The news from the tsunami ravaged countries in Asia continues to stun me. The numbers of those killed by the massive waves continues to rapidly rise. And I'm just floored to read here that number of displaced persons is estimated to be between 3-5 Million people. Dear God, the situation there is bleak. I gave one contribution to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies already. I'm thinking I may want to donate more. Maybe to Doctors without Borders or Oxfam.
Still sick here in dreary Maryland. I did manage to take my car to get the oil changed, get some more OTC drugs to treat myself, and bought some groceries. However, my house is still not in ship shape. I had hoped to spend a day or two getting it all spiffy, but being sick with a cold has all but put the kabosh on that plan. Maybe I'll get the cleaning done over the weekend.
It just sucks to be sick in a messy house. I'm disgusted with the mess, disgusted with being sick, disgusted seeing my free time spent feeling miserable. I can feel the cold starting to turn into a sinus infection as my face hurts. Of course, it didn't do this early enough for me to get a doctor's appt before the holiday. *sigh*
So my New Years is not looking too promising. Not that I had any real plans, mind you. LOL. But being healthy would have been a bonus.
I did purchase a bottle multi-vitamins as my body has been taking a beating the last month or so with the on-again off-again cold symptoms. I'm hoping that might boost my immune system so I can make it through the rest of the winter cold-free.
I come back from my parents to find that my blog has been totally spammed again. Bastards.
I keep closing entries, yet they keep finding the ones that I haven't closed....grrrr....
I guess it's something to do in between blowing my nose. Yeah, I'm sick again. Oh Joy.
Just have been trying to get through these last couple days before Christmas....finally tomorrow is Thursday. From Friday through New Years, I have off from work....thank God. I so need the break. Now I just have to figure out what projects I'm going to tackle during my week off......
Can you believe the crap that is being sent out to smear Target about not allowing the Salvation Army or any other group from soliciting at its doors?
Someone forwarded me this note from a Christian fundy group:
Folks dropping money in Salvation Army kettles at Wal-Mart stores can
make their money go twice as far. The world's largest retailer announced
last Thursday it would match up to $1 million in donations.
The company said the clock started Thursday on the match and runs
through Christmas Eve.
Wal-Mart is helping raise money for needy families, while the Target
Corporation continues to serve as this year's "Ebenezer Scrooge."
Earlier this year, Target told the Salvation Army to "take a hike" with
its red kettles, refusing to allow them to raise much needed funds to
help children this Christmas.
"We hope our customers join us in donating what they can to benefit an
organization that does so much in our communities to serve families in
need," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Betsy Reithemeyer said in a news release.
"The Salvation Army red kettles and the bell ringers are truly a holiday
tradition worth keeping."
The Salvation Army said the kettle donations are spent locally and said
the Wal-Mart match will extend local donations.
I hope you will consider making your Christmas purchases with companies,
like Wal-Mart, who support one of the nation's most beloved charities,
the Salvation Army.
In the meantime, please take a moment to thank Wal-Mart for supporting
the good work of the Salvation Army.
Send your email to Wal-Mart now!
Sincerely,
Don
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association
P.S. Please forward this email to family and friends.
Is the "Family" (said with Jersey accent) letting other chain stores know what kind of treatment they will get if they don't fall in line and support Salvation Army?
Really what's happening is Walmart pays off all these Christian charities to win their adoration while it simultaneously pays its workers substandard wages, forbids unions, and provides no health benefits. As far as I'm concerned screwing the employees is a non-christian thing to do. But so long as Walmart is putting money in the coffers, these christian groups look the other way.
Meanwhile, I did the majority of my Christmas shopping at Target with little to no hassle in spite of it being mobbed with holiday shoppers. That's why I love Target.
Additionally, this year instead of supporting Salvation Army, I donated to Toys for Tots. In the end, I'd rather give items that are needed rather than cash that can be diverted elsewhere. (including into someone's pocket)
It's fucking cold and windy out! I mean....*9 Degrees!* And Wind Chill of -7 Degrees?! In Maryland????!!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.......
Makes me want to call out sick and stay home in myPJs.
The wind has been awful since last night thiough it is subsiding. I'm sure the wind chill was worse around 3 AM. The wind was so gusty it woke my ass up!
One of the stores I went Christmas shopping at today was Borders. I went there solely to buy a specific calendar for my boss. When I went to get in line I found it extending down the length of the store! On one hand, I had no desire to stand in that insanely long line for 1 item. On the other hand, I really didn't want to have to come back later for this one calendar. So I started enquiring closer to the front of the line if anyone was willing to purchase my calendar with their items if I supplied the money for the calendar. One guy graciously offered to do it.
When I went to get the cash for it, I realized I was short 3 bucks. I told the guy I'd be right back--that I had to get a few dollars from my brother. I quickly scurried away and started to frantically look for my brother. When I finally found him, he was reluctant to give me anything as he was busy looking at something or other. After I insisted that I needed the money NOW, he whined that he only had $3. I told him that was all I needed and took the $3. I rushed back up to the front of the store as the guy was getting to the register. *phew*
In short, I was able to get my calendar without waiting in that awful line. Of course the guy joked that I owed him a date, LOL. Luckily he was just kidding. ;)
Feeling better as the week has progressed. Must have been hormones or something sending me out of whack Tuesday as I seem to be more even-keeled now.
I am in such a negative mood. I can't do anything right. No one else around me can do anything right. And I'm not scheduled to be PMSing yet.
God, Christmas break can't come soon enough.
I don't get a real good feeling from watching the trailer for the Tim Burton version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I like both Tim Burton and Johnny Depp but this just doesn't look right.
Why can't filmakers come up with some fresh material? Aren't there any more recent children's books they can work with? Why mess with something where the original is a one-of-a-kind?
I went from being sad to being pissed over the events of the last few months. First I had been sad to end the relationship, now I'm pissed that he was the one that backed away....and that he didn't have the balls to just end it. He required me to take the intiative, yet has whined that I'm one of his only friends around here. Too fucking bad. He should have thought of that before he went full speed into this relationship and then screeched on the brakes.
He went to some unusual extremes to start this relationship and to bring it to the level he did. And then he dropped the ball over so-called fear. Or actually "parallels" with his previous relationship which was an engagement they "mutually" broke off. (Still can't get a straight answer about the Goddamn parallels...other than we were going down the path towards marriage, supposedly.) Keeping me around for friendship and sex just wasn't acceptable in my book. Especially when I was now getting nothing emotionally from it.
Why must I always get involved with men who have some sort of issues? Okay, I guess most men have issues. ;) But still.....
At first I thought I wanted to remain friends. Now I realize I'm too hurt and betrayed for that to be an acceptable option. Especially since he kept stringing me along because he needed someone around. Fuck that!
However, I do have to be civil to him for the most part since we work in the same building. But that didn't stop me from shooting off a pissed off email. I just hope Hotmail manages to deliver it to him since I know it's been real cranky the last couple weeks. I told him to go get a freaking Yahoo account or something. Hotmail sucks!
I'm home again sick. This damned cold keeps coming back. Every time I think I've got it licked it comes back again. It's not the most terrible cold, but I want it to be completely gone. Being home alone keeps me trapped with my what-ifs and other thoughts. In this case I'd rather be working and occupied, rather than feeling sorry for myself.
I, in essence ended things today. The downward spiral got to be too much. I needed to be able to walk away with some respect for myself. Much of what derailed us had to do with some stuff he was dealing with. But I feel no comfort or glee in pointing the blame at him. The whole thing just feels so unfortunate....like bad timing or events miscued. I wish things could have turned out differently, but I don't think the outcome was ever in my hands to determine.
Meanwhile, my birthday is coming up Saturday. Happy fucking birthday to me. Hopefully, having my parents here for a visit will make my birthday more uplifting than the past couple days. If not anything else, they'll keep me occupied.
I'm home today suffering from a sore throat. Basically I feel like crap. The sun has come out today, but so has the wind. Gusting up to 35 mph. I'm hoping the shutters don't blow off the house again. I just had my dad put two of them back up. My house finally looked normal again.
Looking at the extended outlook on weather.com, I see that it may snow the day before my birthday. That's because my parents were actually talking about coming down here for it. I can't remember the last time I had my family around for my birthday. Since it falls between Thanksgiving and Christmas, generally everyone is too busy to make a special trip and actually usually so am I. But this year since it is on a Saturday, Dad decided that they should drive down. So you know we're going to get a blizzard here in MD now. So be warned, LOL.