I Ain't Afraid of No Daleks

Wow, it was National Nutjob Day at work today, I reckon.

A co-worker had a woman on, who was fine with making a payment on her bill--who then, halfway through the conversation, with no warning, started screaming and swearing and ranting at my co-worker...so incoherenly that my co-worker hadn't a clue what the woman's issue was..and so loudly was this woman ranting, that said co-worker had to hold the phone well away from her ear...the woman slamed the phone down, apparently, without conveying what or whom had set off the mental fireworks display.

I had a 91 year old man, who....talked.........like........this......and......he...........couldn't.........tell....me

.......whether.....or....not......he...wanted....to.....continue.........paying.....his....bills.

(At this point, I felt like I was in a comedy show skectch).

He....did...how..ever.......manage.....to....bitch....and...complain....about...some..thing..--but--....I....couldn't...figure.....out...what...that...........was....because....I....had....to..

....put....the....phone...down.......to.....go....bang.....my............fore..head....on....the...desk....repeatedly.

Then, I was talking to a hunting club memeber, and he suddenly said, "Can I ask you a personal question?" Yeeesss? I said tentatively. "Do I sound like a man who talks dirty to women?" EY?

Apprently the man stands accused of fondling two girls on his school bus route. Ew. I have a past about this issue and won't discuss it, but let's just say he was probably talking to the very last person he'd get sympathy from, regarding that sort of thing.

God, the recession is just making more and more Americans really freaky...as if they weren't nutty enough already! I do so long to move to Europe. It's a dumb dream, but it's the only one I got left, these days, and it's nice to think about, even as I'm accutely aware that it's just not practical or feasible...or even advisable, I suppose, given the climate of the world today.

I've been toying with the idea of going away for an overnight somewhere...not really London, that's just--impossible, even for one day...over $1000 just for round-trip airfare, on average...that BA "deal" of 156 dollars for airfare to London is a RIPOFF. In order to take advantage of the incredibly low fare, one must go for an entire week--as this so-called "bargain basement fare" is only good on Tuesdays, LOL. Anyway, it really was just some stupid mental fantasy.

I had hoped for a more practical trip--like to New York City or Montreal, but now, even the door to that dream has shut. I got told there's not much work next week...and maybe the week after that. Won't know if I'm to be laid off until Monday...they only just now telling me 15 minutes before I leave work.

They're to be shut on Sundays, altogether, for the time being.

Ah well. I can still go down to Albany to put flowers on mum's grave, as soon as the snow's gone, come April or early May.

According to a poll by Politico, the majority of Americans think the republican's "economic stimulus" package was and is, not geared towards helping Americans get back on their feet. Americans seem to feel that the stimlulus package--hurriedly pushed through by a panicking Bush white house, made few provisions and gave little thought to assisting American citizens, but was only used to shore up banks and other financial institutions--including some whom helped to create this economic cesspool.

Americans are also seething over the news that bank executives continued to give themselves billions in cash bonuses, even while they knew they weren't on solid ground, financially...and some have even used bailout money for purposes other than fixing the credit crunch...such as supplying raises to executives. In fact, some banks are now being found out, to have used precious little of the bailout billions, to work on adjusting credit issues, nor have many of them gone out of their way to help their customers...in fact, just the opposite: as I write this, the financial/banking lobby is decending on Washington D.C. like starving locusts, to try and do all they can to prevent politicians from enacting legistlation that would enable many homeowners forego foreclosure and stay in their homes.

current results of the poll asking if Americans feel the October stimulus package is helping consumers/debtors/workers/local economies, etc., 64 % of those responding said "No." 28% said "yes." The rest were undecided.

Up early--sort of. Have to cash my pay cheque and do some chores before going into work. I could have slept in and do all that after work...but makes a long night, and tomorrow I go fairly early into work, so thought it'd be nice to have the evening to relax in, instead of running around like some kind of loon, trying to do everything Friday evening.

It's trying to snow a bit here, but it's just lazy flurries....a few big soft flakes slowly drifting down, taking their own sweet time about it. We're in for a nice weekend, actually, with seasonable temperatures for a change--upper 20's F, for us...maybe even the low 30's F...oooh, a tropical heatwave. Break out the sun tan oil.

Unfortunately, there's a massive storm brewing down in the southeastern US, that is supposed to bring us high winds and heavy rain/snow for Monday/Tuesday. Again??? Dang. I'd rather have -15 below zero F temps and raging blizzards dumping 12+ inches on us, than an ice storm!

I really am terrified of ice...I was told one more bad fall on that permanently sprained foot of mine, and I could well never walk on it, ever again. Since I am completely on my own here, and shank's mare is my main mode of transport--and I live on the second floor...the thought of not being able to walk, really does scare me. It was a living hell when I blew my foot out, nearly two years ago, trying to cope with going to work, cooking for myself, showering, grocery shopping, laundry, housework, etc., while in excruciating pain and on crutches...blimey! All those things I take for granted, suddenly seeming so incredibly hard to do. Just going upstairs was terrible...I'm ashamed to admit that I distinctly remember sitting on the staircase a few times, crying out of sheer frustration, 'cos it would actually take me as much as 20 minutes to go up to my apartment (a trip that normally takes 1 minute). I never want to go through that again, no way!

Anyway, I'm off shortly. Decided to have either a late breakfast or early lunch out, whichever happens to happen. I think I woke the cats too early, they don't seem very frisky this morning. They don't like it when I wake early, they're not "morning" cats...very nocturnal, them. Flame is usually positively nagging me---I mean that in an almost human way...reaching out and poking me with her paw--like a person would with their finger, or a kid tugging at mum's skirts, and actually whinging every five minutes, and getting all anxious looking, until I open her tinned food.

Wow, she's really out of it! I said the "magic words" to Flamey: "Wanna' EAT?" and she didn't even stir! She's cute when she's tired...gets that sleepy-eyed look, like she'd been out partying all night.

Well, must dash. Hope you all have and are having, a grand Friday. Cheers.

...Arkansas...he's a hunter...naturally.

I just thought it funny, I called a "John Sims" yesterday...ha-ha, can you tell I'm a Whovian? I called a "Rose Piper" one day, had got a big kick out of that. What can I say? I'm easily amused.

Could this be a regenerated Master???

This from an American hunting magazine:

The weather on that early June afternoon in northwestern Wyoming couldn’t have been gloomier. There was a storm brewing, the sky filled with dark clouds that promised heavy rain—which thankfully didn’t come until after nightfall. Yet despite the lamentations of our host, Ralph...who said the weather kept us from really seeing what the area could offer in terms of sheer numbers of prairie dogs, in 2 days four rifle barrels didn’t cool down from the time we set up at mid-morning until we left for supper.

When it comes to practicing your rifle shooting, nothing beats burning up a lot of powder at live targets, in particular, prairie dogs. Not only can you fire literally hundreds of rounds in a day, but in much of the best prairie dog country, the wind is always blowing. To consistently hit a pop bottle-sized dog at long distances, you must become tuned to the nuances of wind-drift. Also, you quickly learn the importance of taking a rock-solid rest, how to steady the crosshairs on the target, even how to squeeze the trigger between heart beats to eliminate muzzle jump at the wrong moment...(the rest of the article is all technical shooting stuff).

NOTE: the sole justification of all of this, is that ranchers are pissed off over all of the prairie dog holes in their pastures--a fact of the prairie that America's prairie-land ranchers have had to learn to live with for over 150 years. Why it's suddenly bothering them now, to the point of total extermination...especially in light of the fact that the numbers (scientifically proven to be true, despite the rancher's claims--true some populations in a few regions have increased, while in other regions they are quite clearly in decline, and close to being endangered) of prairie dogs are in fact, dwindling.

My computer is all bogged down. Running like it's on dial up when it's on a high-speed cable server. But, it's not just the internet. As I write this, I'm running my Kapersky virus scan--which usually takes only 15 or 20 minutes...it's been close to 40 min. and it's not even 30% done yet! It's running exceptionally slow!

It's not finding anything yet--is it even working? It's blocked several Trojan viruses in the last two weeks, so it must be. Am going to try a free spyware scan when this is done...something's wrong, and Kapersky isn't fixing it...yet, anyway.

UPDATE: virus scan is showing I have four corrupted files...two in my hardrive. Ouch. Doesn't say anything more about it, that I can tell..guess I'm screwed, because I don't have a clue what that means.

Found this on a hunting magazine's website, thought it rather cool:

Estimated cost: $15 (approx. £7.50)

12. Optional: Attach a nocking bead to the center mark of the string.

Have you ever had the experience where, you are out shopping or doing other chores, and you encounter a total stranger--whom you just keep bumping into...and whom eyeballs you, every time?

The other day, when I went out to the supermarket, while waiting for the cab, I decided to bop down to Tractor Supply Company, to see if they had any of the fall line clothing on discounted sale--they did, but nothing I'd wear...tho' I did see a really cool retro-style black hoodie with a vintage red Farmall tractor on it...I know, I'm such a tomboy, still...but it actually did look pretty neat...to me, anyway.

Anyway, as I was walking to the farm and garden supply shop, a man walks up to the sidewalk from the carpark, talking on his mobile. He's middle aged and dressed extremely posh--most definately a lawyer, banker or doctor, I'd hazard to guess. So, he is occupied with his mobile, and steps almost into my path--but not rudely or anything like that. He looks up at me--I mean, really notices me, and gives a sort of apologetic smile (he seemed extremely preoccupied)...I thought no more of it, and went into the TSC store.

Having done with my browse (better than waiting in the 16 F windchill, waiting for a cab), I had $1 to spare, so I thought I'd schlep into the Everything for One Dollar shop next door, to see if they had any cheap spaghetti (sometimes they have it for under $1)...and there was mr. posh again...and again, he made a point to look right at me...another little half-smile...what's with that??? Then, I found the cheap pasta, and who's in line in front of me? Yep, Mr. Posh...again, the (not unpolite) stare, and the little smile.

Okay, at that point, I'm like, "WHAT??!!??" What the heck was that about? Okay, you have to understand NO ONE ever-ever-ever looks at me like that. I mean, 99% of the people I meet around in the shops, on the street, etc., dont' even look at me. I'm not pretty, I'm not thin, I walk like a gimpy lumberjack, and dress like a country bumpkin (except for the office or a special occasion). Did I have a booger hanging out of my nose? Broccoli in my teeth? Did I look like someone he knew? (Highly unlikely unless he's Polish.)

It wasn't an unpleasant encounter, but it was a bit...strange-feeling. NOT that I'm being paranoid! But really, usually when posh people look at me...it's so definately not in a nice way. That's why they say to me (the very few times it's come up) "YOU'VE been to college?" Or "YOU'VE been overseas?" Or "You've read..." (Shakespeare, Thoreau, Cowper, Steinbeck, etc.).

People that look like me, doing low wage jobs, aren't supposed to have any education...or if we do, we're seen as defective, 'cos we don't have posh job titles. "What are you doing THAT for, if you have an education?" Erm--to eat, keep a roof over my head, etc.?

Anyway, not sure why I'm writing about it, except for some reason I happened to think about it, tonight. And you know...I'd kind of not mind meeting the gentleman again, sometime--tho' that's about as likely as me meeting someone from Dr Who...I so do not travel in posh circles...I am much more at home and relaxed around cows and horses, or just strolling around somewhere by myself, or chilling over a keyboard typing stuff. I rarely even go to the library to the lectures and films and stuff, any longer. I used to do that stuff all the time a few years back, when I was in college: art gallery openings, lectures, plays, concerts, etc. But...I'm not that person anymore. I've retreated into my own little world here in this apartment, and except for my weekly chores--and invites to my co-worker's farm--I rarely ever venture out, any longer. Just don't feel like it. Lost the glow..the thrill is gone, the social train has left the station without me, these days.