Chemical Reactions

I had a date yesterday with a gentleman (emphasis gentle) that was recommended by the matchmaker. It was the second date. They did say that the one thing they can't account for is chemistry. They are entirely correct in this statement. I seriously need to give them a call.

He was very nice. BS about the height that he posted on his profile. WHY??!! Why can't guys figure out that at 5'8" I will be able to tell if you are lying about being 6'? If I am wearing flats and looking you in the eye, the game is up! Really! I can not begin to tell you how annoying this is. I do NOT want a guy that I can throw over my shoulder and carry off. And if we want to get primitive and Anthropological about it, the male protector should be able to protect the female and the young. Not the female being the straight alpha-dominate that would have to make all the decisions, protect the young and male mate. Also, is it too much to ask for someone who has a drop of self-confidence?

Really, after two long, 4-hour dates, the guy should be relaxed enough that he isn't continually shaking and nervous. I really don't think that I am that great a beauty and presence that the guy is as nervous than if he was out with the queen of England. I went extremely far out of my way to get him to feel comfortable and relax. No Dice. I could hear him telling himself confidence boosters in the mirror in the bath room. (thin walls) There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, or this type of personality. However, why on god's green earth would someone think that this personality and mine would be a good idea matched up is beyond me. I swear I thought I was going to make him faint by smiling at him.

I allowed time for some bit of a spark. Some phermonal reaction. Something other than the look of almost terror and pain on his face. If it was so bad for him, WHY DOES HE KEEP ASKING ME OUT?? I believe I am going to have to pass on any future attempts from him to be my slave and under my control.

I decided to spend the rest of my weekend dealing with chemical reactions I have complete control over: Making bio-diesel in mason jars.

What was I thinking?!

So I awoke early this morning. A morning I have off and get to sleep in. A morning where my cat insists that 5am is a good time to get attention. After a struggle to hide under the covers from the puffer, I climbed out of bed, because there was really no use pretending I was going to get sleep. Besides, I have holiday knitting to do.

As I sat with my coffee, a bizarre urge took hold of me. Even after my last post on shopping this time of year, I decided I would do what I have never done before: I went shopping at the crack of dawn on Black Friday.

I got the car parked. I even managed to get into the store. And that is where I fade out. Head spinning and hyper-ventilating, I was not made for this. One nice woman asked me if I was okay and needed some help. If I could just step out of line in front of her, she would call someone over to help. I vaguely recall making it to my car where I could finally start to breathe again. I seem to recall my mother used to have this reaction shopping. I wonder if it's inherited. I made it home with out buying a thing. Later in the day I ventured out once again and visited the one sanctuary that I knew no ill effects would grasp me: the local yarn shop (LYS) "Never Enough Yarn."

I bought wool strictly to be added to my stash. Simply because I realized that I don't have a stash I can shop. Everything in it was ear marked for a specific project. Whether the project ever actually gets done is another story. I also picked up some lace-weight cashmere to make a bridal shawl for my sister.

This then shows you exactly how big of a toll the morning's foray cost me and my mind. Am I FREAKING NUTS??!! A lace shawl out of cashmere? I have truly set myself up for a masochistic endeavor. IF I actually finish this thing (hopefully outside of a mental ward) I doubt my lovely sister will even realize the difficulty of the project, or the cost I plunked down today for the cashmere yarn itself. This thing better be a protected heirloom or I'll use it to strangle her.



After all, cashmere is a fairly strong fiber.

Efficency Expert

Rule one when setting out to hire an efficiency expert is to first know who you already have on staff. Or at least read their resume. There really was a reason this person was hired, and while she has a great phone voice, that wasn't it! Honest.

It became apparent that my boss has no idea of what my work experience is. Not even the barest hint. Of course, I was really hired by people who are no longer there, and whose duties I now perform. But didn't he ever wonder if I could do them?

I guess not. And so we have an expert come in, from Germany, to our little company to show us how to be more effective employees. A more effective company. For the same price, I could have upgraded our software system to the new version with Handheld that sync with the server for all of our crews and managers. Thus reducing redundant data entry crap and freeing up time for more important things, like actually READING the efficiency report that has been sitting in your in box for 2 1/2 months!

(pant, pant, pant) Okay. Sorry, had to get that rant out. Better on here than at work. Plus side is, I think the expert want to offer me a job. I'll give him a copy of my resume, along with my boss.

The Holidays are here!

Ah, joy! The holidays are upon us, as seen by Christmas trees everywhere and carols playing in every store. I like this time of year. I love the music, the general anticipation that even cynical old crankers seem to feel. There is one thing I'm not so thrilled about: the crowds.

Oh, I don't mind them, so long as I'm not in it. Really. I am now convinced that online shopping was created specifically for me to participate in Christmas with out having a psychotic break brought on by the stress and anxiety of crowds. Plus, there are so many more choices!

I just returned from the mall. I thought I would still be safe since Thanksgiving hasn't yet arrived. I was sadly mistaken. While there to have my Sadie get new shoes put on, I had to kill an hour. In the mall. I barely escaped with out going stark raving mad. Um, more so than normal anyway.

I will shortly be on a different website, ordering every gift I need for the holidays. I will not be setting foot into a physical store with out a support group with me until spring.

PS- I also discovered where those, um, really festive sweaters and vests come from. To be honest, I have never actually seen one in a store before.

Save on Fridge Space

So, we have gotten what is a bit of a cold snap which included snow! What a wonderful new experience. While I lived in this area last year, I rarely went out doors and missed the chance to experience "side-effects" of the season.

1. Ice and heels don't mix
2. Ice and driving don't mix
3. Having to climb through the rear hatch windows to kick the frozen-shut doors open from the inside. Note: make sure the rear of your SUV does not contain your science projects.
4. Entertaining neighbors while you have to keep re-scraping the snow off your car because you didn't think to start at the top and go down.
5. Being able to store perishable food items on you counter.

I've been trying not to turn on my electric baseboard heaters to save money, because I'd rather spend it on yarn, clothes and coffee. I have been fairly successful in this endeavor by wearing sweaters around the house and snuggling under blankets while watching tv, having down comforter on the bed, and not being home and awake enough to get really chilled to the bone.
Bravo! You say. Great way to environmentally friendly and reduce your carbon footprint. Right? Here's another way, don't use your fridge. I reached my hand in this morning to get the 1/2 & 1/2 (fat free-I don't want to know how that's done) and discovered that the air temp inside the fridge was noticeably WARMER than the ambient air of the kitchen!

Can I go home now?

I need to go to bed. What I thought was a little cold last week is back. It was just toying with me. Giving me a little fever, a solid head and just draining me a bit. 1 1/2 days off from work and I'm all better!

HA! Like I said, it was just toying with me. It was giving me a false sense of security. That was it for flu season? Great, my immunity will be all good for the rest of the year. Alas, it was not to be.

Lulled into the false sense of security that I was done being sick for the season, I stopped taking my Vit C. I quit drinking my Echinacea tea. How wrong I was to not wait until it had fully past. Ah, the confidences of youth.

So now I sit, trying to get my brain working so I can be productive, and all I can think of is my nice warm bed waiting for me at home. My cat who is more than willing to keep my lap warm and play nurse kitty. Playfully batting tissues to keep me entertained.

Oh well, I have managed to keep myself working, and surprisingly got quite a bit done today, including decorating the office:

Lef to knit alone

So I'm left to knit alone this weekend. Which is fine, I suppose. I was going to spend the weekend at Chris' house, but his work and the cats' difference in personality have made it a no go this weekend.

My cat is still totally stumpted to why the other cats didn't want to play or just get along. The other cats didn't like the intrusion in to their home. Or there are just pissy little cats. I mean, who could not like Annie? She's never had this issue with other animals. How where these other cats raised that dislike visitors so much? I have many questions regrding this.

My friends are currently up in Rhinebeck, knitters paradise, and I am here, freezing my bum off about to break my vow not to turn on the heaters until absolutely necessary. I've been told that 70 degrees is a far cry from cold enough to turn on the heat. I'm debating if I can live with out food for the winter and have the heat instead. I've already given up getting my hair done. What more can I give up?

Maybe I'll just get a second job to pay for the heat. Plus if I'm workingall the time, I'll stay out of trouble, right? Hm. I'll have to think on that.