Offtopic Sofa Time

[Sinkwriter72]

Wow, we are a fine bunch, aren't we? All the walking wounded and sick people: my bruised lip, Jade's poor foot, Steph's concussed skull, Ang's not feeling well, jusbcuzz and her laptop (seriously, at first I didn't realize you were talking about a computer, LOL! I thought you meant an actual baby when you said you took your 'baby' to the doctor ), and Akarana can't bowl (haha, just teasing! you should see ME bowl! not pretty)... what is going on with all of us??

I hope everyone's back in form by now!

And I'm glad I tickled some of you with my story of how I injured my lip. As I said at the start of that post, it was 'for your entertainment.' *GRIN* I aim to amuse.

After all, it was fairly comical, how it happened. If it had been truly traumatic, I probably wouldn't have worded it that way.

Anyway... let's see... what's going on with me right now? I'm back in school, taking an advanced version of the web design class I took this summer. (In fact, I have homework to do, so I should probably hurry up with writing this message and get to it!)

I may have a potential client (!) for a web site -- my aunt's hair stylist wants to try having a web site for her shop and asked if I would consider making her one. It would be good practice for me, and help her at the same time. We're meeting on Monday to discuss it; I'll show her some of the sites I made for my last class, and talk with her about her shop, find out what she envisions for her site, what she needs to see on it, that sort of thing. I'm no expert, and she knows that (thank goodness), but I think I can create something nice for her. At least, I hope so.

And I've been doing a little bit of writing lately, working on a few projects, the most recent of which was a 300-word piece I was inspired to create after watching this week's big cliffhanger episode of White Collar (it was their 'fall finale' episode, the last one before they take a break until January). 300 words may seem short (especially for me), but it was actually written for a site that challenges you to write very short pieces, exactly 100, 200 or 300 words in length. I chose 300.

Actually, I was going to go with 200, but went over the mark and wasn't done so I decided to expand it to 300. Regardless, it was still quite the challenge, to find exact wordings and cut out the excess. For a while I was 2 words under 300, then 2 words or 4 words over 300, but found ways to tweak it until at last it was exactly 300. That was fun to write, and I got some decent feedback from some very kind WC fans, so I'm pleased.

All right -- I best get to my homework (and finish my laundry)! I hope you're all feeling much better and having a great Friday!

xo
Sherry

[ThyneAlone]

It's Friday! Happy day to all! I'm through my first full week back, loads to do still though. I'll be happier when they give me my laptop back.

Thought I'd leap in on two points here: number one, Sherry, seriously, there is nothing like self discipline to improve your writing. To pin yourself down to a number of words or a particular form, like a sonnet or a short story, really focuses you and sharpens up your style. It's a great self-challenge and gives real satisfaction when you achieve what you wanted!.

And Jessi - geocaching does sound great. We have someone here who is quite heavily into it - begolden aka Rebecca - but she's not been around for quite a time and I think life has 'taken over'. I've met her though and she's lovely. I hope she will drop in again sometime!

[SmackyKennedy]

Vero's story reminded me of my old neighbor who drives a city bus here...

This man is probably in his 60s and he used to live in the building across from me. He was one of those who used to sit outside in his chair and just watch people all day so he knew everything, so he noticed when my ex-husband moved out, etc. He told me at one point that if I ever needed to get out he could "introduce me to some nice, young gentleman at the American Legion." I'm sure there are some very nice, young gentleman in the military but are any under the age of 50 hanging out at the American Legion on Friday night? Later after finding out my divorce was final he said we should go out. I laughed but he was actually serious. So I had to backtrack with the oh "I can't find anybody to watch the kids, etc.." I saw him at the grocery store and he asked again, but used the work/kids excuse again. Luckily he moved, but he drives a trolley around town so I see him everywhere. Whenever one pulls up next to me I refuse to look and try to look as busy as possible. I guess he's just lonely but it's creepy!!

I would really like to just find a nice guy around 30-40 that has a job and doesn't do drugs. I'd like him to have hair too because I have a bad track record with bald guys. Too much to ask?

[Sinkwriter72]

LOL. Ang, you just reminded me of something...

On my 30th birthday (*ahem* not this year), the door to my apartment buzzed. An older gentleman was there to deliver flowers to me from my sister. He started chatting with me about the flowers, and I mentioned they were for my birthday and admitted I had just turned 30. He told me he'd turned 60 that year... and then he asked me out.



When I hesitated (trying to think of the politest way to decline), he went on to say that he thought I was a beautiful woman (major points for that one, heh) and that a woman like me deserves someone to take care of her. He started telling me his prospects -- used to be in the service, worked in a job (I forget what it was) for many, many years, and now he's retired and owns his own house (with a garden! I distinctly remember him emphasizing that as a selling point, which amused me) and works for the flower shop doing deliveries just so he has something to do. He wanted to take me out and show me how a woman should be treated.



He was such a gentleman, and very nice, but... I echo your question:

Why can't a guy my own age say that kind of stuff to me? I mean, I don't need to be taken care of (not in every way -- this isn't the 1950's! LOL), but it's nice to be appreciated, and I got the sense this guy would have appreciated me. (As well he should, me being HALF HIS AGE, LOL!)

It was just ironic to me that I finally got asked out after years of being alone and independent, and the invitation came from a sixty-year-old. Maybe if I'd been in my fifties, I would have considered going out with him, but as a thirty-year-old, I really wanted someone my own age.

Is that so wrong?

On a side note... Steph, I totally concur with you about the benefits to writing challenges like sonnets or short stories or drabbles (as we on LiveJournal like to call 100-word pieces and the like). It's a huge challenge to edit yourself and find just the right words to convey what you want, as economically as possible. I don't think the one I wrote this week will be winning me any awards, but it got the point across that I was trying to make and managed to have some underlying depth to it (I think) and for that I'm pleased with it.

Now if I could just keep up a regular writing schedule so that it becomes a habit...

[skftex]

V I'd like him to have hair too because I have a bad track record with bald guys. Too much to ask?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Sorry, that just made me laugh sooooooooo much.

About the American Legion, in some of the more rural areas you might find men under 40 in there on a Friday night. That certainly wouldn't be the case where I live, and probably not where you live either, Ang.

[delphiekat]

Hello everyone!

I know I haven't been around much lately, in fact, I don't think I have posted anything since the chat with TJ - it feels like an eternity!

Life has been "challenging" these past weeks... I don't like to burden other people with my problems, but tonight I need to write them down, share them with others... It's hard to say why, but I just need to. Maybe it'll help me feel a little better?

Where to start? As some of you might know, I have thyroid problems. Of course, couldn't get the easiest one, it had to be hyper, but I finally got my appointment for a radio-iodine treatment that should fix the situation (it's in a little bit more than two weeks). Fun (?) little fact: did you know that pregnancy hormones are not the only hormones that can give you mood swings? Yup, figured that one out after a few rough days at work... Actually, mood swings and other symptoms such as nausea and tachycardia. So I called my doc and she put me on sick leave about four weeks ago.

Ever since, I have appointments with the endocrinologist every two weeks and blood draws to make sure the hormone levels are okay. On the plus side, the last few technicians I’ve seen were good enough not to leave any major bruises, so I should consider myself lucky. The whole situation wouldn’t be that bad if it wasn’t also the time of year when I have all the other appointments (family doctor, dentist and gyn) so I am at the clinic/hospital 2-3 times a week, this is so much fun

If it wasn’t enough, the tiny little cyst I’ve had on my neck for like 10 years has decided to get infected/inflamed (doctor doesn’t really know what’s going on), so I have an appointment with a surgeon on Tuesday. Can’t say I’m ecstatic about having someone bring a scalpel so close to the major blood vessels in my neck… Well, I guess I’ll have to wait and see how that one goes…

Oh, I almost forgot, last week, an ambulance kinda rear-ended my car. There was heavy traffic, I could barely move the car out of the way, but the driver decided there was enough room for him to go ahead. Newsflash, there wasn’t! Of course, since they were on an emergency call, they didn’t stop, but they were kind enough (!) to tell the policemen stationed at the other end of the bridge. Thank gosh for insurances, because there’s for over $1500 in damages, but at least I wasn’t injured.

And, to top it off, my cats are not feeling well, and I have no idea what’s wrong. Last weekend, I noticed the first one wasn’t eating all his food, but it looked more like he was being fancy and preferred one kind of food over the others, so I didn’t really care – if I leave it there long enough, he will eat it. But earlier this week, the other one kinda stopped eating, no matter what kind of food I gave him, and he was a bit lethargic. Since they both eat at least a little, use the litter box and don’t throw up, the vet said it wasn’t an emergency. So instead, I follow their every move and worry about them all day long… They did start eating again, but they’re still not back to their perky selves, and it still feels like something is wrong. Maybe they just have an off day/week, I’m probably worrying too much for nothing, but I have no boyfriend or no kids, and I live alone, so I can honestly say they are my entire life and I hate to see them miserable.

Okay, they are not miserable, just not top shape. And guess what, yup, anxiety is a major symptom for my thyroid issues, so it doesn’t help! And since I have to stop my meds next week in preparation for my radio-iodine treatment, it might get a little worse, so much fun in perspective!

Since I don’t want to get completely depressed, I try to see the good side of all this. I’ve had plenty of time to clean the apartment. In the last few days I even re-organised the pantry and the tool closet! I’m up to date in my various TV shows, and I have fun watching reruns of Friends in the afternoon. I am also working on a website to sell greeting cards I make based on various photographs I take. Oh, and I stop by every day to read your posts, even if I don’t reply… Your adventures make me smile, thank you all!

So that’s about it, sorry for the very long post! I really needed to get it off my chest, and it seems to be working, I feel a little better already.

Thank you very much, and have a great weekend!

Kat

[~*Ali*~]

Wow Kat I hope things get better for you I really do. And for your Cats to get better as well. Have you tried a different Vet for a second opinion?

Stay safe and Get well soon
Ali

[cutenebula]

Hey Kat, feel free to write as often as you can, if you feel better writing about all this, just do it!
We'll always be here to try to cheer you up, even if I'm not sure what to do for this... Sincerly, I hope things will get better and I'm sending you some positive energy. If it can help, it's not worthless...

Ang and Sherry!!! loool
I'm used to elder men who think they can have some date with me!!! But none of them never wanted to take care of me, no no no... They just needed some lover for the weekends or some days off!
I'm sure there's nothing written on my forhead nor on my shirt saying I'm totally open for a free date, so I have no clue why they ask me this! lol It usually happens when they discover I'm older than they first thought and so the way they look at me really changes! lol You should see this!!!
The last one, some weeks ago, is a friend's dad aged 50 or so who was coming very often at the pool and told me that he was free for some weekends if I wanted and that he was looking for lovers... How nice was it, uh? lol Who said that french men were romantic??? All the non french people!!!
Men can be weird, or maybe trying on every girl they meet, so maybe one of them will say yes???

I don't need someone to take care of me, I've been single for 14 years (don't get me wrong, I have boyfriends sometimes! lol) and I think I can take care of myself, but sharing good moments, have someone to talk to when I come back home, going out sometimes, doing some sport together, not all the time of course, it's not good to be together all the time, but yes, that would be great, really Oh, and laughing, I manage to laugh alone, but it's even better with that special one
Errrr. I wasn't supposed to write all this, but now it's done... lol

Have fun ladies!!!

Kat! here's a group hug for you!!!

Véro

[ThyneAlone]

Kat I am so sorry life is currently dealing you such an awful hand. I have my fingers crossed for you and will be thinking of you. And I think being worried about your kitties is entirely natural. You're their mother. No-one has better instincts about a 'child'.

I see we are all discussing old men here all of a sudden. We've not done that before! I have had a fair share of male interest from the upper end of the age range but no-one that actually visited me, or lived in the same area, that would be creepy. By the way you can all stop dissing bald men. My husband is an elective eggshell blond and he is quite attractive!

[skftex]

Okay, old man stories. I ride the bus to school, and I have to transfer downtown. I was on my way home, and was sitting on a bench waiting for my bus to come at the terminal there.
This old man wearing an apron, a fishing hat, and on oxygen, so he is pulling his tank behind him, came and sat next to me. He says "HELLO", so not thinking anything about it I said hello back to him.

I guess that was an invitation because his next question was "DO YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?" I'm dumb, I don't say yes, I said no. He says "HEY, GIVE ME YOUR PHONE NUMBER BECAUSE I'M SINGLE AND LOOKING FOR A GIRLFRIEND!!" (does single translate to desperate???)

And yes, I'm typing all his stuff in caps because he is actually yelling the whole time. LOL I know I'm not young, but this man looks 80! I wise up and tell him I don't have a phone, so he says "WELL LET ME TELL YOU MINE, YOU CAN CALL ME AND WE CAN GO OUT".

I am mean I guess, but I told him no, that I wouldn't call him. He looked shocked! LOL

So I think my bus is coming so I get up and walk away.

But it wasn't my bus, so I sit on a bench far far away from this man....only...a woman sits next to me, and here comes the man again...but this time he talks to the woman that is sitting next to me. They apparently know each other, but he immediately asks her "DO YOU THINK I'D BE A GOOD BOYFRIEND FOR YOU?" HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

And here I thought I was special!!!! I guess not!

She tells him she doesn't know, so he asks her about her friend.

She answers him and he says to her, "HEY DO YOU THINK I'D BE A GOOD BOYFRIEND FOR HER?" and at this point a woman in a one of those electric wheelchairs goes flying by, and he says hi to her and she says Hi as she's zooming past..and the old man starts running after her yelling "HEY, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE IN A WHEELCHAIR..." LOL

Was the funniest day for me. Turns out this man just hangs out at the bus terminal chasing after women...young or old or in between (like me LOL). I think his only criteria is female and breathing. HAHAHAHAHA
I saw this man many times after that, chasing after some woman or another. I'd just walk really fast whenever I saw him and pretend I didn't hear him say hi. LOL And sit far far away from where he was, and move if I saw him coming. Last time I saw him, he was chasing a woman into the new terminal building. She looked about 20 but he must have thought he had a chance.

[cutenebula]

Bahahahaha!!! Sharon!!! You always make me laugh so much!!!

I love your story!!!
This man is desperately seaking LOVE!!!

Poor women!!! lol



Véro

[~*Ali*~]

@Sharon

[SmackyKennedy]

By the way you can all stop dissing bald men. My husband is an elective eggshell blond and he is quite attractive!

That's the problem, I DO find the bald look attractive. All 3 of my serious relationships have been with bald guys (elective or otherwise) and it just hasn't worked, so it may be bad luck for me.

Sharon, that is too funny!! I can picture him running after someone with the oxygen tank.

Kat, I hope things get better for you soon! ((hugs))

[~*Ali*~]

I have in my head that guy out of the show The Pretender Mr. Raines.

[Jude40]

Hi all

Just stopped by to say went to the convention Friday, got back yesterday and had a good time. It was different but in a good way.

More importantly Eddie McClintock is a complete star really funny and laid back, chatted to him a few times and he and Lynn (Mrs McClintock) are both lovely. He said he had spoken to HH about the possibility of bringing Sully back to 'Bones' but didn't say there was anything definite.

All the guests were cool, Katrina Law was really funny it was her first convention and I actually think she was terrified a lot of the time but very friendly and natural.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

Catch you later

Jude x

[TJ4ever]

Great story, Sharon!

Jude, sounds like you had a lot of fun at the convention! That's great!

I love to go to conventions. Next year there is a "Supernatural" convention in Germany. Maybe I will attend, if I get a ticket!

See you!

[Akarana]

Lol Sharon! He sounds like quite the original. Although I have to say that I always think it's creepy when "old" guys try to flirt with you or confess their attraction/lust.. whatever. Especially if it's your former teacher.. anyway... (The exact words were "We teachers have libido as well, you know" and I was like *Where can I go and throw up?!*)

Can anyone tell me what was wrong with kids yesterday? Had there been a post somewhere saying "Let's all be complete jerks today"?!
I like my students, I really do and most of the time they crack me up more than they annoy me, but those two hours I was around all of them at the homework counceling: It was hell.
I'm not sure yet if the kids were different or if it was because my colleagues lacked any kind of authority. We have this new guy at the center and he's nice and everything, competent as well in maths and physics and chemistry. Problem is: He's a dork and one sees that immediately. Now if I can see it, then it takes the kids like a second to know that they can do whatever they want with him. His only punishment is to write their names down. Oooh scary, they are shaking in their shoes.
Last week I was alone with him and the kids, which was ok, because I was the one with authority and he followed my lead. It was exhausting, but kind of working. Threw two students out of the room, placed two on other tables and it was ok.
However yesterday a new teacher had her first day so I should show her stuff. Then all our troublemakers were there, plus the dorky teacher.
Chaos doesn't even cover it. It's like with everything he says and every punishment he tries he edges them on even more and I'm tempted to roll my eyes at him. At one point all 8 students of his table had "gone to the restroom", one of mine had already been there, another ran out of the room and suddenly the students of the new teacher were gone as well. I was like "I go and get them" and the "dorky one" said he'd go and do it, because they're in the boys bathroom. Anna and I kept working with the rest and after ten minutes he's still gone as well as the kids. I just wanted to go and check on him, when he comes in, completely soaked and goes "I told them to get back in here and fist they laughed and then they threw water on me. I need to change". I thought he would cry any moment. So I had to go over, he warns me not to let them get me, and I tell them to stop it, get the stuff to clean the room and then come back asap. Three minutes later the bathroom was dry and clean and they were back in the room.
It went on like this. The new one looked totally freaked out, especially when our Mr. nice guy (he kind of has a reputation but isn't a bad guy, more like a poser) yelled at her " What do you want from me, you victim?! Go f*** yourself and leave me alone with this English homework sh**!". And guess what happened? She stared at him wide eyed, Mr. Dork said "Alex, really". And I told him to apologize immediately, pack his stuff, go to the other room and that his mother would get a note from us,that she'd have to sign, telling her what happened .
I wasn't their favorite teacher in the room, as you can imagine and I felt like "Why always me? Why do I have to be the one with the punishments?!". I didn't even study to be a teacher while the other two are teachers. Don't they know that if you're not consequent you lose?!

I hope that today will be better and I work with other colleagues. If I have to work with these two every monday I'll have to talk to our boss and tell her that this won't work.
I'm a nice, calm and usually friendly person, but give me this every Monday and I'll be transformed into a ball of fury the second I step in there on Mondays.

So how was your start of the week?!

[jusbcuzz]

So, yeah, well...it was one of those days. Normally Mondays are fine. They follow Sunday in a work week. But this week Monday followed a day and half in the middle of no where with a bunch of ladies at a church women's retreat. We listened to a speaker who I probably should apologize to for almost falling asleep during her sessions. We ate real meals, which is amazing for one who had the day I did today. We got to run around in the sun which was really nice. We got to drink as much coffee as our bodies would handle, and I still almost fell asleep on the speaker and slept well all night.
OH my gosh, total random moment here. My thought process isn't quite clear so I'm typing them as I think of them. Saturday night I had apparently put my phone under my pillow on vibrate for an alarm. When it went off in the morning I couldn't answer it. Nothing I did worked. Then when I could get the buttons to work right the number would change. Maybe it shows who I wish would call....hmmm. Anyway, the first person to pop up was Hodgins. Too bad I never talked to him. When i got the send button to work, it switched to my best friend. When I really got an answer out of someone it was my dad. Think of the disappointment there. From Hodgins to my dad. LOL. I think I'm glad that we really didn't get any reception up there or who knows who I'd talk to. LOL
Back to regularly scheduled Monday mess. Somehow I lost half an hour. Not a big deal since I didn't work till 4pm. I thought it was 2pm and when I sent a message on the cbox, it came up 2:30. Dang, computer clock was a bit off. Got moving for good and found out that mother nature stopped by. Explains the rest of my day. Get to work and multiple things aren't done that should have been done before I got there. All I get from her are excuses. Lame. I don't have time to cover up her messes. Ugh. So, we do dinner. I'm kinda foggy and do as little as possible. I silently curse being female and go about my day. Thought being out in the middle of nowhere this weekend might help but no such luck. Totally not good. What kind of place is it where almost half of us are looking for other jobs?
A LOL moment, I was tearing down my cart and she was trying to butt her way into the kitchen to help serve out which our cook can't stand her, and I asked if we had done coffee, and since I was tearing down my cart, it left her to do coffee. He told me he liked it when I got bossy. LOL. Made my day. He's awesome. Married, totally off limits, but fun none the less. It was fun to see her booted from the kitchen.
As I was leaving I had a "I'm glad no one saw that" moment. Trying to throw things different places all night, I dumped my iced tea in the trash before I put the glass in the sink. Why I didn't pour the tea down the sink never crossed my mind until I put the glass in the sink and looked around hoping the cook wasn't in there. He wasn't or I wouldn't hear the end of it, LOL.
So, yeah, I get to do it all over again in 12 hours. Wish me luck. Sorry it's so long. I like to talk.
oh, oh, oh, I also set off the smoke alarm at the apartment cooking pizza this evening. It's probably a good idea not to cook anything for a while, LOL.

[Sinkwriter72]

Had therapy today -- went in feeling relatively alright, left feeling depressed. Isn't it supposed to work the other way around??

[jade.stormcloud]

Had therapy today -- went in feeling relatively alright, left feeling depressed. Isn't it supposed to work the other way around??

Not in my experience.