seems, is one of the most haunted places in the Pacific Northwest. One reason? The Hudson Bay Company did not follow the cardinal rule of Poltergeist. They may, or may not, have moved the gravestones, but they DID NOT MOVE THE BODIES, when they kicked the native dwellers off their lands and started building. Man, you ALWAYS move the bodies. Always. Also, I don't think ghosts like the water, so they are pretty much island bound. I might be making that up, tho, I'm not sure.

Wil does not believe in ghosts. I like the idea of ghosts. It appeals to me. But I've never had a ghostly experience. And I didn't that night. Well, maybe I did, I don't know. One of the symptoms of a ghostly experience is a sudden drop in temperature surrounding you. But it was night and outside and we were already cold. I could have been frosted in ghosts and not known it. Several times we were led through alleys and hallways that were supposed to be ripe with spirits. Nothing. Nada. And I had an open mind. Wil did not. When asked if he was at all sensitive, his response was "I'm the most insensitive guy you'll ever meet."

But, it was interesting. A slightly more gruesome way of delivering some history, so it's fun. During the summer, they have five different routes. Victoria is that haunted. And I would definitely take visitors on one, if they liked. Good times. Spooky fun. Two spectral thumbs up.

Posted by jodi at 15h02 | Permalink | Comments (4)

As you may know, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is called "Kraft Dinner" up here in Canada. When I was in the store yesterday, I saw they had a flavor we don't have in the states - sharp cheddar. I LOVE Kraft M&C... Wil, not so much. But he's indulging me and we are preparing dinner of M&C and caesar salad. How domestic. By "we" I mean "he" of course.

Friday night, my car broke down on I-5, in the middle of nowhere. In the pitch dark. Surrounded by wolves, I'm pretty sure. Probably because I just didn't get to spend enough money on the plumber earlier that week. Destiny thought I could use some more major expenses right before the holidays. Thank god for cell phones, although AAA could not find someone to come out to tow me, so the State Patrol sent someone out and I paid them out of my pocket. They towed my car to Mount Vernon, where the service station was already closed for the weekend. All the car rental places were closed for the evening. I had to stay the night at a Qaulity Inn. But they had wi-fi, which was, pretty much, the bright spot in my day.

I had to email in to work. I'm going to have to go to Mount Vernon and deal with my car. The spectacularly unhelpful whelp who was in charge of the station that evening seemed to think that there was no way they'd be able to fix my car in 2006. If not, I'll have to have it towed somewhere else. Everyone says, based on the symptoms, it's my alternator.

I tried and tried all weekend to find a way to make this tale more amusing. But the sad fact is, it's just annoying.

Oh well. My mac and cheese is ready! Bon Appetite!

Posted by jodi at 22h09 | Permalink | Comments (5)

A couple of weeks ago, I took one of those "you are so smart, you know our products so well" tests. However, I was not smart enough to sign up for the right version. Color me surprised when I failed! Der. Whata dope. Anyway, I am re-taking it today. Or just taking it. Since this time, I plan on taking the correct version. So the them this week is "ace."

Watch for Falling Ice
She raised a hand to block out harsh winter sun. Turning her head, she saw the days work, the hunting and gathering, spilled out on the ground, plastic bag still grasped in her hand. Large shoes appeared before her. Shoes planted firmly on the icy sidewalk.

"Way to go, Ace."

Posted by jodi at 10h37 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Yesterday I hit the drive thru for lunch, and after the Expedient Nourishment Technician gave me the total, I pulled around the Window One with 7 1's in my hand and just looked at him. I wanted him to repeat the total:

ENT: That's $6.66.
Me: Ooooooo
ENT: Yes... 3 6's.
Me: IT'S THE LUNCH OF THE DEVIL!!!
ENT: Oh, yes. Ha. Here is your change, 34 cents.
Me: My lunch is CURSED!!
ENT: OK, Ha. Yes.
Me: My lunch is EVIL!! Oh woe is me! I'm DOOMED!!
ENT: Ok, your lunch is at the 2nd window, please drive thru.
Me: Sandwich of Saaaaaatan!

It's ok, tho. I stopped off and got a Dr Pepper, which totally counteracts any evil from the lunch. I'm good.

Posted by jodi at 11h11 | Permalink

it's been hard for me to blog the last few weeks, because I've had a secret. What was on my mind I could not blog about. Not until I spoke with certain people first, took certain steps. But, it's all good now, and so I can tell you.

I gave notice yesterday, at my POE. I'm leaving at the end of the month. End of the year, I suppose, as well. I'm moving to Canada. Ironic that I should do it now, and not in 2004, but since I'm not doing it for political reasons, I guess that doesn't matter. Obviously, I am going to be moving in with Wil. We are looking to get a place for February 1st. And really, I could not be happier.

Moving to Victoria is a lot more complicated than moving to, say, Portland or Los Angeles. It's a gigantic pain in the ass, to be honest. I'm doing the research, but from what I can tell, I'm going to have to inventory and price every single item I move over there. Every. Single. Item. Like I can remember how much my monkey socks cost! This is what I am going to spend January doing. Separating things into 1. Taking, 2. Storing and 3. Garage Sale. I've never had one, but I have some friends who might have a few things to sell, not worth an entire GS themselves, but combined I bet we'll have a good stash.

I can't work there, without a VISA. Luckily, I am in a situation where, if we are very careful and budgeted, I can take time off. I'm going to be... wait for it.... a HOUSEWIFE! Hahahahaha! Oh man, just thinking of it cracks me up. I don't know... what do you think I should do with my time? Improved blogging output, for one. In fact, I hope to do a lot more writing. Learn to cook, maybe? Kick off my shoes and get pregnant? Who knows.

So... what do you think? Be prepared for much discussion of immigration and the politics of introducing Your Cat to His Cat, and Him, and a New Home, all at once, over the next few weeks.

Wil and his cat, Momo

Posted by jodi at 18h08 | Permalink | Comments (13)

bad pipes. Burst while I was on vacation. Yuck.

Please hold... I will have big post coming tonight or tomorrow, ok? We'll talk. It will be good.

Posted by jodi at 10h05 | Permalink

Well, the snow did it's best to prevent me from coming up here, but it finally warmed up and stuff started melting off. You would think that it wouldn't matter that much, as I am on I-5 the entire way, and SURELY I-5 has been plowed since Monday's storm. Surely. But you'd be wrong. I guess Nobody cared about the last 10 miles of the United States. It was actually a bit shocking. Because i was driving 70 miles an hour, like everyone else, to hit all these patches of frozen snow. Bastards.

Wil is sick. It's very sad. He has a bad cold. Last night I made him take some nighttime cold meds, as he had not been able to sleep the last two nights. And I made him go to bed at 9 pm. I wasn't the slightest bit sleepy. The only problem was, Jack and her sister Hazel were here too, and they had to go to bed as well, they have school this morning. So there was no place for me to go. Wil asleep in the bedroom. The girls asleep in the living room. I suppose I could have hung out in the bathroom.

So I lied in bed and thought, and composed brilliant emails and blog posts that are now lost to the wind. To the best of my recollection, these are some of the things I thought about:

• Veronica Mars
• bunk beds
• jersey knit sheets
• laundry
• chocolate chip cookies
• J.P. Patches
• Linens N' Things
• playing house
• Christmas
• kittens
• Momo and Pru
• Dijon chicken and rice.
• pillow top mattresses
• filing systems
• border agents
• WoW
• boxers
• orange juice
• Australia
• Banff
• blogging
• my friend Karyn
• ergonomics
• home offices
• swimming
• dolphins
• the ability to suck someone else's sickness out them with your mind
• and, of course, snow.

I'm happy to say, that since Wil got about 10 hours of sleep, he's doing much better. He seems perkier, albeit still congested and coughy.

Posted by jodi at 8h57 | Permalink | Comments (4)