Karma's a Bitch

Reading this year's Christmas Massacre list of laid off WotC employees brought to mind this Japanese proverb:

"If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by."

Aaaaand... there goes one now!

One of the benefits of getting older is having lived long enough to see the wheel turn.

The Squirrel Vendetta

I have no idea what I've done to the squirrels of the world to have them single me out so... perhaps it's my habit of referring to them as rats with fluffy tails and good PR.

The tale begins a couple of years ago. I work above the MSU Dairy Store, and when the weather is anything but foul, there are always kids around, scarfing down ice cream with looks of bliss on their little faces. Grownups too - the ice cream is very good.

I stopped in for ice cream on a day when I was off work, and as I walked up I noticed a squirrel taking bits of cone from the kids' hands. "Odd behavior for a squirrel" I thought, even the aggressive squirrels we have on campus.

Fascinated (and half-expecting disaster at any moment), I stepped half-off the sidewalk and went crashing to the ground, banging my bad knees and skinning huge bloody streaks on my forearms. As I lay whimpering on the ground (to the very sincere concern of onlookers) the squirrel left off its panhandling and came over to check me out.

The woman trying to help me remarked "Why, he must be worried, he's trying to pat your back!"

I eventually managed to get to my feet, go up to my office to get bandaged and even get my ice cream. When I related the tale to my friends, they concluded that the squirrel's behavior could mean only one thing.

He was a hit squirrel, and was checking to see if he'd completed the job.

He was probably only prevented from leaping on me and tearing my throat out by all of the people gathered around. It wouldn't do to blow his cover, after all.

Fast forward to last Friday. This time I was walking out of the building after work. Suddenly, for no discernible reason, I tripped and face-planted on the concrete.

This time there was less injury (other than technicolor forearms and boobs) because I realized I wasn't going to be able to avoid falling and did my best to minimize the severity of the damage.

I didn't see a squirrel ... but my friends are convinced that since the hit squirrel failed, the Squirrel Cabal is now sending ninjas.

I fear what they'll send now that the ninja has failed. Pirate crows?

Quote of the Day - Ass. Jail. Mine.

From "Making Light" during a discussion on the release of the torture memos from the Bush/Cheney Administration:

#43 ::: Marna Nightingale ::: (view all by) ::: April 19, 2009, 11:08 PM:

How about a current CIA agent who might be reluctant to perform currently legal interrogation techniques (or anything else required of their jobs)

Well, let us picture that, shall we?

CIA Agent: "I'm not torturing anybody. It'll land my sorry ass in jail."

"Oh, c'mon. The memo says it's not torture. It's "enhanced interrogation".

"Nope. Not doin' it. Ass. Jail. Mine."

"I'm your boss, and I say it's ok."

"So fire me. Ass. Jail."

"The head of the CIA says it's okay!"

"Tell him to come do it then. I'm not torturing anybody."

"The PRESIDENT says it's okay!"

"I don't give a damn. I don't care if GOD comes down and writes it on that hillside in letters of fire ten feet high. Ass. Jail. Mine. Not torturing anybody. I quit."

... Yeah. I'm good with it. I am so damned good with it.

And just to save some time here? If this leads directly to a terrorist attack on my home city which causes my crushed body to be found under a pile of smoking rubble?

I am counting on someone from ML to make sure my gravestone says "she preferred this to condoning torture". Goudy Old Style, please, large type. :-)

Grammar Police

I go slightly mad every time I see a writer refer to "great tenants of design" or plot or whatever. A tenant is a resident, a landowner, a roomer, a lodger... It's TENET, dammit!

*sigh*

Move along... nothing to see here but a foaming-at-the-mouth grammar geek.

*sigh*

That about says it...

Had a Bad Day

Last week was filled with Epic Fail, and while this week is shaping up better, this seems appropriate.

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong ...

Thought for the Day

Gloria Gaynor - I am What I am

I am what I am
I am my own special creation
So come take a look
Give me the hook
Or the ovation

It's my world
That I want to have a little pride
My world
And it's not a place I have to hide in
Life's not worth a damn
Till I can say
I am what I am

I am what I am
I don't want praise - I don't want pity
I bang my own drum
Some think it's noise; I think it's pretty
And so what if I love each sparkle and each bangle
Why not see things from a different angle
Your life is a shame
Till you can shout out I am what I am


I am what I am
And what I am needs no excuses
I deal my own deck
Sometimes the aces, sometimes the deuces
It's one life and there's no return and no deposit
One life so it's time to open up your closet
Life's not worth a damn till you can shout out
I am what I am

I am what I am

I am what I am
And what I am needs no excuses
I deal my own deck
Sometimes the aces, sometimes the deuces
It's one life and there's no return and no deposit
One life so it's time to open up your closet
Life's not worth a damn till you can shout out
I am what I am

I am I am I am good
I am I am I am strong
I am I am I am worthy
I am I am I belong

I am

I am

Who whoooo etc.
I am

I am I am I am useful
I am I am I am true
I am I am somebody
I am as good as you

Yes I am

Wikipedia on the song

This strange feeling..

My gods... this strange feeling, like a bubble in my chest. I think.. I think... it's hope.

Still Here

I've been neglecting this blog shamefully....

It's been an up and down year. I'm anxious about the elections and the ongoing erosion of our civil rights. The job is good, but I'm suffering an epic-sized case of burnout on life in general, and especially my hobbies. The Diabetes flows in and out of control, and pain is a constant companion. I was on the condo association board but quit last night.

On the other hand, I've got a fabulous support network of terrific friends and a roof over my head. It could be a whole lot worse.

I turn 54 on Tuesday, and other than my joints I sure don't feel it.

Organizational Politics

Organizational politics make my head hurt. And my stomach. Somehow, though, I always seem to end up in the middle. Everyone knows I don't play politics, so they all come to me for a "neutral" opinion. sigh Life as a hockey puck...

That is all...