I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

"I'm too sexy for m'kilt, too sexy for my tux, too sexy for my trainers, I'm so sexy, it hurts...This is my crotch shot, by the way."

Monica’s Meme:

1. What’s your highest year of school?

3rd year of four-year college…or, 2 year degree, take your pick.

2. How many close friends do you have?

About four or five, I guess.

3. How often do you see these friends?

Never met a single one of them in person.

4. Have you read a book this week?

Yes, the Shadow Riders.

4. Have you ever written a fan letter to someone on Doctor Who?

Yeah--well, sort of, in an off-hand kind of way.

5. Have you ever met anyone from Doctor Who?

Ian Martier, once, in the 80’s, and Mary Tamm--who was super nice.

6. Would you date David Tennant (if asked)?

No, probably not. Like him, but I really don’t think he’s my type at all.

7. What are you wearing right now?

I haven’t changed for work yet, so I’m still wearing old jeans and my equally old college tee shirt, and socks…not saying a word about the underwear, you notice.

8. What’s your favourite brand of clothing?

Don’t really have one. When I worked outdoors, it was Carhart and Sheplers--not bought anything from them in years. Though…I do love gawking at the posh dresses on the di vinci website--oh…would feel like a royal wearing one of those. I could care less about clothing tags--if it looks good, is well made and affordable--(and I have the cash to spare) I buy it.

9. When’s the last time you went and had your hair cut by someone?

Spring of 2007.
10. When’s the last time you went out with some friends, where did you go?

April of 2005, me and two of my then-girlfriends, went on and overnight trip to an enormous antique carriage auction in Pennslyvania’s Amish country. Had a blast! Haven’t had a better time since.

It's snowing here, gently, with flakes like frosted angel's wings, slowly protracting their fall to earth, to merge into the nameless blanket of the milky white ground.

It's rather peaceful looking at it. Charlie is sitting there, watching it fall, one paw outstretched, wanting to play with it, to catch it on his rough pink cat tongue, and show surprise at the wet and cold.

Well, I finally found something I can eat without pain--not necessarily like mind, but..with a little doctoring, it's..edible. Beans. Or specifically, cold Campbell's Pork & Beans from the can--with a little onion powder and spicy brown mustard stirred into it.

I won't say I hate beans, but...they're not my first choice of cuisine, unless they're in a homemade chili, or New England baked beans (the kind with maple syrup, brown sugar and bacon in them), or Cajun black beans and rice.

But cold beans from a can...bleh. I've not done this since..gosh, I was a teen and used to grab a can for my lunch on a hike, or something--and even then, only rarely (I found out that a can of beans was far less comfy to carry in my knapsack, then, say, cheese and crackers.)

Well, I got the call from the oral surgeon's office, he was going to see me at the ER this afternoon, but had an critical emergency and had to shift me to another day. I was told if I couldn't eat or breath well, to go to the ER, but I feel better now. He can't see me now, 'till late next week. But, he rang up the pharmacy and gave them a cheaper pain killer perscription--still, even with the lower cost, I am worried about the rent...and my job. I can't think of a worse time of year to be out of work.

At least I can talk a little better now, so I'm going into work at four, and working 'till nine. I miss being a kid though, when I'm sick--getting to lie in bed all day--all week, if need be, without worry, with someone there to look in on you, do for you. I miss that, I suppose. I feel in most, when I'm in hospital--whether it be the waiting room, or in a bed. It's hard being alone. Thank God mum never had that to deal with--tho' once or twice she did ask me not to come, when she just wanted to sleep, which is different.

It's strange. I'm alone pretty much all the time here at home, but I most feel lonely in hospital, or church, or at a fete or something. That's when it really hits home.

I will be losing my internet--unless a genuine miracle happens quite soon, that is, and for me, 'tisn't the season for miracles, ha-ha.

Heard from Time-Warner. Even tho' I rang them up, and told them to shut me off--they did--and then, turned me back on--and say that I was supposed to turn in the cable box, that something happened with my paperwork on the computer, and things got messed up---long story short: I now have, instead of a 97 dollar bill I cannot pay, a 287 dollar bill I absolutely cannot pay!

I was told, rather snarkily, that I could, if I wanted, lodge a complaint with the NY Public Service Commission--but there was naught they could do, on their end. So sorry, fork over, bye-bye.

Arrrgh!!!!

and I'm even sicker, worried about getting the sack, for being absent so much. I won't miss a whole day--my budget can't handle that! But, I can't TALK! My jaw and my face and part of my neck are so swollen, I couldn't even eat, this morning--and I'm famished! Since I'm forced to spend the money, I'm going to look into buying some "instant breakfast" nutrition drink. At least it will be something in my stomach--even if it does taste rather horrid.

I'm all done in tho'--about 3 hours sleep in the last 24 hours. I'm about ready to just let them fire me and evict me--just climb into bed, and stay there, till the cops come to toss me out onto the street. If it weren't for the cats, I might just...which is REALLY saying something, considering I view homelessness as a fate worse than death. In my life, I've only actually been homeless for a month--but trust me, that was too long. I've had to live through a lot of nightmares in my life--and being homeless is definitely in the top five of my list of real life horrors.

Out of the blue, my e-mail in-box is getting inundated with fake lottery and fake free car wins, fake job offers, fake beneficiary notices, fake book/story publication offers, fake tax refund notices--one from Her Majesty's government, fake loan offers--just scam after scam after scam--I barely bother to look at my in-box any longer. I keep it, because there's two or three legitimate things that are sent me through that, but I am getting rather weary of hitting that "apam" button.

Well, going back to bed for a few hours...waiting to hear back from the emergency oral surgeon. Cheers.

With BBC One's Christmas Day schedule just announced, we can confirm that you need to be in front of your telly and tuned in to BBC One at 6.50pm if you don't want to miss a second of Voyage of the Damned.
And there are quite a few seconds too. This year, the Doctor Who Christmas Special will run for a whopping 71 minutes instead of the usual 60.
If that wasn't enough, there will also be a brand new one hour Doctor Who Confidential at 8.30pm on BBC Three. With a whole host of bonus material launching on the BBC website at around 8pm too, that's quite an evening of Doctor Who entertainment.
Voyage Of Damned is also repeated at 01.15am on 27 December (signed version) and again at 2.15pm on New Year's Day. (taken from a david tennant website)

"You see, the REAL reason my Tardis crashed into the Titanic, is that I was on the rebound from Martha---I hate long distance relationships--and I wanted to meet someone new. And hey, the Titanic...captive audience, ey? So, I decided to find myself this sexy waitress..."

WAITRESS: "I can't resist a man with great big sonic screwdriver..."

Congratulations, Dusty!
Your IQ score is 113

Your Intellectual Type is Word Warrior. This means you have exceptional verbal skills. You can easily make sense of complex issues and take an unusually creative approach to solving problems. Your strengths also make you a visionary. Even without trying you're able to come up with lots of new and creative ideas.

Well, at least this proves my brains aren't entirely scrambled, yet.

I went to bed a bit past 11, but by quarter after one, the teen upstairs woke me out of a sound sleep, running across the room repeatedly (what the heck is with that?) and banging stuff on the floor (aka: my ceiling). It not only woke me up, it woke me up ALL OVER.

So, I've taken no less, in the past five hours, 1000mg of Ibuproferin, to no avail. Wide awake, in, as usual, wracking pain--I can't even stand to have the pillow or a bit of my clothing, next to my face...I don't know. Times like this, I miss my caravan in the woods. At least--except when a heavy snow was sliding off the roof, or a thunderstorm was blowing, I almost always got a good nights sleep. Guess I'm just not a city dweller--well, I am now, well...you know what I mean--I hope.

I'm going to have another go in about 15 minutes...not that I think it'll work--I'm WIDE awake. And what makes this really hell, is that I have the long shift tomorrow, with no real breaks, because I now have to use my money and my 2 hour lunch period, to go back to the store in the suburbs for my meds. Ah well.

I really miss being "normal." I mean, having a hum-drum, ordinary existence: no big crises, no lying awake worrying about finances, or health issues---just go to work, pay the bills, shop like a normal person...no counting my pennies to see if I can afford that one extra item, go out to dinner once in a while, or rent a movie--of course, if I had a "normal" life, then I'd probably complain about being bored.

I mean, what's it look like to you, hmmmm---?

Oh, and check out the new Daleks:

Dear sweet heavens! What a day!

I went to one drug store--the price of meds was out of my reach.

Went to the other store--and it was under 20 dollars for the one--the other being still too high--so I scrapped the pain med, and stuck with the penicillin.

Well. A. I'm told a three hour wait. So, I spend, not 10 dollars but 20 dollars in cab fare, going to the store--because I wasn't well enough to wander around a store for 3 hours--even if I had a wad of cash to spend--which of course, I don't, know what I mean?

So I eat 20 bucks, and go back around 5pm--and STILL not ready!!! So, I'm patient--sort of, and wait the hour and a half they told me to wait...(theme tune to Jeopardy!--see video)

Argh! So I went window shopping--and a little shopping-shopping. I needed more iron tablets and they were on sale--better one's than I've got now, for the same price, couldn't pass that up. While browsing the Christmas displays, ooohing and ahhing over things I'd love but were way out of my budget--okay, I admit, tho' I've been forced to largely ignore Christmas these past couple of years--partly from poverty, partly from emotional pain--I still enjoy decorating for the holidays--well, more than I have since mum died, anyway.

So, I found this great tree ornament--under 2 dollars (about the equivalent of 80p), and just had to buy it. It's a tiny sliver-coloured oval picture frame, topped with a tiny shimmery bow, and with a piece of black velvety ribbon as the hanger. I put a black and white photo of mum, in her late teens, in it. I also got a box of lights, 40 percent off, only $1.49. I got a 100 string of all blue lights, to go with the 100 string of all white (clear) lights that came with the tree--it looks great!--with the blue and silver ornaments, and blue and blue/silver garland, that came with the all-white artifical tree--oh gosh, it just looks--well...I think pretty darn lovely--okay, well, it's still a bit dishevled, at the moment, thanks to the cats, this morning--but, I like it. It's worth sitting in the dark on Christmas eve, coffee in hand, carols playing, and just...admiring.

They had some really cool ornaments and decorations--even if I can't buy, I still love to look--maybe this is silly, but I like to see the possibilities of what things could be. I decorate like that a lot, actually--whether it's Christmas, or a flower arrangement, or the apartment...I start with one piece, be it large or small--and let inspiration and serendipity take over from there. It's really fun--even if it's only in my mind, sometimes. I know, it's really dumb, but..it doesn't cost anything to imagine or daydream.

So, I decided, tonight, that, though mum is gone forever, and so are those special one-of-a-kind ornaments we used to buy each other--now that I've a "proper" tree, I'm starting a new tradition--each year, buy an ornament or two (as my budget allows) in memory of my mum, and all the love she showered on me, at this special time of year. It's been two years, tho' I still very much grieve, I understand that it's also time for me to begin the healing process--and what better time, than at Christmas?

Oh yeah, and getting back to my search for penicillion--did the inventor have this much trouble? After TWO MORE HOURS--I finally had enough, and complained to management--and wound up getting a 20 dollar gift card from the store--to pay for my meds! Still, 30 dollars plus in cab fare--instead of saving 40 dollars by going to this store--with the cab fare, I'm only saving 10! They're excuse: "New York state has a pharmacist shortage." There you are, UK readers--looking for a job in the USA? Have pharmacy training? Come here! We need you NOW.
What's ironic, is that Rite Aid and other drug stores are EXPANDING in New York--putting in more and more new stores--three new stores in our area, in the last year alone! So, how can there be a pharmacist shortage, if all these drug stores are being put into place? It's crazy.

Anyway, have to go back tomorrow--during my 2 hour lunch break--means lunch at McDonald's or something, I fear---it's going to be a very, very long day--10 to 9 without ANY rest inbetween at all--I'll probably have to wolf down lunch, what with waiting for my meds and the cab to and from there. There's also a cabbie shortage.

This is the real Radio City Music Hall (in Manhattan) pipe organ, featured for a special Jeapardy! segment.

Oh, and the answer is: "What is To Kill a Mockingbird?"--fantastic movie!