Jewellebean's Fuzzy-Wuzzy Journal

Mellow

2005-02-02T03:20:49Z

School/Work/School/Work --- I feel like I have no life right now.
My husband went to Lincoln for a LaserQuest thing this weekend and messed up the inside of my car.

Don't I have anything good to say anymore?

WARNING - If you don't want to hear me bitch about my job stop reading right here ----->.

I'm totally mellow right now, which is probably because I've been totally pissed off all day. I find out today that my boss has been lying to me for weeks!! The new database we are switching to has a web based interface for patrons. The cookie-cutter HTML files that came with the software are sitting on our SQL server. My boss told me months ago that I could edit the pages to fit our main page's theme and customize them for our needs (something well within my means). We were talking about this as recently as yesterday. Today my boss's girlfriend (she with the graphic design degree who maintains our pretty crappy webpages right now) came into our office and wanted to know where on the server the files were so she could work on them!!!! He had told her all along that she could do it!! She's not even in our damn department, and she doesn't have access to our server. So, of course, I tried very hard not to throw a hissy fit (I'm not known for controlling myself too well). I mean, to discuss this right in front of me like he didn't even care he had been lying to me!!! Anyway, I know that beyond simple FrontPage stuff she doesn't know shit, so I said "OK, she can work on it if she wants" (knowing full well that she is leaving in two weeks anyway) but I gave him a few not so subtle pointers hoping that he'd pass them on to her, and I showed him where on the server the files were (because he doesn't have a clue). He goes off to her office, and comes back a few minutes later and decides that HE IS GOING TO DO THE DAMN PAGES HIMSELF. This guy has never worked on a webpage in his life - and it shows. He finally gives up, thank god!

Anyway, while the boss wasn't around I told the other lady in the office how pissed off I was about it, knowing full well that she'd tell the boss anything and that my sentiments would get passed along for me through her. So, right before 5 today he told me "So when do you want to start working on these webpages?" LOL An apology would have been nice, but that will do just fine. He looked pretty guilty too, and so he should.

Yikes...

2005-01-23T18:52:25Z

I haven't written in this thing for MONTHS!!! Probably because I have been so busy! So, swhat I have been doing?

1) Busy at work...with the drunken, useless coworker probably out for good since her accident, work has been quite busy. However, we don't want teh upper eschelons to know that we are busy because we don't want them to convince her to come back to work instead of going on disability. Plus, we have a new databse at work (something we have been working on for over a year), and it runs on a SQL server, something our systems admin doesn't know shit about! Great!! Learning that hasn't been a big deal, but my boss is planning to quit this summer and....well, I have know idea WTF is going on....I just work there.

2) Grad school has been a total waste of my time. How about I hand them a big check and they give me my fucking degree because they sure as hell aren't teaching me anything! I must admit, straight A's do look good, and I can't believe the IDIOTS they let into grad school these days. So I guess in comparison to the morons I call classmates I must look pretty smart.

3) Websites! My Dad retired (at 53!!!1) and decided to start his own business with some of his first retirement check. This guy really planned for his future well...he should be a retirement consultant or something. Anyway, I get to do the website, and it's looking really good and I'm dead proud of it, but since it's a (semi)professional site I though I's better do a (semi)professional job, so I taught myself CSS and JavaScript, which has not only taught me more useful skilz than I will ever learn in Grad School, but looks good on any resume.

So, what's with the retarded DDR Bunny? Well...THAT'S ME!! Yes, I DDR, and yes, I SUCK AT IT. But it's a good workout and as long as I can do it at home on the playstation (thanx Mom and Dad, DDR is a great Xmas present) I don't have to make an ass of myself in public.

And why haven't I been on the Voltron boards? They take too much time to keep up with, and until they RELEASE THE DVD'S ALREADY I've given up on it (kind of obvious since my website hasn't been updated in over 6 months).

So, that's me.

jewellebean @ 2004-08-27T09:05:00

2004-08-27T14:08:12Z

Well, the assistant dean just got a phone call from the police about the missing co-worker. She was involved in a huge accident on the way to work and was taken to the hospital. So far we only know that she has a broken leg, but someone else involved in the accident was killed.

I know it's never a good idea to think of the worst possible scenario, but if she was driving drunk (something she has been known to do) and if she was the cause of the accident then she could be charged with vehicular homicide, or manslaughter at the very least.

I guess we just have to wait and see what happens.

jewellebean @ 2004-08-27T08:35:00

2004-08-27T13:46:41Z

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I have just been REALLY busy. So here are some brief notes of what I have been upto:

Had my first grad school classes this weekend - which took up almost my entire weekend. Very intensive!

Saw the new Exorcist movie Sunday night when I got home. It's not a bad movie, but it's not that great either.

Did homework, homework, and more homework! I had a whole textbook and 4 journal articles to read. Three essays to write. Had to interview a professional, write up the interview, post it to the web. Organize a case study, with a group of 5 others, and prepare a presentation. That is just this week's homework!!!! It isn't this intense through the whole semester, but you can see why I've been busy!

The computer network at work is fizzing out. This is a university wide problem, and no one seems to know what the problem is. Classes are back in session now, and kids are back in the dorms. One theory is that file-sharing dorm students are eating up all the bandwidth. So if you live at WSU - STOP FILE-SHARING!! I know a couple of years ago Stanford banned all forms of file-sharing and started fining people who did it. Maybe that's what we will have to do.

One co-worker hasn't shown up for work today, and didn't call in either. She has a drinking problem and always chooses the worst possible times to get drunk. She has worked here for 20 years, but if she is drunk I hope they finally can her ass!

jewellebean @ 2004-08-20T13:40:00

2004-08-20T18:41:41Z

I'm in class, and so far it has been pretty dull. Kind of braindead stuff. I hope it picks up or I'll just end up falling asleep. I think I could have skipped most of this orientation stuff and stayed at work instead. :(

jewellebean @ 2004-08-19T11:34:00

2004-08-19T16:40:28Z

You know how sometimes eveything happens just the way it should?

I am in the process of hiring a new assistant, always something I dread. I have to post an ad for the job, take applications, go through the applications and pick people to interview, pick a poor soul for the job, fill out a billion forms, and then train the person! I always try to skip as many of these steps as possible, but I didn't have to do any of them this time. My old assistant, Jason, came breezing through the door this morning! He had seen the ad and wanted his old job back!! Jason was an awsome worker, and had to leave last time because his other job became short on people and needed him to work more. He's still in our payroll as unactive, and I won't need to train him. All I have to do it fill out one little form!! YAY! He gets along great with everyone around here and he's just a joy to talk to. Life is good!

We got the special edition Predator on DVD this week (what's up with this Predator obsession?) and there was a free movie ticket inside to see AVP. So we saw it again last night. Even better than the first time. I just love that movie! It's not even really a good movie, it just has something about it...

jewellebean @ 2004-08-17T12:21:00

2004-08-17T17:29:50Z

Just time for a quick update...

Work is boring, and busier too. I have no assistant until at least next week (but the old one is gone thank god,) and even though the actual workload isn't any higher, it seems like it is now that I'm doing everything myself.

I have my first class of grad school this weekend. Friday noon-9pm, Saturday 8am-5pm, and Sunday 8am-noon. Cripes!! It had better be interesting at least. Of course there is "prep work" before the class. I have to read and write notes on the first half of one of the textbooks and read 4 journal articles. Between now and Friday? They've got to be kidding!

I booked a hotel for the weekend, but it will be lonely with just me. And then I have to wonder what Jeremy is going to get up to all weekend...hmmm. The fastfood wrappers and 10,000 coke cans had better be picked up this time. He's Slobzilla!!

Since watching AVP I keep dreaming about Predators. Weird I know, but they are such awsome things. What a life that would be...

jewellebean @ 2004-08-16T08:44:00

2004-08-16T13:53:55Z

Husband's birthday was a mixed day. Took him out for breakfast in the morning to one of our favorite restaurants. Food was great, service was unacceptable. The waitress who started out serving us just totally ignored us and wouldn't take our order. She kept serving other people who came in after us and we were stuck just sitting there like idiots. Hub finally went to the hosts at the front to get us some service, and they send along another waitress who was already run off her feet. We asked her what had happened to our other waitress. She said "I don't know what her problem is today." Well the original waitress kept walking by our table while serving her other tables and every time she looked right at me and gave me a really nasty look. I have no idea why! This wasn't the only problem with service, but to cut a long story short, we left (no tip) and on the way out I called for the manager to complain about the girl because she had been so rude to us. I was describing the girl to the manager and she walked right behind the manager while I was talking and started waving at me!!??!!?? The manager turned around and saw her do it. Hopefully she got fired, but what her damn problem was is a mystery! I have never met the girl before in my life.

The rest of the day was fun, except for dinner. We went out to a new Italian place before we saw AVP (which was an awsome movie BTW). I love Italian food, but something I ate didn't agree with me and halfway through the meal I got totally sick (fortunately I made it to the bathroom). I then went outside to get some fresh air and he had to eat dinner by himself! Poor guy! Both Birthday meals ruined.

jewellebean @ 2004-08-12T09:40:00

2004-08-12T14:48:32Z

This is a bitch and moan journal entry...

I have to go to a stupid Ergonomics workshop today. I hate these things!! I HATE them!!!

I asked my boss two weeks ago if I could get out of going, and he said "fine." Today he comes in and says, "That workshop is mandatory. You have to go." CRAP!!

What do they do at these things? Rearrange our desks so we can be more "ergonomically friendly" or whatever. They make us put our mouses on the wrong sides of our computers, adjust our chairs, monitors and interfere in our lives way more than they should. I like my desk just the way it is! I'm just going to change it all back when they leave anyway. I can't use my mouse in my left hand (not to mention there is no room on that side of my desk for it), I don't sit in a chair the regular way, I sit on top of my foot folded up under me, so changing my chair will only make me uncomfortable. But if we can't be the little robot minions they want us to be they might feel they are losing their power over us! Oh no!

They've paid this guy Beaucoup Bucks to come out here and do this workshop, then he's going to tell us all to order fancy footstools, cushy mouse mats, and glare screens. All this under a budget crunch.

Hello? I'd rather sit here and play Spider Solitare thank you. Why do I have to waste my time the way the administration office see's fit?

jewellebean @ 2004-08-11T10:13:00

2004-08-11T15:18:32Z

I know what to get Jeremy for his birthday now!! I've been going crazy trying to think of something, but I can't say what because I know he's going to read this...
He's feeling depressed about turning 26 because "26 is old." Well I'm nearly 26 too and I don't feel a bit old! Maybe that has something to do with still liking the same things I was into when I was 5.

I had a weird dream last night about a zoo. The animals were just allowed to walk around with the people, and there was some big conspiracy going on with a secret underground waterpark. It was one of the strangest dreams I have ever had!

jewellebean @ 2004-08-09T09:03:00

2004-08-09T14:11:17Z

My brother is in town, but didn't bring me a new hard drive like I thought he would. Looks like I have to buy my own after all...never mind.

It was weird seeing him again. We used to be around each other all the time, and then my family just moves to another state and I see him maybe 2 or 3 times a year. I had forgotten how hillarious he is. He also has EVERY EPISODE of Robotech on his hard drive which he's going to burn onto DVD's for me. YAY!! I had no idea he liked Robotech, and he didn't know I did. We need to keep in touch better.

The Voltron boards are still a mess. Maybe I was a little hard on Phatmic (at least he changed his avatar - to one that is too big...oh well) but I am not known for my tolerance of stupid people. Then there are people like K2C who publically flame him, then starts being civil to him again while at the same time continues to diss him on that other board and be buddies with the very same trolls who attacked the Voltron board. What sense does that make? Anyway, I'm staying off the boards until Admin cleans them up. I have enough to do for the next few days anyway so I probably won't miss them.

As for my assistant...if she calls in sick today I'm going to tell her not to bother coming back. Her last day is Friday anyway and it seems pointless keeping her on the payroll until then is she's going to be "sick" the whole time. If she comes in I'll give her a talking to, but I can't do much about it other than fire her.

Update: After posting this entry I went to the Voltron boards to see if Admin is cleaning up yet...and sure enough there he is! Poor guy.

jewellebean @ 2004-08-08T08:50:00

2004-08-08T13:56:27Z

The crap over on the Voltron board is sickening, it's not so much the trolls now but the actual members. Sigh...

So, what are some ideas for some new Voltron related thread topics? Right now I can't think of anything which is sad. Anyone have any ideas?

jewellebean @ 2004-08-03T13:45:00

2004-08-03T18:57:55Z

Now that I'm done with the website I don't know what to do with myself. I'm walking around in a daze!

I need to start another project ASAP. Is it time to start planning Christmas yet?

jewellebean @ 2004-08-02T09:29:00

2004-08-02T14:47:50Z

I called in sick to work this morning...I feel kind of blah. I could have gone in, but I know how slow it's going to be and I have over 100 hours of sick time to use up anyway. Whenever I call in I always make sure I leave messages with my boss AND the office supervisor, just in case one of them is out too. Well, about 8:45 my boss called me at home! He asked me where I was and why I hadn't call in! So I told him that I did, twice. I thought I was going to be in big trouble or something. It turns out that the telecommunications people were doing phone system maintenance this weekend and didn't get the voice mail system working right yet. So everything turned out OK, but it still totally freaked me out. My boss is cool about us calling in sick though, he even encourages us to take "mental health days" whenever we get sick of work LOL.

This weekend I saw The Village. I had read some bad reviews, and everyone who saw it on Friday night said it was awful. Well I totally LOVED it! I won't give away any of the plot but it has a lot to say about society, and Adrien Brody totally stole the show. I already knew about the twist at the end but it was still awsome.

I'm going to spend the rest of the day reading old Voltron fanfics that I haven't read for years. I re-found a few while I was putting my links page together.

jewellebean @ 2004-08-01T12:42:00

2004-08-01T17:48:51Z

All finished...finally!!!

If you want to check out my new site here's the link Planet Doom.

I'd appreciate it if you could let me know if you find bad links, typo's, wrong info etc.

jewellebean @ 2004-07-30T08:45:00

2004-07-30T13:52:23Z

My website is almost finished!!!!! That's a good thing because I only have until August 20th to do all the prep work before I start grad school. I have a 6 hour orientation the first day, and I have to prove my "technological proficiency" in web building, FTP uploading, spreadsheets, databases, etc. Otherwise I have to pay to take two more classes. I just paid for my classes for this semester. $1031 for 6 credit hours!!!!! OOOwwwccchhh. I thought it was going to be about $900 and then they kept adding on a lab fee to this class, and an internet fee to that class. Why if I'm not going to the classroom so much and doing most things on the internet do I have to pay more money? If I'm sitting at home doing my work shouldn't I pay less? But I do make up for it in not having to pay outrageous gas prices to drive to Emporia all the time (almost a 4 hour roundtrip.)

Anyway, website will be done by this weekend. As much fun as I've had building it I'm glad it's almost done. Of course I'm sure I'll keep adding to it.

jewellebean @ 2004-07-24T20:04:00

2004-07-25T01:12:17Z

Maybe it's just me, but that Icewyche on the Voltron boards just doesn't seem to like me at all. I feel like she has to go out of her way to disagree with me. Like when I suggested we have a Comic Forum, yesterday she had to say "So what are we gonna talk about on the LV forum? I mean, most of that was about the comic." I have a feeling that if someone else had suggested the board thing right before Admin put it up she wouldn't have said that.

What did I do to her? I know it's just a board on the internet and it really doesn't matter, but I hate it when people don't like me. I had enough of that in high school. :(

jewellebean @ 2004-07-23T13:24:00

2004-07-23T18:31:37Z

Everything turned out well yesterday. I got brave before I left yesterday and spoke to my boss about all the crap going on at work. I think he finally saw things our way, because he actually made a statement at the meeting agreeing with us! I wasn't there to hear it but I am so glad he is backing up his staff for once instead of his girlfriend.

My grad school interview went well. I already knew I was in, but I got a chance to see the library and labs and chat with some faculty. Emporia is a nice campus, and even though it's a long way to drive to class most of the work will be done online in chatrooms etc. I only have to go to Emporia twice and Kansas City once next semester, and the rest I can do at home.

jewellebean @ 2004-07-22T11:15:00

2004-07-22T16:25:08Z

Whew...I almost walked into my boss's office and punched him in the face. That's how my day is going! 10 deep breaths can help!

It's way too long to go into, but I sent an e-mail IN CONFIDENCE to the members of a committee who wanted feedback on some issues. My feedback was critical of the committee's proposed plan of employee reorganization, but my opinions were valid and well delivered. BIG MISTAKE!

One of the committee members is the girlfriend of my department head. This has long been an issue, because I already know he tells her confidential stuff about our office, and instead of asking his staff for help he goes running to her and leaves us in the dark. Well, this CONFIDENTIAL e-mail found it's way into my boss's hands. And he made the comment to another lady in my office that he knew I "sent a bitchy e-mail about the proposal." There will be a library wide meeting this afternoon all about this proposal that I have to miss because of my grad school interview. I so badly want to be there to defend myself, because I know I'm not the only one who feels that way but it seems like I'm the only one who has any guts to say anything.

After this meeting the other lady and I are going to arrange a meeting with our dean. This sharing of confidential info between lovers at work HAS TO STOP NOW!

jewellebean @ 2004-07-20T20:44:00

2004-07-21T01:52:12Z

</a></b></a>cheezey posted something interesting in her journal that got me all pissed off about the tax situation again. So I thought I'd share this thing that someone sent to me a while back.

Suppose that every day ten men go to a restaurant for dinner. The bill for all ten comes to $100.

If it was paid the way we pay our taxes, the first four men would pay nothing; the fifth would pay $1; the sixth would pay $3; the seventh $7; the eighth $12; the ninth $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

The ten men ate dinner in the restaurant
every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement until the owner threw them a curve.

"Since you're all such good customers, he said, I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20."

Now dinner for the 10 only costs $80.

The first four are unaffected; they still eat for free. Can you figure out how to divvy up the $20 savings among the remaining six so that everyone gets his fair share?

The men realize that $20 divided by 6 is $3.33, but if they subtract that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would end up being paid to eat their meal.

The restaurant owner proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay under the same assumptions: Now the fifth man
also paid nothing, the sixth pitched in $2, the seventh paid $5, the eighth paid $9, and the ninth paid $12 leaving the
tenth man with a bill of $52 instead of $59.

Outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. "I only got a dollar out the $20," complained the sixth man, pointing to the tenth, "and he got $7!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got seven times more than me!"

"That's true," shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $7 back when I got only $2? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. " We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor."

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night he didn't show up for dinner, so the nine sat down and
ate without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important.

They were $52 short!

And that, boys, girls is how America's tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show
up at the table any more. After all, there are lots of good restaurants in Switzerland and the Caribbean.

jewellebean @ 2004-07-19T11:27:00

2004-07-19T16:33:14Z

BEWARE THE BAGLE! The evil bagle!

Someone I know sent me an attachment at work that said foto3.com. I figured he was just sending me some photos, but it was the bagle virus. It slammed my computer at work with 76 corrupted files.

I'm usually the person to call other people who download viruses idiots and I'm so careful about not opening attachments, but now I'm an idiot and a hypocrite.

jewellebean @ 2004-07-18T14:32:00

2004-07-18T19:47:03Z

I have my grad school entrance interview on Thursday, and I'm looking forward to it, except that it's a 3 and a 1/2 hour round trip and I have to take time off work to go. I just hope they have my status right finally. I also have to pay all of my tuition for the semester too, which is going to break the bank. But I figure once I get the degree in 2-3 years I'll be making more money to make up for it.

I've been working on the website, because I wanted to get it finished before Thursday to show them at my interview that I have some web building skills but it's not going to be done. My wonderful husband said "you can use the computer all weekend, I won't get in the way" and he spends ages playing Half Life and poker, and when I do get to use it he's always bugging me about stupid crap so I can't get anything done.

We were going to see a movie last night, they had special midnight showings this weekend of Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Spinal Tap. So he went out with his friends for a while, and forgot!!! My own husband stood me up. Yeah, that makes me feel great.

And today I went out to buy some new blinds...and forgot to measure the damn window first. Duh.

jewellebean @ 2004-07-17T01:22:00

2004-07-17T07:03:03Z

I can't sleep at all!! Nothing like time to waste...so this is taken from </a></b></a>purrsia

5 words that describe you
1.: overbearing
2.: assertive
3.: introverted
4.: focused
5.: obsessive

5 websites you visit daily
1.: voltron.info
2.: livejournal
3.: kansas library autographics
4.: first search
5.: cnn.com

5 CDs you couldn't live without -
1.: Steal this Album - System of a Down (the greatest workout CD ever!)
2.: Mezzanine - Massive Attack
3.: Xenogears original soundtrack
4.: Ben Folds Five - BFF
5.: Anything by Debussy

5 favorite books
1.: The Pendergast books - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
2.: Dragonlance Legends
3.: The Club Dumas - Arturo Perez Reverte
4.: Song of Fire & Ice books - George R.R. Martin
5.: ALL of the Sherlock Holmes stories

5 favorite songs
I couldn't choose a favorite. I usually listen to a good song until I hate it.

5 random facts about you
1. I once dyed my hair fire-engine red (never again)
2. I'm totally afraid of windmills
3. I used to be a baton twirler
4. I want to move to Maine when I retire (or win the lottery)
5. My first car was called Nora Bel

5 countries you would like to visit
1.: Egypt
2.: Jordan
3.: Russia
4.: New Zealand
5.: Japan

5 words or phrases you always use
Um, I don't think I use anything unusual.

5 favorite movies
1.: Labyrinth (!!!)
2.: Star Wars (the original, not the crappy new ones)
3.: Watership Down
4.: Pollyanna
5.: Akira

5 things you are obsessed with
1.: Voltron (or more specifically, Lotor. My oldest and deepest obsession)
2.: My husband - a close second!
3.: Doing my job well
4.: My weight
5.: can't think of a fifth one

5 girls names you like (even if you never want children)
1.: Alice
2.: Charlotte
3.: Chloe
4.: Berrien (I know it's a town, but I'd like it as a name)
5.: Fiona

5 boys name you like (even if you never want children)
1.: Scott
2.: Robert
3.: Jesse
4.: Jason
5.: Lester

5 hobbies you have
1.: graphic designing
2.: reading
3.: finding new Alice in Wonderland things
4.: cross stitch
5.: christmas crafts

5 foods that are your favorite
1.: pancakes
2.: oranges
3.: chocolate
4.: cheese
5.: strawberries

5 favorite computer programs
1.: Dreamweaver
2.: Paintshop Pro
3.: Fireworks
4.: OCLC Passport
5.: Animation studio

5 board games you like to play
1.: Boggle
2.: Yahtzee
3.: Battleship
4.: Chess
5.: Trivial Pursuit

jewellebean @ 2004-07-12T14:25:00

2004-07-12T19:34:26Z

I called the grad. school and finally got an answer! I hadn't heard back for so long and classes start next month. Apparently they sent my file over to the international office and they were trying to process my file as an international student! I was afraid this might happen so I checked with them TWO WEEKS AGO to make sure this wasn't happening, and I was assured it wasn't by the graduate admissions office. Idiots!

I have my entrance interview on the 22nd, and they said I can sign up for my classes as soon as the interview is over. So I take it that means I got in.

YAY! I'm a grad student. Bye bye free time.

jewellebean @ 2004-07-12T12:26:00

2004-07-12T17:30:00Z

Just a quick note to all reference librarians in the world...

DO YOUR OWN DAMN WORK!!!
I'M NOT HERE TO DO IT FOR YOU!!!
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TEACH YOU HOW TO USE YOUR OWN DATABASES!!!
THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TENURE FOR!!!
GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASSES!!!
I HAVE MY OWN WORK TO DO!!!

...end of note.