Joye

Bummerific

2009-06-26T22:33:17Z

First, I sideswipe my car on the fence trying to get into the driveway to unload all my stuff I brought home from school. It's down to the metal.

Then Sony has no idea what happened to the TV I ordered. And even though it's been shipped, can't give a tracking number, tell me what service they use, or even what state they ship electronics from. I tried to ask if there was any number for shipping. "Surely, there must be some warehouse or something that items get shipped from. How do you ship something when someone orders it?" I almost lost it when the guy said, "Oh, there's a number here next to your Order Number. Maybe it's a tracking number or something. Why don't you type that number into Google and see what it comes up with?" That was his only advice. First of all, it was obviously not a tracking number (and for what service, anyway?). Second of all, you are the customer support person and you don't know what the numbers on the order forms mean? Third of all, that is worst customer care I have ever received. Telling your customers to use Google to answer their questions that they called YOU about. Jesus Christ. So I guess I'll never get my TV. It probably already came and somebody probably stole it off the front porch. But there's no way I could ever prove this, with no tracking number.

Needless to say, I am very upset about all this.

Day 1 Exercise Completed

2009-06-24T01:18:51Z

Thanks to all who answered my last post. We now have all the items we need. I got some very creative responses. I think "twig/toothbrush" might have been my favorite. I ended up not choosing that one, but I am going to use my own idea of "rock/hammer." I think I have or can find just about everything on the list I put together. No need to borrow anyone's precious Kindle! But thank you all for offering.

I am co-teaching a 2-week class at Northeastern this summer. It is a class on engineering concepts for science teachers (offered through the District, not through Northeastern). We have about 30 people registered in the class. I taught this same class last year. I am looking forward to doing it again. This time it will hopefully be a little easier since I am familiar with all the activities this time around.

Calling all you creative minds

2009-06-22T02:11:42Z

An icebreaker activity we are doing for a class I am teaching (of adults) is to lay out a bunch of items and have people take one. Each of the items, or "technologies," will be part of a matching pair. One will be an older version of the technology, one will be a newer version. The item itself doesn't necessarily have to have been crafted prior to the other one, but it must be clear that one is a newer technology of the same thing.

Examples of items:
Analog watch/digital watch
Hand eggbeater/electric blender beater
Cotton sock/Synthetic sock
Hand fan/electric fan
Old phone/new cell phone

These must be items you or I already have lying around the house, as we have zero budget for any more items. They also must all fit in a bag I am carrying in, so please don't say "old TV, flat screen TV." I'm having trouble coming up with unique and creative items. I need 15 pairs of them! Put suggestions here please. Be as creative as you can think of! If you have any of the items you suggest that I could borrow, I'll happily return them to you. I only need them for one day (July 6). Thanks!

Rodents!

2009-06-19T23:01:31Z

I just went down into the basement to get a wig and I stopped suddenly when I saw a mouse blocking the entrance to the storage area. I stomped my feet loudly and yelled at it, but it didn't move. It only looked at me. Then I picked up a charcoal briquet and threw it at it (making sure to miss), but the mouse didn't move. I fled the basement in fear desperately looking for someone to help me. When I realized that nobody was there to help me, I decided face my fears and go back down into the basement. I went up to it within a few inches and it still didn't move. I took a large step over it and ended up on the other side of it. I got the wig I needed, leaped over the mouse again and ran out of the basement. I then found the landlord (who wasn't there before) and told him he'd be needing to dispose of mouse carcass in the near future. He said, "Oh yeah, we put some poison down there." Now I feel kind of sorry for the mouse. But what can you do? I'm still scared of rodents. They might run up my leg or something.

12 more days...

2009-06-09T21:30:07Z

Not that I'm counting.

Nazis on the Moon?

2009-06-01T22:46:42Z

A trailer for what looks to be an awesome movie. And surprisingly, it doesn't look to be a comedy.

Iron Sky Trailer

American Idol

2009-04-08T00:22:52Z

Wow, American Idol is turning into a total sausage fest (only 2 girls remaining). But I can't complain, because all the remaining guys are really hot. Probably the best looking (and most talented) guys I've seen in any Top 10, and I've watched religiously since Season 3.

ETA: Oh, and Fringe fans, did you notice The Watcher sitting in the audience? Cool!

Poll Time

2009-04-07T21:23:18Z

View Poll: All's fair...

Hedgehog story

2009-03-27T00:13:51Z

Hey kalliejenn2 , did you see this story about a hedgehog with no spines? Poor little thing! Awwwwww!

SLAMBoston March 24

2009-03-20T21:37:56Z

8 plays...
4 rehearsals...
35 minutes of tech...
1 night only

It's Company One's tri-annual SLAMBoston coming up this Tuesday at the BCA, and I'm in it!

After last years sold out SLAMs, Company One is bringing the Theatre Slam back to Boston! Combining the wild excitement of poetry slams with live theater, SLAMBoston is a unique ten-minute play festival developed and made popular by Another Country Productions. Eight plays compete for a cash prize in a night of raucous audience participation and celebration of diversity in American theatre.

The play I'm in (In Bloom) is going LAST, which we're really excited about (although it means a late, late tech on Monday night), but we get to close the show. The play is written by a local playwright and and it's possibly the funniest part I've ever played (after playing rape victims, homophobes, and suicidal people, I suppose playing an alcoholic is pretty damn funny). :-)

The SLAM usually sells out, because it's one night only, so if you would like to go, please buy tickets in advance here. Please note that the show is at 7:30, not 8. We need your vote to win the cash prize (which will probably barely cover the cost of props), but still, it would be pretty cool to win. :-)

The Ask Me Anything Meme

2009-03-16T02:06:06Z

I realized that I've never actually done this one, though it's been going around for a couple years now at least. Oh well, go ahead, ask me anything. Make it as personal or as mundane as you want. There's no such thing as a stupid question! I'll screen all comments and just post the ones where it's not obvious who's asking the question.

What Do Your Initials Say About You?

2009-03-08T14:48:59Z

You Are Shrewd and Talented

When You Are Comfortable:

You are ambitious, and hard-working. Adversity allows you to shine. You resourceful and able to make due.
People see you as honest to the point of bluntness. But they always know that you'll be fair. You have the good intentions.

When You Are At Your Best:

You are a strong person. You're driven and assertive. Success is yours, as much as you want it.
People find you to be clever and spirited. You're a bit saucy too... delightfully so!

When You Are in a Social Setting:

You are a hyper, restless person. You need to keep busy, and you always are willing to take charge in life.
People see you as energetic and motivating. You inspire people to be the best they can be.

What Do Your Initials Say About You?

That's funny. I always thought my initials said "Pi."

Well no shit

2009-02-05T03:01:50Z

I'm only sorry that they didn't have "tribble" as an option under favorite pet.

Happy 2009

2009-01-01T20:16:48Z

Sometimes I can't believe how awesome my life is. I'm very, very lucky.

Now that's just sad

2008-12-25T03:30:26Z

I just watched the 6 Million Dollar Man do a commercial advertising the Lee Majors Bionic Rechargeable Hearing Aid.

Repo: The Genetic Opera

2008-11-15T16:06:28Z

(stolen from lordameth , who actually saw this in NYC). I want to see this so bad! Repo: The Genetic Opera! Anthony Steward Head! Sarah Brightman! Paris Hilton! (well, maybe not that last one). But still, OMG!

Red Sox Pix

2008-09-28T18:45:21Z

For rolypolypony and anyone else interested, here are pics of Tim Wakefield warming up in the bullpen and the B.C. marching band preparing to play the National Anthem.

SpookyWorld 2008

2008-08-22T14:01:16Z

Just found out from punchtheclown that SpookyWorld this year will be at Canobie Lake.

SpookyWorld

Sweet.

Tornado Alert!

2008-08-07T20:00:12Z

Ahhh! Tornado's acoming! Tornado's acoming! Tor- AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Stupid Mac

2008-08-07T16:20:35Z

Well this is odd. I may have to take back the praise I gave to the Macbook yesterday. What do you do when you put a CD in and the machine doesn't recognize that there's actually a CD in there so you can't eject it? There's no manual eject button like there is on most PCs. Is there a way to do this?

ETA: Never mind, got it! It was in the Disk Utilities folder. But for future reference, it does kind of worry me that there's no emergency eject button that I can push with a paper clip if the disc did get stuck in there.

Dark Knight (no spoilers here)

2008-07-19T14:10:51Z

except that it was

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG
AAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEESSSSSSSOOOOOOMMMMMMMEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have a chance, go see it in IMAX. SO worth the extra buck and a half.

And poor Heath Ledger. I really feel pained that I will never have the opportunity to see The Joker in another movie. He was amazing. A creepier Joker there has never been and there will never be. I'm crushing real hard on a dead guy right now.

Question

2008-07-07T01:08:07Z

Where would I find some lightweight, all-purpose dance shoes? I'm not even sure I know what dance shoes are.

World's Oldest Rabbit

2008-06-13T22:57:09Z

My friend Joey was in the Globe online yesterday because he apparently has the world's oldest rabbit. Pretty cool. I emailed him today to congratulate him on getting into the Guinness Book of World Records. ;-)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/06/by_kate_augusto.html

No internet!

2008-05-17T14:46:53Z

Hey all, I just wanted to let you know that I am now internetless. I have access to gmail at work, but cannot access facebook, lj, anything else that work deems "evil."

At home, I don't have internet at all. Whoever had that free connection before, apparently it is not working anymore. So, the only way to contact me on nights and weekends is by phone. And if you posted anything in the last week, I apologize because I haven't read it. Also, I am at Marcelo's right now, but am about to leave, so I won't be on internet for today either.

Fake Foliage

2008-05-12T22:33:28Z

In addition to the fake ivy posted about before, I found a bag full of assorted fake foliage, including orange colored leaves for fall and poinsettias and pine branches for Xmas. Anyone want these as decorations? Could the theatre(s) on here use them as set dressings?