If you went to the supermarket and asked the person stocking the bread aisle where the pumpernickel bread is, would you expect him to inform you right away that he didn't work for the store? Of course he wasn't sure where the pumpernickel bread was, but did he say that? No. He said, "you're the second person to ask me that. I don't see it here... it's usually by the bakery." I said I was just there and it was closed, and the only pumpernickel bread there wasn't sliced, and I wanted sliced. He said, "I'm not sure where it is, then." Then I asked about a specific brand that I'd seen in the store previoiusly, usually kept right where he was stocking the shelf. He said, "oh, I don't work for the supermarket."

Yet another reason why I sometimes ask myself why I continue to patronize this particular supermarket (my local Giant), which has really gone downhill. Main reasons tonight: convenience, cereal bars and veggie burgers I like that they don't have at Whole Foods, and frozen chocolate yogurt that doesn't cost a king's ransom. Not so convenient because I had trouble finding half the stuff I wanted in the store. Whole Foods and Wegman's have superior customer service and better quality food, and they still bag for you. On the other hand, Whole Foods is close but doesn't carry certain products, and Wegman's is a 25-minute drive.

Was having a conversation tonight with my husband, a criminology professor, about celebrities who died tragically young due to possible complications from drug abuse: John Belushi, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, River Phoenix, James Dean, Heath Ledger, and now, possibly, Michael Jackson. Substance abuse among at-risk youth in cities and suburbs is not new and is a pervasive social/criminal/medical problem; there are illegal drugs, homegrown drugs like meth, and prescription drugs available, with obvious negative consequences to individuals and society at large. Some teenagers have died doing stunts like sniffing the aerosol in forced air cans (like you use to clean your computer) to get high. At the other end of the spectrum are celebrities who abuse drugs because they can. Money and fame opens doors (and legs). Money allows easy access to prescription drugs. If one doctor won't prescribe them, for the right price another will. Mind candy. Handlers who say "no" are easily replaced by toadies who say "yes." Elvis consulted his own personal PDR before "mixing and matching," but in the end it didn't do him much good.

I said to my husband that celebrity abuse of prescription drugs probably deserves more formal study. My husband said that, starting next semester, for the first time he's going to talk more about prescription drug abuse in his classes, rather than just abuse of illegal substances.

The 24/7 media coverage of Michael Jackson's death and the aftermath reflects our society's voyeuristic curiosity about a talented and troubled man. The ever-changing twists and turns in the legal maze of custody battles and estate finances amount to reality TV that will go on for a long time. His larger-than-life funeral will no doubt be a cross between a memorial service and a concert/tribute. I wonder if the city of Los Anglees will come to a halt this afternoon. The death of the "King of Pop," the resulting controversey, and the world-wide outpouring of emotion from his fans reminds me of the death of the "King of Rock and Roll." They died young and troubled but their musical legacies live on.

Had a small adventure in our building tonight. There was a brief but heavy thunderstorm and the lights went out for about an hour. Luckily we have a flashlight, and plenty of candles. The power was out in our immediate neighborhood, and quite a bit east, all the way to York Road.

When the power goes out, of course the elevators don't work, and people have to be manually let in through the side doors of our building, which are normally alarmed. Our building is a secure building with a front and back entrance to the lobby, accessible via an electronic swipe. There are no stairs to the lobby, a serious design flaw in my opinion. The stairwells are in the north and south ends of the building. 

I live on the first floor. Emergency lights came on in the hallways on all six floors. I called the after-hours maintenance number on my cell phone (portable phone needed electricity) to let them know about the outage. My neighbor and I walked to the side door and sure enough, there was someone waving at us, wanting to be let in. A while later we let in another woman who had just returned from a trip, and needed help carrying her luggage up two flights of stairs. When the power came back on, of course I banged my head on the handle of the side door that was propped open while trying to unprop and close it. Then I checked the elevator to make sure no one was stuck.

My neighbor commented that an event such as a power outage often gets people to work together. It is nice to have considerate friends and neighbors who help one another. They almost make up for the one or two assholes who live in our building and are clueless about being part of a community.

On a side note, whenever something unusual goes on in our parking lot (such as snow, heavy rain, or activity other than the usual people/car/pet/bird traffic), our cats are intrigued and run to the window. Last week there was a lift in use so windows could be replaced on the 6th floor. It was right outside our living room window in the parking lot. Every time it moved, it BEEP-BEEPed incessantly (very annoying). Selene sat in the window and growled at it--the noise and motion made her angry.

My mother and I are staying in Grand Rapids, MI with my aunt and uncle (her sister and her husband) for a family reunion that took place yesterday at a local park. The reunion happens every two years. It was asked during a brief family meeting if people wanted to hold it annually since no one is getting any younger. I voted yes, but the majority preferred to keep it every two years. One person said that way it "wouldn't get to be old hat." Another person next to me grumbled that if they had it every year it would be "too expensive to travel." I felt like telling him hey, buddy, don't complain to me about travel expense--you probably drove in from a few hours away in Michigan. My mother and I FLEW in from BWI and we're here, so shut up. :)  I should say that overall it was a fun time, with good food, and that I got to talk to some cousins and aunts that I don't see very often. There was one cousin I hadn't seen since we were kids. She was easy to recognize, however.

One of my cousins asked me if I still lived in Baltimore (and why Baltimore). I said I was born there, my mother was there, my family and friends are there, etc., and that while it certainly wouldn't be my first choice of a place to live if I could pick from anywhere in the world, it was home. He said he wouldn't like living in a big city (lives in a small town in Michigan). I added that there were definitely some good things about Baltimore (although, after watching/reading the local news about homicide and crime rates, it feels sometimes like you have to hunt a little harder for the good things). Another cousin who is a lawyer and lives/practices in the U.P (upper peninsula) of Michigan commented that she was surprised that recently she had to serve as a juror in circuit court (lawyers don't usually want other lawyers sitting on juries). I commented that I got a survey for a grand jury a few months ago in Baltimore City, but they didn't choose me. My cousin said, "I don't think we've ever had a grand jury trial in my county." I said that's right, it isn't like Baltimore City.

It's a pain when people ask you about your job and it ain't nuthin' to write home about.

Took lots of photos of the family reunion plus in-flight photos of the skyy, which will hopefully be up on flickr soon. Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, even though my aunt and uncle don't have a computer, I have a netbook and a usb modem. Needed a little entertainment at night--my mom and aunt and uncle are in the mid-eighties crowd, in bed by 10 p.m. Right now they are at church. Afterward they are picking me up and we are going out to breakfast (I think my mother and I are treating). Staying with them has been fairly comfortable--they have a large condo with two bedrooms and a bath in the basement that they use mainly for guests. My cousins have nicely driven Mom and I to the family reunion, from the airport, etc. If we had stayed in a hotel, I would have rented a car. Glad I brought some coffee singles--aunt and uncle and mom all drink decaf (ugh). And I actually have to make my bed. :}

Missed attending the Turning-Circle led summer solstice service at UUCC this morning. I'll probably be at a Bob Evans somewhere in Grand Rapids. May go to Meijer Gardens later (weather permitting).

My husband tells me that my cat came into the bedroom last night, saw I wasn't there, and turned around and left, and that she seems sad and keeps looking at the front door.

Hooray, learned how to use my cell phone as an alarm clock. :)

Out of curiosity I called my credit card company (Chase) to see if I qualified for a lower APR (currently my purchase APR is 13.24% and cash APR is 19.24%). The card is also a "rewards" card, which typically carries a slightly higher APR. According to Consumer Reports, the median (purchase) APR on commonly-used credit cards is currently 14%. The representative I spoke with said they couldn't offer me anything lower, but she would give me 3000 points towards my "rewards." She also said that they are typically offering lower APRs only on "introductory" offers. I'm not really interested in switching cards, because have not had a lot of problems with Chase. The other thing the customer service rep did was explain that if I used my card during July, I would automatically get 3 reward points per transaction. (I just purchased airline tickets this past month, but of course they weren't offering the promotion then).

I've had this card since the 1980s (mainly because they were the first credit card I qualified for). In all that time I've missed one payment, and my credit rating is good to excellent. Typically we use it for things like travel, larger ticket purchases, and occasional dining/shopping, pay most of it off, and carry a small balance (nowhere near the credit limit).

While some of David Letterman's jokes about Sarah Palin's family were no doubt in poor taste and open to misinterpretation (i.e., which daughter he was talking about), he was not the first comedian (or politician) to make such comments. I never thought I would actually feel a little sorry for David Letterman-poor taste or not, we all have an off day and generally he's a pretty funny and entertaining guy. He's apologized twice, and he doesn't deserve to be fired. And I have to admit, I find the sight and sound of Sarah Palin to be a true irritant. I feel sorry for her kids (and Alaskan wildlife) in general.

And for the people who complain that Stephen Colbert was a comedic apologist for our presence in Iraq, LIGHTEN UP! He's an entertainer/comedian, not a politician. When Obama ordered General Odierno to "shave that man's head," it was absolutely hilarious. The basic training sequence was also funny-I don't know how the drill sergeant managed to keep a straight face. I would love to see the outtakes. Colbert has stepped into Bob Hope's shoes-entertaining the troops through the USO. It's not the troops' fault that they are in Iraq-blame BushCheneyCo. for that one. At least Obama appears to be working on getting them home. I honestly don't know if it would be prudent to instantaneously cut off all funding, as some progressives in Congress would like to do, and let the chips fall where they may. I have a feeling that, unfortunately, we have to gradually dig ourselves out of this hole.

Watched a PBS documentary last night about "don't ask, don't tell" (Independent Lens). Seems that Obama could issue an executive order rescinding any prohibition against gays serving openly, much like Truman (I think?) did rescinding the policy of blacks serving separately in the military. The documentary effectively made the point that keeping gays who wish to serve out of the military is a civil rights issue-it is discrimination, plain and simple. The documentary also made the point that, in the last few years, the military has lowered its standards for admission to address a shortage of recruits. (Maybe it wouldn't be such a problem if we weren't at "war" in Iraq and Afghanistan.)

My biggest complaint so far about Obama is that some things are not moving as fast as I would like, but then he has a full plate (health care reform, the economy, the Middle East) and real change takes time. Dick Cheney should shut up and go back to his underground bunker. In an ideal world, the media would not publicize his comments so much (i.e., you had your chance, you blew it, the American people voted for a change). He talks about how the U.S. was kept safe for eight years-hello, who was in charge when 9/11 happened?

I do think that eventually we will have a public option/single payer health care and that equal rights for gays will also happen (marriage equality, serving in the military, etc.) We've started down those paths and I don't think the American people as a majority want to turn back. Congress needs to get its collective head out of its behind, grow a spine, and listen to its constituency (remember us, the people who pay your salary).

As for Iran, it's too bad people didn't take to the streets like that in this country and demand a new election back in 2000.

Both my husband and I threw out our backs the weekend before last lifting too much heavy luggage at once on our way home from Gettysburg, instead of making two trips to the car. Felt kinda miserable for a couple of days, now (a week later) just about back to normal. It was hard to bend down/get up from a sitting position for a day or two. I really have to be careful about that.

When I spell-checked this post, the spellchecker suggested "obscenely" for "BushCheneyCo." How ironically appropriate.

Overheard at the eye doctor's office a few weeks ago (receptionist on the phone with a patient): "Do you have a birth date?" (My husband started cracking up and brought it to my attention).

MULTIPLE CHOICE:

A) No, I was hatched. What's your excuse?

B) I'm from the future. If I tell you I'll have to kill you.

C) I'm not sure. I was kidnapped by aliens who deposited me on your planet and left me to fend for myself.

D) Of course. Everyone has a birth date.

E) My name is [insert name of dirty politician]. I'm not human.

F) You oughta know, I'm your long-lost [insert relative term here].

G) No, in the town I come from, we don't believe in sex. I was cloned.

H) I didn't know I had a choice. What dates are available? Can I be younger?

I) If I say Christmas will you give me a present? I accept them year-round.

J) (indignantly) I'm [a] God. I have no beginning and no ending.

K) If I tell you mine, will you tell me yours?

L) How dare you. I am James T. Kirk. I am immortal.

M) Hi sweetie. I didn't know we were exchanging such intimate information. Would you like to have dinner with me this evening and then come up to my place to examine my hubcap collection?

N) You write so beautifully. Is that a pen in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

O) I don't know if I should answer that question. It's only our first appointment.

P) Is this a serious question, or an obscene phone call?

Q) Hey dude, give me the bottle and I'll give you any date you want.

R) You guess.

S) Let me consult my driver's license and get back to you.

Hooray, I don't have to buy a new refrigerator--the repair guy replaced a faulty motor and fixed the defrost mechanism. It even makes ice cubes again. He said I should have called for service earlier--evidently there was a lot of ice buildup where I couldn't see it--and I said I didn't call because it was working until a few days ago.

The fridge is pushed back in a rather narrow corner of our kitchen--the repair guy took one look at it and asked, "is it going to be hard to move out of there?" I told him I had no idea, because it hadn't been moved since it was installed. Why wouldn't it occur to a refrigerator repair person that he or she might have to move a refrigerator? And I'm certainly not built like Hercules. I'm glad it's fixed, and glad that I didn't have to pay $285 for the service call (it was under service contract), but D'oh! Next time it stops working, it gets replaced--two times $285 could almost pay for a new, more energy-efficient model, and we've had it for at least nine years.

Tim returns from his out-of-town conference tomorrow. Will be good to have him home.

I'm sitting here waiting for the refrigerator repair-person from BGE-Home. They gave me a "window" of time from 12 noon for the appointment. Haven't had to use the service contract since we purchased the fridge in 2000. I can hardly believe that nine years have passed since we replaced the old clunker that came with our condo in 1991--it worked, but the freezer was the size of a shoebox and required manual defrosting. From what I've read the average lifespan of a refrigerator is 10-12 years; I was just going to replace the current one, but since the service call won't cost me anything, I figured why not. At least I'll know if it can be repaired or will need to be replaced for sure. If it needs replacing, I'll probably make a trip to Lowe's this evening. The fridge is cool enough to make chilled water, but not cold enough to make ice. There is also frost buildup in the back of the freezer, which is not supposed to happen in a frost-free refrigerator. If I get a new one, I may be limited in choice--the fridge has to fit in a space that is slightly over 32 inches wide (the current fridge is 31.5 inches wide).

Last night drove Tim to Bethesda for a 2-day conference (I saw the agenda--could be sleep-inducing). I miss having him around. Our cat Selene was upset when she saw the suitcase, because she knows what that means. Drove down Rte. 29 and some back roads to get there, came back via the Capital Beltway to Rte. 29 to I-95 and home through downtown Baltimore. I don't like driving on I-495.

Balticon 43 is now over. I commuted to the Hunt Valley Inn each day because I live so close (averaged about 6 hours of sleep each night by the time I finished hanging out with Tim after I got home). Worked at the sales table/info desk. Sold a lot of Balticon t-shirts plus some BSFS (Baltimore Science Fiction Society) stuffed dragons, hats, and pins. As usual, Captain Picard was our t-shirt model.

I think the con went well, mostly. It was fairly low-key. The worst thing that happened was a friend was taken to the hospital from the con, but I think he is home and doing OK now. Also, on Sunday the down escalator stopped working and a woman got stuck temporarily, but the escalator was repaired by the end of the night. Some kid broke it when he got his shoe jammed in the escalator, probably playing on it. (Last year the escalator stopped working both ways halfway through the convention and stayed that way, a pain in the butt). The escalator is the quickest way to get up and down from the main convention area.

I think attendance was down from last year, no doubt due to the economy. Forgot my cell phone on Sunday and Tim was kind enough to drop it off. We also did the poetry workshop on Sunday. Unfortunately no one entered the Edgar Allan Poe short poetry contest (EA Poe was our "Ghost of Honor"), but I think that was mainly because it wasn't publicized well. It was accidentally left out of the Rocket Mail until Sunday, the supplement to the pocket program that contains changes/additions/corrections.

My Balticon 43 (and earlier Balticon) photos can be found here. Only thing that remains now is to mail out some souvenir books to a few advertisers and the Balticon 43 Poetry Contest winners.

Meant to post these photos earlier, but I am just emerging from finishing the convention program book for Balticon. (It's finally at the printer). Haven't done much else for the past month-like emerging from a cave. :) 
 

Slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157618120935618/show/

Individual photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elwynsattic/sets/72157618120935618/

I wonder if people are overreacting to the swine flu. Having the flu is not something new - the CDC estimates that about 36,000 people died of flu-related causes each year, on average, during the 1990s in the United States (source: AP). That sounds ominous to me, and they don't close our borders during regular flu season.

Five police cars arrived to escort our druggie neighbor out of our building early this a.m. I hope he enjoys his new digs and striped outerwear for a LOOONG time. (I should mention that he has a long acquaintanceship with the wrong side of the law, is not an official tenant, and I wish that all of them living there would just move far away).  

Hooray! The AC is on in our building! Take THAT, pollen!

Very much enjoyed the public Beltaine/Maypole ritual co-sponsored by Turning Circle and Seasons at OBIC this past Sunday. Last year it was cool and rainy and pollen was making me miserable. This year it was hot, but the pollen was tolerable and the day was gorgeous with a deep blue nearly cloudless sky. I think I got some nice photos.

So Arlen Specter of PA is now a Democrat. Quite a surprise. I love how the Republicans are categorizing it as a "Pennsylvania story, not a national story." 

I wonder how long it will take Norm Coleman to figure out that he didn't win in Minnesota. Even other Republicans have said that he has lost any shot at retaining his dignity. There should be a limit to the court proceedings by now-it shouldn't take six months to decide a winner.

Being cooped up with my gum-cracking colleague at work is marginally tolerable if I wear my Bose headphones (now I'm glad I got a subscription to Sirius internet radio). The headphones pretty much drown her out and help keep my impulse to smack her upside the head at bay. The supervisor is nice, but there is no future other than a paycheck.

I've considered borrowing my friend's "fart" machine to hide at work, turning the sound on at odd times, and see if it bothers anyone.  

It occurred to me the other day, I wonder how much of a niche there might be for "non-traditional" wedding photography. Maybe I will check it out.

Saw the You-Tube video of Susan Boyle giving the judges of "Britain's Got Talent" a "holy-shit" moment that was a true "Cinderella" moment for her. I don't usually watch "American Idol" type shows-it's just the Gong Show in fancier clothing-but watching Ms. Boyle kick some ass and turn people's preconceptions upside-down was a real treat. (I googled her after wondering "who the hell is Susan Boyle?")

They're making a new "Three Stooges" movie. How can you improve on the originals? Though I suppose some people might say that about the upcoming "Star Trek" movie.

So the FBI water-boarded this guy 184 times and claimed they got valuable information out of him, when he actually gave them the information BEFORE he was tortured. No one should be tortured. I think an independent committee should be appointed to investigate the previous administration's torture memos and policies. I can understand Obama not prosecuting rank-and-file CIA officers, but the higher-ups who initiated the "enhanced interrogation methods" should not be immune to prosecution for possible war crimes. As some have said, I think we've just hit "the tip of the iceberg."

Any financial institution who is "too big to fail" should be divided up into smaller more manageable entities.

Father-in-law going to rehab center (again) after mini-stroke. My mother says getting old sucks.

My co-worker "Gumball" was at it again late this afternoon (smacking her gum loudly and relentlessly). I kept turning my music up... and up... and up. Sheesh. Didn't her mother ever teach her to close her mouth when chewing? Finally, when I couldn't stand it anymore, I plugged in my Bose headphones. They did a pretty good job of blocking out excess noise: gumchewing, loud background conversation, etc. I swear the guy in the next cubicle must be hard of hearing because he practically yells into the phone. I actually found myself better able to concentrate (although it might have partially been due to the fact that it was almost time to go home). 

Wish I could have an office or at least a cubicle away from what is a sometimes noisy area, but I'm low person on the totem pole (last hired, part-time) and even the supervisor got kicked out of her office when her boss was brought in, from what I understand.

Yesterday a woman from another dept. brought over a sesame-cookie-snack that she'd brought back from China. I hadn't really tried it, because I had assumed it was matzoh (and it is now Passover week in the Jewish calendar). When I commented to someone that it looked like matzoh, she asked, "what's matzoh?" Took me by surprise.

It never ceases to amaze me how some people seem to regard you with pity when you say you don't have children. Some people can't have children; some people choose not to have children for various (personal) reasons. For my husband and I it was the latter. It doesn't mean we don't LIKE them; I like (some) people's children just fine. Not everyone is cut out to be a parent. Some people don't understand that the ability to make a baby does not automatically make one a good parent. It upsets me when I see parents who mistreat or yell at their children all the time instead of talking TO them and encouraging and praising them once in a while. It also irritates me when I see parents who pay no attention to what their kids are doing and never discipline them. It doesn't take rocket science to figure out that parents can start by opening a dialog with their kids. It builds trust and respect.

On the other hand, there was way too much "baby talk" among my co-workers today about toilet training, spitting up food and the like when someone who used to work there brought in their baby. The baby was cute, but TMI, especially for someone I didn't know.

Interestingly enough, cleaning up after dogs and cats doesn't really bother me, especially if they are my own. It only bothers me when taken to excess, like someone I used to know who cleaned her cat litter box maybe once every 3 months.

Well, I've received my annual invitation for jury duty in Baltimore City yet again. Seems they always call me every year. This year they also summoned me to serve on a grand jury, but after I completed and sent back their detailed questionnaire, they evidently decided they didn't want me. It might have had something to do with the fact that I am not in favor of the death penalty, or that we were planning a trip during the projected run of the trial (10 weeks), or that I don't get paid if I don't work. I found it interesting that the petit juror summons date fell during the projected run of the trial (obviously I would not have had to show up for the one-day one-trial appearance if selected for grand jury duty). However, since they excused me from the one, it turns out I still have to show up for the other.

The main thing I hate about jury duty is having to be there so early (8:15). They should at least offer a continental breakfast for that. Not being a morning person, it always feels like I am hauling my ass out of bed in the middle of the night. And I don't understand why I seem to get called every year, when in other counties people seem to get called only every 3 or 5 years. I guess Baltimore City has more crime than any other Maryland county. Or maybe they just call from a smaller pool of people who actually show up when summoned for jury duty in Baltimore City. A friend of mine who is a paralegal says some judges are very serious about sending warrants to pick up no-shows. I believe him.

The "quiet room" is not bad. I'm bringing a book (The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama) and my netbook. And hopefully the thick walls and few windows will help keep the ever-mounting pollen invasion at bay.

About a year or year and a yalf ago I actually got on a trial for jury duty, but what a joke. Three guys in a car accused of handgun posession, charged with some sort of felony. The judge/lawyers wouldn't even answer siimple questions from the jury as to what relationship (if any) existed between the three accused, i.e., did they know each other, and did the gun belong to any of them? It was obvious that they wre up to no good, but there was not enough evidence to convict, so they were all found "not guilty." I still haven't figured out if the prosecuting attorney was woefully unprepared in terms of presenting evidence, or the defense attorney was incredibly smart in terms of having evidence dismissed. Either way, the experience left me with a bad taste in my mouth, and a dirty feeling like I needed to go home and take a very long shower. I still recall after the "not guilty" verdict was delivered and the jury was leaving the courtroom, I looked back and all three defendants had these huge shit-eating grins on their faces, like they knew they pulled one over. One of them was escorted in and out of the courtroom in handcuffs the whole time (he was obviously being detained for something else, as well).

Sigh.

Sitting here with "Dr. T" having a glass of wine, watching the snow/sleet/whatever come down outside the window. It's amazing that Friday felt like spring, with temperatures near 60 degrees. They're predicting 4-6 inches of snow possibly by Monday. If so, I hope I don't have to go to work.

I'm really glad the weather did not get bad until after I got home this evening. And I'm also glad that I bought toilet paper on my way home and went to the grocery store a few days ago.