tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75413549494375540702023-11-16T03:53:51.160-08:00What's Under Harriet's HatHarriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-78400254429405576222012-06-15T18:37:00.001-07:002012-06-15T18:43:35.946-07:00THIS is important!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UDiekZSI3MY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
I know I haven't posted here in a while due to school and life, but I have to make time for this.
Aly (Alexandria) Marques is missing. She was last seen on June 7, walking on Hwy70 in Clovis, NM. She has health problems and needs meds. Minor brain damage from a car accident this past year, and leaky heart valves, plus some other issues. It took 5 days to get this into the news (I know, they were focused on the big wildfire), and my friends and I are worried sick.
This is a video with pics of Aly.<br />
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The youtube page also has links to more info. Aly's Page is on FB, spreading the word. Please share the video, flyer, info far and wide. She may be disoriented, thinking she's going to see her dad. (He is not living.) She could be anywhere by now - one week later. Hwy 70 runs through some really rough country in NM and TX.
Here's a printable flyer:
<a href="http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1196303&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US">http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=1196303&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US</a>
Thank you.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-5121827143841757992012-06-03T13:52:00.002-07:002012-06-03T13:52:33.446-07:00Yes, I have neglected this blog. It has been a rather rough year. In light of that, I've gotten in on a clinical study for a new med to boost my current anti-depressant. That process will be on a new blog at drugstudypatient.blogspot.com.
<br> I'm still in school, cohort didn't go too well last fall. I'm trying to finish out a pre-health sciences transfer degree so that I can get some work experience and then give paramedic school another try later on. I will be done with school this December.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-88267684110036092082011-09-04T15:35:00.000-07:002011-09-04T15:35:43.019-07:00Told ya I was gonna be busy!!Yes, I'm crawling out from under the books and paperwork to update this mess a little. When we last left our intrepid heroine, she was dealing with school, health problems, a too-small apartment, roommates and the usual suspects (stress, depression and anxiety).
I did manage to pass my summer classes, despite taking a week off for a run back to Michigan and Indiana. The family reunion was great, and I finally managed to get what was left of my stuff in Indiana. I even got to stop by Tom's mom's house on the way back!
Since then, we have moved to a larger house on the other side of town. It has maybe 1/4 acre of land for yard and garden, too! Our temporary third housemember got his own place last week, so it's a bit quieter now, but still nice. Boxes abound still, and there's still some things that I can't lay hands on yet, but it's getting better.
I made it into the paramedic cohort for this fall, and we started class last Monday. Talk about hitting the ground running! Tests and homework and skills, oh my!! There are 18 of us in the cohort, and we've split up into 4 squads. There's 5 in my squad, and we're getting to know each other. By the next month or so, we'll all be pretty tight-knit, since we see each other for a minimum of 24 hours a week in class.
Bubonicon went well this year. I'm still trying to carve out a new niche for myself there, since my hectic school schedule is going to keep me from doing some of the major jobs. I finally managed to get myself a piece of Peri Charlifu's ceramic work (a nice udon bowl) at the art show with my birthday money. His work is awesome, and if you want to check it out, go to his <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peri-Charlifu-Aegean-Goods/75351359219">Facebook Page</a>.
Tom is also back in school full-time, and got a work study job, too. He's excited and enjoying his classes, and that really makes me feel good. He's a great friend, and we can motivate each other if things get rough. He's going for a degree in Transportation Technology, which is auto mechanics plus core college classes. He'll not only learn the technical stuff, but also how to run a business someday.
Anyway, that's a brief update. I'm on Facebook a fair amount, and there's always email. I know I will be less social for the next 7-8 months, simply because school is going to take 99% of my time, if not more. TTYL!
Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-9672400890125318692011-03-16T20:12:00.001-07:002011-03-16T20:29:12.998-07:00Don't Panic, Dammit!Okay, people, I understand that "radiation" is this big scary thing that we don't know what to do anything about. We're not quite sure how it works, how far it can travel, and what it can do to us.<br />Here is your reality check - Potassium Iodine pills and such are NOT necessary, and can in fact be harmful to people with heart trouble, kidney trouble and other health issues that they may not be aware of. Potassium directly affects heart rates and rhythms, and even us EMS types are only allowed to monitor it at very low levels! If you use iodized salt, you should be fine for most anything. I mean, geez, most of us get more radiation from an x-ray! <br />Interestingly enough, before we had ever heard of the atom bomb or a nuclear energy plant, X-rays and fluoroscopes were the big fad. You could go to the shoe store and put your feet in a machine so they could fit your shoes and see your bunions and such without even having to remove your current footwear! http://www.museumofquackery.com/devices/shoexray.htm<br />The likelihood that dangerous levels of radiation will reach Hawaii, let alone the mainland US, is low. The radiation workers in Fukushima have been allowed back into the plants to continue their efforts to cool the reactors and keep us all safe. The design of these plants is different from Chernobyl's plants, and are operated according to very safe protocols (unlike the "ooh, let's see what this does" mentality that led to the Chernobyl incident). <br />If you simply must have something to worry about, put your energy toward something useful, like a rational plan in case of whatever natural disaster your area is prone to. And if you can, spare a thought, a prayer, a donation for the people of Japan, and remember New Zealand as well. <br />For my part, I am working on better living arrangements, including a garden and livestock. We have lanterns and gear for power outages, and are working on plans for self-sufficiency. If that's too much for some folks, then prep an emergency bag in case you need to leave home or be stuck at home with no power or water. Just something to think about.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-20767895258622098062011-03-09T12:12:00.000-08:002011-03-09T12:21:43.932-08:00Spring Cleaning and RevampingIt is high time and then some for me to get off my duff and start using this blog again. I'm going to go back to the original purpose of having it, and start putting forth my thoughts on various topics. When I first started this blog, I had intended to do just that, but ended up having an attack of self-consciousness. I mean, who'd want to read what I think about stuff? <br />Well, in the past year or so, I have read a lot of stuff on these here Intarwebz, and have realized that if people are really reading some of the things I've seen, then maybe my viewpoint would be appreciated after all. I mean, really, people... <br />This may also turn into a good way for me to explore what I really do think about certain issues. I can't pigeonhole my politics, as they don't fit the molds that are presented by the media lately, but I do have some thoughts on certain issues. My religious views are also probably in the minority, but I'm cool with that. Some things I talk about will be of mainly local interest, there will be some ranting in there somewhere, and hopefully some insights that will invite you to think. (Like the old saying goes, "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make 'er think!") If there's interest in a certain topic, and y'all really want to know what I think, then by all means suggest it.<br />I can't promise any regularity of postings, especially with school, but I will do my best.<br />Thank you for your kind indulgence.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-42244254798703356622010-07-29T14:08:00.001-07:002010-07-29T14:08:38.459-07:00Getting ready for school!Some progress in the education portion of my life. Not without frustration, of course...It seems that CNM did a wonderful job recruiting students, but FAILED to evaluate whether their infrastructure and offices could handle all that traffic!! <br />I didn't make cohort, so ended up doing my registration, paperwork and payment arrangement stuff all today (way late for me), because I had to wait for word on that. Unfortunately, it's also the first day for all the brand new students to do the same. Epic long lines and wait times ensued. My home printer is still not working, on top of all that, so I also had to hit a computer lab - which I *swear* had twice as many computers in it when I went by there last week! WTF??<br />Anyway, it's done. I have till mid-September to make the next payment for my classes, and by then I should have some financial aid coming my way.<br />The budget is still very tight, but not impossibly so, with that breathing room. I will deal with books once I have my loan money, and already have the most important ones, thank goodness. I am also signed up for a free algebra refresher workshop which may enable me to change math classes before school actually starts, and save me time and money by letting me skip a lower level pre-requisite for the class that my degree requires. That's a very good thing!<br />I've got a pagan camping event next weekend which I am looking forward to. Bubonicon is about a month away, and my birthday is the week before that. I'm still baking and hope to be able to get some orders for breads and cookies for extra cash. My roomie, Tom, is working hard, though still part-time, and is helping as much as he can. The "woods" seem a lot less threatening today. I'm not out of them, by a long shot, but it's less Mirkwood and more Greenwood sometimes. ;-)Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-43366966237508835712010-07-22T21:28:00.001-07:002010-07-22T21:28:46.763-07:00Yes, I'm alive.High time that I got back to blogging. My apologies for the lapse/hiatus, school and work and life...eh, you know the drill.<br />As of June 12th, I officially joined the ranks of the unemployed. Our call center closed down, after a long and drawn out period of false hopes and corporate assmillinery. I am getting unemployment insurance, but apparently that disqualifies me for food stamps. Things are tight, and I haven’t managed to get either of my vehicles running, though thankfully the scooter is repaired and back with me. I haven’t had my truck running since March, and apparently it needs a new engine (blown head gasket).<br />My friend Tom has moved in with me, and that helps. He’s only working part-time for now, but it’s better than nothing, and he may be able to get the food stamps that I couldn’t. We just got a better futon couch handed down to us, so at least he can sleep comfortably. He’s a good guy to have around.<br />I’m waiting to hear back on my petition to get into the paramedic cohort for this fall. I’m not optimistic, frankly. Spring semester was very rough, what with the bad reaction I had to the Prozac they put me on, and the stress over work and the truck. I should have the money to register for fall semester next week, at least, and then I can go for intermediate if I don’t make cohort. At least if I can manage to stay in school, I’m not in danger of losing my unemployment.<br />I’m trying to keep my spirits up, but I admit that I’ve been stressed and down a fair bit. The weather may have something to do with it, too - it’s been horribly hot, worse than normal. We didn’t manage to get the garden in, and our landlord has the backyard torn up in order to install drip irrigation. <br />I’m still planning to throw myself a nice birthday party on 8/21, though it looks like I’ll have to move it from my yard to the park down the road. That may actually be nicer, since the park has grass and trees and a playground. We can cook on the grill and have a good time. <br />Anyway, more later!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-40990907107812754922009-09-20T22:47:00.000-07:002009-09-20T22:48:57.231-07:00Commuter Camping!A busy, full, weekend, but relaxing in its own way. Mabon camping, a wedding to officiate and school or work...whew!<br />Thursday, I worked early, then went to class. Took the second half of the day off so we could get to the campsite and set up before dark. I got my stuff packed, picked up my friend Tom, and off we went. We did manage to get set up in decent time, though it was dark by the time we were finished. The rain did not help. It wasn't heavy rain, but it was quite muddy, and all the wood was wet. Eventually, we got a fire going, and after a nosh, headed over toward the drumming and fire circle. Poor FoxWoman was struggling with wet wood, too, and eventually the bow-drill gave way to the magic of matches and lighters to get the fire started. Yay, alchemy! We didn't stay too long, but it was good to see who was in camp and get a bit of dancing in. <br />Friday morning, up at the crack of dawn, since I had class and Tom had work, all at 8:00 a.m. I don't know how I made it through the day, but I suspect the large mug of coffee heavily laced with cream and sugar had something to do with it! After class, I scooted down to the Abq BioPark for the wedding rehearsal. We only had time for a quick walk-through, but it was enough. I got my robe and stole that Erich and Celeste had made for me, and swung by the house to grab a couple of things that we needed for camp. Pick Tom up from work, and back to camp we go!<br />Friday was a bit easier with the fire-starting, though it was still a bit damp. I'd grabbed some drier wood from my house, and that helped a lot. Dinner was ramen noodles, char-grilled chicken and peaches for dessert. Got done in time to head for the bardic circle, and caught the last go-round. I sang my song that I'd written at EMG again, and Matti sang his latest one "Alive", which he had debuted at Beltane. So much talent from all in this community, too. The transition from the bardic fire to the dance/drum fire was really neat. A procession of torches lit from the bardic fire, leading us all to the other circle. A huge gong, lots of drums and other instruments, all sorts of joyous noises! I danced and sang and drummed a bit, and generally had a good time. Good drink, good smoke, good friends...Gods, it's good to be home!<br />Saturday morning, up early again. Work for the Tom, and I have to get ready for the wedding. Ok, I admit it, I went home and got a bit of a nap, too! :-) Headed over to my friend Yvonne's house, and she helped me do my hair and makeup. I wanted to be clean and nice for the wedding, and well, if it got any notice from certain fellows in camp, I wouldn't complain! We did take pictures, and those will go up on the Facebook shortly. I really think I looked good, which is rare for me. <br />The wedding went beautifully. It was small and intimate, and the happy couple were just awesome together. This was the first wedding I've ever officiated, and I was a bit nervous, too. Guess I did okay, though! Paperwork done, I got a bit of a nosh while the pictures were being taken, and then headed off to get Tom and go back to camp. I was still wearing my nice clothes when we got there, and as we'd eaten already, we just grabbed some stuff and headed down to the fire circle. It was an awesome circle. I got warm and had to run back to my tent to change into something cooler. The fire was very large and hot, and eventually, it was just a bumper sticker in action...Happy Naked Pagan Dance! Not me, of course, I don't do skyclad, but I did end up ditching my t-shirt for a while and just wearing my bra and jeans. The ground was cold, so I had to put my boots back on after a while. It was good to see everyone having so much fun. The energy was great, and it was truly magical. Even Tom got out and danced a bit! <br />Today was a day off, and we got up later than we had been doing. Eggs and bacon for breakfast, and we managed to catch the last workshop of the weekend, a talk by Dorothy Morrison. We finished breaking camp, and were almost done when they called for closing ritual. It was a nice one, and then people started saying goodbyes. Lots of hugs, and then I got the truck moved closer to camp so we could pack out. It didn't really take long, and we were back in town by a quarter to two. I dropped Tom off at his place, then came home and unloaded the truck. A bit of a nap and decompression and I think I'm good to go again. <br />So, there's a brief overview of my busy weekend! Work hard and play hard, for sure.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-74725171064035778202009-08-22T19:42:00.001-07:002009-08-22T19:42:35.235-07:00An update at lastA day late, but time for a birthday blog, at least. Had to work yesterday, and still wasn't feeling 100%, but over all it was a decent day. Got many well wishes from friends at work and online, and though I wasn't up to going out or anything after working so late, it was okay. My mom sent a card, and a bit of money, so that was cool. I know I've got some presents coming, too, though it's my own fault that one of them's late...should have thought of what to ask for sooner!<br />Work has been getting rougher. All of us are feeling it, not just in our department, and we're really trying to pull together to keep each other sane and surviving. More of us are heading back to school this fall, too. It's not the actual work as much as the soul-draining atmosphere. Our supervisors are feeling it nearly as much as we are, and nobody likes to feel like a mistreated drone. <br />We do have fun, though, and the other day, I was the one getting picked on. Since my birthday was coming, and I'm a bit older than my friend Tom (we're rebuilding a motorbike, and have been hanging out some), I was getting some ribbing about that, especially since he just had his birthday a couple of weeks earlier. I don't know why, I just happen to have several male friends who are a lot younger than I. But the one guy I'd really like to be with is only a year younger, so there! Anyway, cougar jokes aside...<br />The bike is only progressing slowly, due to financial shortages, but we have gotten a new gas tank and parts to re-do the rear brakes. It's a start! We need to get it running soon, though, so Tom will have an easier way to get back and forth to school and work. His scooter got stolen in July, and was never recovered. Work's within bicycle range for him, but school's too far, and the buses aren't dependable enough. Bicycle and buses don't work for my schedule and location, either, darn the luck. The most I can hope for is on Fridays when I have lab all day, and that's only IF the buses run early enough to get me clear across town in time. I'm skeptical. <br />School for me this fall is 15 credit hours, including retaking Pharmacology and Drug Calculations classes. I didn't do well enough in those, and want to make sure I get the material down before I try to get into the Paramedic Cohort in January. My other classes are Advanced Trauma (one lecture, one lab), Intro to Fire Science (online) and Financial Literacy (online). The nice thing about the Financial Literacy course is that it will enable me to start a matched savings account through CNM that can be used for school, buying a home or starting a business. The online courses start a few weeks later than the live classes, so that'll give me time to get organized.<br />I did manage to get student loans, and I hope they'll be enough to get me through. If I get into Cohort in January, the program recommends that you not work, since it's very intensive. Since I'm my only support, I'll have to try and work part-time if I can, and stretch the money as best I can. I am going to get myself a new computer, and I'm getting a MacBook. Other expenses coming out of the loan money are getting the gas turned back on in the apartment, and possibly upgrading my cellphone. I'm also considering getting a Costco card, or at least getting into 'planned bulk shopping' mode to save money. Paying rent ahead is a consideration, and of course I'm getting my teeth fixed while I have the insurance to do it. I'm going on the presumption that I won't be able to work full-time come January. If I don't make Cohort, it'll be the following Fall before another one starts, so I'd continue working and take other classes in the meantime. We shall see. I'm also looking for the chance to start working in EMS even before I finish school, so I can get the experience. <br />But, before the next round of classes start, there's Bubonicon 41!! Yay! I'm running registration again, and spent a good part of the day laminating badges. We have one last meeting tomorrow, and the con starts on Friday. My good friend Mishalak is coming down from Denver, and three or four of us are going to be sharing a room. Sure, I only live a couple of miles from the hotel, but this way, I have a pied-a-terre at the con, in case I'm too tired to drive home or can't easily leave site. We're also planning out a meal in the Crock-Pot, hot oatmeal for breakfasts, and other good food and drink. Downright civilized, huh? We'll probably do something similar for MileHiCon in October, too. <br />September's gonna be kinda busy, at least on one weekend. Mabon weekend, the 17th - 20th, is a campout event, and Tom and I are planning to go. But...we'll head out Thursday after work, come back Friday morning so he can work and I can go to lab, then back to camp. He'll stay out Saturday, but I have a wedding to officiate, so an extra trip for me, but Saturday night's gonna be lots of fun, and Sunday, well, we probably both have to work. Crazy, but it just might work! <br />October's shaping up to be busy, too. My friends Danielle and Gary are getting married in Indiana, and I'm her maid-of-honor! It'll be a short trip, since CNM doesn't have a mid-term break and I have to leave after class on Friday and be back on Tuesday. MileHiCon is at the end of October, and I'm not sure how I'm going to handle that. I may end up driving up after class that Friday, too. I do want to drive, so I can swing by the mountain on the way home and visit. <br />Other than those outings, it's pretty much gonna be work and school and not much else! Oh, I'm sure I'll get to do some things, and my new schedule will let me start going to ASFS meetings again, at least. But I'll be sticking fairly close to home otherwise. Thank heavens for the internet!!<br />That's a brief update for ya. It's been a busy summer, and fall's shaping up to be the same. I'm sure it's going to be interesting!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-73317000067527930142009-06-26T12:31:00.000-07:002009-06-26T12:33:38.039-07:00Solstice weekend, Part The SecondAnd there's even pics to go with this part!<br /><br />Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, but that's just a guess, as I was still asleep. Not for long, granted, but I did stay in bed till almost 9:00. The sunburn wasn't going to let me sleep, anyway. Got myself together, gassed up the SUV, then went to pick Tom up. Kennard and Kristen were letting us borrow the utility trailer, so that was our next stop, after a pass through McDonald's drive-thru to snag some breakfast. Kennard wanted to make sure the trailer axles were properly greased, so did that while we waited. He popped one of the caps off while filling it, and eventually got it back on. We hitched up, and off to Eldorado we went. Tom was having fun with the GPS on his phone, but I had directions anyway, so there! Got to our destination, and there it was....a Yamaha XS400, and it's all ours. It needs a shit-tonne of work, but we knew that, and that's why it was so cheap. The bike was in the bed of a pickup, so it was easy to move it down onto the trailer. We tied it down, chatted for a while, then headed back. A stop at the grocery store to get drinks and adjust the tiedowns again after the bumpy gravel road, and off again. <br />Then, just outside Santa Fe on Hwy 14 (not taking a laden trailer on the freeway, thank you), I started smelling something. I pulled over, and well...you remember that grease cap that popped off that morning? We'd lost it again, and who knows when or where. Tom got on the phone, I got on my phone, and we got hold of an RV place to see if they had a cap. Get this – the place wasn't open, but the owner was on site and opened up just to help us out. How cool is that? So if you ever need RV repair in Santa Fe, go to Hal Burns' RV and talk to David Burns. He didn't have a cap that fit quite right (dang Harbor Freight Chinese metric trailer...), but we found one that was close and duct taped it on to make it home with. He didn't even want to charge us for it, but I gave him some money for his trouble. Back on the road at last, and I'm regretting the addition to my sunburn already. We were going to stop for a burger at Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid, but it was packed, and I didn't feel like fighting the trailer into a space. Taking the back way down was really nice, though. We finally made it back to my house, offloaded the bike and took the trailer back. Kennard was cool about the hubcap, thank goodness. If Tom and I keep using the trailer, we may see about helping rebuild it with new wood. <br />Time for some dinner, and we hit the buffet at Furr's. Hey, it's the cheapest way to feed a very hungry Tom. It wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but I attribute that to it being crowded for Father's Day. Dropped Tom off at his place, and then home at last. <br />My sunburn was really nasty by then, even with trying to keep sunscreen on it, so I just took one of my pain pills leftover from my MRSA infection a couple of weeks ago and tried to get to sleep. <br />So...<a href="http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n4/hengle/Tomaha%20Project/">here's a link</a> to pics of the bike as it is. Trust me, it will look much better in a few months!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-18311946626178243672009-06-24T12:35:00.000-07:002009-06-24T12:39:44.901-07:00Solstice weekend, Part The FirstYes, I think it may take two posts to blog such a busy weekend.<br />Saturday actually started Friday night; maybe that's why it felt so long, even with it being the 'longest day'. I got off work as usual, then went and picked up a rider to head out to the Long Dance site. We arrived at about 11 p.m., and I pretty much said hi to a few people, picked out a tree to roll under, and laid out my sleeping bag to try and get some rest. Sunrise comes pretty darned early, you know! Well, the guys in the next camp over were setting up and talking for quite a while, but I managed to doze off a bit. Just about the time I was going to fall asleep for real, the rain started. No, I hadn't taken my tent. And yes, the truck was still full of stuff. So, I dragged myself about 20 feet over, and curled up under the shade tarps that were hung by the main circle. It's funny how, after all these years, my tenting instincts still kick in and I listen for pockets in the roof...and get up and poke the tarp up to drain, and lie back down, and....you get the picture. At least I had enough wits about me to pick the sleeping spot that was not in danger of pocketing!<br />Just as the birds were singing their wake-up song to the trees, two folks came down from the house, with chimes, and gently woke up the camp. Assembling at the house (praise the gods for coffee), we set off with the center pole to greet the sun at the eastern hill of the property. Clouds notwithstanding, it was officially declared to be sunrise. We then proceeded to the main circle for opening ritual and the raising of the pole. It was a very cool telling/acting of the legend of how the People came up from the dark first world to this, the sunlit fifth world. The long thin pole that we would dance around is that center of the world where Locust's magic staff poked through the roof of the world below this one and let the People come forth. <br />The drums commenced. Matti starts, by tradition, on the big drum, which is about 3 feet across, and double headed with rawhide. He got a good beat going, and others of us joined in. I was even able to play my bodhran for a while, till the rhythm shifted to a easier beat for the hand drummers to follow. Breakfast started magically appearing at the table outside the circle, and Matti had me take over the big drum for a while. I felt really honored that he chose me first. So, we switched over, one mallet at a time so the beat would be continuous. I think I must have drummed for nearly an hour or so, that first session, and it really felt good. I passed the mallets to the next person who stepped up to take a turn, and got my breakfast. <br />Somewhere in the morning, the rain came back again. I was already out dancing, and Alan and I were making sure that there was always someone doing that, too. He dug little trenches with his feet to try and direct the water away from the circle, and it did help. My feet were soon covered in mud, but the ground underneath was hard, and it got a bit slippery. The sun returned again, and dried everything out. It settled down to being a mostly sunny day, which was nice. <br />I did have a bout of negativity come after me in the midst of things, so I took myself out of circle to try and get myself back together. A bit of food and water, a sitdown and a reality check, and I was soon working my way back to where I needed to be. Thank the gods for good friends. I went back to drumming for a while, and Matti made me a bagel sandwich to eat which was very good. More dancing, more drumming, and singing! We got some chants and songs going which was pretty cool. Io was there, and she even complimented my singing. Praise from a master, indeed. <br />Throughout the day, we took individual breaks, but the music and movement never stopped. Dawn had her big hula hoops with her, which was cool. I even managed to do it! I haven't worked a hula hoop successfully in years! I think I might have to make one now, it's good exercise and good movement. <br />At a certain point in the afternoon, we had another ritual, this one to call the benificent rains (tomorrow, please). It was really cool, with water hoses making a mist to cool people off and get them dancing again at the end of it.<br />I was starting to lag a bit, so sat and sang some more, drummed some more, and danced when it was needed. I need more sunscreen, it's not helping... I also did make sure I got a chance to climb the 'woodpecker tree' and tap on the woodblock hanging there. There was a ladder attached to the tree, but it's still quite a climb. Good view, though, and I'm glad I went up.<br />Sunset was going to officially be at 8:00, but who's counting? Poor Matti almost missed the end, as he had to go talk to a tree. He came hurrying back, because he heard us pick up the beat, and I was hitting the big drum pretty solidly. He did make it, though, and it wouldn't have been right for him to not be there at the end as he was at the start. We all got up and went to stand in circle, and it sprinkled just enough to give us a glorious rainbow! How magical, and what a lovely blessing for the day! <br />Hugs all around after the last circle, and believe me, nobody wanted it to end. Matti hugged me and thanked me for the great work on the drum and singing. I complimented him in return, of course. The circle and tarps were soon cleaned up, and those of us who weren't staying another night packed up our gear. A lovely potluck up at the house, and a chance to ground and wind down among friends. <br />More hugs, and finally I had to leave so I could get some rest before Sunday's adventures. I got home and realized just how tired and sore and sunburnt I was, so went to bed in pretty short order. <br /><br />(to be continued)Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-68227391646197084562009-05-31T15:19:00.000-07:002009-05-31T15:21:54.960-07:00So, here's my trip.Sunday afternoon, time to blog my little trip.<br />It was good, but fast.<br /><br />Friday morning, got a ride to the airport (thanks, Pat B.) and headed out. Frontier always stops in Denver, so I had a short layover there of an hour or so. Just chilled in the airport, got online for a bit, then on to my Chicago flight. Gotta love those Midway landings, and I felt a bit like a Bugs Bunny cartoon waiting for the brakes to work...ok, not really. Ambr picked me up and we made a couple of stops on the way back to the house. The new Asian Market near her is nearly as big as TaLin, and (since they were out of tuna, darn the luck) we picked up a salmon fillet that was just amazing. No odor, and beautiful texture. Yeah, had to nibble on some before it went into the marinade. Definitely sashimi-worthy. We figured out timing for trains and buses for Friday, and when Norman got home, we had a nice quiet dinner. I got a shower (hot water is so nice) and headed for bed.<br />Friday morning, got up, and Norman and I went to catch the train into town. We split up at Union Station, and I managed to find the bus I needed up to the Westin Hotel on North Michigan. It's just a block from the Water Tower, and there was an express which worked out rather nicely. I arrived in plenty of time, and tried to steady my nerves with some Incredible String Band on the MP3 player till some of the other people started arriving. Apparently, the people from the show had not realized that they were in a different room for the day, so things were a bit delayed, but not by much. Auditions had been going on all week, it seems, three sessions a day, about 20 or so in each lot. It adds up, it really does.<br />There are about 400 slots for each season, and they haven't started taping the next season yet, so this is really the best time to be auditioning. I'll be in the contestant pool for 18 months, so we'll see if I get called. We took a 50 question quiz, fairly quick, then went up in groups of three to play a mock game. I think I did well, and hope I made a good impression. <br />After the audition, it was only about noon, so I decided to walk a bit and get some lunch. The bus had gone right past Pizzeria Uno on the way up, and it was a short walk to get there. I had the express lunch special, which is an individual deep dish pizza with a small salad. To quote the old commercial, “I can't believe I ate the whole thing!”, but I did. I continued walking back toward the station, and stopped to take a couple pics of the Eastland Steamer site and plaque. Look it up, if you like, it was one of the biggest maritime losses of life in America, and it happened right in the Chicago River. They say that Harpo studios is partially haunted because its building was the Armory which served as a temporary morgue that day.<br />Got back to Union Station in fine time to catch a train back out to Lisle, and Ambr picked me up after her puppy-sitting gig. When we got home, I think my sinuses caught up to me at last, and when Ambr said I looked like I needed a nap, I didn't argue. I slept for quite a while, and when I did get up again, Norman was home and it was time for dinner. We ate, and figured out how to get me back to the airport on Saturday. Ambr and I stayed up a bit, and watched some TV. A new-to-me show called “Primeval” which looked pretty good, and most of the movie of Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett. Then to bed so I could get up in the morning.<br />Saturday's travel was good, a bit bumpy in a couple of spots, but that's just cloud kicking. I had a longer layover in Denver this time, but still too short to try and hook up with anyone. When we were coming in to land in Albuquerque, we had to make a second go-round because of the wind, but that was all. I caught buses home and started getting ready for my evening.<br />My friend Ryan had called me while I was in Chicago, and we'd arranged to go to the show together. Ah, yes, the show. The Brothers Ericksen Variety Show. It rocked. So much talent in one place, and it was a blast, even if they didn't manage to get the liquor license in time. That was the city's fault. Short films, puppetry, music, more amazing music, juggling and entertainment..oh, it was fantastic! Justifiable fangirl squee! <br />After the show, Ryan and I sat by my fire pit and shared a few beers till I was just too tired to stay up any longer. During the night, my sinuses must have gotten the go-ahead to really start kicking my butt, so now I'm sitting here trying to blog, do homework, and watch a stop-and-go stream of Sweeney Todd on the telly/pc. I have meds, I have tissues, and even got some orange juice. The thai noodles I picked up from the Co-op deli, however, are rather disappointing; too starchy and the noodles are mushy. Can't win 'em all.<br />Homework. Somewhere in there, I think I have a quiz to do, too. Ugh. At least the quiz can be taken at home, online, and open book. I had to take my first exam before I left because that was my only chance to get to the testing center on Main Campus. I also managed to take my Thursday class on Tuesday, so at least I didn't miss the lecture. At least after this week, I won't be having to study for the state test at the same time. <br />I haven't decided yet what to do about actual work in the EMS field. I have a few ideas, but hate to switch horses in mid-stream till I have some solid plans. I just hope my body and my brains are up to it. I've got to get in better physical shape if I ever hope to do this well. I have been still losing weight, slowly, but there's more I should do. I am taking my vitamins, and trying to eat right. Sandy calls it the ELF diet (Eat Less Food), and maybe if I had an elf or two to play with that could take care of the exercise portion... LOL<br />Anyway, that's my weekend.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-23762470614340704692009-05-24T13:56:00.000-07:002009-05-24T13:57:34.237-07:00Time flies when you don't blog, I guess...Let's see if I can catch up.<br /><br />Beltane: Totally rocked, despite the wild and woolly weather. Rain, hail, sun, we had it all! Got to see good friends, hear good music, dance and drum. Good stuff. Had a friend join us for his first Beltane, and he's already talking about the next event, so that's a good sign, I hope.<br />I've got plans for Summer Solstice, and I'm the coordinator for the Lughnasadh event, so that'll keep me busy and involved with the pagan community. Several of the folk in the community are also taking time to teach me the local culture and traditions, and I'm feeling quite honored by this. <br /><br />School: Got a 4.0 in the Spring classes. Studying now for the state EMT test, which I'll take on June 6th. I'm a tad nervous about it, since there's the gap between class and the test. I've already started my next set of classes, though, so that helps me get my mind back into that mode of thinking. I'm still short one book, but it'll have to wait till my scholarship check comes in. I've already had to spend more on books than I care to think about. <br />I have five classes for summer term, but one's only 5 weeks long, and two of them are half-term in the same time slot, so it's not as bad as it sounds. Ten credit hours, though, so I'm gonna be working hard.<br /><br />Life: I have sent off my last truck payment! W00T!!!! On the downside, the gas is off, so all the baking I was doing to raise money for my little Chicago trip next week is done for now. I should be able to save up enough to get it back on late next month. Luckily, the days I have to go to Clovis for the EMT test are a pay week, so I will not have to worry about that expense yet.<br />Ok, the Chicago trip...For those who haven't heard, I have an appointment for a live Jeopardy! audition on May 29th, in Chi-town. I'm flying out on Thursday, the day before, and coming back on the Saturday. I'm really excited, and a bit nervous. This audition will put me in the contestant pool for a year, and I may or may not get called to actually do the show, but this is a lot closer than I've ever been! And yeah, I already know what I'll do with my winnings. ;-)<br />The reason for coming back on Saturday is also important. Go check out www.brothersericksen.com and you'll see. These are my friends, and they're doing a show, one night only. I am not going to miss this! Anybody in Abq who can make it, come on out. It's gonna be a lot of fun. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm off to a barbeque, hosted by one of my co-workers. I have my box of Boca burgers, and she said we didn't have to bring anything else, so off I go. <br />Last night, I went to hear some live music (Dianivy & Tribe), then went to see Cheech & Chong's “Up In Smoke” at the Guild with a friend. Wow. I have a social life! LOLHarriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-2315068888782324032009-04-12T00:08:00.001-07:002009-04-12T00:08:54.088-07:00My Bi-Polar LifeIt has been another rollercoaster week.<br />Losing Stormy last Friday was, and is, really rough. The house is too quiet, even with my other cat, Ghost, here. I'm keeping an eye on her to see how she does with being an only cat, especially with me out of the house so much. If she gets too lonely, it will influence whether I think about getting another cat to keep her company. I am also concerned about not being able to be there to help integrate another feline to the household. No hurry, honestly, just things to consider.<br />I did get the grave dug today, after the rains stopped. The first place I chose had too many tree roots and I couldn't do anything with it. I settled on a spot by the back wall. I'm thinking maybe a 6 p.m. funeral, since some of my friends have expressed an interest in coming to pay respects. For now, I have a cat in my freezer. A bit macabre, perhaps, but his box is surrounded by my frozen seafood stash, so I suppose it's somewhat fitting, and I hope Stormy doesn't mind. <br />Had another test in EMT class this past week, and two online quizzes to do. The test had stuff that, again, we hadn't gone over yet, so I only got 89.8 on it. I wanted to do better. The quizzes have pulled 96 each, and I can live with that. I don't like taking exams on the computer. What worries me is Monday's final written exam, because it's obviously comprehensive, and there are several chapters not covered in lectures that we will need to know. After the final, we concentrate on skills lab, with those tests being done the next week. If we pass all that, we get our completion certificates which will let us sit for the state exams in June. Whew!<br />Math class is going fine, I'm carrying an A there with no problems. I am confident that I'll do fine on that final in a couple of weeks. We did have a chapter exam Friday, and I did alright on that, I'm sure. <br />Also on Friday, I registered for Summer Term. I got all but the biggest class I need to take, and I just can't do the other one and still manage to work. I have to survive, first and foremost, and I'd lose 3/5 of my workweek if I tried to take the Advanced Trauma. So, it looks like it'll be Pharmacology, Drug Calculations (only one month of Mondays), Legal Issues & Reporting (1st half), GI/GU Emergencies (2nd half), and Human Systems & Development (anatomy/physiology stuff). <br />So much for the usual....I will have to miss a day of class and a couple of days of work at the end of May, as I need to make a quick trip to Chicago. I have an appointment for a live audition to possibly be a Jeopardy! contestant!! How cool is that? It'll be a whirlwind trip, I'm afraid, as I have to be back on Saturday to make it to “The Brothers Ericksen Puppet Movie Mayhem and Variety Show” at the Guild Cinema. It's a must-see for so many reasons! Anyway, I'm thinking of raising money for my trip by selling homemade bread and cookies. Many of my co-workers have said they'll buy some already. I find myself truly needing a mixer now, but haven't been able to find an affordable stand mixer that's sturdy enough to meet my needs. The KitchenAids at Wal-mart are too low powered, and too small. A KitchenAid Professional 600 would be nice, and I could manage an Electrolux Assistent DLX-2000, I'd be in heaven! Right now, though, I don't even have the budget for a Sunbeam or Hamilton Beach cheapie. <br />Beltane is coming up in a few weeks, and I'll be helping with the Main Ritual. I plan to be healthier and better prepared for Beltane this year. More warm clothes and blankets, and, gods willing, I'll be able to find myself a willing human space heater! (Better plan on finding new longjohns, I'm afraid, especially compared to my slim chances of getting the warm body of my choice into the ol' bedroll.) <br /><br />...Post-movie now, and home again. Went to the Guild to see The Dark Crystal. Yeah, big screen. Plus, one of the guys who worked on puppetry for both this and Labyrinth is a local, so he was there to do comments and Q&A afterwards. A nice geek's night out, as I got my ticket early then went over and had a snack at Flying Star while waiting for the movie. So, naturally, as I was walking home after midnight, I was singing Patsy Cline songs to myself....<br />Tomorrow morning, some of our geek crew is meeting for Sunday brunch. Seems like a good time to do it, even though most of us don't celebrate Easter all that much. Off to bed, then!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-17612058161310133192009-04-03T22:39:00.001-07:002009-04-03T22:41:13.756-07:00I haz a sad :-(My dear kitty, Stormcloud Thunderpaws (Stormy) died today. It was sudden and unexpected.<br />I noticed Wednesday night that he seemed to be feeling badly, listless, out of sorts, and looking like he'd lost weight. I managed to find a vet Thursday morning (after several tries), and they put him on oxygen and fluids overnight. When they went to work with him this morning, he suddenly had a seizure and died before they could do anything to save him.<br />The necropsy this afternoon revealed advanced pancreatic cancer. There's no way it could have been found earlier, and even if it had been, there's nothing that could have been done.<br />I suppose it's some comfort that nothing I did or didn't do caused his death. He'd been with me for almost 7 years, since he was a kitten.<br />My other cat, Ghost, seems to know that he's gone. If I can tell that the house seems emptier, I know she can.<br />It's gonna be a long weekend...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66DTvQRbSDpiPCkbFZQwhuQRYrKIavFU2PLVvUX01nGeQst38UGlb8eVaZ7DLBf-bxRY0usWodMlywyrf6BQLDSIapi2WRjSmTf_CmU0Oj7O9aTsG9OiqQ4_hKVI_qklWcPqNpnsZ_Pg/s1600-h/Stormy2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66DTvQRbSDpiPCkbFZQwhuQRYrKIavFU2PLVvUX01nGeQst38UGlb8eVaZ7DLBf-bxRY0usWodMlywyrf6BQLDSIapi2WRjSmTf_CmU0Oj7O9aTsG9OiqQ4_hKVI_qklWcPqNpnsZ_Pg/s320/Stormy2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320706974237150162" /></a>Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-40677376322604254922009-03-22T22:05:00.000-07:002009-03-22T22:06:01.078-07:00Happy Ostara!Whew, what a weekend!<br />Classes were good this week, but work was a bit of a grind. I think we were all glad to see the end of the workweek, whenever it was!<br />Yesterday I got up early, and went to get my truck worked on. There's a church out here, Sagebrush Community Church, that runs a program called Pit Stop Ministries. I found out about them through my college. They hold a clinic once a month to help people in need with car repairs and maintenance. So, I got my front brakes done, with new calipers, pads and rotors, plus an oil change, for no charge! What a blessing! Of course, you know I'm not one to sit idly by, so I jumped in and helped, not only with my own truck, but with a couple of other cars that were getting oil changes and such. Met some really good people, too. Next month's clinic, I'll be able to go back and we'll do the rear brakes (which are really bad) and in between, I can get my idler arm replaced, too. Plus, I have a coupon for 15% off the alignment I'll be needing. Yay! This is really a weight off my shoulders, as I've been quite worried about the truck. I got the wheel hub fixed on my own, and between that and the brakes, I can now go down the interstates safely! <br />Which leads to today...I was able to go down the interstate to get to Sunflower River for the Ostara celebration. It was a nice simple ritual, with an Eostre Egg hunt! The potluck was yummy, too. There were about 30 in attendance, a good number, but of course not all of our community. There was a later evening event planned by CUUPS, and some folk went to that one instead, I'm sure, and some managed to go to both! I decided to just do the one event, so I stuck around for the music and drumming. A nice relaxing day, which I really needed. My contributions to the potluck were a carmelized onion and pinon pizza, and a carmelized onion quiche, plus a raspberry pie that I had been given.<br />I do have a nice toasty sunburn on my face and neck, even my ear tops! Most of it's from yesterday, but I'm sure I put a bit more red onto it today. The wind didn't help, either! Guess I'm still not quite New Mexican yet, huh? I wonder if eating more green chile will help with melanin production so I can actually have a tan someday. Probably not ;-) Just too much Irish in me, I suppose.<br />Time to head to bed, as I have class in the morning. We're past the halfway mark now, and while I didn't do as well as I'd hoped on the midterm for EMS, I could have done worse. It's tied in with my old conditioning, I know, where I have to be the best in order to be anything worthwhile. I'm just hard on myself, that's all, and I'm actually doing better at not getting down on myself for being human and less that perfect. But I still gotta show up on time!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-75649772528802605802009-02-28T18:46:00.000-08:002009-02-28T18:52:04.142-08:00'Bout dang time!Okay, let me catch you all up on progress so far.<br />I am getting A's in both my classes, EMT and Algebra, though it's not a cruising A. I'm working for it, and while the math is not too hard, I get tired and do silly mistakes if I'm not careful. EMT stuff is harder, of course, and makes for a lot of memorization in brain as well as hands. But I'm confident that I'll do well.<br />I've filled out my FAFSA for next school year, and we'll see if I can qualify for some financial aid. If it's enough, I would consider going to school full-time for the paramedic courses.<br />Work has been "meh". It's work, and the good calls and bad calls average out on most days. It's the ones that come in at the last second and keep me way past my scheduled time that honk me off. That, and the ones transferred from another center in particular; no info gathered that the rep should have gotten, nothing done at all, and sometimes they don't even tell the customer that they'll be getting transferred. Grrrr!<br />I have been getting out and about a bit, though not as much as I'd like. Ryan and I did get together last night for margaritas and Buffy DVDs, and it was worth skipping the margarita night with my co-workers. I should stay away from tequila, though, because that's the one booze that ever gave me a hangover. Granted, that was over 20 years ago, but I don't care to go through that ever again! Just gotta remember to eat, and drink water.<br />Laundry today, while I catch up on the blog and my surfing. I'll study more tomorrow, as we have a quiz Monday morning. Memorizing drug doses and rules is very important, so it's good that we're getting another quiz on it.<br />The weather has started to get nice, and the sunshine makes it feel warmer than the thermometer says it is. I'm just looking forward to getting out on my bicycle again. Next weekend, when I'm helping with the Medieval conference (MAP 2009) at UNM, I'm just going to leave the truck at home and do the bus/bike thing. Saves on parking fees, too. As a bonus, the more I can walk/bike, the better my success with losing weight! I splurged on a couple of pairs of jeans at the thrift store, and ended up going with the pairs that I thought would be too small when I pulled them from the rack! Nice feeling, that. Pretty soon, I hope to be freecycling some of my clothes that have gotten too big. <br />I'm working on getting the needed repairs done on my truck. I have gotten hooked up with a local charity called Pit Stop Ministry that helps folks fix up and maintain cars. They will help me with my brakes! I need to get the front right hub bearing replaced first (about $300) and as much of the rest of the front end as I can manage, then front brakes will be done in March, rear at the April clinic, and then I can get the tires and alignment. The truck will be paid off in May or June, and then things should improve greatly. My EMT test will be in June, and we'll go on from there!<br />Other than that, Ostara's coming, and that's gonna be a nice celebration. On top of St. Paddy's Day earlier that week, I'm gonna get my share of socializing, I'm sure! Work hard, play hard. Sounds like a plan.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-34736650219406139782009-02-07T17:49:00.000-08:002009-02-07T17:52:22.111-08:00I'm an Auntie!!Woohoo! I can tell y'all about it now.<br />My brother and his wife will be returning from Colombia in a week or so, with my new nephew and niece in tow. The kids are blood siblings, so it's good that they can stay together in their new family. I always said that Frank would make our mom a grandma first, anyway. <br />Work is crazy, we're shorthanded and swamped, and tempers are starting to flare. Dissatisfaction is growing, and it makes me glad that I'm going to school already. I just hope things stay stable till I'm ready to move on.<br />School's keeping me busy, of course, but I think I'm doing okay. Still readjusting to the schedule demands, but trying to stay ahead of things. I've finished the Clinical Prep class, as of today, and got my certification cards for <br />I did finally succumb to the pressure to try World of Warcraft. Biggest problem was getting the dang program to download and install. I've got a character and have done one little quest, but have been too tired to do much more than that. My trial will end soon, unfortunately, so I'm not sure if I'm gonna try to get a paid account or not. I'm just not that into it, yet, and the expense is a deterrent, too. I really don't need another indoor activity.<br />I did manage to get my eye exam on Thursday, and am working with a trial pair of contact lenses in the new prescription. They seem to work well, though the doc did advise a weak pair of reading glasses for close up work. Wonder if I can get a pair that look like Dumbledore's glasses? Probably can, actually....<br />Tomorrow's the Imbolc celebration here in town, and I plan to go. It's an indoor event, as it's still a tad chilly to be out in the evenings. The days are getting a bit warmer, though. I've started hearing birdsong in the mornings, and the sun seems to be showing itself more. It's cooling off tonight, though, and there is snow in the forecast for many parts of the state. It would be a good night to curl up by a fireplace, if I had one. I'll make do with a pot of tea and a warm laptop, I guess!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-49584288838046811352009-01-18T20:17:00.000-08:002009-01-18T20:18:59.268-08:00Whee...adjusting to school and workAt last, a chance to blog. It's been a busy week, with school starting, changes in my work schedule because of it, and even some social activities.<br />School is good so far, despite the adjustment to getting up very early. I'm up at 6:30 a.m., with classes starting at 8:00 on Monday and Wednesday, or 8:30 on Friday. Add to that my work, which goes till 9:30 at least, and it makes for a long day. I'm glad to be able to recover on the other days! I have homework already, of course, and I needed to replace my printer. Darn thing starts off fine, then fades out halfway through the page. The ink is full, so I can't figure out what's going on. I think it's just worn out, as it was a cheap one to begin with. Luckily, I found another one that uses the same cartridges. Our EMT lectures have powerpoint slides, and we need to print out copies to make notes with. <br />I'm grateful to my friend Ryan for giving me a calculator to use for my algebra class. The prof prefers that we use them, which is very unusual to me. I can see his point, though, as the process of doing the algebra is far more important to learn, and we should all know math by now, so why waste time on doing it all by hand. I still do some of it in my head, though!<br />We don't have class tomorrow, for the MLK, Jr. holiday, but that just gives me a chance to catch up for Wednesday's class. There's a lot to learn, and I'm glad that I have a whole semester to do it in. I'm not sure which class will be hardest, so I'm trying to take it a bit at a time. There are many changes in the whole classroom setting, especially the online part. Yeah....last time I was in college for any length of time, there was no such thing! Now, my textbooks come with DVDs and online materials that are required for quizzes and tests. Very strange.<br />I have also had to break down and get a coffeemaker. It's a 4-cup, freecycled, but it's enough to get me through a morning. Finally found a use for the travel mug I got at the Woodwind/Brasswind! I'm not a big coffee drinker, honestly, but I may turn into one at this rate. I got myself some good coffee, too. All I need are some filters, and I'm running some weak vinegar water through it to make sure it's clean.<br />I also managed to come up with a better desktop computer over the weekend, on the extreme cheap, and have been putting it together. I'm missing some of my disks, so it was trial and error getting it going. Had to reformat and do a fresh install on the HD, and all I had available was XP Home. I much prefer Pro, and now that I've got the thing set up and online, I think I'll be upgrading at least that far soon. I'm tempted to try out Windows 7 Beta, and there's always Ubuntu, if I can ever manage to get it downloaded. <br />As for the socializing, one of my co-workers hosted a RockBand party at a local gaming center. I've never played it before, and was happy to find out that there's even a way to play by singing! Don't know how it compares to Guitar Hero, which I've also not played, but I really had a fun time with the crew from work. That was Saturday, and Friday was the ASFS meeting (which I missed 95% of, naturally) so I got to have some weekend fun. Coming up this Friday, a band containing two other co-workers is playing at a local bar, so I'll be going to that, I think.<br />All work and no play makes Harriet a raving stress-bomb, so hopefully I'll get to keep balancing the two.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-86415546809414290372009-01-03T19:58:00.000-08:002009-01-03T19:59:13.381-08:00What a week!Finally feeling up to a bit of blogging tonight. It's been a rough week. My broken tooth started acting up again, and developed an abcess infection. Not good, especially for someone who talks for a living! Luckily, my dental insurance kicked in on New Year's Day, and I was able to go to a dental clinic on Friday morning before work. Yay!<br />For now, the dentist was able to clean out some of the decayed tooth, pack medicine into it, drain some of the infection and put a temporary patch on the tooth. No more broken edge for a while, the swelling is going down, and the pain is subsiding. I have pain pills and antibiotics, and an appointment for Thursday to go back for an exam. Now the long-term work starts, to get my mouth healthy again. I'm just glad that I can eat and sleep. Granted, today started with me feeling like someone had punched me in the face! The only time I'm ever accused of having a small mouth is when I'm getting dental work, and my muscles are a bit sore. On the plus side, it looks like they'll be able to save the bad molar without too much trouble, and eventually straighten my front teeth. <br />Work was really busy this week, almost too hectic. I guess a lot of people got new computers or aircards for Christmas! It's rough when there's no time between calls to gather your thoughts or reset your brain, and most of our tech support calls are fairly long. Lunchtimes and breaks are often delayed till you can finish a call. At least my customers can't hear my stomach growl!<br />I'm looking forward to starting classes on the 12th. I've gotten one of my books in the mail already, and the others should be arriving soon. I'll have to pick the last one up at the bookstore when they open up again, since it's only available there. I think I've got the rest of what I need, though I might have to get a calculator if I can't find mine. I'm sure I'll find out more once I get to class.<br />For New Year's, I did go over to a friend's house after work that night, but left shortly after midnight due to my toothache. Had to work New Year's Day anyway, so didn't want to be out too late, especially that night.<br />I did go out on Monday night, though, to see a local band, My Majestic Mind. Two of the guys in the band are co-workers of mine. Good stuff, very talented group, and it was fun. Gonna hit their next show in a few weeks, too. They have a MySpace if you want to check them out.<br />Other than that, I've been working on a few projects. I'm still baking what I can, have some sewing to do, and am writing my latest bit of fiction. I've also got some non-fiction writing planned that will be shared online. More on that when it's ready to go.<br />Hopes and goals for 2009? Sure, I've got 'em. I'm optimistic, overall, as far as the material things I want to accomplish. The personal stuff, well, what I can control, I will. What I can't control, I will let the universe take care of. That's the harder part, for me, honestly. We'll see how that works out!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-39477825216672700582008-12-21T09:34:00.000-08:002008-12-21T09:37:50.051-08:00Part of why I haven't posted lately...I've been working on this!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNExjrXBqhslbJelGEhx1dhNsIR4qUOZOwx33LzVPE4SMtupHDu1oX07ByyukjHL7xwk7w9FoZim-8zQiYH_ZR2vMWY_GAKA6SgQkyqpCfpY9VODCGRsGwQnocLnocQs08Q1I4dVBcAGY/s1600-h/SmGingerbread+Yurt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNExjrXBqhslbJelGEhx1dhNsIR4qUOZOwx33LzVPE4SMtupHDu1oX07ByyukjHL7xwk7w9FoZim-8zQiYH_ZR2vMWY_GAKA6SgQkyqpCfpY9VODCGRsGwQnocLnocQs08Q1I4dVBcAGY/s320/SmGingerbread+Yurt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282298467978628434" /></a><br /><br />This was the entry in the Gingerbread House competition for the Midwinter event in the Barony of al-Barran, Outlands. It was a group effort by the local bros and watchees: Rhianwen, Ealasaid, Morgan, Tiou, Rurik and myself, with additional help from Brian (Tiou's bf), Trey/Tenkai (Rurik's buddy) and Tanley (friend of mine w/gingerbread experience). It took 4 days of work, with final assembly done on site. Omar did the label placards, "Peaceful Pastoral Nomads".<br />We have the yurt on a cardboard cart, with oxen, brothers, and even a leashed Scot (complete with kilt). The decorations are done in icing, licorice, peppermint sticks, and pretzels, and if I can get a good close-up picture, there are even tiny date bits for "ox plops" that are being collected behind the cart. Other than the cart and the ground board, the rest is edible and even tasty!<br />I was honestly hoping for more competition. There were two really cute entries in the children's division, and a very nice gothic castle with gummy fish in the moat for the other adult entry. We gave the castle a Mongol guard after the judging, with the owner's permission, to guard the fish in the moat.<br />I think we came in second for the table-setting competition, but the winners did a complete traditional Japanese setup, and even brought their own tables! Very nicely done, indeed. The codpiece competition was a bit of a bust, unfortunately, for lack of entries. The spiffy garb was nice to see, and I forget the fellow who won it, but he looked sharp.<br />More pics to come eventually, but I'll probably put them in the flickr and just post a link. <br />Besides, it was worth waiting till this was done to make it my 100th post in this blog!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-30484594875633701422008-11-29T21:05:00.001-08:002008-11-29T21:05:47.879-08:00Stick a fork in me, I'm done.Seriously, is today over yet?<br />Thursday was good, had way too much food for Thanksgiving, and got to see Kung Fu Panda, among other DVDs. Good times.<br />Yesterday, back to work. Not fun. Everybody had to work. This means that there are not enough desks to go around, even if all the computers and phones at those desks worked. Which they don't. People would go to lunch and someone else would just chuck their stuff somewhere and take over the desk. Stupid, inefficient, and stressful. Luckily, I ended up 'floorwalking' for the day, so could use one of the nonworking pods as my base to log in at. <br />Today, not so lucky. Still horribly overcrowded, though I think some people did call in. I ended up back on the phones all day. Managed to get the pod I was at to work, finally. That was about the best part, then it started going downhill. That time of the month caught me without any supplies and ruined my last decent pair of undies. Then, at lunch, I broke my tooth. Not all of it, just a good sized chunk off the molar that's been plaguing me for the last few months. It doesn't hurt, but the sharp edge is a bit annoying. I'll see about getting some dental putty on it when I get a chance. Insurance doesn't kick in till after the first of the year, so hopefully I can hold off till then. Ugh. And all I was eating for lunch was bread and soup! I went to take a bite and somehow hit wrong and crunched my own tooth. I'm just glad that it's relatively minor and isn't painful. Sure didn't need the stress today, though. <br />Tomorrow's Sunday, so a day off. Gotta try to clean house, of course, and ought to do some laundry. I really need to go walkabout tomorrow, because I want to try and get a good spot arranged to do some busking on Thursday for the Nob Hill Shop-N-Stroll. It's up to the store owners, so I will be asking around the businesses. Otherwise, I'll find a vacant storefront to set up in front of. I'm nervous, I haven't done much public playing, and haven't had time to practice as much as I'd like. I'll just be taking the whistles and voice, I think. Guitar's got a possible spot, but fiddle's not nearly ready to debut yet. Weather is also a factor, but it shouldn't be too bad. <br />After all that, I'm tired. I've had some dinner, and a cup of green tea. Okay, a couple of cookies, too. A bit of TV, a bit of Internet, and bedtime soon.<br />It will get better, I know. I am officially registered for my classes at CNM, and the prospect of better employment through this education is keeping me going. I have the part I need to replace on my truck, so can fix that soon. I've found land that I can almost afford, putting me that much closer to my dream home. And I'm better off than I was last year at this time. Little steps still get me forward, as long as I keep them going in the right direction.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-83471262111070999642008-11-11T16:19:00.000-08:002008-11-11T16:20:30.928-08:00Tuesday is blog dayAccomplished a fair bit today. <br />I walked to the CNM campus and took my placement tests, had a talk with an advisor, and explored the campus a bit. I know what classes I need to register for this semester now; EMT-Basic, a general Health class (mainly about HIPAA and such), and a Math class. The math is needed for doing drug calculations, of course, and can be taken as a co-requisite. My test scores were actually pretty good, considering how long it has been since my last math course (1983 or 84, in college). Naturally, my English and Reading tests were very good, and I wasn't worried about them at all. I also found out that I can register on 11/26 instead of waiting till 12/1, so I'm less likely to be shut out of a full class. Books are my next worry, and even though the bookstore doesn't have the books in yet, I can go online and find the exact list I need so I can look for used books or online bargains if need be. Once I've registered, I can get my ID card, bus pass and parking permit. I'm looking forward to that, believe me. Access to the library, computer labs, student discounts...oh, yeah! <br />Having school to look forward to is already helping me. I was in a deep blue funk for most of the past week, and being able to think about school and what it will help me do in the future helped pull me out of it. Or pull my head out of my ass, take your choice...<br />Walking back from CNM, I had a snack and then stopped by a used book store. I had found one book on the dollar cart (on archery), but the owner was on an errand, so I waited till she got back so I could go inside and look around. Found two other books (Victorian Murderesses and a Zen Macrobiotic Cookbook), and since I'd waited, she only charged me two bucks for all three! How nice!<br />Stopped for a bit at Satellite Cafe on Central for a cup of "London Fog". It's Earl Grey tea with steamed milk and a shot of vanilla, yummy. A bit of blog while I'm here, then I'll walk the rest of the way home soon. I think we're plotting at Rurik's again tonight, so I'll drive to that since it'll be dark by then.<br />Plotting...hee hee. There are enough Hordefolk here in al-Barran now that we are going to start working on making our presence felt. To that end, we are planning entries for the A&S competitions at the Midwinter event. Details later, but it will be good and there will be photos....<br />Let's see, I also made bread on Sunday, with a new-to-me recipe that calls for evaporated goat's milk and oats. It was quite easy and good bread, so that recipe will stay in the repertoire. The goat milk made me think of Irina....<br />Last but certainly not least, a big shout out to all Veterans and current members of the Armed Services. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I honor you as I honor my ancestors, both blood kin and heart kin. Those who know me have heard me speak of the fact that there has been at least one service member in each generation of my family, in a line that stretches back to the French and Indian War. Some of them didn't make it home. I am grateful for their sacrifice. Most of them did come back, and for them I am thankful. If you love your freedoms, thank a veteran. 'Nuff said.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-42391341725327928242008-11-04T16:17:00.000-08:002008-11-04T16:18:18.355-08:00And now, for my next trick...No going back now, if I'm telling everyone about it, right?<br /><br />I'm going back to school next semester.<br />I've enrolled at CNM (the community college), and am going to become an EMT and hopefully Paramedic. If I go all the way, it'll be two years of classes. Not bad at all, and I could probably get work in the field once I finish EMT-Basic classes.<br />I'm already brushing up on my math and algebra skills for the placement tests. I'll go in for those next week, no appointment needed. The tuition is free, since I'm in the tax district. All I need to buy is textbooks and some basic equipment (hello, eBay?), and pay any fees. You bet I'm nervous! I haven't done any formal schooling in almost 20 years. This is a totally new field for me, even though I've been First Aid and CPR trained for ages, and have done chirurgeon work in the SCA as well. I have enjoyed doing that, and can use these skills not only for a career, but also for SCA, SilverMoon (the local pagan event healthcare volunteers), and if the world goes to heck in a handbasket.<br />Wish me luck!Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7541354949437554070.post-73322970665786664802008-10-14T14:58:00.000-07:002008-10-14T14:59:10.791-07:00And today's entry....No extra hours this week. Sucky boo. Really could use the overtime, but the time away from work is helpful. The house is a real mess lately.<br />On the plus side, I think I've found the black hole that's eating up my money. Just not sure I can do anything about it in time to fix it before it gets worse. Gotta try. I'm looking at other money-making opportunities, too, and in order to do them, I need my internet. So, I'm going with the cheaper alternative of dsl. It's cheaper than tethering my cell phone, going back to cable or buying an aircard. Dialup is right out. The service should be turned on by Thursday evening, after Mercury has gone direct, thank you very much!<br />The weather's turned cool and rainy, so I fired up the furnaces in the apartment at long last. They are both working fine, which is a good thing. The cats are also pleased. I did do a bit of walking today, but not a full hike. Too much to get done on my 'day off' to take the time to walk everywhere. But I am taking the time to enjoy one last pot of tea at the Flying Star and get on their wi-fi. <br />I am rather pleased that my Paid Time Off request for MileHiCon has been approved. That will give me time to enjoy the trip more. It looks like I will have to fly, rather than drive, as the brake job that the truck needs would eat most of my budget for that pay period, and I need to get out of the hole. The plane ticket is much cheaper, even if I have to go to an agency and pay by check before my paycheck comes in on 10/24. I have crash space (as far as I know) and will be on several panels. It's going to be fun.Harriethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588567085043426044noreply@blogger.com1