When's the last time I was up for posting twice in two days? Anywho...

Cut my hair off today, feels so much cooler. I should cut it more often, but I opt for the "Does it stick up when I wake up?" test -- if I have to comb it, it's time to cut it. ( This gets longer than I thought it would. The entry, not my hair. )

All that to say I cut my hair. Anywho, got that done outside, came in to take a shower, and plopped my clothes down beside ( now I'm just building suspense... )

I went to the doctor for the first time since 1995, have this cyst-type-thing on my back that's bothering Pattie. (Doesn't bother me a bit, aside from occasionally itching. I've named it Bob.) Also got set up for a sleep study, since Pattie says I stop breathing during the night. BP was a tad high at the doc, he blamed it on the apnea. BP was closer to expected at the sleep center, they blamed the higher reading on nerves. And mom's pissed because the doctor didn't draw blood, I swear she's not happy if I'm not bleeding.

Celebrities have been dropping like flies lately. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Billy Mays all within a week of each other. Makes you wonder who's next.

Finally a break in the heat, it's 72°F today. Still ready for winter, but this is much better.

I swear I'm the only person in this house who can manage not to piss on the damn toilet seat.

Last time I threw up without the aid of alcohol was, what, 2000, 2001, somewhere in there? And I couldn't tell you the last time I had the flu.

Well, today I had the flu.

Started out this morning at work with just a queasy stomach. Couldn't even go into the breakroom with whatever they were cooking -- had to have someone else get the trash -- and went outside (in -26°F wind chills) for fresh air at last break.

Off-subject a moment, about those temperatures. Had to break out my heavy Bengals coat, don't think I even wore it last year. Kept me plenty warm, but you remember the little kid on A Christmas Story that was so bundled up he could hardly move? Yeah, that's what it makes me feel like. Doesn't help that it's a 2X and these days I'm wearing 3X...

Anywho. So I held my stomach at bay until about a half-hour after I got home. Then I threw up everything in my stomach, threw up the bile in my stomach, tried to throw up my stomach, and threw up the water I was drinking, in that order. I was also cold, which doesn't happen.

By noon, though, the pyrotechnics died down, and some molasses water settled pretty good. Slept for a while, and I'll be good to go to work tonight. (Calling in would be stranger yet, haven't done that since 1997.)

Right now my stomach's gurgling a bit, but I think it's just lack of anything in it. We'll see how a plain grilled chicken breast does.

Occasionally, there's an e-mail/bulletin/whatever that makes the rounds. It talks about winter in Ohio, and at what temperature we do certain things (like *finally* finding our coats, or turning on the heat *just* so our pipes don't burst).

Don't believe it. 99% of Ohioans were apparently born and raised in Florida.

One thing I'm sure doesn't help is their wardrobe strategy. Depending on who you ask, some 30-50% of your body heat is lost through your head. So, what do you see all winter? Yup, people in big bulky coats and no hats complaining about how cold they are. And they bundle up way too early. If you don't let yourself get used to 40°, what are you going to do when it's 14°?

Another is activity level. For whatever reason, people have this tendency to slow down when they're colder. Which lowers their metabolism and circulation. Which makes them colder. Seriously, do some jumping jacks or shovel faster or something.

But the worst thing people do to themselves is thermostat abuse. Going from 85° to 15° is much harder than going from 55° to 15°. Harder on your energy bill too, but that's beside the point. Florida inside, Ohio outside = bad.

In conclusion: Wear a hat, move around, and don't roast yourself. Thank you.

As promised, here is the ring. Since it took me over thirty minutes to deliver, these pics are coming at you free of charge.





In other news, I finally got ambitious enough last night to figure out how to make my computer suspend, since the button for it on the keyboard doesn't work. Not that I really missed it here at home -- I'd just let the computer power up while I was cleaning clutter off the keyboard, mouse and chair -- but it'll be nice once I take the beast to Pattie's.

Snow in April. Duh-duh-dun-DUN-dun, I'm lovin' it.

Only nine more months until winter. Think positive.

So, I haven't decided the exact location for the question, but the ring is bought.

Things are going to get really interesting at work soon.

Saw my great-aunt and -uncle today. Not that there's anything great about them, she's shrill and he's cut from the same cloth as my grandmother (though fortunately not nearly so much cloth went into him).

So, I got dragged kicking and screaming into the '90s. Yes, Sean now has a cell phone.

I've spent too much time on my keyboard, QWERTY feels weird now.

It's hotter than blue fuck in here, I need to find something cold. Be right back.

Cold compress. Woohoo!

And I'm spent.

So Pattie's watching one of those cop/forensic shows that's all the rage these days, which leaves me to amuse myself. I *could* cuddle up and ignore the show, but I just got done doing that for Survivor, so meh.

Once upon a time, I actually didn't mind television so much. I was never a big watcher, but I caught He-Man and Saturday morning cartoons religiously, and The Cosby Show wasn't too bad either. The Price Is Right, The Three Stooges, Looney Tunes...what ever happened to shows like that? I mean, I think Bob Barker's still on the air, but last time I tried to watch he looked like it was painful for him to be on stage he was so old.

So she watches and I don't. Variety is the spice of life, so they say. We must be habañero together.

At home I always have a light on in the room I'm in, she never does. She had four blankets on last night while I went without any. Don't even get me started on food. She has vivid dreams, I don't even remember mine. Oh, and she only leaves her teabag in long enough to color the water. I dunno how she can drink it that way.

So we finally got some snow. A white Valentine's Day isn't quite the same as a white Christmas, but I'll take what I can get. In other news, I actually got to celebrate Valentine's Day. We traded cards, went out to eat, listened to mom and Chris making kissy noises all night, and had a good time.

I'm not used to having someone over my shoulder when I'm on the computer. Not that I mind, really, it's just strange, it kinda interrupts my normal pattern. Ah well, suppose I better get used to it.

So, it's one o'clock in the morning, I work at 8 -- what better time to take pictures of the snow?

:D

Mind you, this isn't just any snow -- this stuff almost looks artificial it's so sparkly and fluffy.

All you flying insects, with your jaws and claws and stingers and suckers and all that? It's below 32°F now. kthxdie ^-^

While I really do prefer winter weather, I'd be lying if I said there weren't also part of me that took some perverse pleasure in seeing people chatter and shiver through weather I find comfortable. Prolly because they run around gaily in summer whilst I'm chained to the AC. Fuckers.

So here's to you, Mr. Shoveling-Snow-In-Five-Layers-Of-Clothing: I'm doing it in shorts and a T-shirt. And working up a sweat. Cold? Shovel faster, Frosty McFluffypants.

And Ms. I-Need-Three-Blankets-To-Sleep? I still sleep nekkid in winter, and I won't shut my window until I get tired of hearing the bitching about the draft from under my door. And once I shut my window, I usually turn the fan back on. Nothing says "good sleeping weather" like being able to see your breath in your bedroom.

And don't get me started on the Aren't-You-Cold-In-That family: No, I'm not. I'm a big boy now, I own a coat and boots and jeans -- well, *a* pair of jeans -- and if I get cold I can put them on all by myself! I also know which article of clothing really matters -- depending on who you ask, 30-50% of the body's heat is lost through your head, and *you're* the moron wearing three coats and no hat. Duh.

Wow. I guess I really was pissed off at the world today. Well, yesterday now.

Yet one more reason to love winter.

We had multiple tornadoes touch down Thursday afternoon while I was at work. Having the windows bow in and out isn't a good thing, so we all went back to the breakroom. No damage to the store (aside from the awning) and no structural damage to the house, although we're on about ½ power since the neighbor's tree fell on our power line -- the refrigerator, water pump, phone, and mom's computer work, but that's it. Oh, and the light in the garage. Whoopie. Oh, and there's eleventy billion limbs in the yard to pick up. At least nobody got hurt.

Today was the first mom would believe me that it was okay to turn the computer on, though. She somehow thought it would draw enough electricity to knock the refrigerator out.

Keep this weather to yourself, Bill.  =P

I fell in a mud puddle yesterday. I'll admit, that was cold.

Took my sister to physical therapy -- doc OK'd her to drive, but it was hella icy and she was worried she'd fall in the parking lot and reinjure her knee.

So I fall instead. Right in a deep puddle. My entire left side was soaked, and I got road rash about the size and shape of my hand on my right shin. (I'm surprised no one made the comment that that wouldn't have happened had I not been wearing shorts.) So I get in the building, hand off sis' coat and purse to the receptionist -- okay, back up. I was also carrying her coat and purse, and somehow those didn't get wet. But the purse wound up sideways, so as I walked up to the door I was looking in it to see if anything fell out. Some guy was coming out, and gave me the classic "WTF?" look.

Okay, back to the story. So I get in the building, hand off sis' coat and purse to the receptionist, and go to the restroom to wring out my clothes. Shirt, shorts, and underwear all got wet, and when I rung them out it was dingy gray water. Glad none of that got in my scrape. My sister's physical therapist wanted to gauze-and-tape it, which was nice, but I declined -- I never cover my wounds (unless they're freely bleeding) or put the antibiotic ointments on them, and they always heal faster than anyone else's. Granted, correlation isn't necessarily causation, but it hasn't failed me yet. Gives the ol' immune system something to do once in a while.

Dear Santa... Dear Santa, This year I've been busy! Last Thursday I caught a purse-snatcher who stole vampyre_azrael's purse (30 points). Last month I committed genocide... Sorry about that, neversaygoodbye (-5000 points). In May I punched yuuhidokka in the arm (-10 points). In November I gave colonelkirby a Dutch Oven (-10 points). In March I helped dontwaitforrain see the light (8 points). Overall, I've been naughty (-4982 points). For Christmas I deserve a spanking! Sincerely, red_beard_neo

Write your letter to Santa! Enter your LJ username:

Wow. I don't think Santa's coming this year.

Mmm...only thing new in Ohio is that we've finally got our snow. And at these temperatures, it's not going away any time soon. 'Bout time. w00t!

Oh, and Agoraphobic Nosebleed. I've probably mentioned how I select my music -- by the name and cover art. Interesting stuff, if you took ADD and turned it into music this'd be it. Melikey.

Fun times. And by "fun" I mean "what a pain in the arse."

The ice started falling about an hour before I left work yesterday (so, about quarter after 15). That stuff hit hard. I hadn't worn a coat, as usual, and by the time I got my car cleared enough to drive, my skin was raw. Ouch.

But the real fun began around 22.

*CRACK*
*RUSTLE*
*THUMP*

All night we got to listen to ice-covered limbs snap and fall. The power kept flickering, and sometime around 1 (went to bed at midnight) the power went off and stayed off.

I get up at 7 to three-quarters inch of ice, no power, and no water (we're on a well, no we need juice for the water pump). And of course, my first thought is "Where am I gonna take a dump?" Fortunately, the roads themselves were good, so I went to work and did my business there.

Speaking of which...what a joke. We didn't even pull enough sales to meet operating expenses, the registers were down so we could only take cash, and around 14 the generator cut out altogether and we had to escort customers with flashlights. Not only did we not close early (like every other store in Lima), they took volunteers to stay overnight because the alarm system was down. Insane.

Overall, we were lucky though -- power came back on while I was at work, and no house damage. My sister still doesn't have power' and there's a limb sticking out of her roof. Needless to say, she's staying here tonight.

Well, I finally figured out the pattern to my internet connection. The Linksys utility starts, XP connects to the internet using the Linksys settings (since I never entered my WEP info into XP), and the Linksys utility detects a connection and shuts down. It's still nonsensical, but at least it's consistently so.

We had our first major snowstorm in quite a few years -- two feet plus in some areas. Driving this morning was fun on the main roads, but I guess some of the side roads are still unpassable. Driving anywhere tomorrow will be a bitch though -- today's slush is gonna freeze rock-hard in -10 to -20°F weather tonight. Glad I have tomorrow off. My sister's work (she works for the county -- Job and Family Services) cancelled altogether today. She was glad for that, though that's more because she has pleurisy than because her road is entombed in snow. As much and as severely as she gets sick, I have no idea where I got my immune system from.

I think I've become the software equivalent of a "God-damn tree huggin' hippy." [/Cartman] I've been tending to use alternative freeware for nearly everything, from my antivirus (avast!) to media players (Media Player Classic with Real alternative and Quicktime alternative codecs) to my instant messaging (Gaim for AIM/MSN/Yahoo). Seems kinda silly to buy software or put up with annoying spyware and adware when so much better free stuff is out there.

My favorite time of year. Not for the good food, not for the celebrations, not for the orgy of consumerism.

Finally, I can look forward to cooler weather and snow again.

I've always loved winter. I find the temperatures much more appealing, there are no bugs outside, and what's more fun than throwing snowballs?

I'm the freak you see walking around in shorts and a T-shirt all year long. (And sleeping nakie with my window open. Nothing like waking up and being able to see your breath.) When I do wear a coat, it's usually a windbreaker, and I always get razzed for combining gloves and boots with short sleeves and shorts. Ah well.

And I've never figured out why so many people hate snow. Probably because they have to shovel it, which requires them to be out in the "cold." Silly people. Shovel faster, and you stay warmer. Nothing like working up a sweat in "summer" clothing while clearing out winter precipitation.

I like fruitcake too, but that's another story for another time.