I've been watching out my classroom window as the dark storm clouds havesnuck across the sky, steadily getting darker as they came south. I'mfeeling a bit poetic at the moment, and I really wonder how with all thestress in my life, I have abnormally low blood pressure. I've also got low cholesterol... with my good cholesterol being strangly too low. I could try and follow Mel's advice, but I already eat a boatload of Cheerios. Actually my cereal of choice these days has been Kix. Kid tested, mother approved.

Yesterday was one of the most frustrating evenings of my life on record. I probably talked to ten different customer service people who assured me they could help me with my problem. They verified my account status each time, then decided to transfer me to someone who could better assist me. NOOOOO!!!! I don't want to be transferred!!! I want you to answer my #$%$%&# question!

I must say, that I much prefer Dish Network's Phone Customer service toEarthlink's. The connection was bad, and the people (obviously inIndia) did not speak clearly enough, or slowly enough to compensate forthe fact that I could only hear every other word due to the static and the noise in the call center room. Now I'm an ELD teacher. I'm pretty good at deciphering accents, but it sounded mostly like jibberish to me. Dishnetwork, on the other hand, must have been located somewhere in the US. Even though they didn't give me the information I wanted to hear, I could at least understand the reasoning behind it.

I just want my free DVR reciever upgrade for my new satellite TV. If I understood Mr. Gobbledygook, it's in the mail. Why they would have Dish Network install a non DVR setup and send me ANOTHER ONE in the mail just doesn't make any sense to me. But if that puppy doesn't get here by Monday, you bet your buttons that I'm going to be on the phone again.

DSL still hasn't arrived, but I also ordered a new cell phone. I shouldn't jinx it, but it's a $450 phone for free, considering Sprint was going to charge me $99 for it, but then gave me a $100 service credit for renewing my contract.

La!

I just hope that I can find the UPS guy first, since they haven't repainted the numbers on our apartments yet.

Sigh.
And with the rain that looks like it's rolling in, they probably won't be back any time soon.WHO DECIDES TO PAINT A BUILDING IN CA IN January???! Especially in such ugly colors.

blood, painters, and heroes

First of all, I think it should be a crime for tree trimmers to cut down trees right outside a teacher's window at 7:00 am on a school holiday. Argh!

At least I was up early enough to be number 34 in line for blood drawing this morning. Oh, goody. Note to self, when going to give blood, remember they will also require you to pee in a cup, so don't go to the bathroom right before you leave the house.


Yes, for all you family members out there, OMOUSE WENT TO THE DOCTOR!!! AND SHE WASN'T EVEN SICK!!!

Moving on. They've been in the middle of painting the building for three weeks now. Anyone who hires painters in January in Southern California needs his head examined. It's the rainiest month of the year.

They keep telling us they're going to paint the doors. One day last week, we even locked the cats in the bathroom, but no. We got a note later last week that said they'd be painting the doors Friday, Saturday or Monday.

Mr. Painter Guy told me no doors today. "Maybe Wednesday."

I'm thinking they may be painting the floors some time today, or perhaps the eves, by the racket that's going on outside my window. Of course, I haven't been able to see out my window for three weeks because it's been covered in plasting. Which means there's also been no circulation in the apartment.

One of these days they are actually going to have to paint me in... or out. I suppose they'll pick the least convenient time for me... like today, when I need to do my laundry.

I hope it rains on their parade. Which is like shooting myself in the foot.

But I'm at the point where I don't care.

On the last note...

Went to Wally World on Saturday, and bought you know what, Liarbyrd. I need to know what server you're on. I can run it, barely, on my 56k. I suppose that it really is time to break down and get DSL... now that I don't have to horde all my money for grad school.

Didn't get into PhD program at USC. Sigh. Well, I knew 7% chance was slim, but there you are.

Painter guy just scared the @%#$%%& out of me. He's right outside my window. Maybe I should scare him... but then he might fall off the ladder.

That would be bad, wouldn't it?