I got a double punch at Taco Del Mar for being in costume! Though wearing cat ears and my Bad Kitty shirt hardly counts as a costume in my mind.

People who think not voting is a political statement might not realize that you can still go down to your polling place, pick up your ballot, and turn it in blank. Then you will have actively voted for nobody. Otherwise you're making no more of a statement than someone who can't be bothered to get off the couch and turn of the TV one night a year, regardless of your intentions.

And of course, don't forget Votergasm.

A post-it note taped to a piece of paper... isn't that kind of redundant?

I was reading a flier on a telephone pole for a "Fuck the Vote" rally while waiting for the bus. It's sad that they make some valid points (like how many times to we have to vote for the monorail before they go on and build the thing?) but it's even more sad that people think that not voting is a valid action. That's like going on a hunger strike because you don't like peanut butter and jelly. We're cutting out our base of change by dropping out of the process.

So what if you're having to choose the lesser of two evils? We're not going to get anywhere letting someone else pick the greater.

Oh great, one of those pro-life billboards has gone up right next to work, the kind that show happy, quite post-born babies while talking about conception and try to reduce the hardest decision a woman could ever have to make down to a catch phrase and a guilt trip disguised as a cute fact that blatantly ignores the reality of many people's lives.

I find it interesting that certain religious are so caught up in potential life, from a mass of cells being sacred (though it could quite possibly turn out to be defective and miscarried before the woman knew she was pregnant) to prohibiting birth control and even masturbation because of wasted sperm—yet no one is concerned about the eggs I am wasting by not being pregnant right now, when women have the limited number of eggs (more than we could ever possibly use, but a limited number nonetheless) and men are the lifelong sperm factories.

Selina and I stood on chairs on the porch last night to look at the lunar eclipse. Andrew ran up after work to say the gods are angry, and made me look again. What was I thinking to not have gotten my camera out last night?

I didn't realize that Halloween was coming up this weekend. I just can't seem to get into it this year... always feels like I've just finished coming up with last year's costume and now I have to be creative again. Plus each year I end up spending a lot of money on a single, important piece of my costume (wings, top hat, petticoat) and I don't want to let myself do that this year. If Andrew and I do something other than the Vogue, I can reuse one of my previous costumes (I'm still proud of my Mad Hatter) or put something together out of my closet (leaning towards bellydancer because it's super comfortable, if a bit noisy.)

I checked the time but set the wrong alarm last night. I thought it was strange that I could hear Selina moving around the kitchen at 6am. She gets up freakishly early in my opinion already, by not sleeping in until ten minutes before she leaves for work.

It's such a tease to think you have a good 30 – 40 minutes to doze in bed, to find out you barely have time to brush your teeth. Made it to work on time though.

I knew eventually I'd figure out exactly how far I could push the bus timing.

Lou has got to be the most whiny, childish 70(+) year-old...

Another trait of Lou, anyone a medical issue is mentioned in the office (cataract surgery, an MRI, both recent) he has to tell a competing story about his experience, and horrible it was for him, both taking the focus off the person actually going through the procedure, and likely not making them feel better about it themselves! It's making me want to talk about my cramps in front of him and see if he starts telling me how bad his periods are.

It's good to see Pete back online. He's keeping me well entertained while at work:

stari: i think this is my higher calorie version of smoking. i can make it to noon without eating if i drink enough tea (with milk and sugar of course)
Black Ninja: *smile* I have exactly the same problem with heroin.
stari: freak
Black Ninja: Oh yeah, like *I'm* the one addicted to TEA.. ;)

This should make people like Jeremy and Jason happy, or at least any potential cat-loving girlfriends. A biotech company is trying to create allergy-free cats.

New boots are deceiving. The feel all fine the first day and lure you into wearing them the second, where your feet will hurt, because are still after all new boots.

Andrew, Izzy, Walker, and Karla are all sick. I know I'm in trouble now.

I cut my toenail too close and now my toe is bleeding!

It's a miracle—I actually found new boots on a casual shopping trip, that look decent, fit me, and don't have heels. I still don't know that they'll last a week of my walking, but it's a start. The only problem is the right side is obviously looser than the left. I'd worry that I accidently got two different sizes, since I bought them at Ross where everything is scattered all over the floor, but the left is definitely a 10 and I don't think Ross even sells larger than that. I'm wondering if there's something I can do about it, other than wearing mismatched socks.

Psycho-girl is back at work today. I had hoped for an entire end-of-week vacation, but at least this leaves me time to work on my script.

She asked (in that tone of voice you use with a child you're disciplining) that I hand her over her orders, because she's tired of getting up. Fine with me. Later she told me she would also appreciate it if I would print my credit holds as they came off hold and not save them up. I don't know why she's so concerned with my credit holds, especially as if I'm saving them it's because I'm waiting for a clear opening to print without interrupting work in progress.

Second worst kind of slow person: co-workers who walk slowly down the middle of the hallway with no passing room, especially as I'm hurrying to make it to the time clock before the 8:01 switch.

Cruxshadows last night, my fourth time. Went to bed at nearly two. I got the new CD signed by the band, and a hug from Rogue. </fangirl>

Andrew had me cracking up on the floor with a Final Fantasy reference, this girl who had Rogue on auto-follow, and imagining her walking straight into a wall after he takes his flashlights out (equipment change).

I finally thought of an answer for all the towns in the south worrying about canceling/rescheduling Halloween because it falls on the "Lord's day" this year. It's simple, reschedule Sunday! There's 52 Sundays in a year and only one day of free candy. People need to get their priorities straight.

Psycho-girl called in sick again today. Tina was helping out a bit first thing. Normally I want to accept any help, but I've proved myself enough times and by the end of the afternoon yesterday my hand was cramping up. One and a half typists is all we need.

I wonder how much psychic energy would have to be sent her way to convince her to quit altogether. I'm guessing she's no more sick than I was when I stayed home last week (not that there isn't plenty non-visible sickness to have. I've had my share of sudden food poisoning and cramps.) I'm hoping she's finding a new job, or at least comes back medicated.

The old man at the bus stop serves some purpose after all. He'll tell you what bus you just missed.

It's time to start looking for new boots again. I have a really sore calf, like I've been exercising yesterday, but only on the right. I think it's because my cheap Payless boots, bought at the end of the season when they were my only option, are starting to fall apart and the heel is slipping to one side. I must be walking differently to compensate, and then that equals pain.

I just bought Hello Kitty toothpaste. Yes I did.

I just got asked if I'm subbing for Karla today.

"Um..."

..

"We do the same job."
"I didn't know that."

Wheee. Karla's out sick and the computers are down for twenty minutes. Since when does it actually get busy around here?

Random spam subject of the day: Independent on Sunday Christmas build-up for Happy-Clicker

8:12 and no Karla, but no word from HR either.

The worst kind of slow people: Ones who stand on a narrow escalator (no passing room) going down, until the very last step.

I spent two days working on Javascript browser DOM modification for my database script and then decided not to go with it at all. But I went to art school so I'm used to this. Sometime you have to go through all the wrong answers to make sure the right one is the right one.

I thought Karla would wait a full week from the meeting before blowing up again. I was wrong... Two temper tantrums, and she's accusing me loudly on the phone of leaving all the C.O.D. orders for her. (They have to be approved by the credit department so neither of us wants them.) "Well I've got another C.O.D. Imagine that. I wonder how that happened?" If only I was so talented as to do the things she accuses me of...

I can't take credit for this, but I'll pass it on. November 2nd has been designated National Celibacy Day. No Bush. No Dick.

Actually I signed up for the permanent absentee ballot this year, so my vote against Bush will be in the mail before November. It works out well this way. I've already filled in the "easy" answers, and the others I can take time to research.

I had hopes that Karla might be out today, but she showed up five minutes before 8:00 (absolutely late for her) in a bad mood, either because of traffic or because I had gotten there first.

A sign of the times? The People's Court (with a woman judge—what happened to Judge Wapner?) was trying an Ebay dispute.

Our printer just died! Much fun. I think Karla takes it personally.

It's a miracle: my company finally got an actual recycling program. They handed out boxes for paper to everyone today. Of course Karla doesn't want one, claims we'll combine but really she keeps throwing her paper in the trash as always. I can't understand that attitude of some people who want to go out of their way to be unhelpful. My dad was the same way about recycling, would probably walk farther to the trash can than the recycling bin so he didn't have to deal with it.

It's almost frightening sometimes when you realize how young someone you talk to online is. I was talking about Pokemon with one of my FFXI friends for some reason. Jake got me hooked on that when I was in art school, and I used it as a break from working on my portfolio before graduation. My friend mentioned sixth grade!

And also remember being in the opposite role, since I got online when I was sixteen and know I talked to people that would make my parents cringe if they knew. (Learned some things I didn't fully understand until now, like the man who was looking for a live-in slave—and no, he wasn't targeting me.)

Makes me wonder how I'm going to react to my future kids. I don't really believe in parental control software, but there's a big difference between starting online at sixteen or at six. I've liked the idea that once you're old enough to know how to lie about your age, you're old enough to get in.

Random thought of the day: 'Eeek! Organic butt crack!'

I actually got a call back, from a company in Woodinville with an address that can't be found on Metro's trip planner. I don't know why I bother to apply for those jobs in the first place, but I suppose it's a confidence boost. If I can get an interview in Woodinville then I can get an interview in Seattle.

I survived my meeting this morning, though Tina's assurance that "it's nothing bad..." just reminded me of the doctor telling me the worst was over after a platelet transfusion as a kid—right before getting teeth pulled (one of the most painful experiences of my life!)

Ideally both Karla and I wish to be separated, though the company doesn't consider it feasible. I expect things to remain calm for a week, start returning to normal, and in the meantime I must keep my job search momentum going.

Bus pet peeve: People who wait until they get to the front of the bus and then start digging through their pockets, dropping in coins one at a time while looking at the bus driver hoping to reach the magic number.

Got Boingy back up, with Walker's help. (Walker's doing more than Walker's helping.)

Doesn't Boingy the Webserver sound like it should be a children's book character?

Tom picked up the latest Zim DVD (I thought it wasn't out until Thursday) and offered me a copy. Just nobody tell him that I'm going to end up buying my own anyway. I'm trying to do my best to have my own legitimate shiny things.

I applied for a good handful of jobs at work Monday, and left an updated note along with the old one for my boss to see in the morning. I gave myself permission Monday night to call in sick if I woke up with bad cramps. I couldn't find my list of yearly 'bad time' to see how badly that would hurt me, so I took it as a sign that I'm not supposed to worry about it. (It showed up in my backpack last night where I had searched twice.)

I didn't wake up feeling bad enough on its own, but between that, dealing with Karla, and dealing with whatever aftermath of those notes first thing in the morning, plus getting a second opinion from Selina, I stayed home. Sometimes you don't realize how badly you need a day off until it happens.

Tomorrow I have to be in early for a meeting with Tina (my boss), Karla and I.

This would be funnier if it wasn't true. Karla's computer is still doing the beeping which means she never did think to just turn it off! These are just terminals with an on/off switch in the back, which get left on until there's a problem (like it's locked up or started smoking.)

Volcano or no, waking up to the sound of pouring rain really makes it feel like Seattle. I make a mental note while still in bed to wear my stompy boots.

Christmas shopping season was officially moved up to October 1st. I predict next year it will start in February.

Flu shots were canceled except for certain qualified groups of people (old, pregnant) due to shortages. I wasn't planning to get one but that throws off my plan of everyone else not getting me sick. But how do these shortages happen in the first place? "Flu season" comes at the same time every year and there's a history of demand. It's not like stores selling out of milk because a freak blizzard is going to hit.

I lost connection briefly because someone changed the name of the wireless network. (I wonder if that's why Roland had to ask me for the WEP password the other day... since when does the typist become the holder of the passwords!?) Just what I need with Karla throwing another tamtrum would be to be cut off altogether.

Oh no, not another Final Fantasy screenshot! I think my character was happy last night. Aren't we a cute couple?

Karla's computer is beeping with every keystroke. I had that happen to me once, fixed it by turning it off for a second. I'm going to see how long it takes her to figure something like that out. (Been over an hour already.)

I'm surprised how much political talk I'm hearing at work today, and it's good to hear much of it includes phrases like, "Bush is dumb."

Andrew told me once about how many women were into games like Everquest because they liked the chatting. I thought that was silly—if I was going to play a game I'd want to play the game, not a glorified chat room. Now, I've lost how many times I've logged on to Final Fantasy just to see if one of my friends is online, or stayed on after I was done playing just to keep talking to someone.

I should just offer myself out as a house pet for people without pets. I'll wear extra velvet.

Selina: Come here so I can pet you.

Vibrator shuts down airport. I especially like the line, "She said in retrospect the humming sounded exactly like a vibrator � but it was better to be safe then sorry." She obviously knows what a vibrator sounds like, not that there's anything wrong with that of course, but most people won't admit it so publicly.

I put together a nifty little page to show off my FFXI screenshots, though I cheated and modified a Dreamweaver template. If I built it from scratch I'd spend too long being a perfectionist to make it worthwhile.

I've seen a lot of American flag clothing and things in the last two days. Is there another new patriotic holiday that I've missed?

I hear Mt. St. Helens is blowing! Now I get to count volcano twice in my list of natural disasters I've experienced. This just blows the rest of the country's pitiful little hurricanes and earthquakes out of the water.

The danger of talking about Final Fantasy to coworkers—someone walked in right as I said, "That's why I usually run outside naked..." I think Ted was still excited until he remembered I was still talking about a game too.

I completely blanked on the fact that today is a new month, and forgot to buy my bus pass. Today is going to cost me $3 in travel expenses before I can even get to the store to pick one up.