43 posts from September 2009

Loathe:

• The insane level of pain my knees can generate
• The level of fatigue that my knee pain can generate
• The ridiculous amount of work that I totally forgot I still need to complete
• Having spending sprees when I really can't afford it (still haven't paid the speeding ticket; mortgage due off tomorrow's check)
  
• Cat barf
• Seeing Boo come home from across the street (crossing the street is a no-no!)
• My new cell phone is no longer holding a charge (POS!!)
  

Love:

• Knees working when I wasn't expecting it
  
• Older ladies at the aqua aerobics class (they were all so nice!!)
• Moshi sleeping inside, on the bed with me, all morning
• Espressa sleeping under the covers with me for part of the morning
  
• Bosses talking about one of them adopting a "special needs" cat that a mutual friend is fostering
  
• The show "CougarTown" (i sooooooooooo relate!)
• Getting into a "15 things swap" via Art & Tea (and liking the blog of the person I'm sending stuff to) (expect me to enlist help from Voxers within a couple days)
  
• My plumeria plant is blooming (first time in 3 or 4 years)
• The blog "Crazy Things Parents Say". It always makes me think of episodes of The BoBaveys. (what's become of our BoBudgie? He hasn't posted in a long time!)
  
• That I actually plan to go to aqua aerobics tomorrow morning.
  

So what do you do when your knees suddenly give out and swell up again? Why, go shopping at the mall... of course!

After Skritches' stitches were removed (I think she looked less freaky WITH the sutures cause they were a kind of "demarcation" point for where the eye should be. Without that... it looks odd. But I'm sure I'll adjust.), I dropped her off at home and decided to head right back out to get the car smogged. My theory being that I needed to accomplish more with my day off.

So the car passed smog and I was going to head home but it was only 5:15 and I still had items on my todo list. I decided against hunting down the doc (despite how much I want the handicap parking pass) cause it meant fighting traffic and I could just as easily accomplish it another time.

Since I was only 1 mile from a mall, I decided to suck it up (I DESPISE malls) and get some new undies (I swear, it's like someone is stealing all my black grannie panties) and a bra. Plus I wanted to check to see if a MAC counter had steal blue fluidliner yet.

I bought the undies & bra. And there was a giant (2 story) Target next door so I decided to trek through there for halloween crap - and found everything I want for work. The closest anchor store was Macy's (I hate them) and soooo far away. And I was in intense pain. But I also knew I'm not likely to return to a mall for months so I sucked it up again and went there.

MAC didn't have the fluidliner I wanted so, naturally, I bought one of their new eyeshadows (which I didn't need AT ALL) and a plushglass lip gloss (actually kinda needed that). On the way out, I spied purses with cross-body straps - bigger versions of the itty bitty wallet I currently carry. Just 10 min earlier, I'd had yet another incident where I was intensely aware that I was crippled and my little purse strap wasn't gonna keep my money on my body if someone wanted to take it (and, unlike when my purse was stolen 7 years ago, I wouldn't be able to chase them till I got my goods back). Considering that my wallet/purse also doesn't hold my keys or phone, and I've been needed my hands for crutches, I figured it was time for a "real" purse. I shopped a bit and bought my first "nice" purse in years (40% off). It has waaaaaay too many compartents but it's good quality leather and the smallest "big" purse that I could find. I haven't looked in a mirror but I'm willing to bet that it totally makes my butt look even bigger. But that's good these days, right?

I don't like making decisions/purchases based on my f-ing knees!!

So now I'm on the sofa, heat pad on my knee, hurting EVERYWHERE, and NOT pigging out during Biggest Loser (it's a miracle!) while waiting for the idiot chick from the purple team to get voted off.

WTF? Update: I just heard clip-clop, clip-clop sounds. Now, remember, I'm in the middle of a very developed city. I ran out a little but late but, sure enough, there were 2 people on horses going down the street. I didn't get a chance to see if they were police officers or anything (still highly unusual for this area) so it's completely freaked me out.

Is full of shit.

I can't walk again.

And the guy who said there were approx 6 people at the last class? He's full of shit too! More like 40! Cool thing is that they show up all throughout the class. So even though I was late (I'm perpetually late but I also didn't count on having to do paperwork), no one noticed.

The other ladies were quite nice. I was on the young side of the crowd.

My knee popped throughout the whole class - mainly because I didn't know my limits till I exceeded them. I also had a hard time with my right foot cramping up. That used to happen in regular aerobics too. But with at least 1/2 the class socializing or not able to do moves, it was no big deal to just stop doing something and stretch or modify the move.

I LOVED being back in the water. That alone will motivate me to return. Though maybe not tomorrow, as I'd originally hoped, since the knee is swelling fast and I'm completely exhausted (which surprises & disappoints me). I tried to swim laps... 2 was my limit. Hard to accept after knowing I used to swim for 3 solid hours. But I need the bitch slap in the face from reality.

I'm not getting any of my errands taken care of. Instead I'm going to do a quick vox check then take a nap till I have to take Skritches to the vet.

I'm so old!

Boss and TheQueen were out today so it was all quite on the office front. The rest of us made some really good headway on our major project, all without meetings or stupidity or bitchy emails. And I left early. Ahhhh!

I decided to take tomorrow off for personal errands and Skritches stitches (the vet tech would say sutures, which wasn't nearly as fun!).

I finally checked out the Jewish Community Center's pool & aqua aerobics over the weekend... not in them, just their existence and costs. I'm kicking myself for having lived about 1.5 miles from a chlorinated, clean, not very used pool for 8 summers and not knowing it. At least I do now.

Anyhooo... the plan is to try the 10a aqua aerobics class tomorrow. I'm not totally convinced it's going to happen but taking a day off removes the pressure of packing work clothes and whatnot so it's a good time to check it out. $6 per class, and I was told there are only about 6 people in the class, sounds pretty dang reasonable to me.

Fee to use the pool (lap or free swim) is $50 for 10 uses, or be someone's guest. That seems pretty fair too. Especially since they have a kids pool and when I was there (Sat, around noon) all the kids were actually in the kids pool - only adults in the big pool. Niiiiiice!!

I got a vet appt for Skritches at 3:40pm. In between (or maybe after the vet appt), I hope to swing by my doc's office (which is waaaay out of the way) to get her to sign another handicap parking form (I didn't submit the last one cause I got better) and get a reprint of the receipt for some appt that insurance is questioning for no apparent reason.

I ordered this coat today. It's not "me".. but I want it to be... so there ya go.

I really want these shoes but haven't managed to justify them (yet).

Heeeyyyy... has anyone reading this ever done Weight Watchers? I've always considered it a non-option cause (1) I assume there are lots of women attending and I don't really like many women; (2) I tend to rebel to group activities, esp those telling me what to do - so I'd start gaining wait just to "prove" that they don't control me; (3) I can't remember. But this woman I met Sat night implied that the meetings are actually quite positive and encouraging. I'm okay with that. But not with the remotest, slightest, hint of negativity... that leads to more of that pointless "proving". So, if you've been, what's your experience?

The knee is much better today. On Sunday I figured out that when sitting, keeping my foot in a position with my toes pointed up tends to keep the kneecap in joint. I don't understand why but it's really effective. I also returned to wearing sneakers + orthodics. The combo lets me walk more times than not, after sitting, and without need for crutches. So, yay for that!

On the negative side, it was killing me (emotionally) to watch a show about hiking in Yosemite. And realize that traveling there or to SF (or anywhere for that matter) is pretty pointless because I can't get around. So uncool!

Skritches just stopped by and wanted me to tell you that she's really pretty. And soft. Super super super super soft!! Like a bunny.

located at SM Blvd & Kings Rd (Macha Theater is next door, on Kings Rd)

Cuban sandwich: Chicken breast with goat cheese. grilled red onions, tomato, greens, and fried plantains on a french baguette, with a side of roasted potatoes. Overpriced but SO FREAKIN GOOD!! (which is why it was 1/2 eaten before I photographed it)

Naked Boys Singing was good! Not life changing but really good for such a small production (which has been running, off and on, for 10 years). Yes, it really is a bunch of naked guys singing & dancing... usually about being naked. I didn't realize it was opening weekend. Our show had a lot of former performers, writers, directors, etc in attendance. There was a small/short after party but I wasn't in the mood. I'm told there's a DVD of the show (I met one of the actors).

The show was really fun. I liked the venue a LOT. It's a small "cabaret" theater behind (but part of) the new Segerstrom center. They can use it as a large GA floor with balcony or, as they did for this show, put chairs on risers and have some surprisingly good seating (great views).

I previously thought the show was going to be a comedy/spoken word kind of thing but recently read that it included singing. A coworker came out of the early show, saying it was really good and primarily singing.

I loved it... great voice, great chitchat / stories, and great eye candy!!

After the show, I was hobbling out (I was one 1 crutch as the knee is unpredictable) and happened to take a break right by the stage door. A small crowd had gathered to wait for Alan. I realized I had nothing better to do so I joined them and got Alan's signature on his CD (per his suggestion in the show, I was going to title this post "I bought 'I Bought A Blue Car Today' today" but I overheard people twittering it (speaking their twitters?!? is that normal?) and well, F that).

So, I say with fair knowledge, having seen him up close and personal, Alan Cumming is soooooo cute! (and the accent doesn't hurt)

In other news:
Did nothing last night. Boo cried ALLLLL NIGHT LOOONG, causing me to get very little sleep and be late to my chiro appt. Fortunately, I got in to see him just before closing (noon). He did a great job of putting my bad knee back in joint and OMG, I COULD WALK!! For about 5 min. Then I got in my car, which is notorious for causing my knees to whack out and, sure enough, I was back to hobbling by my next stop. Since then, it's been 100% unpredictable as to whether or not it will work. SUCH FUN.

Ummm... WTF is going on with U2 on SNL? I mean, visually cool and all but....
(Though it just totally reminded me of Crankypants' visual essay from the Harmony (Inn? Hotel? Motel?) in Joshua Tree. lol!!)

Boo is crying AGAIN. My knee is throbbing. I think I'm gonna do a quick read of the hood then put myself in bed. Tomorrow night is Naked Boys Singing.... YAY!!

Jet black with silver tip & white flowers.

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I don't know why. Just one of those extremely rare days when being single with no friends feels GREAT instead of pathetic. I feel free to do ANYTHING... including NOTHING, which is the preferred MO for tonight.

Last Wed I went up to LA for the Cy Coleman CD event at the Grammy Museum. It didn't sell out which was nice because I was on my crutches (the knee) and able to get a handicap seat. The event was so-so. I didn't realize there would be a Q/A session, which bored me. And it turns out I'm really not into Cy Coleman's music. But one of the singers, Sara Watkins, had an absolutely mesmerizing voice. Too bad her usual genre is BlueGrass.

When I got of the freeway at Staples Center/Nokia Plaza, I hit a ton of traffic. Clearly a concert at Staples. While waiting for lights, I noticed the crowd was unusually woman-centric and that 99% of the women looked like WHORES. I guessed it was either a popular woman or sexy man performing. Turned out to be Britney Spears.

I was supposed to be going to the Bryan Adams event on Oct 7 but was told it's been postponed to Nov. That actually works out well for me since the CA Pole Championship moved to Oct 8 and I was not looking forward to driving to LA two nights in a row.

But I'll still be driving to LA two mornings in a row, just a few days after that, because I have the Hollywood Forever cemetery tour on Oct 10 (really hoping my knee is better by then) and the next 40's hair/makeup class was moved to Oct 11. Joy. At least the drive isn't so bad on weekends... esp in the morning.

Today I bought a ticket for the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Extravaganza. I was pissed to learn that tix were already on presale but, for some reason, I never got any notice about it (despite today's mailer being from LiveNation, because I'm on LiveNation's mailing list, and on of the presales is theirs) (and all that reminded me that I'm STILL not getting AmEx event notices). After some internet searching, I found the presale info and checked for tix. LiveNation gave me row UU, last row in the first section, as Best Available. So I decided not to go. But in a fluke of point & click on other sites, I ended up looking up the same show on TicketBastard, and they brought up PIT tix. So I bought it. But what the hell is the deal with different vendors having different tix?!? Good to know but it still pisses me off! And this is another "hope the knee is working" event because the pit is standing only (but I noted, 2 years ago, that they don't oversell it so a woman on crutches was able to sit on the floor without a problem).

I tried to get in to see sexy Dr. Sal, my chiro, but he was out today. I have an appt for 11:30 tomorrow, hoping he'll be able to get the left kneecap back into joint, correctly, so I can walk again. The right knee is back to its "normal" level of misbehaving (annoying but tolerable) but the left one is totally out of whack and the pain is excruciating!!

Tomorrow night is the Alan Cumming show. I read that it's a mix of music and comedy storytelling. I'm looking forward to it. I think it's in the new "cabaret" venue at Segerstrom. I haven't been there yet so it will be nice to check out. And that's in "the OC", instead of LA, so the drive should be no big deal.

Sun night is "Naked Boys Singing"... literally a group of naked boys/men singing songs. I'm REALLY looking forward to that!! If I can't have a worthwhile man to touch, I'll settle for gazing upon many naked ones!!

Speaking of "sexy but no touchie" men, Tristan is due back in town this weekend and goes back to AU in a week. Boo!! I hope to get in some play time with him but it's not likely. BOO again!!

I was supposed to be going to Monday Night Tease, on Monday (go figure!), for Victoria's birthday but she's canceled it. Something negative is going on in her life but she won't say what. I wish I could help.

I have a tentative invite to Vegas for Halloween. Not sure if I'll go (also not sure if I'll get a firm invite). Also got 411 for Miss Kitty's that weekend: They'll be having parties both Fri and Sat. I won't go there on Halloween. I never do. The costumes and crowd are so much on a regular night that I can't imagine dealing with a Halloween crowd, esp not a Sat night Halloween crowd. Though there will be LOTS of competition, party-wise, that night - but probably also a gazillion more people due to it being the weekend. Oh well, it's all too far off for as much thought as I'm giving it.

I need to schedule stitches removal for Skritches (yes, I love saying that) ASAP. They were due out today. I was hoping they'd fall out but they haven't. In theory, the eye is all healed up now. I don't look at it too closely (something about close up gives me the heebie jeebies) so I can't say for sure. But she's still cute as can be!!

Now I think I shall go take my liberated ass outside (in a really short chemise) to find, and bring in, Boo & Moshi. Then maybe to the kitchen for some "mini cinnamon rolls" (bought 'em at Smart N Final; eating the entire container myself - over several days [so that makes it okay])... assuming my knees will actually take me anywhere.

Buena fin de semana, peeps!

ps: WEST COAST VOX MEETUP, in San Diego, in February 2010. Details to follow (but prob not for a long time).

Help yourself!

Loathe

• Straightening up the house the night before the housekeeper are due. I loathe that I've fallen into this stupid pattern! Either keep the place clean regularly or leave the mess for them. Argh. I'll probably leave them some dishes but they don't always do them.
• People driving slow in the fast lane; double loathe if they are in a slow lane then change to the fast lane to continue driving slow; triple loathe if they cut someone off to do it; quadruple if that someone is me!
• Boo is determined to be an outdoor cat. She's black. October is coming. Can't be an outdoor cat in October. I need to find a solution.
• Sick kitties
• Knees that don't work**
• Driving to LA, especially from work (which adds 20+ miles)
• TheQueen calling a meeting to discuss something I've already answered, at LEAST 15 times, and the answer is still "I can't determine that because the development team hasn't developed it yet!!" BITCH!!
• Being hit on by a porn "star" with the opening line of, "We should gangbang you!" UGH!
• I spent about $100 on supplies for my office "coffee counter" & "chocolate/candy drawer" tonight
• Jay Leno being on at 10 (it screws up my "night ritual")
• Realizing that I'm putting off checking out aqua aerobics at the Jewish Community Center because then I'll have no excuse for not going and working out
  
• Spray cans of touch up paint no longer come in the color of my car (looks like the repair work will be staying grey)
• I need to get my car smogged in order to complete my registration
• I'm not sure where my speeding ticket is and I still haven't scheduled traffic school (I'm probably going to try to find an in-person class cause I don't see myself being disciplined enough to watch 8 hours of internet content)
  
• People posting for comments but never commenting on other people's stuff or even replying to, or acknowledging in ANY way, the comments they receive (more a FB issue than Vox). If you want a 1-sided blog, go to Wordpress!
• Parking at the Grammy Museum is $20/$25 (higher is for valet but sometimes that's the only option they allow)
• I think I missed Summer
• **Things that are unexpectedly difficult when your knees don't work properly:
• Getting under the covers in bed
• Putting on underwear
• Sitting on a low chair (without fearing that you're going to fall on your ass instead)
• Getting off a toilet
• Getting out of a car
  
• Walking alone in an unknown area without constantly thinking, "I not only look like, but am, an easy target for theft and/or harm"

Can't Decide

• Hearing kids at the elementary school (across the intersection) in the morning
  
• Cy Coleman music event at the Grammy Museum tomorrow night

Love

• Free flu shots at work
• Kitties getting better without vet visits
• Skritches eye is healing nicely
• C was never verbally abusive to me (friend had an incident over the weekend that made me appreciate C)
• Playing with sexySEXY men
  
• Carne Asada!! (it was today's special in the company cafeteria)
• I spent $21 for 3 bottles of good/decent champagne tonight
• My post about getting DEVO tickets made [Music Is Good]
• DEVO DEVO DEVO DEVO DEVO DEVO DEVO! (I could really use those shows being RIGHT NOW)
  
• I paid my car registration on time
• Peet's coffee said they WILL hunt down the driver I wrote in to compliment (no plates on his truck). "Dude" seriously deserves it, "he" was cut off by a absolutely freaky amount of drivers (it was like the truck had a "cut me off!!" sign on it) and never road raged at all. So I wrote the company to tell them.
  
• Despite being sent in more than 2 weeks past the deadline, Verizon is still processing my phone rebate (note to others: I used to process rebates - ALWAYS send them in, even if you're late! The cutoff dates are rarely firm.)
• I did NOT pig out during tonight's episode(s) of The Biggest Loser.
• Amy Pohler getting the Best Female in a Comedy nominees to wear silly glasses; Sarah Silverman wearing a mustache.
• Learning the basics of 1940s hairstyles (with some thought, time, and effort I should be able to recreate any style I want)
  
• I found some AWESOME retro-style dresses at ReVamp and the prices are really reasonable, so I'll probably get a couple made.
• When all the kitties come home for dinner
• When at least one kitty sleeps with me. The more kitties, the more I love it!