Oh, you'd be close to Barking, which is the home of the Barking Toad, an endangered species.

If I'm really careful...
and use chopsticks...
and maneuver it all the way to the back...

I CAN EAT NOW!

I have a date!

I have an office. With a window. And a door. That I can shut.

I have a bucket.

YOU took it!

One of yinz out there download "Eye in the Sky" by The Alan Parsons Project.

What a wonderful song. The current tune that's making me kick back, relax, and attempt not to worry about anything. Been whipping up some tea (I got milk this time, SG) and putting this one on. This one, and you can't go wrong with Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier"...;)

This'll probably be really gross to most of you, but I just did a lovely big softish poo. After about 2 1/2 months of constipation, listening to tiny 'plink plinks' after ages of straining, it was better than winning $1000.

Ahahah! So now you get a fine and dainty "shewwwwwww" of a flow, eh?
Good for you. Feel a bit lighter, eh?

yeah...not so full of shit. ;)

I had that problem for the 6 months I was on pain medicine (had two blown cervical discs).. You wont believe the measures I took to deal with it. So I totally understand your relief.

Lots of reasons.
Got an email back from the son of the woman whose house I looked at.
She likes me, wants me to move in and her (younger) son also likes me and is really excited about my cat.

YAY!

I am no longer homeless.

And in the supermarket today, getting snacks for a meeting this afternoon, a little boy turned round and saw me and tugged on his Mum's hand, "Mummy, Mummy! Look at her HAIR!" His Mum was horrribly embarrassed so I smiled at her and the boy hid shyly behing her. I smiled at him and said, "Hello, do you like my hair?" knowing even as I did that children are bound to answer honestly and it could be a negative. Instead he nodded solemnly. As I walked away he said, "She is so cool!"

So I'm a hit with the 4 year old males at least :)

Also, I've found a place that does child mentoring. No guarantee I'll get through the serious interview phase (2.5 hour interview!) but I've submitted my application form. Like egg donation. at least I know I've tried even if I'm not suitable.

WOOT!
 

YAY SG!!!!!!!!!!! When do we all come round to PAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY at your new gaff?
And the other stuff is good too, but what's "child mentoring"?

For the brief time that my hair was fuscia, I got the best reactions from kids. I'm so glad you have a new place to live, Sundae! And it sounds like this one will be much quieter and more suited to your lifestyle.

What's making me happy? I'm happy SG got digs now and things somewhat figured out. And she's happy. Which in turn makes me happy.

I'm also happy because I got out of working at 84, fiddled about with an under-the-table bullshit detailing job (that's a whole other story...perhaps drunken chat)...........and I finally got a 'real' job.

Training starts on Monday morning to be a sub-contractor for Comcast. Installing High-speed Internet and High-Def Cable & DVRs. My old job at 84 would pay $1200 a month. Now I'll be doing that in a week.

And while I'm at it, M.I.A's "Paper Planes" is the most ridiculous song ever.
Not really about anything else but shooting people, taking money, weed, and UPS trucks. But good lord is it infectious. I love it. What a beat. This is the kind of 'guilty pleasure' song that you only rock out to alone, and it sticks in your head for hours and hours.

But yeah. Comcast job. They're giving me an 08' Silverado, Nextel phone, tools, and gas card. Drive it home. :D

Today I get to pick my boys up and then spend 2 whole weeks with them over what you lot in the US would probably call spring break.

i'm very excited.

These flowers just arrived for me from my wonderful husband.

Today is a good day for me. I feel good, I get to see my boys, I got flowers, and we're going out for dinner with friends tonight. I'm not sure how it could possibly be a better day really. :)

Attachment 19446

Lil' Griff just went out on the porch and called the dog... in pirate.

Yay on the poo, and the flower front, Ali. Did Dazza send you congratz flowers for parking the buick in the porcelin garage?

Congratz Sundae!!

Priceless! :p

Interview Tuesday! Wish me luck! :jig:

Great S123 - best of luck ... and a few prayers headed your way.

Mrs. Dar's snickerdoodles. Nom, nom, nom.

Ah Shawnee we've been telling you for years now that you're worth more than you imagine. Now we have outside proof and won't let you forget it.
It's made my day to hear that - well done you and all the best of luck.

Thanks so much. My confidence level is rising. :)

Now look at the thread about negotiating for even MORE money!

I think making too much money is often a mistake. You become used to that level of income and it becomes harder to find a job if you lose that one, you are more at risk of losing your job when cuts are made, and it's harder to leave a job if you aren't happy.

WTF is too much money? I've been scraping by for so long I would LOVE to worry about making too much money.

It's just me, here. I have to do what is right for me, because I don't expect to meet that Magic Man who will pay my bills and let me play all day.

And in education, particularly at the school to which I am applying, cuts are rarely made. When other industries make cuts, education soars.

Oh let me let me let me get "used to that level of income."

Same here chick.

Although I see where HLJ is coming from - I've only just reached the level I was at in 1998 when I worked for Dr Solomons Software. And that was out-of-London wages, everything was much cheaper (esp house prices and petrol) and I was in a stable relationship, so shared all my bills. Good job I couldn't see into the future back then, my svelte, reasonably affluent and loved up 25 year old self would probably have died from shock, setting up some sort of time rift which would end the universe as we know it.

lol--I too am glad I couldn't see into the future. I'd be like "I'm going to be making WHAT for doing WHAT? AND I'll be alone? Huh-uh!) :)

I do want to say it isn't just about the money. I would be doing a LOT more of what I love and a LOT less of what I don't love. I would be paid a lot more for doing a lot less. I like to work hard. I don't like to feel like I can't do anything well because lately it's been all about not drowning (ahem...time at the Cellar is NOT wasted time :blush: )

Ah well, I may not even get an offer, but it's nice to dream about getting a new car before this one falls into a thousand pieces. Nice to dream about taking a me-cation in my new car, going wherever my heart desires, nice to think about taking my nieces to fun places.

Money doesn't buy happiness. It does buy a certain level of freedom.

I passed my driving test!

Wahoo! :driving:

Sweet! Congratulations.

(And excellent use of a smiley.)

Is that Toonces?

:(

Toonces Riley, the best cat who ever lived...

Eh, I'll have to find a pic of him at home.

This made my day. Thank you!

Double stuff oreos :p

A shower and a clean shirt (Friday is shower-and-a-clean-shirt day).

We went to an art tour this weekend and bought a painting. I'll take a picture and post it later.

Cool!

I went to the Ren Fest yesterday----really nerded it up for all of you.

You're welcome.

Here's the painting we bought. This is the town that we live in (well, near).

It was painted by Ted Garcia.

Here's his web site.

I just noticed that the painting we bought is here (that says 16x20, but I just measured it and it's 20"x24").

One of his motorcycle paintings is on a show called American Chopper, and another one is at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.

that's not the same picture. Looks like he's churning them out....

Just got off the phone with my mom. Good convo.

Your right, definitely different painting of the same scene.

What's lost was found: brat cat gone for 2 days. Found him hiding under a neighbor's car. He has lost some of his bratness since he spent two days in the "wild."

Glad I have an interview tomorrow, and I hope it goes well, because I am hatin' this place with a passion.

Go kick some ass tomorrow! Good luck.

Thanks! I'm near a walk-out today. Something has to give!

Shawnee - good luck at the interview. Just make sure that any job changes won't result in loss of Cellar access.

It's our wedding anniversary today. Dazza got me a pamper package for a spa in town. I'm looking forward to it. :)

Congrats!

Moving in less than a month! Well, the moving itself is not so fun, but where we are moving is amazing. We found a house much larger than our current 1000 sq ft. Plus, it includes a space that is separate from the house that I will be using for a group studio. Plus it is actually *in* the mountains, on 6 acres.

Don't be surprised if you see me in the other thread talking about bears. Does anyone know of a good dog breed to have around for deterring bears?

People care.
It always surprises and humbles me, in a very happy way.

BTW - congrats Case! Lots of pics when you are settled in!

Nice!

Good luck with the move, case!

I just have to thank you all for your votes of confidence as of late. I think the 'view went really well. I felt confident, and much of that was due to confidence from my friends, including my friends here.

I'm trying not to get too excited, but I feel like I nailed it! I certainly have the qualifications, so I was able to speak intelligently about all that the job entails. It's a new position which is very exciting, because even they were saying they weren't sure what direction it would go, based on strengths and weaknesses.

Also, I was myself (the friendly, honest, and professional myself...not the venting sometimes half-crazed self you have seen from time to time.) :)

I think they appreciated my honesty and sense of humor.

So, the news comes Thursday, if I get a second interview. I am trying not to think too much about it because you really never know, but it felt great!

Thanks again, all of you!

Any confidence we gave you was deserved because of the great person that you are, so thanks for the thanks but it's not merited imo :)

I'll keep everything crossed for you. I'm sure there will be some very good news in a short space of time!

And they said you could keep your Cellar access?

Yeah, you can't start the negotiations on cellar access too early.

heehee...if I get the job I will eventually have my very own internet access and will do my Cellar business from home. Hmmm, maybe that's not a good thing! :eek:

Congratulations and continued good luck, Shawnee123.

Your confidence is due entirely to your own professionalism, your own skills, your own talents. We don't make this stuff up, we just report it.

Thursday!

Way to go S123 -

For me its the ignore button.

Case: Dog that's good to have to deter bears... there really aren't any. BIG and LOUD might help discourage them, but if the bear really decides to ignore them, only thing the dog might do at that point is become lunch. As for what's making me happy.... my ten month old daughter is saying "MAMA"!