Sweet Catastrophe

I spend a lot of time in my computer chair. A lot. I watch television and movies on my computer. I read on my computer. I listen to music on my computer. I play games on my computer. I chat with friends on my computer. And that’s all in addition to general internet things like social networking and blog reading. A lot of the hobbies other people enjoy on their couches or elsewhere, I do at my computer.

This means my current computer chair, while ridiculously fabulous and amazing, has seen better days. It really is a great chair– pretty much perfect for me, but it came to me second-hand. It had been lightly used, but still used, and I’ve put a considerable amount of mileage on it in the last 4 years, so it’s time. Minor tears in the leather have torn open into noticeable holes, and if you sit just right you can feel the bolts in the seat. Poor chair. It’s been good to me.

I was so lucky to find that one on sale so now I’m looking for something similar in a lower price range. This Madison Leather Executive Office Chair would probably do the trick. I need something wide enough that I can curl up in or sit with my legs in the chair and just be comfy. And I have to have something with a high back, and enough padding to keep my rear cozy for extended periods of time.

A hundred bucks is definitely in my price range for something I plan to use that long and free shipping is always a plus, especially with furniture.

I’ll add this to my ever-growing list of ‘must-haves’ that need to be saved for. Gotta make it through Kristi’s wedding first!

I told Ryan one of the biggest reasons I didn’t want him to start back working in Jacksonville is that his car can’t handle it.

Cut to Wednesday, time for his first show back, he makes it all of an hour out of town before he breaks down. So we lost $200 on a tow (but it would have been $400 if I hadn’t thought about calling in a favor) and because of the way Ryan’s brain sometimes works (*cough*doesn’t*cough*) I got dragged into it and had to drive him down to Jacksonville. Won’t lie, I cried a little. Having it sprung on me like that was just shitty.

He’s having a shit weekend for sure though. His old laptop finally kicked it so I’ve been looking at prices on the Acer Aspire for him– he’s Acer all the way when it comes to laptops, and then they got pulled over. Luckily it wasn’t when he was driving, but it all left him with an hour of sleep last night.

I feel bad for him, but maybe he’ll rethink taking this job back now.

My last concert was in June 2008. Some of you probably gasped ’cause that’s a pretty bfd for me. Butch Walker will be back in Atlanta May 26 and while I hate driving that far, I’m freaking going. I missed the pre-sale, but luckily tickets didn’t sell out in 45 micro seconds this time so I got mine!

I’m positively itching for good live music. And I’m awful about seeing local bands ’cause part of the lure for me is singing along and just feeling the music I already love.

And love is certainly what I’d use to describe I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart. I can’t wait to hear this all live.

It’ll be general admission so I’ll figure out a little closer to time if I wanna get in line earlier, or push my way toward the front. I don’t need muscle supplements; I’m short, I have no problem making my way through a crowd. I may take it easy and just chill wherever I land though. I’m just so damn happy to be going. Not only has it been two years since my last live show, but it’s been even longer than that since I fell for Butch and decided I wanted to see him live. Can’t wait!

I just got asked if I got hit or something…because I have a blackhead extractor on my nose.

I think their brains automatically shut off when they see a commercial for anything feminine. I mean, I’m not confused about what a jock strap is, or nose hair trimmers or anything like that, so how do they manage to be so oblivious to seemingly anything from the ‘girl’ world?

If they aren’t paying attention, I wonder if they just aren’t seeing it at all and just sort of drift to their own thoughts, or if they’re putting together their own ideas of what the images they’re seeing are about.

When they see a commercial for an IUD do they think it’s a fishing lure?? I think I might just print a picture and ask some of the guys at work what they think it is. I’m dying laughing just thinking about it.

Dear Geico/Allstate,

Thank you so very much for going out of your way to make everything in my life more affordable. I’m incredibly excited about your new-found psychic abilities evidenced by your knowing that I am, in fact, currently paying for car insurance despite it not even being in my name. However, I’d be much more appreciative if you could use those skills to send me the winning lottery numbers for a day maybe a month away from now.

Dear Mediacom,

I do not currently have a home phone, so I’m a little confused by your concern that I’m paying too much for my home phone line. Furthermore, you may want to speak to someone about your ego. The notes on my account should speak volumes on how I feel about the services I’m currently stuck with through you and how often those services actually work. I’m not sure why I’d want to pay for another spotty service.

Dear Local Health Store,

I know this is America and we’re all ‘fatties’ but I find it a little presumptuous for you to send me so many promos for your new weightloss diet. Perhaps you’d be better off leaving stacks of these outside the 47 gyms we have in town. You’d probably garner better results. Go for the guilt trip, too, and drop some off outside of all the ice cream shops as well.

Dear Verizon,

Thank you very much for the pretty pictures of all the new phones I could own, but if you’ll recall, you just mailed me a new phone not 3 months ago. Do you expect me to need another one so soon? Should I be worried? Should I keep an eye out for glitches in my new phone already? Is there a hidden message somewhere that will cause my phone to self-destruct as soon as I discover it? Truly, I’m concerned.

Dear SGMC,

Thanks so much for the reminder of how much money I owe you, though I’m pretty sure you’re wasting paper. At my last count, you have no less than 8 copies of the lien informing you of the insurance company that will be paying you after my knee stops hurting. I appreciate your need to keep in touch though. I love you, too. But don’t call me, I’ll call you. *wink*

iTunes/Amazon/eBay/Target/Olive Garden/Best Buy,

I love you. I miss you. Feel free to send coupons, vouchers, and free services/products. Your face has been absent from my life for far too long. It’s been like a moonless night. A bowl without ice cream. A glass with no Coca Cola. An iPod with no songs. A me without you. Empty, I tell ya!

Do you watch The Big Bang Theory? Kristi got me started watching it, of course. It’s about two extreme dorks/geniuses who live across the hall from a pretty aspiring actress, and the dorks’ two best friends. They all have their quirks, hilarity ensues.

The first 20 seconds of this Barenaked Ladies tune is their theme song and I’ve never made it without singing along by the end.

I think I started watching right before season 2 aired. (Is that right, Krizzle?) For season 1 and season 2 I’d have said, “Yeah it’s good. Worth watching.” But season 3 has just been hilarious! Every single episode has had me laughing out loud! I guess originally the show was meant to focus mostly on one of the dorks getting together with their neighbor, but the writers have finally settled on focusing on Sheldon and it’s a formula that works, and isn’t getting old!

Based on this season alone I’m keeping my eyes open for a good sale to pick up the first two seasons of The Big Bang Theory because I will own season 3 and I don’t think I’m capable of owning an incomplete set…that would drive me mad. In fact, I have one DVD from an anime series that I could never get ahold of the rest for a decent price and I can’t leave that case sitting on my shelf. It’s stashed behind my VHS collection!

If you’re not already watching I’d say season 3 is absolutely worth catching up with season 1 & 2 to watch. The laughs are continuous!

I’m on a quest for new eyeliner right now and wow, it’s a lot more frustrating than I was expecting. Good eyeliner isn’t cheap, and it’s just that much worse when you use that little $5-$10 stick once and decide you hate it.

I need something ’cause I’ve given myself under eye wrinkles at the ripe age of 24 from all the rubbing I do to get rid of eyeliner smudges. At 24 I’m hitting up www.undereyecream.net to do damage control.

So what do you use? I’m not really a fan of liquid eyeliner & I just really want something that isn’t gonna smudge to hell and back all day.

I’m using Loreal Infallible Never Fail eyeliner right now and it’s at least better than all the others I’ve tried so far, but I still think I can find something better.

I have pretty eyes, I don’t want them looking old and tired so soon.

Oh my goodness that picture just makes my heart explode! Just look how fluffy that kitty is….like the best teddy bear in the world!! And he looks like he’s trying to do that headbutt/nuzzling thing your house cat will do while purring and just generally loving on you.

One of my goals in life is to hug a tiger just like this one. Preferably a big fluffy white tiger with blue eyes *sigh* but I won’t be picky. Just want to safely hug one without ending up having to draw social security disability shortly afterward! haha

I went to Douglas after work yesterday; I had promised Jesalyn I would. I made the mistake of mentioning something Ashley said on Facebook about starting a prenatal vitamin and wow she went off. I’m disappointed my new niece or nephew will be 18 hours away, but she’s downright pissed, and a little depressed, too. She won’t even talk to my brother right now. I have no idea how that’s all gonna play out.

In other news, I got to teach Jesalyn that pink and blue make purple (yeah I know, red & blue, but our blankets were pink and blue :-P) and that was probably the most adorable thing I’ve seen all year. She was just so excited to figure that out. I can definitely see the joy people get in being teachers.

I think I’m experiencing my quarter-life crisis at the moment. I find myself questioning everything– mainly school and my job, and I just don’t know what I’m doing or what I want to be doing. I know something has to change, but I have no clue what, so I’m just looking at options all over the place, trying to find something that speaks to me, something that feels right. I’ve started looking into online degree programs to see if that’s a route I might like to take. Of course there’s a lot of them to weed through and you really have to dig to find the ones that are genuinely worth it.

I was recently pointed toward Western Governor’s University (WGU) which is a non-profit online university– this means tuition is low, and is a sure sign that it’s about the education and not about getting your money. So far I’m thinking it’s a perfect example of what I’m looking for.

WGU was founded by the governors of 19 U.S. States who sought to make an education available that was cost effective, easily accessible, and competency-based– meaning you’re earning a degree based on skills, knowledge and experience, not how much time you spent sitting in a classroom. This also means you can potentially finish a degree more quickly because you can take assessments as soon as you’re ready– similar to CLEP which is taking a test to earn credit for a course when you already know the material. And WGU is nationally, regionally, and NCATE accredited– the only exclusively online university that can make that claim.

Tuition is a flat rate per 6-month term, at rates easily comparable to the school I’m already attending, and much lower than most. And WGU is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal financial aid– which means Pell Grants, loans scholarships are available.

WGU believes in fitting an education into your life, not the other way around, so not only do you have the flexibility any online course would offer, but WGU 6-month terms can be started any month you choose.

I’m seriously looking at their College of Information Technology, but again, I’ve got to figure out what it is I, realistically, want to do….