Kind of Loony

les_o_lie @ 2009-11-14T17:38:00

2009-11-14T22:39:10Z

Wing Company moved.
Farther away.
AAAAAAAAAARGH.

Today

2009-11-11T00:13:57Z

Was kind of remarkably craptastic.

Work sucked for any series of ridiculous and most likely illogical, petty reasons along with a shift change and unloading a truck with customers in the store.

But things improved thereafter because I went out to Borders for coffee with Sheila and Hannah [coworkers of +5 awesome] and my peppermint mocha trio thinggummy was fabulous.

Now I'm at home eating over-coagulated ramen with cheese while watching Dirty Jobs [one I have seen, sadly] and smelling the nasty burned-plastic smell that comes from having a pan with a broken handle that periodically slips upside down and sits waaaaaay too close to the burner and gets all melty.

I just saw the Applebee's Veteran's Day commercial and was reminded of something.

To everyone I know and don't know in the military, thank you and God bless you. You do things I could never manage, and in doing so allow me to live in my own idiocy. Thank you.

Sooo...

2009-11-09T11:06:07Z

MIKEY! I had a dream where I was hanging out with Jamie and Rodney and some other people and we were talking about you. So I related something to them about the last time I visited you...IN FLASHBACK. It was awesome. You and I were hanging out and talking about how you had gotten into your chemistry group thing and they gave you a really cool alarm clock.

I have no idea why any of this was in my head.

I LOVE MY FRIENDS.

2009-11-07T23:55:00Z

Heather and I were just having a conversation about boys. I essentially joked that sometimes I wished more boys would be interested in me, like with her, the poor thing. I topped off the statement with being happy I was invisible, except, of course, to zombies. She offered to trade. The conversation ended as such:

Leslie: You say that until they try to eat your brains. They all move too fast--first date, brains. It's all they can think about!
Heather: At least they like a girl with brains.

So I have this friend...

2009-11-02T11:23:50Z

And yes, it is an actual other person, not some vague shimmering imaginary person I put out there because I want to talk about my own problems. But my own problems are involved.

But I have this friend. And I told her about National Novel Writing blah blah blah. And I made the mistake of making, more or less, a deal with her. We were both to spend at least three separate hours each week of November writing on a specific project. After each hour, we are to send the other an email regarding what was written--how we feel, how much we got done, that kind of stuff. [Jenn, this should sound really familiar to you!]

The problem is that I'm off to a rough start because I'm kind of a loser like that, and won't be able to get rolling for a while just yet.

And that I promised her a long, inspirational email. I don't know anything about inspiring people...so I just kind of wrote what follows.

Writing should be a lot less like fishing and more like catfish noodling. Fishing is where you're just sort of casting your line into the who-knows-where and hoping some stray idea comes along and thinks, "Ooo, tasty bit of tinfoil." Then you write. Noodling is a bit more risky. Instead of doing a lot of casting and pull-backs, you're trudging out in the mud in a creek or pond or whatever, where you cannot see through the water and then finding a hole. There's no tinfoil here--you stick your arm in, and you hope to high hell that what grabs you will be big, juicy, and kind of awesome. Sure, you're spending a lot of time, because a lot of the time you are spending is looking for the catfish--you start out writing in a direction and hope you get what you want. Unfortunately, with writing like this you run the risk of getting your hours [instead of your fingers] sheared off by a bad idea, a snapping turtle instead of a catfish. The effort might have been in vain, but you have gained experience and hopefully some drive.

I know it makes sense for how I write--I pick a direction and go until I can't anymore [Greg, look out for that wall!], you know? Sometimes it works, sometimes I really do lose it to the snapper. I was wondering what tidbits others might have. Your thoughts, additions, subtractions, corrections, witticisms...

[Also to be posted on facebook, just so you know.]

Actually, I really like the song...

2009-10-30T09:30:11Z

...it's Friday morning, 6 AM. I am confused. Grace isn't flipping out. I heard her whimper earlier, but no mad dog barking. I wonder when the garbage truck chorus begins...

Best part of Monday's Castle.

2009-10-28T00:24:27Z

Castle's mom IS CRUELLA FREAKING De'VILLE.

Guess what!

2009-10-26T22:01:31Z

Lula doesn't hate me! I didn't even have to avoid her!

However, I got a dirty look the third time I assured myself she wasn't mad at me. She does not support guilt complexes. She gives them dirty looks.

And Tom and Katy came Saturday night and it was awesome.

Tonight.

2009-10-24T16:22:15Z

I'm supposed to go to a party. I don't want to. Lula will kill me if I don't show.

Seriously.

She said it's small--just forty or fifty people. How do I explain that the biggest party I've ever really been to was maybe fifteen?

And I am supposed to dress--costumes or some such. I figured I'd dress up and grab a wrench and be Prof. Plum. Probably still will, but I don't want to go. Mmmmmmmmmrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....thbb.

--edit--

Mind has been made--will not be going. It says something when you feel sick until you decide not to go. Doesn't it?

For Greg

2009-10-22T20:54:24Z

and anyone else who will enjoy it.

But mainly for Greg.

Found at poisonyoulove

Sooo...

2009-10-21T20:55:29Z

I just watched Monday's Castle and saw the trailer for next Monday.

One word, Greg.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

Squee!

2009-10-19T22:54:51Z

michygeary made these for me.

I almost peed myself with absolute joy.

les_o_lie @ 2009-10-18T12:47:00

2009-10-18T16:53:22Z

So. Two weekends ago, I went to Pittsburgh.

Last weekend I went to Buffalo [and Rochester and Albany].

This weekend I went absolutely nowhere. Let me tell you this: It was amazing.

I also caught up on everyone's posts [not that it is hard, you guys aren't exactly post-happy]. And now I'm posting this, for no apparent reason other than I can, I suppose.

Today is an odd day. I feel very rested and oddly happy. Not like "WEEHEEHEEHOO" Gir happy, but that quiet "huh" kind of happy. I'm not thrilled with where I am in life, but through conversing with some very good friends who are also in "thbb" points in their lives, I have this vague realization that we're not stuck. We just have to start walking.

We have to go for the short pass. Keep trying.

So this week, I've set two goals. Two very small goals.

I want to spend twenty minutes on two days jump roping.

And at least one hour one day just writing. Or editing. But something in my chosen dream.

I spent the majority of the past couple days not on the computer, and I didn't really miss it. I miss you all, but not this method of communication. It's weird.

Maybe it is today that is weird. Maybe its me.

Oh well and whatever. Love you all.

Blahblahblah

2009-10-15T00:37:29Z

Nicole and I are currently watching my birthday present, season four of Mash--we're only about six episodes away from being on to my Christmas present, season five of Mash. Joe Morton was in the last episode. Points to you if you realize who he is. And how awesome it was to realize it was him.

So, we saw my vague humiliation with the update about the weekend, and thusly have decided to avoid trying to clarify anything beyond the fact that it was lots of fun. Thank you, Greg, Mark and Mikey. You are awesome.

And thank you, Karla. It was cool to be fed by your family and cooler still to see you. Dan's pretty cool too. Hopefully, by now, you have forgiven me my not actually taking a picture of myself. You know how I am. I am more than willing to take over 71 pictures in under an hour or whatever it was, but only so long as I'm the one behind the camera. Actually, I promise I tried it. Greg took a picture. It was terrible. I deleted it and rooted through my purse for inspiration. It was either the journal or my shoes. Ah well.

Oh, and I did not have control of our table camera most of the time. Just so you know.

And another huge thank you for Greggo. I am currently typing from the comfort of my one ugly brown chair in the basement, cross-legged and snuggled into my Steelers fleece. It's really quite nice. Mo is a pleasant little thing, tiny and white and clean and using a strange OS that I'm not quite on top of just yet. Also, the keys are probably three-quarters of an inch square, all jammed into the space of about a quarter of a normal keyboard turned sideways. I regularly hit keys twice, don't hit them hard enough, and every time that I try to type a contraction, I hit the enter key instead of the apostraphe.

Have I told you guys about the time I forbade my father ever using apostraphes again? Yeah, probably. Good times, good times.

Still, thank you Greg. You rock.

I love M*A*S*H. Alan Alda is awesome, but BJ is still my favorite character.

Cor, I miss you. I don't have your number. M*A*S*H makes me miss you. Especially the Flagg and/or Sidney episodes. Text me or something?

This weekend

2009-10-13T01:27:27Z

Hurriedly typed by a tired person before bed while half watching the Mentalist. Edited in the morning by a tired person. Leave me alone boys.

Thursday: we leave and arrive at Mikey's.
Highlight:
--MIKEY. [And Greg, but whatever.]

Friday: Mikey Greg and me hang out with video games and TV and Scrabble until Andy shows up and we watch Three Amigos together.
Highlight:
--Serenity in HD and ANDY.

Saturday: More hanging out, video games and fun until Karla's thing.
Highlights:
--Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, KARLA.

Karla's Thing: Karla, good food, good times.
Highlights:
--Greg: What do you mean "if" I'm a ninja?
--Karla: You're not going to get that down my pants!
--Mikey: HOMELESS!
Lowlights:
--Going home and hitting a small cliff labeled "bump" that jarred everyone in the car--I have a fabulous bruise on my backside therefrom.

Sunday: Fun stuff until we left for Albany, hung out with the boys and Bill's Sarah and then went to my first concert.
Highlights:
--MARK [without Scrabble?!]
--The concert was a lot of fun, if a little loud. The bands were as follows: Bread of Stone, Me in Motion, Seven Day Slumber and Newsboys [as lead by Tait, oddly enough].
--NOT Kingdom of Heaven with the boys. FORBIDDEN KINGDOM with the boys.

Today: Hung out and left.
Highlights:
--Time with the people.
--Getting Home.
Lowlights:
--Waking up at 7:30 but being in a room filled with sleeping people until almost 9.
--Stupid traffic on the way home.

Life? Don't talk to me about life.

2009-10-08T02:15:40Z

So. Life.

Still at Michaels.

Still scrounging about.

Officially working on the final edit of All Falls.

Seeing Karla this weekend.

Seeing Mikey this weekend.

Not really looking forward to being burned out on Tuesday.

Oh, Momma fell down the stairs.

She's okay.

Wouldn't let Nicole take her to the hospital.

It was probably good I didn't find out while I was working--I would have come home.

That's what I told her.

I said, "I really miss our mother-daughter outings to the hospital."

She looked a little puny.

She's okay, though.

Anywho. Sleepy time.

After a shower.

Then Buffalo time.

After work.

Sigh.

Surrogates

2009-09-26T10:56:20Z

I give it one thumb up for atractiveness, solid action scenes and some pretty okay characters.
A touch predictable, but I still really liked it.

Update?

2009-09-24T12:43:19Z

Livejournal is tormenting me with all of these Halo ads.

The season premier of Castle was pretty awesome.

I totally had the Warehouse 13 season closer pegged ten minutes in.

And when did Eureka become some sort of shippy soap opera in science fiction land? Is this why they changed it to "Syfy" now?

Also, since Halloween fell through, how about a not-quite-Thanksgiving get together mid-November?

Meh.

2009-09-16T10:10:21Z

Okay, final word on Halloween.

I'm not doing a Halloween Party. I don't want to. I offered for people to pick dates they would want to come, and what I got was a "I'm coming" and two "we're doing something then." So, this is to say, I really didn't feel like putting together a party in the first place because I'm still kind of burned out, so it's a bit of a relief. In other words, to all those more paranoid than I am, I AM NOT ANGRY ABOUT THIS. I'm just tired. More of my life than anything else. For the two or so of you still interested in a party, Jesse actually asked me if I had planned anything because he was interested in hosting. I'm going to give him the go-ahead...whether or not I'll be able to go. We'll have to see.

Either way, Nicole and I have talked and have come to a conclusion. Since no one really wants Halloween [excusing one distinct person before he gives me a hard time], I will instate my idea of a final get-together, whenver we actually find out when KTom is departing the north. Not a party, well...yes. A party. But a pot-luck party where we honestly sit down at a table and eat together and enjoy each other's company. We can figure out spacing in the house or actually go out to a restaurant. There are plenty here. Or we can do it somewhere else, if the world is tired of the Trautman household.

Anywho, I really need to go get ready for work now. Bye.

[And, distinct person, we can discuss your visit later.]

It's about friggin time.

2009-09-14T00:48:59Z

Hey, I've had this project done for...you know...eons...but I figured I might as well actually put up a post.

This is my baby, and my sanctuary.

Bask in the glory, my friends.

Even though the bottom shelves are not mine, I'm supposed to be selling them. Damn, I fail. I need to get that done.

...awe.

2009-09-14T00:15:20Z

Wall-E in HD is everything you said it would be, Greg.

And even more.

Halloween. But not?

2009-09-09T20:29:16Z

I know I made mention of a Clue party, but I'm thinking that is going to be put on hold for a little while. This year, let's just have a comeasyouare hangout party. If you want, a pinata and movies and unhealthy foodstuffs, but really I've been thinking a lot about Halloween and really don't want to celebrate it. Ever again.

Not because of my "Christianity" am I railing against this "holiday of Satan," but rather I have examined what we celebrate on Halloween. Nothing good. Nothing positive. We celebrate lies and deciet and all manner of unpleasantness. Dracula isn't a cuddly little vampire, he is a creature of evil that destroyed lives. All of these scary films are centered on murder and death.

It just doesn't make sense to me. A waste of time and effort to celebrate things we should not love.

So I propose a fellowship holiday where we enjoy our friends and family. Maybe we can work up a trip to the farm with the maize maze, or maybe we'll just goof around on a walk. [Or maybe we'll stay home and bum around eating and playing board games.] But one way or another, let's enjoy each other, especially since some of us are theoretically leaving at some point or another.

Yes, Tom and Katy. I mean you.

I love you both. And I was thinking that, maybe when you finally get your orderythings sorted out, we could have an honest-to-goodness potluck style supper where we actually make food together gather plates and eat around a table [or on the floor, depending on attendance and space available] like we used to.

If we want, we can jam these two things together.

Also, Mikey wants to do a Houghton-style midnight brekkers. While I doubt we can fly in teachers, we can do self-serve and, of course, have it at ten.

So it is the ninth, people.

2009-09-09T09:48:22Z

And this message goes out to those in the general area of Lititz, PA.

The movie is at 7:05, no matter what the stupid internet told me the first time 'round.

9 on 9 9 9. But not at 9.

Can't have it all.

Conversing with my brother.

2009-09-06T18:24:10Z

Me: *on phone with Denny*
Computer: *makes noise*
Grace: *starts to bark*
Me: *soothing her to avoid barking madness* It's okay, Gracie. It was just the computer.
Grace: *grumbles*
Me: Yes, yes, good girl. You scare away those fictitious villains.
Denny: ...did you just tell her to scare away space chinchillas?

And it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

2009-09-03T22:30:12Z

Literally.

You all know that I absolutely adore my father. He's kind of awesome. He's beyond awesome. He's beawesome, even.

He basically rocks.

He also happens to be my hero.

But, due to his usual craptastic hand in life, he's been dealt some really low blows and is not, world wise, doing as well as he really deserves to be [putting up with all of the corporate crap and the family issues, you know us...]. So yes. Idea behind this: My dad rocks, but his life does not. And it kills me that I can't afford to buy him the amazing HDTV I want to get him, right? Not even Denny and I could go in and get a really nice one. The Trautman family cannot afford awesom tech.

So today Dad pulls into the drive way and hauls me out to help him with something. There's this massive box in the back of his poor old Camaro. It's horribly awkward. I see the SAMSUNG on the box and look at him, stunned. "You bought a new TV?" I asked incredulously.

He just smiled and shook his head. "No. I won a new TV."

I almost want to cry, I'm so happy for my dad. Screw the fact that we all get to use it, but it's something really really really cool for one of the greatest men alive.

It's stupid and it's worldly, but I thank God that this happened. My dad deserves the boost.

---

Sidenote and quote of the day:

Nicole: Maybe it is an angry teenager.
Me: Our toilet is an angry teenager? I am terrified and disconcerted by that concept...and by how ridiculously comfortable my pants are.

---

Excuse me, but I have to go help my daddy set up his new TV.