Hello [chronological age that I am]. Goodbye, April....

....and good riddance.

My birthday came and went a couple of days ago, with nothing significant to commemorate the occasion....just like the last four or five years. (Jean, this doesn't mean I am not happy for your achievement.)

I guess I always thought I would have some sort of shindig when I hit the half century mark, but it wasn't meant to be.

Too melancholy; too "woe-is-me," I know, but with things the way they are (and have been for far too long), I am stuck in this mental quicksand and I can't seem to pull myself out any more. Used to be, when I reached a certain level of unhappiness, I could roll with the punches a bit, slog through the mental mire, and only have to dust myself off and hose down my shoes (so-to-speak) to get back into life with a smile (or at least, a better attitude).

Now, I just want to flip off the world, sneer and scowl and let life keep moving past.

Having said that (please excuse the pretty poor segue) -

Thank you, Maria, for the phone call and the message - and your card! I would liked to have picked up when you phoned, but the AD was yammering at me about huge changes to the schedule for the day - something they continually forget to communicate to me, so he thought he'd tell me right then. I would much rather have spoken with you for a few moments. Thank you, thank you! <3

Aunt Deb, Grandma and Aunt Joan, thank you for your cards and prayers. I haven't any news regarding the job I interviewed for (the interview I had was simply with a placement/contract agency, I have yet to interview with the actual company I would be working at as a contractor). I did have a call from the placement person I am working with, but he says there's been no word beyond knowing my resume has been received and that I am in contention and being considered. So, not a 'yes', but not a 'no'. It's just a waiting game.

In the meanwhile, I'm working on a small budget (aren't they all?) film close to home. It will keep me busy and put a little extra cash in the budget - maybe I can have my stove brought in and connected with it!

Aaron, thank you for the phone call and the birthday song you left on my vme! Well done, nut bag. It was well received and much appreciated on a very crappy day. Oh, and thanks for pointing out that I am still - technically - in my forties.

Aunt Judy, sorry to read you have been under the weather. I hope you are much improved and in the pink. Here's a hug and thanks for your email greeting.

Mom....thank you most of all. I read your message(s) several times and I am using your "not much" to treat myself to my favorite MI Cobb salad at The Union sometime in the next couple of weeks. I'll walk to town and eat at my leisure at one of the outdoor tables - when it isn't raining (and maybe buy a fat quarter with the leftover)!

With a vengeance, baby

I was awake at 6:30 this morning, just in time to hear and see the thunderous early storms for the day. The noise and light show went on for roughly ten minutes and then....the downpour began! Holy smokes, it rained with a vengeance - and it's raining still. I am sort of hoping the skies rain themselves out before too much longer because I have a birthday gift to get in the ground.

This is the link to the new The House of the Rising Sun trailer. It is vastly improved over the first...trust me. Despite the choice of music towards the end of the trailer, it's pretty darned good, though. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dknx2NAnye1Y&h=72800

HOTRS will be released straight to DVD on July 19th. Look for it if you're in to that sort of flick.

The thing that cracks me up about seeing a film I've worked on, or watching a trailer for one is, I still catch myself thinking of where I was standing at any given moment, or what day in the production sequence we were in. Trying to watch a film simply for the sake of watching for enjoyment is out the window. Fortunately, there aren't that many films I have crewed on for that to be a real issue. (Maybe I should have said 'unfortunately.')

Of course, family and friends will tell you I am not to be allowed control of the remote while watching DVDs because I tend to obsess and rewind it to point out continuity issues on any movie (and television shows too, if I could).

Hey, that just means I am dedicated to my trade, and good at what I do! Continuity with a vengeance! Yeah, baby. ;)

Don't forget, all quilting photos and blogging can now be found at: www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com :)

Table read last night

Last night was a little chaotic, but eventually it settled into a table read - without the table. Go figure.

I was emailed an updated version of the week's preproduction schedule, and my understanding was to be ready and at the prod house by six o'clock. I arrived at five minutes to six, surprised to find not one car (or person) at the location. Forty minutes later I was still awaiting the arrival of at least some of the production crew. Ah, film work.

The production office is a house in RH, while our one set location is in another direction - but amazingly close; and, fortunately for me, both of those locations is a blessed handful of miles from home. With gas at a little over four dollars per gallon, this is no small miracle.

The read was a spot-on one hour and thirty minutes, but if you account for the giggling and Tom-foolery during the process, I can see where (after adding in the SPFX, action action around the dialogue, additional camera stuff, blah, blah, yadda, yadda) it could be about an hour and thirty minutes....cut and credited. Respectable. Not too long and not too short. Plus, it feels like it will be fun.

The next date I need to be on set is on my birthday! for a location/tech walk-through, and then a department meeting the following day. So, all in all, not too bad. We have been told the blue script is already on the way (which technically, this new white locked script IS the blue script...but, whatever), so there will be a whole lot of tweaking to do. Hopefully, the DOOD (Day Out Of Days) will be in my hand before too much longer.

A DOOD is the scheduling portion of the script (it used to be called "strips" by older Hollywood filmmakers - and I will explain that another time), so you know what scenes will be shot on which day, and the location, etc. Gives everyone the same 'head's up' about the process, so everyone is on the same page all at once.

A lot of work and planning goes on during the prepro of a project.

I met the director and a goodly portion of my behind the camera crew, and hit it off with the AD team and some of the office staff, so I guess we are off and running!

And then, this morning I was over the moon to find a re-edited trailer online for the film I worked on Nov/December. It looks great - and the film is due out (direct to DVD) July 19!

It just feels great to be working...so I am wearing a smile on my face - how about you?

Don't forget, all quilting-related blog entries & photos are now at: www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com/

Just couldn't

Easter, 1990

Just couldn't let the day pass without sharing a "real Easter memory" or two.

These are photos of my sons from back in the day...

Brian, 1992

Karl, 1994

Easter, 1995

Two good eggs!

Happy Easter to one and all!

Whaaaa?

Somebody's used their iPhone to read the blog?! Too cool.

Thank you for looking in. :)

Random animal stuff

- If wishes were fishes...I'd have a pretty full ocean. Mmmmm...maybe a very large lake (or a small, small ocean) full of fish.

Some of the wishes admittedly would be small. Small enough to be considered inconsequential as wishes go.

Not really even wishes so much as utterances, and even I would be hard pressed to say as to whether or not I actually used the phrase "I wish" in conjunction with each utterance.

We had fish for dinner last night.

- I was up and around and standing in the right spot early this morning to witness a robin collect nesting materials. He began by hopping about, picking up errant leaves and casting them aside, then hopping on.

All at once he spotted a pliable piece of old plant material and pounced on it! Then, realizing he had found a veritable goldmine of weave-able items, he maneuvered here and there, sizing up each piece and handily collected six to eight similar pieces. He hopped 'round and 'round, I think trying to estimate whether or not he could fit and carry any more in his beak. Finally, he made his way to the stone edging and flew off with his bounty.

- While driving to a meeting last Saturday, I was blessed to see a doe standing in a very open area beside the street. I slowed my speed as I neared her, mostly to stare at her, but partly to avoid having to slam on the brakes should she do the typical deer dash in front of my car.

She didn't move...much.

Oddly, as I watched her, she lifted her head from her grass-munching pose to watch me as I drove past. It was like encountering an animatronic lawn ornament. Chewing, then craning, then little jerking movements of her head from left to right as I moved four feet along my trajectory, then another four feet, then another four feet. I could see her watching me. I loved it!

There was another car some distance behind me, but approaching my darling doe, and I hoped they too would have a neat encounter.

I watched in my rear view mirror as I drove off and saw that as the next car drew near, Miss Deer decided to amble into the street - and take her time crossing - making the next car stop abruptly! It made for a good chuckle.

- When Flop is taking a really good nap, I love that she relaxes to the point where her head becomes a drop of water. She literally "nods off" to sleep. She's also a bit drool-y.

- The girls were fed an early breakfast this morning. Afterwards, instead of our usual morning routine, Cleo quietly wandered back down the hall toward the bedrooms; entered Bud's room; sat quietly at the bedside; then hefted herself back onto his bed and curled up for who-knows-how-long.

In the silence of the morning, I could hear Brian roll over and settle back to a hard sleep, and Cleo let out her grunt-sigh as she nestled in next to his legs.

If you aren't keeping up on my quilting.....you should! Here's how: www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com

I was right (amended)

I love being able to type that (say it, sing it, shout it at strangers in passing cars...whatever).

As it turns out, my reluctance to make contact with friends (and potential bosses) at [unnamed company] has proven to be a good call.

I finally did hear from my contact at [unnamed headhunting company] this afternoon, and he has just found out there is yet another whole new process for submitting resumes/candidates for open positions. So even though my resume has already been sent their way once, it will have to be submitted again and churn through the new set of rigmarole before I possibly have an interview for the CM position.

Maria, I hear what you are saying, but I have to think He can't possibly want the decision to be this tough. As important as it is that I be happy and follow my heart, I have to meet obligations and not lose my house and pay my bills and give my mom her freedom. And, God-forbid, I end up needing another emergency surgery, or one of the boys needs something, I have to be in a place where I can take care of it again.

What do I really want to do? I want to do the fun thing - wear jeans and t-shirts and play 12 hours+ a day, 6 days a week, for a sad amount of money. The Michigan film workforce is grossly de-valued (and if you quibble, they hire the next one on the list). I want to work in films! I do, but it's impractacle, and I have been doing this for enough time to see that given the new gov's state of mind, I will not be able to make a living following this dream.

What I want and what I want to do are completely different things....COMPLETELY! Sad to say, at this time, I really think I should go for what I need and forget what I want. If I am offered a chance to interview for 'corporate world,' then I will do that. And if I am offered a corporate job, then I have to take it. Living in poverty is not an option any more. I have to be the grown-up and follow my head and forget about what my heart wants.

Sad but true. It's become futile to dream and wait and hope. The decision is going to have to be made when the time comes.

But, when my first screenplay sells, I am celebrating in style, baby! ;)

I don't get it

You know, I wasn't bragging the other day when I was saying how thrilled I was at the prospect of maybe finally having a job. I wasn't boasting or trying to make anyone feel bad - I was simply over the moon and needed to share it.

It has been so long since I have had a nibble of any sort from an honest-to-goodness, benefits-paying, five-day-a-week, life-supporting-wage sort of position. For the first time, in a long time, I had a chance at getting caught up and jumping back into a comfortable place where I can pay bills and take care of my family again.

Me! Me on my own, and I needed to jump on a rooftop and crow.

And not only did I manage to catch the eye of a hiring agency and score a favorable interview on a corporate platform, but I managed to get a second job offer as well.

Weirdly, I also scored that scripty gig...which isn't to start filming until approximately when I figured the second interview would happen with the corporate thing. Scheduling an interview may become a little tough, but I will work it out.

I laughed at the irony. I began to wonder at the circumstances. I fretted over how I take time to interview when (not 'if') it became necessary. I worried over the possibility of angering the production folks at maybe having to leave midstream (should the corporate job require me to start during the run of the filming).

Did my celebration curse my dreams? Was my happiness the rack-n-ruin of my chances? Did I jinx it?

I think I must have. It certainly feels like that's the case.

I received a phone call from the hiring agency late (late) Tuesday afternoon, and the message said that they haven't heard from the corporate people to say "yea" or "nay," and so would I consider calling my friends and former colleague to push at getting in the door? Shake the tree...break the ice...nudge the slumbering bear.

I have to admit I am not in favor of this tactic.

What it all comes down to is...I just don't get it. How can things look so good - be so promising - but then become so mired down and come to a complete standstill? I know that's the way it all works, except I can't help but wonder if this is a really good test of my faith and resolve. There's a plan, and God's will be done, but who knew He would be so into cliffhangers, mysteries and suspense?

Huh

Dear Easter Bunny

For my birthday...

...I would like the weather to turn and stay 'that way.'

...I would like my life back.

...may I please have a happy childhood and an easy adolescence.

...please grant me the willpower and motivation to keep my hand out of the cookie jar - it's killing my Mae West figure.

...could I have the job that 'somebody up there' thinks would be the job I need instead of the job I want.

...give my sons (and my brothers) good jobs and happy lives.

...is it possible to lower the price of gas?

...how about magic genie powers (I promise I won't abuse them).

...I would like to win a lottery jackpot. Not too large, just what I need, that's all.

...it would be nice to get a lovely lift to my saggy jowls and other pieces parts.

...I'm thinking a three week trip to Greece.

...it would be neat if my bottom teeth looked less like English dental work.

...I wouldn't mind the desire and fortitude to keep up with the housework - daily (or even every other day).

...can you work with the networks to eliminate all of the "real life" trash shows on TV?

...I would appreciate the resurrection of my paper shredder.

...please fix the reverse function on my sewing machine so that it stays fixed.

You don't have to provide all of these wishes on my list, but five of them would be really cool. One for every decade of my life. They don't have to be giftwrapped, but left where I could find them easily would be much appreciated.

Thank you. :)

P.S. The paper shredder isn't really that big a deal, sooooo...you can scratch that one off the list.

Some news

Well, I had a phone call from one of the Producers I interviewed with on Friday, and I have the job if I want it.

Bear in mind, this job is not the full time CM position that is more the grownup thing to do. Not the job with benefits and paid vacations and holidays. Not the position which requires corporate attire and political correctness. Nope.

It's a Scripty gig.....on a zombie feature.....to be shot in my "backyard." And by "backyard" I mean in Pontiac, which is a huge improvement over the commutes to Detroit and down river. A fantastic difference to commuting in Grand Rapids. It's close, so I won't lose out on sleep or gas usage getting to and fro. So, a plus on the production side, overall.

Wages-wise - it's a MI standard abysmal rate, but I have already mentally compensated for that fact in my work strategy.

Five days of pre-pro (paid); 20 days of production (paid); one day of post/wrap (paid) - so at least there will be cash coming in during the waiting period.

Oddly enough, now my fingers are crossed that the interview for the corporate job takes its time in presenting itself. But if it happens....eh, it happens and I will deal with it, because I am certain God has a plan which requires a total sense of humor and willingness/ability to contort and juggle.

Hmmmm. Guess I better brush up on my circus skills!

It feels odd that I am not more geeked about landing this Scripty gig, and I can't understand why entirely. Except, I am certain that my tempered enthusiasm has everything (if not the lion's share) to do with my anticipation and uneasiness of the whole domino sequence already in place for the corporate thing. I don't want to jeopardize one of these work activities for the other, but I know it may come to that. This is exactly what I was talking about when I asked the question about why things happen as they do.

Goodness knows I need a job. A good, steady, benefit-yielding job - but I want to enjoy the work, too, and that is asking too much....I know.

Back to the upcoming film:

I read the script once prior to the interview. It is action-packed and dialogue heavy, heavy, heavy. There will be a lot of work on this film - a lot of continuity to deal with regarding just the normal Scripty activities. The added gore and SPFX to track will make this an interesting plateful, to be sure. But hey, a job is a good thing! I have already established my need to have access to the production office and the copier without having to kill myself over it. And, I spoke with them about time lines for what it is they need/want from me. In a few days I should be able to meet and hash out some specs with the AD/2nd AD, and perhaps the editor to establish a familiar protocol of verbiage between their shot perspectives and my own.

The director, I am told, is a first time film director, having spent his career to this point working in live theater, so it could be a wild and interesting ride.

I will have more to report on all of this starting next week, but until then you'll just have to be happy with all the other nonsense which is my life. Thanks for looking in.

Why do things happen the way they do?

I have just about completely reconciled myself to leaving behind the fun new lifestyle of working in blue jeans and t-shirts; eating my meatloaf and mashed potatoes and salad from a cup (cuz the crafty ran out of plates); working in my lap or standing at a chair turned the wrong way 'round for a desk; working in low to no light and shit conditions; eating my lunch and juggling lunch reports - almost finishing neither; saying "make a hole"; the laughter and buzz behind the scenes; the frenetic pace of the film making process/ordeal; the crap pay (in MI); some people's egos; and on and on, and now I have another opportunity for a twenty-day production beginning in May!

Ugh and aarrrrgh!

I sent my CV and a note to the production company this morning, saying I am available and very interested.

Why? Because I cannot sit around and do nothing. A watched pot never calls with a job offer. You know as well as I do that if you want life to hand you lemons you have to go out and ask for grapes (or, something like that).

Hey, to know me is to understand that last little bit.

All I'm saying is that if you want something to progress you have to make other plans. Put other wheels in motion, as it were.

Of course, I have not heard a word one way or the other pertaining to the Change Management job. After all, it's only been a little over three days since the initial face-to-face interview with the headhunting agency. I know oh-so-well that these things can take time - or they can happen at lightening speed.

I can handle the wait - after four years (yes, it will be four years in May) of steady unemployment, with seasonal/temporary work and film gigs here and there, I am well-equipped to rideout the waiting game. I am a pro with the whole spotty-pay-and-no-benefits thing.

It's been three years between this current corporate offer and the last bit of job-security hope that was dangled before me and then whooshed away for lack of funding on Delphi's part.

Back to the present: My resume was proffered some time on Tuesday, to the company I would be working with, and now it's a waiting game. It could be a month before I am called for an interview with them, or it could be this afternoon. Or, it could be never. Not being a nay-sayer here, just being realistic. Following the interview, it could be another wait or immediate work.

[shrug]

But it's this whole wait-and-see ethic (the hiring-side way of doing things) that has kept me in a state of limbo in so many ways. Whether it was for a production job, an industry job or something corporate, I have been at 'their' mercy as far as not feeling comfortable committing to another gig (of any sort - including near full-time classes) while I sat around and waited.

The production side is not innocent in this regard, either...no, not by any stretch of the imagination. They tend to do everything at the last minute. Panic dipped in panic, topped with stress and unnecessary commotion and then sprinkled with more panic. They thrive on it. They seek it out. They manufacture it.

The way I have it figured is this: If I just relax about the corp thing, look around and continue to seek out work - no matter where or what - at least, if that wait to interview (and then find I've eventually won the job) takes a month, then I will have kept busy and happy and done something fun.

Oh, and that whole thing about if you want something to happen, you have to make plans and do something else....well, you know that's how the world turns.

Taxes are done

Thank you, Jean! Taxes are done and I am getting a refund! Woohoo!

[*handstands and cartwheels*]

Take that, Uncle Sam - if that is your real name. And you too, 'Snydly' - agent of evil and taxer of poor people ("who aren't paying their fair share") and retirees.

Take that!

You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Gov. Snydly [oh, ew...I think I just threw up a little in my mouth calling him "gov"].

Yup, I had the initial interview

I've just finished amending my resume, and it's been sent off to the headhunting firm (again) who will be selling me to a project team at a nearby automotive company.

[slight groan]...it's a long story. Pull up a chair and get comfy and I will give you the highlights.

At the urging of a friend (thanks, Ken), I sent a cover letter with my resume to a headhunting firm in Southfield. That was on Thursday of last week. Ken told me that a placement operative there had told him of a temporary admin job that would last from four to six months. Ken said that I would be a great fit and more than capable, so I should contact them and snag this position.

Sooooo....I did - contact the agency, that is.

Several hours later I received a call from Dave, the headhunting operative (his grand poobah title is "Sr. Resource Development Manager"), and we had a good conversation in which he asked all of the perfunctory questions and I gave my best true answers. At the end of the call we made tentative plans to meet for a face-to-face interview on Monday - if it could all be arranged - or possibly Tuesday, if Monday turned into a 'no-go.' I was to wait for his call and be available.

All good so far, right? Right.

I loped through the weekend with slightly nervous expectations and energy. I gardened and cleaned a bit; finagled clothes to wear (after having not worked in corporate attire for some time); read an old newspaper; watched a movie with a friend; then decided on which shoes to wear to the interview. I actually tried to finish a dress I had begun a while back, thinking I could wear that with a jacket or smart sweater, but the armhole treatment was giving me a run for my money, so I put it aside and stopped obsessing/worrying over getting it done on time.

Oh, to be the slender thing I was five/six short years ago, and to just hop into something I had already finished and worn many times before. [sigh]

At any rate...I received a call from Dave right around 9:30 Monday morning, asking if I could be at his location at 1:30PM, and I said that I could.

The interview went well, and I filled out several forms while I was there (a good sign)! I even met with Dave's boss/working partner, who is the person who finds the "clients" (corporate jobs) they place temps like me in to.

Was I a fit for the admin position? Forget the admin position, I was being considered for a Change Management spot with a local automotive company...close to home...for a long term assignment (if it works out)...and I would be working with/for a former colleague besides!

I know! Holy crap, right!?!!?!

If I am lucky enough to get an interview with the company and am hired onto the team, I would work as a contractor (for however long) through the placement agency, for a decent starting wage - with benefits and holidays and paid vacation time. Just like being a grown-up again.

Wait! There's more.

So, Dave asked me to amend my resume and get it back to him in order for it to be submitted to/through the proper hiring channels at the automotive company in order to get the ball rolling. My deadline was tight (but it was definitely doable), and I word-smithed and eliminated and tweaked until I could do no more. Sent it to him before his deadline and went back to bed; but now here I am, unable to sleep and still too early to make a lot of noise, so I am telling you all of the news with plans of filling in the untold information later.

I hope to have great updates in the future, and I will communicate them as they happen.

What a difference a day makes

My yesterday was particularly full and pleasing. It began at a meeting with a few folks to discuss our team participation in the 48 hour film contest (coming in June), then I drove to the east (north-east) side to hang with Maria at a quilt show.

Thank you, Maria, for taking me (and treating me!).

The quilt guild putting on the event is the Detroit guild Maria took up with more than a year ago, and they've since brought her to a new level of quilt excitement, and it was easy to see why. We spent hours walking and talking, observing and studying, and collecting inspiration and dismissing those quilts that were not pleasing. It was a great way to point out things to keep in mind when choosing a fabric color palette, thread color and quilting stencils or patterns for the top stitching.

A few photos of our favorite quilt are visible at www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com

Afterwards, we had a bite to eat (thank you again, M) and jacked our jaws for a long time, until I had to get on the road for home. On the drive I called Karl to see how he was, and he mentioned that we needed milk, so I stopped for groceries (not a huge basketful, but things we absolutely needed).

Once home I opened email to check for work and book sales (I had one sale...for $5 dollars), and then settled in to chat with Karl and hopefully sew a little myself.

I didn't get any sewing done myself, but I daydreamed a lot (and moved stuff around and felt very inspired and motivated), so that's got to count for something, right? Today however, will be a totally different story because I need to get ready for a job interview - "possibly on Monday....sometime, but maybe Tuesday," and will also need to walk the book package to the PO to send it on its way.

I guess that's my lesson for the day...a watched email box never produces any positive hits. What a difference a day makes!

And yes, I will let you know what comes of the interview and what it's all about...but not ahead of time, because I really don't know much more than it's for a corporate admin position for 4-6 months.

7.2 or 7.4 - it makes no difference

Time to pray, folks, for the people of Japan - they have just endured another large quake with an additional tsunami warning.

What I can't figure is why this would be considered an "aftershock" instead another independent quake.

Of course, it makes no difference whatsoever....aftershock or quake. It's all the same and it is all devastating and horrible, and I pray for those people suffering there. I encourage you to do the same.

If you're not a praying person, then please think good thoughts and send positive energy to that country and her people. And while you're at it, please send the same prayers, thoughts and vibes for Mexico...I understand they have just experienced another large quake of their own.

All together now

Is it just me, or does this happen to anybody else?

Of course, that was a fairly rhetorical question on my part, since I know this happens to a lot of people...much of the time. Especially to those folks with a life (and a job).

You go for weeks at a time with nothing to. No plans, no activities. Nothing penciled in on your calendar and then..............................whammo!

You get offers from folks to go somewhere, do something.

That meeting with a colleague to discuss that thing coming up in a few weeks (the meeting that was supposed to happen weeks before and you've just been waiting for them to call. And waiting, and waiting - yeah, THAT meeting).

A chance to visit with your mom for a bit while she is in town.

You find a neat activity or lecture or community thing to attend -- and it all happens on the same day.

What is that? No, I mean really...what is that?

So, anyway, that's happening to me this week. This Friday, in fact.

Actually, the whole of the weekend (but mostly Friday), and I am trying to sort it all out to make the gasoline go as far as it will, and to be able to accomplish as much as is possible in fewer trips south of here (and north of here). Between that and trying to make time stand still to fit it all in, well....

[laughing hysterically] I just need one more Friday this week.

All together now. [more hysterical laughter]

Four-Four

Or, is it 'Oh-Four of Oh-Four'? Whatever you call it, the month is slipping by.

The cats have been fed, their box skreeted, and I have fulfilled my obligatory viewing of the dishes in the sink and the bathroom, needing cleaning - again.

I have looked on the usual 5+ sites for work (the + being several prospective job notices that cropped up from job services in my inbox), checked email (all inboxes) for "hey, come in for an interview" responses, and gone through the spam folders for a laugh.

And you know, I don't get it. For the last several months I have been bombarded with spam telling me I can "make her more excited and fulfilled if [I] use a penis-enhancing drug." Why do I get the Viagra spam?!

HEY! It's short hair, not a lifestyle!!

And I do not know who the woman is that they refer to, but if she likes other women with a 'member', I would assume it would be a 'member' that someone can carry around in their purse and activate by way of a D-cell battery, not a little blue pill.

I'm just sayin'. I mean, that would be a strange kind of lesbian right there.

That's all.

Amazingly (happily), I am getting far fewer of those sorts of emails of late, but I'm finding the tide has shifted to walk-in tubs and senior dating offers.

A-hem.

If I didn't appeal to single men (let me stress the word SINGLE) when I was ten years younger and somewhat lighter - and in great shape, by the way - what makes you think I have any interest in much-less-interested-men-over-a-certain-age, who are really only interested in finding a little chickee under (way under) a certain age (of which I am not one)?

And, by the way....I am not fifty yet, either! Sheesh.

Oh, and another thing...I don't take seriously the dating spam sent to me from some email address that includes the word "ovarian"....so you can stop now. Thanks. Ah, but those walk-in tub thingys....those may have some merit (in another 25 years or so...maybe).

It's April fourth. Let's move on, shall we?

Oh yeah, and

Happy Birthday, Andy.

And that's why....

Previous entry edited for...well, just because.

Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[sitting down in a mud puddle, arms crossed resignedly across chest, pouty lip in place]

I'm hoping I will feel less like this tomorrow (mostly because this puddle is cold).

Not for nothin'

7:30PM Update:

I wasted a sufficient amount of time today trying to get the CS4 program to accept the .AVI pieces from my SD card. Up to - and including - downloading software and trying to make three subsequent fixes work. Sorry....no video.

Original post for the day:

Besides the daily search for work, quilting/sewing projects, endless spring cleaning, gardening daydreams, household chores and the like, I've decided to knit together a video of Bob Seger images I took at the concert to a video shot of him during the performance.

It will either be "Beautiful Loser" or "Rock and Roll Never Forgets." The later, of course, would be the most obvious choice as the tour is titled "Rock n Roll Never Forgets - North American Tour 2011."

Hmmmmm.

Go for the obvious or the low key number? Yeah, right. ;)