Rain, sleet, icy roads, 100% chance of snow

...perfect night to go running out to Barnes and Noble to check out the latest Japanese comic books, right?

WRONG!

I knew as soon as the phone rang that this scenario would not end well.

It's 20 something degrees outside and a wind chill of 12. What were they thinking?!

What does stupid getcha? Getcha stupid.

I'm so pissed off right now I can't see straight. More on this later when I know more about what the heck happened.

What were they thinking?!


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Smells like snow

Currently, it's 28 degrees where I live.

Could be worse-- I could still be in Wyoming, where it was 4 degrees in Casper yesterday!

The television stations are already broadcasting school, church and other closings. Not that I'm planning on going anywhere.

At least I didn't have to drive on I-40 eastbound at 5pm. Or on any other interstate. I went as far as WalMart today. Wow.

Still waiting to hear about the apartment I paid an application fee for on Monday. Seems that they're having trouble contacting my landlady in Wyoming. I was told that property manager at the place I applied at would contact me.

I'm going to call her in the morning, though. We were having issues with the phone yesterday. Someone at the phone company screwed up and the payment somehow didn't get credited. If someone hadn't called to ask about where the payment was, I'm sure the phone would have been cut off. Maybe it was for all I know. But the problem was resolved and all is well for today.

Mom was none too pleased by this turn of events.

Jeff told us this evening after Daniel picked him up at work (I'm not cool enough to pick him up, I guess) that someone had keyed Daniel's car on both the hood and the spoiler down to the base metal. If this happened while the car was parked here at the house, I'm going to suggest that Daniel call the poilce and report it. I wonder if his car insurance will pay to fix the damage.

Well, I better go fix dinner. Mom doesn't want to be eating when "Medium" comes on at 9pm.


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but...

I know all the words to the BC Clark Christmas jingle. It is, amazingly enough, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

It only took me four Christmases to get the words to this annoying (and by Christmas, it will be) little ditty down pat.

It almost makes coming back from Wyoming worth it.
===

We're supposed to get some of the white stuff on Thursday. The forecast calls for a high of (get this!) 27, and a low of (I shit you not) 26. Wind chill, batteries, taxes, tag and title not included.

I do miss the winters in New England, though. Someday, I'll get back there.
===

Interview went well, BTW. Now the waiting begins. There must have been a dozen people there at the same time I was.

And, a one bedroom apartment came available this morning at the last place Tori took me to about three weeks ago. So I went over there and took a look. It's a small one bedroom, but, hell, it's just me going to live there, I don't need much room. I paid an application fee and filled out paperwork. I'll know something about that tomorrow. If I pass muster, then things will move very quickly.
===

The busybody will be here in the morning. Oh. Joy.


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

The Broadway Extension isn't the place to lose your composure over a song on the radio

...but nonetheless, that is where I was when "Alyssa Lies" came on one of the country radio stations this afternoon.

"Alyssa Lies" --Jason Michael Carroll

My little girl met a new friend
Just the other day
On the playground at school
Between the tires and the swings
But she came home with tear-filled eyes
And she said to me "Daddy, Alyssa Lies"

I just brushed it off at first
Cause I didn't know how much my little girl had been hurt
Or the things she had seen
I wasn't ready when I said you can tell me
And she said

Chorus

Alyssa Lies
To the classroom
Alyssa lies
Everyday at school
Alyssa lies
To the teacher
As she tries to cover every bruise

My little girl laid her head down
That night to go to sleep
As I stepped out the room I heard her say
A prayer so soft and sweet
God bless my mom and my dad
And my new friend Alyssa
I know she needs it bad

Chorus

I had the worst night of sleep in years
As I tried to think of a way to calm her fears
I knew just what it was I had to do
But when we got to school on Monday I heard the news

My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad
The lump in my throat grew bigger
With every question that she asked
Until I felt the tears run down my face
And I told her that Alyssa wouldn't be at school today

She doesn't lie
In the classroom
She doesn't lie
Anymore at school
Alyssa lies
With Jesus
Because there's nothing anyone would do

Tears filled my eyes
When my little girl asked me why
Alyssa lies
Daddy tell me why
Alyssa lies


I almost pulled off the road, but managed to keep it together until I got to my destination.

It brought out such strong emotions in me-- sadness, anger, helplessness... and yes, I almost lost it out there on the Broadway Extension.

Why do some parents take their frustrations out on their children physically? What did that child ever do to them. Why are there so many children like Kelsey Briggs and Marcella Hope Yellowbear, whose parent(s) treat them in such unspeakable ways?

I wish I knew the answers to those questions. I really and truly do.

This song makes me cry. Just reading the lyrics gets me choked up.



That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

1:16am and all is well

Not a creature is stirring, though Pinky's downstairs snoring her head off.

I should be in bed snoring my head off (not that I snore... much). I have an interview at 11am!

At least the left rear tire isn't flat anymore. I think I can get to where I'm going tomorrow without a major catastrophe (famous last words...).

Look out I-35!


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

What I'm thankful for..

*My health (for all the complaining I do about it, I'm still relatively in good shape)
*My family and friends
*The talent that God gave me
*Every sunrise and sunset
*My faith

There are more, but I can't think of them at the moment. Except this:

*I'm thankful to be among friends and family instead of trying to do Thanksgiving alone in Wyoming...




That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Gobble, gobble

Happy Turkey Day!

I braved the crowds of last minute Thanksgiving feast preparers at Wal-Mart to get a grand total of three oranges for the cranberries I made. The place was packed! There were still turkeys available, but no fresh cranberries. Daniel bought some at his store the other night.

Other than that, I didn't get a whole lot done today.

My interview was pushed back to Monday @ 11am. No problem. After the interview, I'll check out some apartments and talk to someone at Rose State about what classes I need. I think I can squeeze that all into one afternoon. Maybe I'll add a trip to an auto parts store to price batteries for the Beretta. Seems that my local neighborhood Wal-Mart auto center doesn't carry them.

Another expense I wasn't counting on. Tires, wiper blades, and fluids... yeah. A battery? Nope.

*sigh*

Guess I will watch the parade and the dog show tomorrow, then head over to my sister's. Have a great Thanksgiving!


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

The Post wherein Stef pinch hits for her mom

Mom didn't go to the Grandparents Day thing at the school yesterday (Tuesday). About an hour before I got up, Mom called Tori and told her that she couldn't make it because she was short of breath.

So I went in her stead.

My mom has COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder), which was most likely caused by her 60+ years of smoking. She doesn't have it so badly that she needs oxygen to help her breathe; Tori thinks that isn't far behind, though.

This was diagnosed while I was in Wyoming. Now the reasons why Mom couldn't stay on the phone ("Stefie, I have to hang up," she'd say) make sense. She was out of breath just walking across the room to answer the phone!

I had to be at my sister's at 11am, and Jeff drove the van because I was messing with the lens in my glasses that keeps falling out. Jeff was going to stay at Tori's and watch over Joe while Tori and I went over to the school. We got there just in time as the second graders were getting their turn at the turkey dinners (Amalia is in the second grade). Marc was in line with her "holding" our place.

The dinner (at 11:30am, when Marc says he usually goes to lunch with his class) was good. We made the obligatory visit to Amalia's class, and ended up taking one of Amalia's little pals home, as Tori was going to take the two of them to an ice skating lesson in the afternoon.

Jeff and I left and went over to the tag agency to get the little 2007 sticker for the van. So now the van's all legal-like until next year at this time.
===

Didn't have time to look at a couple of apartments like I wanted to today. I'm going to try and get that done tomorrow.
===

And I'll be making the famous cranberries later today. I need to get the oranges though.



That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Grandparents Day

No, not that commercialized non-holiday that all the greeting card companies make cards for in September, but the annual last day of school before Thanksgiving affair that is put on by the school that my youngest son and my niece attend. Marc's voice is changing now, and it sounds weird on the phone. He's the one who called asking to speak with Mom about Grandparents Day at school.

Last year, I thought it should be called "Family Day", because it's not just grandparents who show up to this shindig. No one said anything about me coming along this year, so I'm not.

Somehow, Mom needs to be at my sister's at 11am tomorrow morning. I think Daniel is going to drop her off before he goes to work. I'll be checking out apartments and paying for the 2007 sticker that goes on the license plate of Mom's van (it's overdue now), and Jeff will be sleeping because it's his day off.
===

I can't get Nickleback's "Animals" out of my head. Not a bad tune to get stuck in there.
===

I've been back in OKC since September 30, and I haven't heard word one from a certain New Orleans native. He knew I was coming back here, and I gave him my cell number and Mom's number, but he has yet to call. Maybe he's busy with the gal he's been involved with since he returned to New Orleans earlier this year (though the last time I talked to him, things weren't exactly going swimmingly). Maybe he went back to Hutch and his mentally ill ex wife; I don't know. If he gets in touch with me, fine. If he doesn't, fine. Maybe I just want to know he's okay.
===

I've come to the realization that I paid waaay too much for my glasses. For what I paid for these stupid things, I could have bought everyone in my Mom's household a pair of glasses, and a spare pair for myself.

I've had them two months, and they're already falling apart. I've almost lost the right lens about 100 times because the screw holding it in the frame comes loose.

There's a place in OKC where you can get two pairs for under 100 bucks. I should have waited until I came back to get new glasses.

*sigh*
===

Thanks for peeking :)






That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

There he goes again...

Daniel, out the door, on his way to the store for something (with tons of caffeine, no doubt) to drink.

No wonder he sleeps all day on his days off.

He's also waiting for the un-girlfriend to call, but since I have dial up here at Mom's house, un-g/f won't be able to get thru.

It's 1:00am... isn't it kinda late to be calling?

Well, isn't it?
===




That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Whoopty freakin' doo, part 2

TomKat tied the knot today.

And this is important in the grand scheme of things because...?

I thought so.
===

On to the more important things, like living my life.


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Whoopty freakin' doo!

I changed my name on my driver's license recently to my maiden name, since it's been my legal name for well over a year now.

This is my Oklahoma license. I already had it on my Wyoming license, which I put thru the shredder earlier this week. Perhaps I should send the shredded pieces back to the driver's license bureau in Cheyenne with a note stating that I've changed my address, and probably will never live in Wyoming again.

Jon text messages me earlier this evening and says something to the effect of that i've never had a license under my maiden name, since I originally didn't get a license until I was 24 years old when I was still living in California. I was already married by that time.

Why does he think that this is a big deal for me? Because it's not, IMHO, a big deal to me. Just something else I have to change.

With my luck, by the time I get everything changed, I'll probably get married again.

Naaaah... I've been married, thanks. And even if I did remarry, I'd hypenate my name with his.

But I don't anticipate that happening.

I would like to be in a mutually satisfying relationship if that is in my future at some point. The companionship would be nice...

*sigh*



That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

I hate my computer. I hate my computer. I hate my...

I'm ready to tear my hair out over this stupid thing!

I've been trying to post to my blog and send emails for three days, and my computer just wouldn't cooperate.

Grrrr....
===

In the last post, I lamented that I had nothing to write about. Well, be careful what you wish for...

1. On Tuesday-- Jeff and I went to pick up Scott from school, and Jeff decided that he was going to drive to my sister's by some route that I personally wouldn't have taken.

There's a section of one road that winds behind Frontier City, where the speed limit is posted as 55 mph. Jeff's response to this was, "righteous!" However, the road is in terrible disrepair. I called it the road that Oklahoma City forgot. Jeff, of course, is going 55 and both Scott and I asked him to slow down. Jeff did slow down to about 45 mph. That's still too fast for me personally, and I told Jeff that I don't have a will so I can't die today. Scott tried to tell Jeff about a route that was quicker, and Jeff didn't want to hear it from his little (i.e. younger) brother.

We finally get to my sister's in one piece. I told Jeff that I was driving home. He was fine with that. I took the interstate like I usually do.

2. On Wednesday-- it was cold and rainy and windy, so I really didn't feel like running my errands. But I did drive Jeff to work, because it really was too cold for him to ride his bike.

3. Also on Wednesday-- there was a report on the local news about people who are camping out waiting for the Friday release of PS3. And sure enough, there were people camped out in front of the WalMart near Mom's house, waiting for Friday at 12:01 am when the stupid game system goes on sale for something like $600!

I never understood why people would do that, be it a movie premiere, a club opening, or waiting for the "hottest toy" of the year to go on sale. I guess I never needed something bad enough to wait for days in line for it. In a tent. In the wind and rain in November in Oklahoma.
===




That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Hurricane Joe

Though, today Joe was wearing my cowboy hat, and his cowboy boots. He looked more like Cottoneye Joe than Hurricane Joe. I waited in vain for him to line dance or imitate Garth Brooks or Toby Keith.

Or even say "yee haw".

He didn't though.

Bummer.
===

Know what I was thinking today? That if my maternal grandmother was still alive, she'd be 99 years old tomorrow.

And that a year and two days from tomorrow; Oklahoma will celebrate the centennial of its statehood; Two days from tomorrow will be a year since I saw my first Hornets game; and four days from tomorrow will be a year since Daniel had his appendectomy and spent 4 days in the hospital right before Thanksgiving.
===

I need something to write about.
===

It's still my cowboy hat...



That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Hmmm... this sounds interesting

And now, boyz and grrlz, it's time for another installment of

Stef's Horrorscope


Aquarius

Daily extended (by Astrology.com)

Romance will be all around you today, so if you want to, just reach out and grab it! This will involve some level of risk, so you would do well to remind yourself that anything worth having requires stepping out of your comfort zone a little bit. Keep in mind that romance isn't always about love. Sharing intimate hopes, wishes and fears with a new person is another way to turn up the drama and suspense in your life right now.
===

I'd gladly trade the drama and suspense of my current situation for the drama and suspense of a new relationship. Reach out and grab it? Don't want to scare anyone off...


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

I have a million things to do

and here I sit at the computer, putting it all off.

Okay, so I like doing my laundry late at night. Mom doesn't like it much, since the washer and dryer is on the other side of the wall from her room.

Late nights are the only time I don't have to compete with everyone else in this house for the washer and dryer.

At least I don't have to do everyone's laundry...



That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

I thought I had this taken care of years ago...

but, on Tuesday, it landed me on my ass. Oh, my long absent sciatica! Why didn't you stay gone, for God's sake!

It was like someone reached inside my back, grabbed the nerve that runs down my right leg and pulled with all their might. Then they let go and it still friggin hurts!

I feel like that Garth Brooks song: I'm much too young to feel this damn old! It's almost like my brain is 30 and my body insists that it's almost 43, and what the hell do you think you're doin', Stef?!

So guess who didn't get to vote on Tuesday because she was in a lot of pain?

I have my own little election thingy going on here though--

Goes something like this:

Republican control of the House and the Senate: OUT!
Rumsfeld: OUT!
Istook for Governor: OUT!
Saddam: soon will be swinging from the gallows pole, so he's OUT!
My old hunk of junk: I wish it were on the way out, but has won a reprieve of sorts
K-Fed: OUT! OUT! OUT! and don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya on the way out
===

glad you're feeling better...



That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Tomorrow's election day...

Yay. I never thought it'd get here. That means the negative ads will finally end!

It's not the voting that gets me... I'll do that willingly whenever possible. It's the political ads that I hate the most!

Just freakin tell me WHY I should vote for you, instead of bad mouthing the other guy/gal. What's your "plan"? And don't send me to a web site to find out. You know how many people don't have a computer, or don't care to have one (i.e. my mother)? Your "plan" on the web doesn't do those without internet access a whole helluva lot of good, ya know?



That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Why I'm not doing NaNoWriMo this year, apartment hunting, and Babydoll

NaNoWriMo: I had already decided not to participate this year due to my not having my computer in Wyoming with me. Since I'm back in OKC, I've got so many things going on now, that I just don't have the time to write anything. Usually, I would have had a clue as to write about by this time, but I don't. And, it's probably more important to find a place to live and a job, than it is to attempt to write 50k words in 30 days.

I'm taking the year off to collect myself and get things back on an even keel. In retrospect, I should have taken last year off, too. I was busy with finishing up broadcasting school, then Daniel got appendicitis, and the novel I wrote last year was not my best work. I barely got to the 50k mark.

Let's see where I am next spring before I decide to participate in 07.
===

Tori drove me around on Friday to see apartments in MWC and Del City. The first place in MWC was nice. I was shown a couple really nice ones, a one and a two bedroom. The one bedroom was cozy (read: small), and could very easily meet my needs since it will just be me living there. And the gal who showed me around was very nice.

The second one I saw was okay, but the gal who showed me the one bedroom there was a bit standoffish, like she had better things to do than show me an apartment.

We then went to Sonic near Tori's house because Joey had speech therapy at 1:30pm. Scott tagged along because Memorial was having conferences on Friday, so there was no school. Then we dropped Joey off at the elementary school and Tori took me and Scott back to her house while she went back to the school to pick up Joey.

Scott was doing homework, so he stayed home and awaited Marc and Amalia's return from school. Tori debated leaving Joey with Scott, but decided to take him with us, in the hope that he would fall asleep in the car as we drove to Del City to see the last apartment I wanted to check out.

Of course, he didn't.

We kinda got lost on the way to the last place. Tori got disoriented and we ended up going in a big circle, but we finally found it. She asked me how I knew my way around Del City so well (she kept asking me where Sunnylane was, and it was away from where we were headed). I only said that the broadcasting school was near where we were going.

The apartment at the last place had already been rented, but the gal there asked for my name and phone numbers and told me she would call me if something was going to be vacant in December. I'm going to call her in about a week and inquire as well.

The place in Del City is right by I-40, but I can deal with that if that is where I end up.
===

Babydoll is sitting in Tori and Dean's garage, waiting for me to tag and title her. I think Im going to take some of the stickers off her windows and the back bumper. She needs a lot of cosmetic work done (paint job, redo the pinstriping, maybe replace the passenger side rearview mirror where someone in Methuen opened their door into it about 5 years ago...), but that will have to wait. She really needs fluids, windshield wiper blades and tires more than a new paint job.

But, she runs! I wish I knew in 2003 that all she needed was a new fuel pump. I'd have probably taken care of it then instead of letting her sit for three years.

Tori asked why I wasnted to hold on to this car that needed all this work done. I told her that Babydoll was the first major purchase I made after Jon and I separated, and that she's paid for.

What I didn't tell her is that Babydoll represents freedom to me. Life is a highway, and I wanna ride it all night long...
===

That "Yes yes no no" and "No no yes yes" thing? Daniel explained it to me last night, and it make a little more sense. But just a little...


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--

Guess she forgot about me

My sister and I were going to look at a couple more apartments this morning, but I guess she was preoccupied with something else.

I called her, but I got her voicemail.

*sigh*

And-- it looks like Jon will pay for my tags and title here for the Beretta. He said when I told him I was going back to OKC that he would take care of that, since the car was in the shop at the time. So sometime after the tenth, he's going to send me the money. I'll believe it when I'm holding the check in my hands.

Insurance is up to me. And I have to have insurance. It's the law in Oklahoma.

Halloween was okay. It was kinda cold Tuesday night, so we didn't get a lot of visitors. And that was fine because we ran out of candy early.

I took pictures, but I won't post them. I have pics on that roll from Wyoming, and I might post those. If my old hunk of junk will cooperate, that is.


That's all from where I sit.

--MorelaterZ--