I definitely recommend visiting the National Institute of Health's AIDS History Page. It's well organized and full of valuable information. I was just old enough at the time to be able to comprehend that a strange new deadly disease had struck the world in the early 1980's. A disease that not only threatened our blood supply, but the way we live. Sex now had the potential to be deadly. Unfortunately at first it was viewed as a disease of the homosexual world. But by the mid to late 80s that viewpoint began to shift in the mainstream media. And finally education about 'safe sex' began to be stressed more and more.
From IAVI:
Latest estimates of worldwide AIDS epidemic: 65 million infected since 1981
28 November 2001—Today, an estimated 40 million men, women and children are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to a new report (Français) from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which monitors the spread of the epidemic. An additional 25 million people have died of AIDS since the first case was recorded 20 years ago.
Despite increased attention to AIDS recently, the virus shows no signs of slowing. In 2001 alone, 5 million people were newly infected with HIV—this translates to nearly 14,000 new infections daily, or 600 infections every hour. And despite new powerful medicines that are helping some people with AIDS live longer, still 3 million died of the disease this year.
"This report frames a world struggling uphill against the epidemic. Unless the world moves now to aggressively stop new infections, future updates are doomed to show us, at best, holding our own," said Dr. Seth Berkley, President and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
"Today there is still time to turn the tide, if the world quickly mobilizes a full arsenal of prevention efforts, chief among them a safe and effective vaccine.
"A preventive vaccine would be the ultimate tool against the cycle of new AIDS cases," Dr. Berkley said "In the quest for a vaccine, the world is making progress, but not quickly enough. Even with recent steps forward, scientific advancement is slowed not so much by technical challenges as by lack of political commitment and research funding."
The UNAIDS report paints a grim picture of a world where AIDS is entrenched in nearly every corner:
• The toll of AIDS remains highest in sub Saharan Africa, where 28 million people are believed to now be living with HIV infection; 3.4 million were newly infected in 2001.
• In Asia, 7 million people are now living with HIV, and the epidemic claimed nearly a half million lives in 2001. India's 3.9 million infections are second to only South Africa.
• UNAIDS says Eastern Europe is experiencing the fastest rates of infection. In the Russian Federation, the number of HIV positive people doubled over the past year.
Okay, this is just sick and wrong no matter if you are Pro-Choice or Pro-Life. Not only should they apprehend and lock away Waagner, but Mr. Horsley needs to be put away too. Sorry, but if he thinks that by relaying this message he can somehow clean his hands of any potential bloodshed, he's mistaken. Anyone who condones murder and even encourages it in the name of saving an unborn child is an accessory to the crime. Especially since Waagner has in addition to threatening to kill 42 abortion clinic workers, been sending hoax anthrax letters to abortion clinics and now has even stated President Bush is a target as well. I know the FBI have themselves stretched thin, but they need to get this guy before he accomplishes what he has set out to do.
First Wil Wheaton, now RuPaul? Yes, as displayed as a blog of note from blogger, RuPaul has his own blog! I find this such a hoot because I've always enjoyed him as an entertainer. It's a relatively new blog with a very nice layout.
Seeing his blog reminds me of back in college when he first struck the music scene with Supermodel. Tonya got us all saying "You better work, bitch" as we were spending lots of hours in the lab for Industrial Microbiology Lab taking time points. Fond memories. LOL. Those were the days....we didn't realize how good we had it.
Scratch that....lack of sleep and food are a bad thing. I have a different perspective now.
Making Progress. :)
As posted by ARIC as a recommended site:
AEGIS Website - A very complete AIDS information resource with connections in Europe and worldwide. Put together and run almost single-handedly by Sister Mary Elizabeth, a legend of world AIDS activism, and currently worshipped as a demi-goddess in several third-world countries. See also entry for AEGIS in our Publications Links listings. SERIOUSLY RECOMMENDED!
I'm going to be making some changes to the blog in the next weeek in order to participate in Link and Think 2001. This project is meant as a way for webloggers to observe World AIDS Day and try to promote education and understanding about HIV. Last year it was referred to A Day Without Weblogs, meaning that on World AIDS Day participating webloggers would use blogs/journals to post links about research, news, essays, etc. and to tell their own personal stories about how this deadly disease has affected their lives and of those around them. But because the name seemed like a misnomer and the event is actually about using those weblogs for this purpose, its name has been changed to Link and Think.
I'm planning, in addition to posting informative links, to post about my own thoughts and experiences about HIV research, since I spent two years of my life working hand-on with HIV as part of a drug discovery group. I cannot write specifics about the research I did due to confidentiality issues, but I can write about my experiences in a laboratory setting.
When is World AIDS Day? Saturday, December 1st.
If you have a blog/on-line journal and want to participate, visit Link and Think.
Education is still the best prevention.
A humdinger of a T-storm came barrelling through the area, dousing us with heavy downpours and 1 inch hail. Yeah, it was that big! Thanks to the weather channel warning of it after the fact. The only thing they did was confirm that we indeed got 1 inch hail. I was cringing hoping the hail wouldn't ding my car. I can't tell whether there is any damage from my balcony. But I don't feel like wandering out in the wet stuff. It's probably fine...or so I tell myself, lol.
Luckily, I shut down my puter with a few minutes to spare as the storm came into the area. The lights have been flickering sporadically since the storm, but seem to have calmed down now.
Unfortunately, I spent the last few hours watching my Eagles lose to the Redskins. :(
I've spent this entire weekend vegetating, reading fic, writing fic, editing fic, playing railroad tycoon, and reading J D Robb. I finished up Rapture in Death and am toying with the idea of starting Ceremony in Death. Yet, what I really should do is start writing Christmas cards. If only I had an ounce of motivation. I feel as gray and gloomy as the weather ouside. I'm being too damned lazy. LOL.
Dear God, I unloaded a lot of cookies. My brother claims its not worth cleaning them out becase they are only 1K apiece. But when you have hundreds of them, most from places you never go to, especially all the sex counter/porn ones that tag on from God knows where, since I damn well know I don't go to porn sites [and I'm not referring to fan fic sites]....sheesh. Let's see how quick my cache gets full of cookies again.
Here's what I want for Christmas...errr...maybe next year. If I'm going to buy a DVD player, I damn well want it to record. However, the price and format wars are making that difficult. Instead my 6 year old 2-head VCR will have to suffice. [Sounds like a real monster, lol]
Gray, cloudy, and windy. After being spoiled by weeks of beautiful sunshine, now the gloom sets in. Granted we direly need rain. But trying to sleep as the wind batters one's apartment makes it much less restful. I was almost convinced the whipping wind was going to tear my roof off. Thankfully it is still intact.
Digging through a lot of old papers and cards, I found a few things I wasn't looking for and came up short on what I was looking for. I found some old family pictures that clearly I was holding the camera since I'm not in them. Either that or I wasn't there, because I have to admit I don't recall the occasion. LOL. I may try to get better copies made of a couple of the group shots for other family members.
Also, I found a few addresses that I need for sending Christmas cards out, including one for my German pen pal from high school, Tine. She sent me a card 2 Christmases ago and I was derelict in sending any back. Since it was with her that I went to the WTC back in 1990, I feel somehow compelled to reconnect. My mom found pictures of us all at the WTC, but she didn't bring them when she visited, so I have yet to see these.
For those of you whom I may not have an updated address for, send off an email so I can send you a card. [If you want one.] I'm not gonna let a little anthrax stop me from sending out Holiday Cheer.
Speaking of home-grown terrorists, I came across this excerpt written by Tiff on a past Christmas card/gift:
"To: Schnee
From: Well, I think you know who sent the box or else you would not have opened it because there are crazy people out there who send strange stuff to others in innocent looking boxes like the Unibomber (sic) fellow living in the wilds of Montana where he lived in a cabin & I don't think he had indoor plumbing so he probably was really stinky by the time the Feds caught up with him and arrested his crazy ass and threw him in the slammer and pulled apart his little shack looking for more evidence as if the metal ignition switches and hand-made wooden boxes weren't damning enough to send him to jail for a long, long time where he would have a cell-mate named Bruno and the closest thing to a Christmas party that they would have would consist of exchanging presents they made in metal shop and even then would you want to open a package given to you by the Unibomber?"
Yes, that has to be one of the longest run-ons I've ever read. But you gotta love Tiff for her quirky humor, lol.
I believe I blogged about how I found it disturbing that Attorney General Ashcroft could simply dismantle a law voted into being by a referendum decided by Oregon voters. Now it appears a federal judge has temporarily blocked Ashcroft's move to prosecute any physician that prescribes a lethal dose of federally controlled drugs to terminally ill patients. It will be interesting to see where things go from here. It's pretty sad when the government steps in preventing doctors from helping their patients to die comfortably. It's a sad state of affairs when we can be more humane to our pets than we are to our fellow human beings.
Turkey Day is over. The parents have gone home. Brian is working. I have the place to myself, lol.
Actually dinner was excellent; the bird came out perfectly. No dry breast meat here. But Mom has cooked enough turkeys in her time, lol. And after dinner we watched the Wedding Singer and relaxed. It was a simple day, but that was the beauty of it. Everyone was relaxed and content. What more could one ask for?
Today, I spent my day off taking the cat to the vet so he could get a urine sample and standing in line to get my drivers license renewed. No shopping for me. Having Karen with me at the MVA Express helped the time go quickly. We decided to go there together since her license had expired [she realized after the fact] and she had kept putting it off. Mine was due to expire in just over 2 weeks.
License photos tend to resemble mug shots on so many, even with the computer technology they employ these days. My picture came out so-so, while Karen didn't smile and looked pissed off at the camera. Maybe it was that twerp who was standing in front of us flapping his trap while having not a clue that put the frown on her face. Damn he was annoying! But we made it out of there in just over an hour, so I guess that isn't too bad. The funniest line uttered was by the woman behind us in line who when I asked her how hers came out she muttered, 'perhaps my wallet will get stolen.' LOL. Needless to say she didn't care for hers.
Talk about obnoxious ads. This one you can't even close the window. It has no close button at the top, nor does it allow you to right click the tab on the windows bar to close it. It tries to force you to use its search engine or leave a comment. This sort of shit is so unscrupulous. It's from CelebrityWonder.com...avoid at all costs. I'm not even sure what it linked itself to. Perhaps one of the Sarah pages I viewed. How freaking skanky. I'd like to know who I need to contact to complain, because I know that there have been individuals prosecuted for 'hijacking' people from unassociated websites. I added it to my ad trashcan in Norton's so hopefully I won't have to deal with it again. Now I gotta reboot my computer to rid myself of the window. Uggh.
I had heard this a week or two ago, but I finally dug up a reference to it. Sarah McLachlan is due release a new album in early 2002 and she's *due* to give birth to her and Ash's first child in March. Lots of exciting news for my favorite songstress and siren. *g*
November 23rd: Buy Nothing Day. Hey, that's something I can support! I never shop on Black Friday. I like to shop in peace, instead of mayhem, thank-you, lol. :)
First our civil liberties are eroded by the Bush Administration, now McCarthyism makes a comeback? Let's not turn back the hands of time. What next? Witch Trials? ;) Here's the blacklist document where it lists names in case you were wondering.
Made it through another Monday. I had quite a busy day, but got some good data, so I'm pleased. Over the weekend I did manage to get a major chunk of my cleaning done. Now I'm yelling at my brother to get his bathroom cleaned. I did mine, I don't feel inclined to do his, lol.
I can't believe the year 2001 is only just over a month from being over. Gosh, time flies, whether or not you're having fun. lol. This week is Thanksgiving, then in 3 weeks, my birthday, and 2 weeks after that Christmas and then New Year. Yikes!
Tabitha is rolling around, so I'm assuming that means her infection is clearing. She's certainly acting more like herself.
I have read lots of different blogs over the last few months when I find the time or be so inclined. I enjoy a well written blog, as well as a creatively designed one. They don't have to be both at the same time, often they are not both. But I think I would lean towards blogs with good content. Different people use blogs for different things. Often I find myself going, 'hey, that's a neat concept for a blog. Why didn't I think of anything like that?' And those generally are the best.
I love blogs from deep people. Perhaps old souls like myself. [I've been told on different occasions by tarot readers/palm readers that are friends that I have an old soul...you don't have to believe it, but I tend to, lol.] These bloggers tend to share themselves with their readers and have a witty or unique view on life. A subtle sarcasm or cynicism that helps them endure the harsh atmosphere of life, while still trying to look on the bright side. I often wish my blog could be half as good as theirs. But in the meantime I heartily enjoy reading the trials and tribulations of their life or the links they choose to pass along.
But there are some blogs I wonder why I read other than to see how much more of a bitch or asshole this person can prove themselves to be. Condescending, self-important, and downright ugly. Mean, in a back-handed way. I don't read these often, but I still do just to keep proving to myself how low people can go when they are trying to elevate themselves above others. And that's just it. It would be one thing if the person saw themselves as being mean or condescending, but many of these don't see it. It would be easier to explain if I could give examples, but I'd rather not link these blogs to here, lol.
For myself, I'll stick to writing mostly about my real life tales. For those of you who ever wondered, Schneewittchen was a screenname or handle that I picked up in college back around 1991. [VAX, VAX baby by DJ Ari Stotland, lol. Okay, only maybe Sue and Tiff will understand that reference, hehehehe. Think Vanilla Ice.] My friends [Sue, Tiff, Ari, Steve, etc.] shortened it to Schnee [shnay, rhymes with day]. It's German for little Snow White. I had taken 4 years of German in High School, and I recalled the Brothers Grimm fairy tale character and took it since it was a unique screename. Hence, Once Upon a Time: Schneewittchen's Real Life Tales, lol. :)
It may not be much of a concept, but that's what I came up with back in July, lol. Now I'd like to start working on a new layout for the blog, since this one is several months old. Maybe I'll find the time over the holidays. ;)
Tabitha is comfortbly curled on the chair cracking her eyes open a sliver to see that I'm watching her. While now she lays there in comfort, her morning was much different. Just before dawn she began to go in and out of her box repeatedly. Additionally I caught her squatting just outside the box, peeing a few drops of blood-stained urine. Cleaning it up, I found her trying again. So 6 am I was cleaning out the litterbox, hoping she would go back to using it.
Thankfully she did. Oh, about 15 times in a matter of 2 hours. 8 am I was putting a call into the vet. Not only was the UTI not getting better but now let's add diarrhea to the equation. By 9:30 am we were back at the vet, trying this all over again. Another $90 later, we know she doesn't appear to have kidney stones and we are trying a different antibiotic. Hopefully this will do the trick. Also, Tab got another ketoprofen shot for the pain, since the vet asked if that helped the first time. I have the distinct impression that Tabitha approves, lol. Because instead of a kitty feeling like she has to constantly pee, I now have a relaxed and resting kitty, snoozing contentedly. Cross your fingers that the new drugs work.
I left Tabitha for about an hour while they prepared to X-ray her. Went to Target and picked up a few gifts, a long-sleeved shirt, and carpet cleaning solution. Now I need to clean in preparation of my parents coming Wednesday.
That was my Saturday morning. Oy.
During my nearly 30 years of life I've managed to meet people from around the world. I love to learn about different cultures and places. Working in the field of science you do get to work with people of many different nationalities and backgrounds. Interestingly when I was a freshman in college I lived across the hall from a guy from Kuwait--this was at the time when Desert Shield and then Storm started. Unfortunately, he happened to be one of the most selfish, obnoxious, sexist assholes I've ever met, lol. So I kept thinking to myself incredulously, 'we're at war to save this guy's country? why?' lol.
I've known people from Russia, Poland, Estonia, Ukraine, Romania, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, Canada, Germany (including my mom, lol.), Austria, Finland, Bolivia, Venezuala, South Africa, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, India, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (no, not Peta Wilson, but an Australian girl who was also an army brat turned au pair in a writing class I took back in '97), Sri Lanka, Iran, Ireland, UK, France....am I forgetting any?
I even currently work with someone from Eritrea. Do you even know where that is? Have you even heard of it? I know I didn't. It's a small country on the Eastern coast of Africa. It broke away from Ethiopia after a bitter civil war.
However, I was convinced that I never knew anyone from Afghanistan. Until the other day. I hadn't realized that somene I saw on a daily basis--talked to each morning in the cafeteria--is Afghani. Charlie, our caterer, and his brothers emigrated from Afghanistan in 1981. While I've had some reservations about the war and about whether the Northern Alliance is just another brutal group ready to wrestle control from the the even more brutal and harsh Taliban, I now see Charlie's relief at seeing his 'hometown'--Kabul--released from Taliban control by the Northern Alliance. While I think the 'war' is far from over, I do find some satisfaction in seeing the people of Afghanistan rejoicing at refound freedoms that we Americans would take for granted. I couldn't imagine the stress of being a woman in Afghanistan these last few years, being forced by the Taliban to hide oneself from view behind not only the veil, but closed doors as well. To be stricken from having any joy or any intellectual situation. To have no rights and receive severe retribution for any minor 'infraction' of Taliban law.
While I know that many in Afghanistan will be faced with starvation and the bitter cold with little food or shelter, perhaps there are some that find the struggle preferable than suffering they endured under a tyrannical reign without a glimmer of hope. I honestly cannot speak for them. But I do hope that after the bombs cease to fall and the soldiers return home, that we do commit to helping these battered souls rebuild both physically and emotionally, as well as to feed the hungry.
I want my friend Charlie's homeland to find some semblance of peace. For this son of Afghanistan has given me the gift of his smile and good humor each morning when I arrive for work. And yesterday he provided our company with a magnificent Thanksgiving feast. I feel blessed and thankful to know this kind man.
Here is a thought-provoking piece looking at different kinds of conspiracies and about how current events may be being used to erode away the civil rights that our forefathers fought for in establishing this country. Long, complex article, but interesting nonetheless. I may not agree with everything in it, but it establishes some good questions that the citizens of America should be asking about its elected officials and our television media.
The pumpkin spice cheesecake was a great success. I got lots of great compliments on it and I know personally I found it to be *very* yummy. It wasn't too rich and it tasted very similar to a pumpkin pie. And there was none left over as it was quite popular, lol. I'm proud of it because it was a recipe I had never tried before.
There is always an element of surprise in cooking something new. You're just never certain how it's going to come out or how good the recipe is. Mary baked a pecan pie with her mom's crust recipe [which came out perfect] and a Martha Stewart recipe for the actual filling. The pie looked perfect before she cut it. But once she tried slicing it she found it to be two liquidy. It still tasted ok, but the Martha Stewart recipe was a disappointment to her. I felt bad for her because I understand all too well the uncertainty of using a new recipe.
[pet talk warning--turn back now, lol.]
Last night I noticed my cat was using the litterbox repeatedly while I was on the phone with my mom [while the cheesecake was baking]. Three times in 45 minutes. Not only was she using it repeatedly, but she remained in it longer than normal. My first thought was she was constipated as she had vomited her food up earlier in the day. I figured she had a furball stuck. Otherwise she was acting normally.
So I took her to the vet tonight after work. Turns out its not number two but number one. She's got a urinary tract infection. I guessed wrong--but that's why I'm not the vet, lol. So she was given sub-cutaneous fluids, ketoprofen shot [pain killer], an a set of antibiotics. Sum total of nearly $90. And we get to go back next week for a follow up visit. There goes that $200 check I got yesterday for recommending my apartment complex to Amy. I had hoped to put it in my savings account. But of course the minute I get money, something else must happen that negates that, lol.
Good ole Murphy's Law.
Been kinda busy the last few days. Went to the gym both Monday and Tuesday, doing spin class the first night and almost 2.5 miles in 30 minutes on the treadmill and abs on Tuesday. Last night I made a pumpkin spice cheesecake from scratch for the Thanksgiving Lunch we are having at work. It looks good, now hopefully it tastes good. I baked it a couple extra minutes because it looked too jiggly, so hopefully I did not overbake it.
It seems the public disgust with the Red Cross has had an effect. The president of the Red Cross stepped down last week and now the organization is planning to distribute all but 9% to the victims/victims' families. It's about time. The Today show showed some of the wives of the victims, talking of how they are struggling to keep their lives intact with the small amount of money they have so far. One woman has 5 kids and is struggling to keep from losing their home. I truly hope the change in leadership at the Red Cross will allow for this money to get out quicker to those who need it.
More cynicism.....this time not of a political nature, but about charity. With the tragedy leaving many of us feeling helpless, donating money, blood, and blankets seemed to be a way to do something. Now it seems not only will much of the blood be discarded without ever being used for *anyone* [not just victims in NY], but the Red Cross has diverted much of the money to administration and future preparation leaving only a small fraction distrubuted to victims' families. This is appalling considering people were not told this upfront--people were led to believe that by donating to the Red Cross, they were doing something 'good' by giving the victims' families money to help them in their time of great need. And I'm not the only one who feels this way
Now is the United Way, who hosted the benefit concerts in NYC and DC doing something not too unsimilar with the funds they collected? At least according to O'Reilly [of the O'Reilly Factor] they are. Pretty sad...not only do our leaders lie to us, but now our charities do, too, hoarding away monies that were raised specifically for the victims' families. They have toyed with our grief and our sorrow. Sadly we may not be so generous the next time. That's a damn shame considering we, the citizens of the US of A are at our strongest when we pull together for a common cause.
And the saddest thing is the victims' families are struggling to pay bills and afford things like food and clothing. Struggling because their incomes have been eradicated and monies that could benefit them are not getting to them quick enough. And much of the money collected, they will never see. So much for 'charity.' Looks more like big business.
Where do we start when so many aspects of 'the system' are broke?
Okay, this is the sort of shit that makes me question our government. If this could happen back then, I shudder to imagine what they would consider 'research' now. Granted many of these microbes are harmless to healthy adults. But what happens if an immunocompromised individual or a baby get exposed? I'm convinced we live in a sick, sick world. But I'd like to think we can improve it--so long as the elected officials we elect don't fail us by having poor judgement. [Which unfortunately past history shows that most do.]
Quote of the Day: 'How the hell do you find the truth when everybody lies?' --Jake McCartey, Witchblade.
'I asked my dad that question once. He answered, "Diogenes."'--Sara Pezzini, in response.
I've been considering the progress women have made in the last century this last week or so, since reading about how modern birth control and women's greater control over her fertility/reproduction (through education, better birth control options, and changing social structures) are playing a role in slowing the overpopulation of the Earth.
We live in a time where women no longer are saddled with bearing child after child. [Les Filles de Calleb comes to mind as how it was only 100 years ago] A time where women have the opportunity to learn alongside men, even in traditionally male-dominated fields. We can have a larger hand in molding the world of tommorrow. Or at least I hope we can contribute to this nation and the world being a better place. Only time will tell.
So when I read this, I couldn't help wanting to cheer. As much as I hate to hear about the destruction of lives by war, I can't help but find a glimmer of hope when reading about the resurgence of Afghani women when the Taliban retreat.
Got a call for Mom later in the day. It appears my uncle is okay. They don't see any evidence of an actual heart attack, but they are keeping him for observation. They do feel he needs to have angioplasty done again. [He's had the procedure done a few years back]
Home for lunch. It's been an eventful morning. My day began to take an odd turn when the road I normally take 5 minutes to work was jammed, on a federal holiday, no less. Figuring an accident was the cause, I decided to go a different way that takes much longer. Turns out I might have made the right choice. My first indication was a County Bus following me for much of the way and eventually through a residential neighborhood that I'm certain is not a part of its route. My second indication was the lack of cars travelling from the direction I would have normally come. Now in returning home I saw evidence that there was indeed an accident at the intersection prior to my workplace.
Of course the next event was the crash of the AA plane in Queens, NY. We heard about it aroud 9:45 from someone who heard it on the radio. Next I checked the internet and called my Mom since I knew she had the day off. Leaving my work number with her in case anything else happened, I attempted to get some work done.
Just past 11 am, mom called me to say that she had received a call that my uncle Angelo was taken to the hospital. It appears he had a heart attack. Don't know anything more.
So safe to say it has been an eventful morning, in a bad kind of way. I hope the rest of the day does not continue this way. Many prayers going out to both my uncle and to the victims of the crash.
Got some sleep Friday night. But now I've spent to much time online trying to finish up my Witchblade Music project in conjuction with Camry. So this is going to be a short entry. Too braindead to write much that is coherent.
I will mention that I went to Happy Hour Thursday evening at Buffalo Billiards with a whole slew of coworkers. While I was playing pool the receiving guy [he does have a name...I'm just not mentioning it, lol.] comes up to me after having a few drinks. Gives a half assed apology, mentions he was in a bad mood that morning, but then continues to say that its because he's new and stuff like that. Basically trying to say he doesn't know better. [Which doesn't give him the right to blow up at me.] So I more or less accepted the apology. I didn't say too much because I was tired from having insomnia. After a game of pool he wandered away from the table without telling me or Scot or Anthony that he was done playing. Eventually we figured it out, lol. Basically I'm not sure what to make of all this. Oh well.
Thankfully its the weekend. Now I need to get offline for the evening. [Can you tell I'm still kinda tired? lol.]
I'm exhausted.
My sleep hasn't been the best the past several days. I've slept, but it's been very light sleep that I wake from frequently. Also, thoughts, images and even songs begin to run through my head at a mad pace. Basically your body wants to sleep but your brain fails to shut off. After a few days of this, my concentration is shot and I feel tired and wired at the same time. I wish I knew what triggers this. I certainly would avoid whatever causes it. I'm tired of having Hey Pretty by Poe running through my head as I'm trying to sleep. [one song example, lol.]
More than likely my tired state has me fretting over an incident today--moreso than I would otherwise. I warned an individual at work that where he was delivering shipments was not correct and irritating especially to the particular employee he had a package for. For some reason that I can't seem to get, he insists on delivering some people's lab supplies to their desk instead of to their lab. I knew that the other person in question was very ticked at this from the last incident.
I like the guy that does the deliveries and so I tried to let him know it would be better to deliver it to the lab for this reason in addition to the fact that lab supplies are intended to be delivered to the lab. Not to mention the Purchase Order lists the lab room number. He starts raising his voice expressing his disgust at having to take this package to the lab. I was pretty aghast at his response to what I thought was a friendly warning and explanation--since I was just trying to save his ass.
Later, I stopped in to his office that is shared with the guy that does purchasing. I apologized and explained further since I thought maybe he was taking what I said the wrong way. He continued to defend that there is notrhing wrong with his delivering lab supplies to the office area, complaining about the prima donna attittude by the PhD in question, saying that he should get off his fat ass and bring it to the lab himself.
My respect for this guy now dropped to nil. His position is Materials Management Clerk. It's his job to deliver packages. I would say that includes delivering it to the place where the packages belong. Whether or not he likes the recipient is irrelevant. The funny thing is the purchasing guy tried to work out a solution to some degree while the MMC just pouted and acted disgusted. He knows I'm reasonable and knew I came to see if some compromise could be made.
My issue was that the one person that complained is not the only person that has complained. Every place I have ever worked brings lab supply deliveries to the lab. Its not an unreasonable request. So I still can't understand what his freaking problem was. Its not like anything immensely difficult is being asked of him. He seems like a smart enough guy. I really liked him--until this incident. I'm not sure what put a bug up his ass but he better get over it. If I know the PhD in question, he will bring this up to the safety officer raising it as a safety issue. It will be made into something big when it really is something simple.
There are days I just don't get people.
Got my performance review. Among the things I was praised for was my adaptability and my teamwork. :) So I don't think that's an issue with me, lol.
I could tiredly ramble more but I think I will spare the blog, lol.
Have you ever put your key in the door of a car you think is yours, but then when the key doesn't work you realize its not yours? That's the problem with having a Green Accord--there are too many cars out there that look like yours. I walked down the wrong row in the parking garage and there was an identical car in the approximate position as my car. I literally had to look at the license plate to confirm that this wasn't my car. But even the license plate number wasn't that far off from mine. LOL. It took me a second to realize I walked down the wrong row. *sheepish grin*
Stumbled upon some DC blogs and found this one entry that had me LOLing.
Went to Steve's spinning class. Actually did pretty well. Not sure if I had a bike with less resistance or it was those yummy peanut butter filled pretzel bites I ate about an hour earlier. Amy got them at Trader Joe's and shared them with us in the office area. Now I'm craving more. They were so damn good! Maybe I should try to eat a snack before class more often.
Downloaded a song off the new Lamb album. I'm really digging this song. Gabriel is the first single off the upcoming album called What Sound?
Tabitha, my cat is snoozing on my stinky sneaker. Her eyes are cracked open just enough to see a sliver of yellow. Not sure why she finds my sneaker comfortable to sleep against. But it smells stinky so she loves it, lol.
Catching up on my reading, the Schwartzreport pointed me to this article examining the deterioration of the Freedom of Information Act. It's troubling to see the reactionary element in our leadership take the forefront.
How would you rate our leaders after Sept 11? Not very high in my book and in others. Tax breaks for corporate America seem to be on the top of their agenda. *sigh*
If you use AIM (or ICQ), you may want to read about its security nightmares.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. He's just trying to explain my disappearing archives, though he has no remedy. LOL. Actually he claims its a bug that predates his involvement in Blogger and it won't be fixed until the new version is released. Whenever that may be. Meanwhile I cringe everytime they disappear which has become quite frequent recently.
This sort of thing scares me. Racial profiling. Rounding up anyone who looks like they are from the Middle East that their Visa status has run out. My complaint about that is some of these folks may have had their Visa run out because INS is so freaking backlogged on issuing VISA renewals. I know several individuals over the last few years who have applied for renewals 6 months in advance and still were holding their breath the last few weeks, worried that their renewals would not be issued in time and they would be forced to stop working or be deported. They did what they were supposed to do, filling out massive paperwork, hiring lawyers to determine the papers are all in order, shelling out substantial sums of money to get through the process. I've heard horror stories of how understaffed INS is and the long waiting lines. It's worse than dealing with the DMV/MVA, lol.
I can only think it is no wonder we have so many people here illegally and not just from the Middle East, when the system to maintain legality is broke. I fear that these individuals may be treated harshly simply for the color of their skin. More and more I'm seeing the government throw civil liberties out the door in the name of protecting the country. Yet I don't feel safe. Not when the FBI is pleading for information because they haven't got a clue as to who is perpetrating the anthrax attacks.
Added several new blogs on the sidebar there. Over time some had become defunct, others not updated often, and some I didn't care for the design changes--and some were just not interesting anymore, lol. So I added some new ones. Not sure how many folks actually use those links, but I tend to use them when I have the time to read other blogs. Feel free to email me, IM me, or phone me (if you are friend who has my number, lol.) with any thoughts, concerns, or just to say hey. :) It always cracks me up when someone mentions a blog subject letting me know that they actually read my ramblings. I consider my life boring for the most part, lol.
Not sure why this memory surfaced. It's rather humorous. At least to me.
Back around 1994, while in college, one of my roommates was an organizer of the local gaming con called Rudicon. {Held at RIT} One evening there was a telephone call for her. I took the fellow's name down just as I would any other time, telling him she wasn't in. I figured it was one of her gaming buddies.
When Jen returned, I picked up my note and read who called her. Jen's jaw about hit the floor. Composing herself she repeated slowly "Bruce Campbell called???" I looked down at the note, reconfirmed the name, and said that he indicated he would try to reach her later. Then, gathering he was someone important, I asked, 'who is he?'
Turns out he was the star of The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., a TV series back then. [And he also starred in the movie Army of Darkness] He was someone they invited to be a guest at the Con, but she never imagined he would directly contact her by phone, lol. Me, I had been completely clueless. I had no idea who he was. Hehehehehe.....
I'm not sure if he did ever call back, lol.
Spent the day at work. Did manage to get something accomplished, though we did spend a good bit of time goofing off. You see, we are required to work 3 Saturdays to make up for 3 days we will get off at Christmas, giving us a a week and a half off in between Christmas and New Year. Ironically, we have a husband and wife who work there, so they brought their two little boys in. Dad was placed in charge of their care, lol.
The best thing was we got free pizza for lunch.
I was moved by how eloquently Brighid expressed her thoughts on 9/11....just read it because I cannot even come close to doing it justice. [read her 11/1 entry]
I needed a good laugh tonight and I got it. I've heard of Mary Sue's but this one takes the cake. Lafemme, a writer who's stuff never thrilled me, posted an LFN story that introduces a girl who's quit her teaching job to be a fanfic writer [ROTFL] that Michael carjacks as he's on Mandatory Refusal. If I thought she was being tongue in cheek, I'd almost think it clever. However, I know this story is meant to be taken seriously. I can only giggle.
I'm so tired of the news....I wish Brian would turn it off. We need a glimmer of hope. A turn in events. Being stuck in a foolish war and having no significant progress in the Anthrax attack investigation is just discouraging.
Knowing I have to work Saturday is not helping my mood either, lol.
I started a Witchblade fic. My muse took a fancy to From Hell and decided to tinker around with a Jack the Ripper case for Sara to investigate. Not sure if anything will come of it, but we'll see. It was actually supposed to be put out for my Halloween challenge, but since no one else bothered, I figured I'd work on it a good bit before I even consider posting any of it. I just need to find more spare time.
Otherwise I'm reading the next JD Robb book, Rapture in Death. I'm just enjoying these books a little too much, lol.