New phone!

I am now the proud owner of a Google Nexus 5, and it only took about 40 minutes in the store.  It still seems ridiculous that it takes even that long, but at least we didn’t have to wait for someone else to finish up.

From this thread on Reddit come a few websites that are cool.  (That is an awkward sentence.  I’m leaving it, though.  Ssh.)  The Nicest Place on the Internet shows short videos of people smiling at you and giving you hug.  Seriously, they seem like very nice people.  You can mute the music.  Also, The Internet is Useful: descriptions of and links to websites, apps, books, etc., that are actually useful.

You are welcome.  Pardon me while I go watch nice people smile at me.

Saturday is running away from me

I don’t know what happened.  I got up fairly early (8-ish), had a quick breakfast, went to the gym.  Well, that’s part of the problem: it was 11:30 when I got home.  Spent over an hour fighting to get Ubuntu to recognize my phone and when I gave up on that, AirDroid took forever to download the pictures off the phone.  Finally switched to my work laptop (running Windows), which has no problem recognizing my phone, so now I’ve backed everything up.  Today’s the day for a new phone.  I think.  I need to upgrade to a new version of Linux on my laptop, but when we looked at that last weekend, we found that my graphics card is too old to handle the latest version of Ubuntu (which is supposed to have no problems recognizing cell phones).  So…new laptop?  Maybe soon.  Phone first, since I had the screen problem (went dark and wouldn’t come back without a reboot prompted by removing and replacing the battery) three times this morning.  Super irritating.  Anyway, after the phone/laptop drama, John and I went into the basement to see if we could find more stuff to get rid of (we could), and now all of a sudden it’s almost 4.  Boo.  And we still need to make a run to Target.  I won’t make John come with me to the Sprint store.  When we went to replace his phone last month, we were there for nearly three hours.  I’m bringing my book.

Eh, it’s Friday. Don’t expect too much.

I like to think I’m a patient person, but sometimes I just run out.  Most of the time it’s work-related.  Hardly ever friends and family.  Occasionally the general public.  And when it’s work-related, it’s not everyone.  But come on, people, do your job.  I’m not going to do it for you.
I wrote that this morning.  HOURS ago.  Whatever was bothering me then couldn’t have been that bad – I don’t remember being bothered by anything after around 11 this morning.  That’s a good way to finish a Friday, right?
Consider this a public service announcement: be better than this.

Trying comics. Again.

I’ve read The Dark Knight Returns, and I’ve read The Watchmen, and I didn’t really enjoy them.  I’m not saying they’re bad (because they’re not), but maybe I just don’t like reading comics.  Maybe I need more words.

I went to the comic book store with John after we had lunch together on Monday, and I bought TWO comics (or graphic novels – at what point do they become graphic novels instead of comics?).  The guy who works there was so enthusiastic when I asked for help.  I went looking for The New Deadwardians, but I didn’t find it, so I asked, and he put everything on hold (he was ringing up John) to go search for me.  Checked two shelves, no dice, so back to his computer and to a third shelf.  Well, after all that, I HAD to buy it.  (Also, I went looking for it because I think Jess suggested it, and as we all know, I do whatever Jess tells me to do.)  I bought something else the guy suggested, too, but I can’t remember what it is right now, and I can’t muster the energy to get up and look.  Something about being similar to Ocean’s Eleven but stealing a ghost instead of money.

Speaking of doing whatever others tell me to, Mindy thinks I should stop using shampoo.  I’m sure it’s not just me – she probably think everyone should stop using shampoo.  I’m going to see if the organic shampoo I have has those chemicals all the websites say are so awful.  And in the meantime, I’ll THINK about going the baking soda route.  Really.  (I’m spending entirely too much time thinking about my hair.)

Deeply uncool

I wasn’t going to talk about it (I was trying to be cool), but it just got so much better, and I can’t help myself.  The other day, The Bloggess came to visit my site.  How do I know?  She commented (TWICE!  Sorry – still trying to be cool), and I got all excited and happy and stuff, but you know, that was it, and I moved on because I can be cool about it (I can try to be cool about it – I may have told half a dozen people already).  BUT, three days later, she posted her weekly round-up, and in her list of shit-I-didn’t-come-up-with-but-wish-I-did-because-it’s-kind-of-awesome is the link to the leaping llama!  That she saw here!  Yes, I know I didn’t create it, but I found it, and she came here and liked it, and that’s small and not a big deal, but she’s cool and it’s nice to know she liked it enough to share it with her followers and…I don’t know where I’m going with this.  I’m glad I could help?  I feel like I’m part of that?  Something like a combination of those two things and just yay.

Also from her most recent weekly round-up (linked above) is this list of really funny theoretical moments just before GIFs start.  And here’s the subreddit they came from and where more can be found.  (This is another one I think is really funny.)

LOVE this (from Hank Green, Vlogbrother).  I had to listen to the one about the kleptomaniacs three times – he mumbles the beginning, but it’s so worth it.  Literally.  (Hee!)

Because I don’t know how to post gifs on my blog, here’s a link to an adorable one from Reddit.  And because I DO know how to post pictures, here’s the cutest killer kitty you’ve ever seen (also from Reddit):

And that’s enough stuff I found on the internet today.

How to waste time (enjoyably)

I spent my weekend (the parts when I wasn’t cooking) watching random internet videos.  (John thinks I don’t know how to internet correctly, but really, he’s the one who’s wrong.)

Watched some My Drunk Kitchen by Hannah Hart, some Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’? by Anthony and Ashly Burch, some Geek and Sundry Vlogs

Devil Baby Attack video from Dooce is HILARIOUS.

Killin’ it in the kitchen

You all know I don’t like to cook.  Baking is one thing (and it’s one thing I don’t do all that often), but cooking – no.  I don’t like it.  But this week I decided to take control of our eating habits.  Yesterday, I made a list of dinner ideas, and from that I made a grocery shopping list, and then this morning – wait for it – I WENT TO THE STORE.  The actual store to buy actual groceries for planned-out meals and not just to pick up emergency items we ran out of.  (For instance, I did NOT have to buy toilet paper or milk or dog food.  We’re good at taking care of essentials.)  I had the day off, so once John went off to work, I went off to Wegmans.  A little over an hour later, I came back home, put away the groceries, and put a brisket in the oven.  The brisket had its complications, but Corey came through with a brilliant onion idea, and into the oven this giant brisket went.  After the gym and a late lunch with John, it was time to make soup (chicken corn chowder), and right now, at 5pm Monday afternoon, I have soup cooling in a pot on the stove, waiting to go into the fridge for later in the week (maybe Wednesday?), and a very large brisket cooling in a pan right next to it, waiting for John to get home so we can start in with the slicing and the eating.  Salmon tomorrow, ravioli at some point, and bean and cheese burritos later.  Five meals, all ready to go, because I PLANNED AHEAD.  Because sometimes I feel like it.  Most of the time, I do not.  But man, it’ll feel good not to have the dinner conversation at all this week.

Yes, THIS

From an opinion piece describing how the American people are skewing more progressive comes something I wish every middle to left-leaning politician would take to heart:

With the knowledge that most Americans are, in fact, behind them, Democrats no longer need to fear running on their beliefs. They should stop letting special interests on the right hold ideas and ideals hostage and start listening to voters.

Maybe I’d stop hating elections.

Knowing your audience is important, dude.

When I got in to work this morning, almost the first thing I heard (overheard) was one coworker explaining the Han Shot First controversy to another who could not have cared less, judging by her completely disinterested tone.  Coworker #1’s enthusiasm was not the least bit dampened by Coworker #2’s total lack of interest in learning who the hell Greedo is.  (Was.  Whatever.)  I can’t decide who I feel more sorry for: the Star Wars enthusiast in need of a like-minded buddy or the business analyst clearly wishing the oblivious fan would let her do her work.  If I hadn’t been on my way to a meeting, I would have jumped in myself. I probably wouldn’t have contributed much (Han shot first – what else is there to say, outside of some grumbling directed towards Lucas?), but at least Coworker #1 wouldn’t have been left hanging.

What caught my eye on the internet yesterday (and by internet, I mean Reddit)?

Got a little teary (just a tad) reading this (from Reddit).

OMG ADORBZ!  (Somewhat ironically used because I’m not a teenage girl, but for real, this is freakin’ adorable.  Also from Reddit.)

Guys, you have to see this

How they survive is beyond me. It doesn’t seem like they could get enough to eat.

Riley just ate a giant bowl of dog food and chicken fried rice (with gravy on top, HEATED UP – I’ll get his weight back up if it’s the last thing I do) and then tried to climb into my lap while I sat here at the desk.  First, it’s all “oh, how sweet, my darling dog loves me and appreciates the delicious dinner I put together for him,” and then it was more, “whoa dog, you can’t actually get into my lap, but sure I’ll scratch your head and pet you and hug you and love you,” and then, “OH.  Right.  You just wanted to burp in my face.”  And then he walked away.  This is not the first time he’s done that, but I fall for the “I love you so much, pet me, pet me” routine EVERY DAMN TIME.

He knows I’m talking about him.  He’s curled up on his new dog bed giving me the Stare of Death.  Hey, man, this is what you get.  Being down one leg and having cancer does not excuse the in-your-face-burp.

Oh, who am I kidding?  Of course it does.

The smartphone saga continues

It feels like it was just yesterday I was listing the problems with my HTC Evo 4G.  Now it’s time to start looking again – my Samsung Galaxy S2 has started acting up.  The battery was really low (close to dead) last night, so I plugged it in next to the bed and set my alarm.  This morning, my alarm didn’t go off.  I picked up my phone to check the time, but the screen wouldn’t come on.  I could see by the indicator light that the phone was still on, but my screen remained black.  I tried unplugging it, which usually triggers the screen.  No screen.  I took the back off and popped the battery out.  Battery back in, push the power button, and there’s my screen!  Of course, it’s going through the power-up process, but at least it’s there.  And it’s been there all day, off and on like it’s supposed to.  The black screen followed by battery thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago, too.  Maybe I just need a new battery, but you know what?  I’m due for an upgrade.  After reading CNET reviews all day, I’ve narrowed down my choices to three: the HTC One, the Samsung Galaxy S4, and the Google Nexus (that John just got).  My work phone is an S4, so I can play with two of the three before I ever set foot in a Sprint store.  If anyone has any advice, I’m all ears.

Dithering

I want to get my hair cut.  I think.  And I want to dye it.  I think.  (Dark purplish red – do an image search for purplish red hair and focus on the darker ones.)  And I’d like to do both of those things soon.  I think.  At the same time?  Maybe.  Here’s the thing (and it’s a minor thing): Emily’s wedding is in July.  I’d like my hair to be long enough to put up by then (by a professional, of course – I’m useless at that), or at least long enough to be made all fancy (again, professionals needed).  So if I cut it short, I need to do it soon, or else I could cut it not that short.  Anything above the shoulders will do.*  But if I cut my hair now, I think I want to chop it off at my chin (because I’ve done it before and it works).  Will it grow enough in six months?  If I cut off that much, I’ll have enough for a Locks of Love donation (I think), which is something I’d like to do because 1) it’s a nice thing to do, 2) how many times in your life do you have enough hair to do it? (you need to be cutting off 10 inches), and 3) I can think of literally nothing else that can be done with hair once it’s cut off (that isn’t completely creepy and gross), and it’s kind of neat to have a purpose for it.

What’s the hold-up?  Nerves.  What if it doesn’t look good?  What if it’s a bad haircut?  I feel like my long hair helps to make my face look longer and thinner.  If I cut it shorter, will my face look fat?  (Honest to god, ridiculous as it sounds, I’m actually worried about my haircut making my face look fat.  Shut up.)  Should I dye it while it’s long?  I like the idea of having long flowing dark purplish red hair.  But I’m getting tired of the long hair thing.  I could dye it long, keep it that way for a week, and then get it cut.  But it’d be cheaper to dye if there’s less of it, so I could cut it and then dye it.  The dye thing is only temporary – I like my hair the color it is.  I just want to try it out a little more permanently then I did last year.

I’m not usually this bad at decisions (except for dinner – that decision sucks sometimes (a lot of the time)).  I’ve been considering this one for a while, and I’m no closer to the end than when I started thinking about it.  Help!

*Not true.  No pixie cuts.

For reference, it looks like this now (and has looked like this for at least a couple of years).

I probably have a more recent picture (this is from last June), but it would require effort to find one. Too hard. June was only 7 months ago.

The germs are winning

It seems I have passed on my germs.  Unfortunately, I didn’t give them away.  I just shared them.  I blame my coughing cold thing on one coworker who was just getting over it on New Year’s Eve (or Jess – could have been Jess).  I went to work for a couple of hours last Tuesday morning (then came back home to rest), and Wednesday another coworker was out.  He tried to come in Thursday morning but left after an hour, and Friday morning he didn’t even try.  (He’s back today.)  Wonder who’s next.

Missed already

I made a kinda-sorta-quasi-resolution to post every day for as long as I could this year.  I told John about it yesterday, thinking how cool it was that I’d made it 11 days in, and then I went back and looked at the little calendar widget that shows me the days I blogged.  Where was the link for Friday?  Wait – seriously?  I missed the 10th?  But I remember writing something…oh, there it is.  Safe and sound (and unfinished) over there in Drafts.  Damn.  And also whoops.

Now go look at some maps (via Reddit) while I figure out what I’m reading next.  For real.  They’re pretty fascinating maps.

I apologized to the kettle

I need tea (soothing, hot, yummy) to recover from today’s edition of this week’s plague and last night’s carousing, so I put the kettle on to boil.  Then I sat down to read The Bloggess’s latest post, but the kettle started to whistle too soon, and I found myself getting irritated with the kettle because damn it, I’m not ready yet,  so just shut up with the whistling until after I finish reading about Jenny’s dead diarrhea unicorn pony.  And then I realized that Pat the Unicorn’s story isn’t going anywhere, and it would be way easier to read if the whistling stopped, and the kettle isn’t trying to irritate me, it can’t help itself, so I poured the boiling water into my mug.  I think I need a nap, but it’s too late in the day for a nap, so an early bedtime will have to do.

I’m not using my time wisely

Huh.  I only read 44 books in 2013.  That feels like failure.  And I’m not off to a great start in 2014, either.  51 in 2012.  I must make better use of my time.  On the other hand, I can’t think of anything I’ve done lately that I’ve regretted spending the time on, so maybe my time is being spent just fine.  Stop judging me.

I’m feeling much better, in case you were wondering.  Still coughing, but not as much (more at night, like right now, so I kind of wish I didn’t have a throat, which would be weird).  Outside of the coughing, I feel mostly normal.  Yay.  I’m still drinking enormous quantities of water and tea, though.  Running to pee every 30 minutes makes it difficult to get anything done at work, but I manage.  Good thing my desk is fairly close to the bathroom.  I’d hate to have to sprint across the building every time, shoving people out of my way, papers flying – I am not a comic strip.  Or a sitcom.  I have more dignity than that.  (Or so I’d like you to think.)

Stuff to look at

I was going to post to a bunch of things individually, but I’m feeling a little too lazy for that, and besides – how long has it been since you visited The Bloggess?  Her links to shit-I-didn’t-come-up-with-but-wish-I-did-because-it’s-kind-of-awesome are kind of awesome this time around (not like they aren’t usually).  The cell phone crashing video is really cute (3 minutes – you’ve got 3 minutes, right?).  I haven’t watched the Wholock video because we’re not caught up on the Doctor yet, and I’m afraid of spoilers.

Check out the llama who thinks he’s Pepe LePew (from Reddit).

I….don’t have anything else, and I don’t have anything to link all of this together, and you know what?  That’s okay.

A day of downtime is the best present

Been reading a lot lately.  Well, I had a day or two where I really didn’t have to do anything else (last weekend, when I wasn’t sick).  I finished one book (The Distant Hours), started and finished another one (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the movie of which I REALLY want to see), and started a novella (Legion), all in one day.  That’s a good day.  Now that I’m back to work and my normal routine, my pace will have to slow down a bit.  I guess.  Boo.  Also, being sick doesn’t always lend itself to being able to focus on a book.  Double boo.  Also also, liquid Mucinex is really really really disgusting.

Prepared

In one of the books I read recently, the narrator has a line about how she always carries a book with her in case she has to “queue unexpectedly.” How very British. And that’s pretty much exactly why I always have a book with me wherever I go, except I’m sure I would have phrased it differently had anyone asked (not being at all British myself, obviously).  I’d love to try it out, but since no one has ever asked me in my three-decades-long reading career so far, I don’t expect them to start now.

Overkill

John made French toast this morning, but he had trouble getting the cap off of the syrup container (not the plastic ones with the flip tops – the glass jar). Without making a fuss about it, he disappeared into the garage and reappeared in the kitchen a few seconds later with a pipe wrench. I started to laugh. He ignored me, tightened the wrench around the cap, gave it a little twist – et voila! An open syrup container.