Long Weekend

This is pretty much the sum total of my entire long weekend. I hung some art (probably crookedly). I dug into storage boxes of holidays past, decorated my little tree and set out my collection of Santa figures. I also cried a lot.

Haven't done as much knitting as I wanted. My Tidal Wave sock is nearly done; maybe an hour more on it. Also nearly done is a diagonal scarf for one of my Secret Sant-ees. I might do a hat to go with it, but the way I've been feeling lately maybe not.

I meant to go to Ikea today, but the thought of swimming upstream against the holiday shoppers was overwhelming. I might go one night after work, though. We'll see.

Bought some Xmas gifts online, planned out others, ordered a grown-up coffee table for myself. I've been using an old pressboard steamer trunk and want to look less like a college student and more like a real adult. Eventually, I'll get a real TV stand, too. Much as I like the glass blocks and boards, they do look a bit more like dorm room than living room.

I picked out gifts for Dan that I know he'd like but that I won't be buying for him. I wonder if he does the same thing? Probably not. Women always seem to hold onto emotions much longer than men. This weekend was much more difficult than I expected. Just as I thought I was getting to be over things and moving on, someone made an innocent comment that made me sad and sad is where I am still.

All of the stuff we bought for Christmas last year as well as his old holiday decorations are here...can someone let him know that I'll send them to him in January, when I think I'll be able to look at them again? Thanks.

Crazy

These are my new favorite socks: Monkey, by Cookie A.

I've never really been interested in these socks, but then I bought my first Crazy Zauberball yarn and it wanted to be this pattern. It shall not be the last time I get this yarn; it feels pretty darn comfy...can't wait to wear these to work tomorrow.

Working on Rane's baby blanket has halted for a few days. I ordered a longer cable for my Knit Picks Harmony needles as the blankie is now at the limit of my 29" cable. It should get here next week. Yay!

The apartment smells nice since I baked a chocolate gingerbread cake to take to Zeb's on Thursday. I made one last Thanksgiving, too, since Dan's dad Ed loves chocolate even more than I do and he wanted chocolatey desserts. I'll miss Ed...he was pretty darn cool.

This is the kind of cake that will improve with time and will be perfect by Thursday. Provided, that is, that it turned out. It cools unmolested on the stove now. Perhaps in a bit, I shall wander in to test it. Yeah. Testing it. Uh-huh.

Reviewed

The IGDA book, Writing for Video Game Genres, has a nice little review on Slashdot.

I hear the chapter on MMOs is pretty good. ;)

Sunday in PA

Have I ever mentioned how I love walking through cemeteries? Well, I do. :)

I spent yesterday cleaning house and rearranging my collection of empty boxes. This morning, I hauled a couple of piles to the garbage and realized that it's a beautiful day. And so, I texted Mike and asked him if he wanted to go do something. He was up for it, so I drove up to Pennsylvania and we cruised around, from York to Lancaster (because one cannot have a York without a Lancaster) and back again.

In Lancaster, we passed an interesting cemetery, so I pulled over and we got out to walk around. Turns out that Woodward Hill Cemetery is the burial site of James Buchanan
, our 15th President. That said, we didn't actually see his grave; we were too busy trying to read old headstones and taking photos of interesting carvings and such. Sadly, quite a few of the headstones were broken and some of the monuments defaced. Just seems like bad karma to me for someone to have gone around pulling statues off pedestals and all. =\

The town itself looks pretty interesting. The interesting shops were all closed, so we'll probably go back some Saturday to check them out.

Is the Year Over Yet?

Thanksgiving is next week already! Aiee!

I won't be hosting an orphan meal this year. I am an orphan now and will be spending the afternoon at Zeb's house with his family and some of the folks from work. This weekend, I'll be making up a batch of chocolate gingerbread to give it time to mellow and develop. It'll be perfect by Thursday.

Part of healing is finding new ways to celebrate life. I have to get myself moving, keep myself from lapsing into sadness. I can honestly say that I have never been so unhappy about a break up, but I can also honestly say that Dan was the best boyfriend I've ever had. I almost feel sorry for my next boyfriend; he has a lot to live up to. Next boyfriend will need to open doors for me, bring me Uncle Seth's pink cookies and let me be a goofball.

Are you listening, Fate? :)

In any event, I am having some friends over for a cookie exchange next month. It will force me to clean, to purge and to decorate. It would be far too easy to let all that go this year, but since I won't have anyone around, I need to motivate myself.

I bought a ton of butter for shortbread (and mused with Kathy that my freezer is full of butter and bacon...not that there's anything wrong with that) in anticipation.

Anticipation is good. It means that I'm looking forward instead of continuing to look back.

A Day in DC

Long day of firsts. First dim sum in Maryland. First time getting lost in Silver Spring (although quite likely not the last; that place is a Bermuda Triangle). First time on the DC Metro.

And, may I just say, that the whole DC experience is completely enhanced by a good playthrough of Fallout 3. :) I stood in happy awe that the Metro stations look just like they do in the game, except in better repair. Becca asked why there were so few trash cans, and in possibly one of my geekiest moments ever, I said that they were taken out because too many people hid their loot in them after killing Super Mutants.

Somewhere along the way, the beautiful silver bracelet Dan gave me last Christmas fell off. I noticed it was missing the Air and Space Museum, which added to the odd experience of being there.

Last time I was in DC and in that same museum, I was preggers with Phil. And still about five years away from realizing that I hated pretending to like airplanes just because my then-husband adored them. The group wanted to see this particular museum, so in I went...but within minutes realized that I didn't have to pretend any interest; I could go and do something else.

And so I did. The group had actually separated upon entering the museum, scattering off to look at different things. When I realized my bracelet was gone, I retraced some of my steps and Mike ran into me; we went to the Hirschhorn. Where, may I note, they have lovely leather couches that tired people can sit for a bit to strategize where else to go.

We spent the last hour of the day wandering through the Natural History Museum (which, again, gave me gleeful moments of Fallout 3-ness). Loved the rooms of little tiny skeletons! We were chastised for trying to head into the reptile room after the guard had given us all a two minute warning to leave.

After getting lost (again) in Silver Spring, we headed back northwards and had supper at Fazzini's, whereupon I fell into a food coma.

I hope I recover enough to get to the Irish festival and its kilt contest today.

Oh, and this...

...is Jane Grey's best feature: butt warmers!

I love you, Jane Grey!

Random

This is Nottingham, done in bulky alpaca. Mike picked out the yarn on Saturday and it was a good choice! I had an easy time knitting it and it feels sooooo soft.

...

The other day in a meeting to go over something at work, I took an opposite view to everyone. =\ Not trying to be difficult (I don't have to try; it comes easily to me), just trying to make a point. One of the artists pointed out that we could do things my way if he did X and so folks decided to do it the way I suggested. Kate, the goober, says, "Well, you are one of the most influential women in MMOs..." for which I smacked her. Heh.

...

Same sort of thing happened this morning at scrum, although I forget exactly what we were discussing, but this time it was our QA lead Jason who said it. Fortunately for him, he was standing as far away from me as possible and so I didn't get to smack him.

But maybe I will, anyway, tomorrow.

...

Chick-fil-A for dinner tonight via the drive through.

Me: May I get a number one, deluxe, with a small Peppermint Chocolate Chip shake?
C-F-A: You have to get that in large.
Me: Well. Okay. Twist my arm.
C-F-A: [laughs]

I pull around to the window and she leans out and says, "You are the nicest customer I've ever had here, and I've been here for two years."

Isn't that a shame? :( I suppose folks give her grief because they can't get a small shake or something. I tell you, if you have to take out your miserable day on Chick-fil-A's drive through peeps, you do not deserve their food, especially this Peppermint Chocolate Chip shake which is amazing.

A Grand Day Out

It was supposed to be much colder yesterday, but luck and the sun shined upon us all day. Yay!

In the "it's a small world after all" category, one of the artists where I currently work used to work with Ray, Rane's husband, back in Colorado. They didn't know that I knew each of them until I started planning this next weekend's trip to DC and included Ray in the email (handy that he works for the same company, even if in a completely different location).

I have been moping quite a bit lately, coming home from work on Fridays and hiding with cats and knitting until Monday forced me back to the office. Yeah, I know. We broke up in September; it's now November and I need to get over it. Whatever.

In any event, yesterday turned into a really awesome day, and not just because of the great weather. Mike (aforementioned artist dude from work) had been talking about a restaurant he likes in Hampden. Christina, who watched my cats for me, lives in that 'hood and has been talking about the cool yarn shop there. Since we all already had plans to meet up at the Greek Festival that afternoon, I invited myself to have brunch with Mike.

We walked up and down the street, hitting up a number of shops along the way. My favorite shop was Ma Petite Shoe, which features shoes and chocolate. How awesome is that?

The yarn shop was very bit as cool as Christina said it would be. The ladies there were very friendly, inviting me and Mike to see their restroom. :D Apparently, cool restrooms are the hallmark of local yarn shops. This one was papered with some of the most cheesy, awful pattern photos of old knitting projects. The kicker is that they keep little speech bubble sticky notes and pens handy so that folks can add captions to the photos. Hilarious!

And then we headed to the Greek festival, which was really cool. Tons of food, a glimpse into the beautiful cathedral itself and some time hanging out with Kathy, Christina and her sister. Mike and I hung around watching the impromptu dancing before heading back to the office where Jane Grey patiently waited for me.

It feels as though I'm turning a corner of sorts. It's a good feeling.

This Is It

I grew up listening to Michael Jackson. One of my favorite albums was Off the Wall as it came out during my musically formative years. How many dances did we attend back in the day where everyone got up to dance to a Michael Jackson song...I couldn't even tell.

At Polly Esther's, where one room did disco and the other side did retro-80's stuff, there was a night where we walked in and the dance floor was empty. Devin went to get our drinks and his friends and I were standing around talking. Don't Stop Til You Get Enough came on and I dragged one of the guys out to the floor...and within seconds, the whole place was dancing, too. I still love that song. It reminds me of a lot of happy, joyous moments within an otherwise dark and dismal time.

This Is It was good. They did a great job editing together various rehersal sessions into a cohesive piece. What I loved most of all, though, were the shots of the background dancers on the floor below watching Michael performing. The joy in their faces tells the whole story to me. It would have been an awesome concert experience. Whatever personal issues Michael may have had, this was all about music and movement and I'm glad they have this film to showcase it.

Another cocoon weekend for me, other than going out to the movie. I had pizza delivered last night after I came back from the show...is there anything better than a small, local pizza place that calls you to make sure you really wanted anchovies? :) Fazzini's is my Italian comfort food joint and the fact that they deliver makes it even better. Comfort straight to my home and my belly! Yay!

I'm currently on Cookie A's Monkey Socks bandwagon. It's a wagon that's over 10,000 socks deep on Ravelry. You see, I have this Crazy Zauberball yarn that went looking for a pattern and it picked the Monkey...and I'm glad it did. The pattern is really easy, quick and looks fabulous. I'm already at the heel of the first one and can't wait to finish the pair of them!

Up Late...Again

Sometimes, I can't sleep due to the things that go bump in the night. I try to limit my exposure to stuff that I know will set my brain off, but it's not always possible.

Tonight at knit night, since this is Halloween week, folks were talking about spooky places in the area. I could feel my agitation rising, even though we were sitting in a brightly lit area, a group of happy women knitting on a variety of projects. I tuned out as much as I could, but still heard enough details that my sleep tonight will be restless.

I wish I weren't wired this way. =\

Uploaded a handful of photos I took this past Sunday on my drive out to Kate and Becca's. It's such a beautiful drive, I wish I could take even more pictures...but the most lovely bits are the sharp bends and twists in the road. I'm not sure I want to be crusing around at 40 MPH with my camera in hand on those curves! We're not having a flame-colored, glorious Fall, but at least it's something. :)

That inspired me to bring out my Brooke's Column of Leaves scarf and continue knitting it. Though it photographs with an abundance of blue, in person it's lovely autumny colors. Yum!

Tis the Season

Finished this hat last night while watching a biography of Jimmy Stewart, which seemed entirely appropriate. Now I want to head up the road to the Blockbuster video shop that's going out of business to see whether they have The Philadephia Story.

I adore black and white movies, especially the ones with lovely costumes and snappy dialog. Sometimes the acting isn't up to our modern (methody) style, but observing a way of life that's completely foreign and yet familiar has a lot of comfort.

My local yarn shop has all its sock yarns at 20% off, so I plan to head out in a bit for some browsing. Tomorrow is another stitch n' bitch at Kate and Becca's and I may need something new.

Er, other than the fact that I already have something like 50 different types of yarn around here, apparently. I believe I am stocking up for a wool shortage! Yeah. That's it.

Recharging

Some days are just much better than others.

Today, feeling a little mopey, so I'm going to watch some Star Wars, wind yarn into cute little center-pull balls and maybe start a pair of Skyp socks for Kevin. After all, he has a thing for socks and I am his "other" wife. :) It'll be nice to knit something for someone who'll appreciate the effort.

Later on, after scrubbing out that awful bathtub (it needs serious re-enameling and so every bit of scum that can catch on something, does), will take a hopefully relaxing Lush-infused bath.

I'm not angry over the break-up with Dan. It's just so, so disappointing. And it's not even that the reason is, well, unreasonable. All it means is that our paths ran along together so well and now the paths diverge.

I miss him. I'll miss having him in my everyday life because I am, at this moment, still in love with him. He wants things I don't, I want things he doesn't...so there's no future. Meanwhile, I'm allowed to mourn and be occasionally mopey...and so I am.

Home

I had a pretty good weekend. As with all holidays, the time sped by and suddenly last night I had to head to the airport.

Friday started at 3AM, since I live an hour from the airport and had to get to the off-site parking lot, shuttle to the airport from there, and check in two boxes of Dan's things that accidentally shipped with my household goods. That left me pretty exhausted, but so happy when I finally landed at SeaTac.

Flying to Seattle is always a homecoming for me. I picked up my rental car and headed to Candyce's house, which has been my second home ever since I met her. Driving across the floating bridge, I reflected how the last time I drove across the lake, I was happy and excited. I didn't imagine that my next trip to Seattle would be bittersweet. By the time I knocked on Candyce's door, I was in tears and saying (as I often did when arriving there), "Honey, I'm home!" had quite a different feel. We cried for a bit because we miss each other and because she sensed my unhappiness.

That's what I love about Candyce. I don't have to explain myself, she just knows.

And so, the weekend flew by. Game night was great (as usual). Dim sum was awesome (as usual). And though I had to drop out of shopping with Candyce and Lorien on Sunday, I did spend the day with Phil. Rob met up with us as we were downstairs in Uwajimaya's, giving Phil the scoop on living downtown and how the best Asian grocery store in the Northwest is wasted on him. ;)

Yesterday, Candyce and I spent the day in the hospital as she was getting meds dripped into her to help break up her migraine. I finished a Tidal Wave sock and started on its partner by the time she was finished and feeling a bit better. As you can see in the accompanying photo of Candyce in her Jayne Cobb Hat, she is feeling better today. Yay!

I'm looking forward to returning to work tomorrow. While the move wrenched me away from my friends and family, I love my job. Liking what I do makes up for a lot.

I'd like to thank...

...Suz. I can't think of anyone else who encouraged me, nurtured me and made me feel as though I really could do anything in games if I put my mind to it.

Thanks, Cosmic Twin. I'm sure it's still your influence that's blessing me in all sorts of ways that I don't deserve.

It's kind of funny to see my name on a list like this. I'm tickled that Melissa's also on the roster! Went to Target tonight on the way home from work, but this one didn't have a copy.

I know that Carolyn was researching and writing the article for a few months. When she first asked for nominations, I nominated Suz. Unfortunately, the article was going to be about women currently working in MMOs, so Suz didn't qualify. But she qualifies for my personal list. Without her, I wouldn't have gotten so far.

There's a certain bittersweet quality to this sort of thing at the moment. I wish I had someone to share the moment with here with me now. Someone who'd hug me and take me out for a celebratory incandescence. Instead, I hugged the cats (who put me in my place with their lack of impressed-ness) and settled in to work on my Owlings.

Random Bits

My ear hurts a lot so tomorrow it's off to meet not-my-doctor for the first time. The doctor who is my chosen primary care physician isn't in until Thursday, but apparently when one calls up with an earache, one is moved to the front of the queue.

On the other hand, this is just one of those "the East Coast is different than I expected it to be" moments. I'm pretty sure I could have gotten an appointment to see my own chose doctor this very week. This week! That's unheard of anywhere else I've lived, unless you were at death's door or some other patient kicked the bucket and freed up a slot.

I kept imagining how much more crowded it must be here in the East, since all the textbooks say folks had to move West to get land and stuff. But there's large tracts of land (hehehe) all over the freaking place, wide open farmlands and fields with horses wandering about on the hillside.

Yesterday afternoon I went over to Kate and Becca's house for a stitch n' bitch session and it was very nice. Emily's butter tart recipe proved to be authentic tasting, so I guess I'm doing it right after all. :) I knit a little bit of my True Love sock, messed up a stitch and decided to put it aside for the moment. Went back to knitting my Brooke's Column of Leaves scarf, which would totally have been finished by now if I hadn't decided to do three columns instead of one.

And then when I wandered home, I decided to start something completely different as I want to bring it to Candyce next weekend. It's almost completely done now, although it's not as good looking as I had hoped. Still, it feels very lovely as I used sock yarn held double to give it the proper weight. I'll take pictures of it when it's done, but won't post them till after my trip.

I hope my ear heals up by then.

Everything Hurts =\

Friday, twas cramps. Little stupid female cramps that really, really make me wish the plumbing would just dry up already. Haven't I already suffered enough for my ovaries in this lifetime?!

Since all I felt up to doing was sitting in the bark-o-lounger with Mittens as a heating pad, I knit and watched Inspector Lewis (I do like having on-demand Masterpiece Mysteries). By nightfall, however, I realized my True Love sock projct is going to be as painful as finding actual true love.

It's just not that into me. =\ The heel just wouldn't sit right. I frogged. I tinked. I tried out several variations on heels. None of them looked right and going by faith with the written instructions was a disaster.

Evidently, even having a map of True Love is not enough to let it find its way.

Ripped it all back late last night and thus have nothing to show for two days of knitting it. Blech. I will take it with me to Kate's house this afternoon for a Stitch 'n Bitch, together with a batch of Emily's butter tarts.

Even butter tarts hate me this weekend.

Topping this all off is a horrible ear ache in my left ear. The kind that makes swallowing painful, hearing muzzy and when coupled with my female complaints will at least get me into the bitching mood appropriate for this afternoon's fete.

Wet

One nice thing about game companies is that all the employees get copies of the games. Yay!

I'm pretty sure I'm not the target demographic for Wet. It came out while I was at AGDC, so upon my return when I found it on my desk, I could observe, "Ooh, I got Wet while I was in Austin."

Anyone have any tips for making it through the tutorial? I put myself on the easy setting so my enemies would be easier to deal with. I'm sure that they are, but I cannot seem to master jumping/running/shooting at the same time with any consistency.

Mostly I was button mashing and exclaiming in dismay as I slowly lost my life and eventually crumpled to the ground. Very sad. :(

Finishing Up

While in Austin, I finished off my Rib Fantastic socks, but I don't like how the toes turned out. They're both awfully shallow and I'm afraid they'll rub through. Hence, I'll be undoing the bind off and re-knitting the toes this weekend.

Meanwhile, however, I started up another pair of socks. This time, the pattern is Tidal Wave. That said, I think I have already messed it up, quite possibly at the point in time where the girl in the seat beside me on the plane began heaving into her airsick bag. =\ Could have been a lot worse (her illness, not the sock)...fortunately, she wasn't as sick as she could have been. Still...yucko!

Speaking of yucko, did I mention that I was sequestered for the better part of a day in Steve's hotel room? We added timing and style to our presentation and observed this happy note on the desk. Invasion of the crickets follows me to Austin! Aiee!

Added some Austin photos to my Flickr page. I'm not sure what the motivation is for me to take photos. Sometimes it's because I see something beautiful and want to remember it. Other times, like this morning, I see something unusual and try to capture it. I wish I had a better camera, but oh, well. I can only do so much :)

Over in Austin!

Our panel is done! Yay! We didn't kill each other beforehand or afterwards, so that's good. I like working with Steve (most of the time) and today we worked together well. Some times, things work out.

Kramer noticed that there's already an article about our session up at GameSpot. Whoa. The dude must have left our panel and immediately posted it. Guess we were very inspirational. :)

On the way home tonight, Sushi and I stopped for...sushi! At a mobile stand! It was really good stuff.

Tomorrow, I relax and attend a couple of oher sessions. Then on Thursday I head home. The days went by very quickly. I've had a good time and great eats!

Preparing for Austin and the AGDC

For years and years, I've wanted to attend the Austin Writers' Summit and 2009 is the year I finally get to go!

Mr. Moorgard and I are presenters this year, which is one of those angst-ridden events in which prep has been done via email and IM...especially since I hung up on him when he called =) That was an accident; I still have to work out how to actually answer my new cell phone consistently.

We are fortunate, too, in that we'll get to have lunch with Scott on Tuesday before our lecture. When Scott asked me if I'd be free for lunch, I could feel my stomach tying itself into knots...I don't mind speaking in front of people, but the anticipation of such an event fills me with adrenaline. I'm not sure how much eating I may get done at this lunch. Mr. Moorgard, who considers me his Austin social secretary, had me add our lunch with Scott to his calendar. Sigh.

On the bright side, it will be nice to chat with someone before our lecture besides Mr. Moorgard, who often unintentionally hurts my tender feelings. I will give him credit for making an effort to keep my emo-ness in mind, especially since the day he said something mean and I dissolved into tears in our office. I have no idea now what it was, but that's how our days often went. Him = mean; Me = emo.

This'll be the last industry event I'll probably attend for a while, so I hope it goes well. Fingers are crossed!

The most happy-making part of this whole episode is that I shall be staying Chez Sushi. Yay! I haven't seen her in a couple of years or so now, so this will be quite exciting. We shall eat some 'Q, look for cupcakes and dodge thunderstorms. Or something.

Little Women - A (Scathing) Review

A classic tale, a movie filled with stars...what's not to like?

Quite a lot, actually. I haven't seen this version of Little Women since it came out in theaters, but it's been a free on demand movie so I watched it again. Now remember why I didn't like it.

First, you have Winona Ryder as Jo. Winona is beautiful; Jo wasn't. When you have someone so lovely in this role, you really need to have other beautiful actresses to pull off Meg and Amy. Since this film was apparently by the Winona Ryder Fan Club, she is the best looking of the sisters by far. While Trini Alvarado is pretty, she isn't pretty enough to be Meg when you have Winona as Jo.

That makes every time Jo says something about how she's the least pretty of the sisters come off completely false. When Amy cries out about Jo's hair being Jo's one beauty...are you kidding me? Winona-Jo is gorgeous with or without hair!

Kirsten Dunst does a credible job as young Amy, but Samantha Mathis is a disaster as the older Amy. I don't think this was her first acting gig, but it certainly seemed that way. She was stilted and not very charming. Charm is Amy's best virtue, but you'd never know it to watch Samantha in the role. Her only virtue is that she bears a sibling-like resemblence to Claire Danes, who was the healthiest Beth I've ever seen. That's not a bad thing, in and of itself, and Claire was good at being shy and retiring. But still.

Let me pause for a moment to mention how disgusting it is to observe over the edge of this laptop that Melody is snarfing down a spider she has slain. =\ Anyway...

And then, there is Christian Bale. Ladies of the jury, I ask you: Even if you thought you'd be miserable married to him because he was your best friend, wouldn't you want to wake up to that man? I certainly would! And seeing that he and Winona-Jo are the most beautiful people in the movie, and given how many other aspects of it were changed from the book, they should have continued the blasphemy by having Jo marry Laurie.

Finally, there's all the kissing. I suppose they wanted to jazz things up a bit by having romantic interludes that meant business. Hence, you observe Meg swapping spit with John Brooke (another miserable miscasting...I mean, really...Eric Stoltz?!) in the doorway of her parents' home. And Winona-Jo getting busy with Mr. Bhaer backstage at the opera. WTF?! Jo wouldn't do such a thing!

By the time the end credits were rolling, I was seething with irritation. This is one of my favorite books. I still cry when reading about Beth's passing. While it would be too much to ask for movie makers to film everything exactly as it happens in a book, this version of Little Women misses so many marks.

There are nice things about it. The costumes are lovely and the settings are great. Winona is a very good Jo, other than the fact that she overshadows everyone else in the film besides Susan Sarandon (who is a kick-ass Marmee). It's a visually appealing film. But it's not true in some fundamental ways to the book, and that's a real shame. I'm sure that since the movie came out in 1994, there are little girls who think this is what the book is really like.

What you should do is balance a viewing of this film with the George Cukor version starring Katherine Hepburn. It's not precisely true to the book either, but it gets a lot of the elements right that the 1994 movie completely disregarded. And Ms. Hepburn is completely believable as a gangly girl who doesn't think she's good-looking. Clearly, she is, but it's a challenging beauty that's the perfect fit for a character like Jo.

Labor Day Weekend

I'm spending the weekend knitting, shifting boxes and curled up with Mittens tucked beside me. Not necessarily all at the same time, mind you.

Since it's a long weekend, I had considered going for a long, long drive in the country. You might think that, having just driven over a week to get here, I wouldn't be interested in spending any more time in Jane Grey than is absolutely necessary. But she's so comfy, so pretty and this area is growing on me the more of it I see. Some days I drive home by going ten miles out of my way, just so I can come home via the "airplane bridge" that crosses the end of the loch and passes some lovely little homes perched directly beside the road.

Both of you who read the blog know by now that Dan and I decided that long distance relationship is not for us. It's been very difficult for me in particular since I'm so far from everyone and I am (no surprise) still in love with him. Still, we were friends before and we'll get back to being friends now that it's after. It's just not after enough for my little heart.


Meanwhile, though, I've completed my Blackrose lace socks and immediately cast on the next project, shown above. I'm using a beautifully soft Dream in Color yarn called "Stardust." It is washable wool with a thin silvery thread shot through it such that it has a gentle sparkle. I love it. I thought knitting with the Panda Superwash was lovely, but this new yarn is lush and sooooo soft.

Boxhenge still takes up a good part of my life. I shift boxes from one room to the next. Part of why I'm not being so efficient at this is that I've peered into the exterior storage room that came with my apartment to see how much I could put away there. On the back wall were two very large, very scary-looking bugs. I think they are from the cricket family, but they were certainly very frightening to me. I do not want to go out there later and find that one of these dudes has gotten into my Christmas decor or something. Hence, I'm not using that outdoor closet and am running out of places to hide flattened cardboard boxes.

Maybe I can turn them into cat furniture.

Coasting

I've been taking the long road home from wherever I go, getting used to my new surroundings. If I feel that I've wandered too far off the beaten path, I turn on the GPS to get me home.

Although Gypsy (the GPS) does have a penchant for "as the crow flies" and will occasionally take me down some pretty interesting, beautiful and narrow little backwoods pathways to get me back on an interstate. She's funny that way.

Yesterday's adventure was to a town called Westminster, home of the Carroll County edition of Maryland's DMV. After having some issue proving I live here (which seems so odd to me, considering I had all sorts of proof...just not the proof they wanted), I managed to eventually get licensed.

Next goal: getting Jane Grey registered in the state. Then, our transformation will be complete.

I really need to keep my camera in the car as I drive around as there were so many times while wandering home yesterday that I wanted to stop and take a picture. Maryland is so pretty! It's softly green, undulating little hills, curvy roads and old farmhouses beside the road with fading red barns beyond them.

While I'm not living in a cute little 1840s cottage after all, I am still drawn to the greystone houses that are scattered all over the place here. Maybe someday, I'll actually get to live in one of them. :)

A Comedy of Comcast

This wasn't funny on Saturday, when they made me cry bitter, salty tears of frustration and anger. Tonight was almost funny. Almost.

I found it so completely stupid that I'm posting my chat session with Comcast's customer service. If they can record me for quality assurance purposes, I can post the log.

As a former Senior Customer Service Rep, I have to say...Comcast's cookie cutter responses are horrible. I can type pretty quickly and so never used canned responses back in the day. But at least we had decent canned responses and not the crap these people are using.


LiveAssist Transcript

Print Copy Email Close [and of course, the email option DOESN'T WORK]
chat id : ###-###-###-###-###
Problem : Ask Comcast Escalation [note: I didn't start off all escalated; apparently, changing information on your account automatically escalates the session. I think.]
Tracy > Ask Comcast Escalation

(Tue Aug 18 19:17:17 EDT 2009)
Mariane > Hello Tracy, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Mariane. Please give me one moment to review your information.
Mariane > Good Evening to you.
Mariane > Hi Tracy!
Mariane > How may I help you today?
Tracy > I need to change my phone number.
Mariane > No problem.
Mariane > Allow me to help you with that.
Mariane > For security verification purposes, Can you please verify to me the following:

1) Account Holder's Name
2) The full service address (Billing address)
3) And The last four digit of your Social Security Number (SSN).

Tracy > The new number is ...
Tracy > ####
Tracy > Wait. you need all of that info now?
Tracy > You already know my account holder name; you're typing to me.
Mariane > Yes please.
Tracy > Billing add is ---
Tracy > I need to make sure the tech calls my new number tomorrow or he won't be able to reach me.
Mariane > I see. For this matter Tracy, the changing of the phone number will take effect 24 hours.
Mariane > Do you want to proceed?
Tracy > Yes, but the tech needs the new number or he won't be able to reach me.
Mariane > Yes.
Mariane > No problem.
Tracy > Please make a note in my file with my new number and the fact that he must call that number.
Tracy > Thanks.
Mariane > Please give me moment to process your request.
Tracy > okay.
Mariane > No worries. I will take care of this for you.
Tracy > So we're done then?

Mariane > I'm sorry for the delay. We are having system maintenance as of this moment, this is the reason why this is taking a while to load.
Mariane > I am still processing the request for you.
Tracy > All right.
Mariane > I'm sorry. I got an error. Please standy on this chat page, I will need to transfer you to our sales department for the number change.
Mariane > I can transfer you now.
Mariane > Standby.
Tracy > ok
Mariane > Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst


(Tue Aug 18 19:25:15 EDT 2009)
Anna-Lisa > Hello. Thank you for choosing Comcast. My name is Anna-Lisa and I will be processing your order today. Please stay online while I create the work order for your request. It will take me just a few minutes to pull up your address in our system. Please hold for a moment.
Tracy > Fine.
Tracy > Although, as you know...we don't really have any choice in who provides cable.
Anna-Lisa > I’m sorry, you have reached Massachusetts. Please hold while I transfer you to the correct region.
Anna-Lisa > Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst


(Tue Aug 18 19:26:48 EDT 2009)
Dowell Angelo > Hi, how are you doing today?
Tracy > All I want to do is change my phone number on this account.
Tracy > And make sure that the tech will call that number tomorrow, or he won't be able to reach me.
Dowell Angelo > I understand.
Dowell Angelo > Not a problem.
Tracy > If it isn't a problem, why have had been through two other reps before you?
Dowell Angelo > I understand. However, there's a different department who handles this type of concern.
Dowell Angelo > Rest assured that at the end of the chat your concern will absolutely resolved.
Tracy > I'm resting. (Tue Aug 18 19:31:04 EDT 2009) [I'm getting a bit snarky now =\]

Time passes; I open up Bejeweled Blitz in another browser, keeping my eye on the chat window...
Tracy > Is something wrong? (Tue Aug 18 19:34:48 EDT 2009)
Dowell Angelo > For the security of your account, please verify the last four numbers of the Social Security Number.
Tracy > Hello?
Tracy > Ping time 7:35PM [Alarmed at how long he seemed to be taking, I started sending myself the time so that it would show up directly in the chat window]
Dowell Angelo > Are you still connected with me? (Tue Aug 18 19:36:39 EDT 2009)
Dowell Angelo > Did you receive my last message? (Tue Aug 18 19:36:40 EDT 2009) [note: Dowell is being snarky, too]
Dowell Angelo > Did you receive my last message? (Tue Aug 18 19:37:03 EDT 2009)

Tracy > Why do I need to repeat this?
Tracy > I've already been escalated twice within your network.
Tracy > All I want to do is change the phone number on my account.
Dowell Angelo > I understand.
Tracy > Please change my number to ###.
Dowell Angelo > I will be directing you the appropriate department who handles phone service. [note: alarm bells went off in my mind at this point...clearly, they have no idea what I need or why I called]
Tracy > Make sure the tech knows to call THAT number in the morning, or he won't be able to reach me.

Tracy > Wait. What?
Dowell Angelo > Not a problem.
Tracy > You are transferring me again?
Dowell Angelo > Yes, Tracy.
Dowell Angelo > No need to worry.
Tracy > How hard can this be?
Tracy > That will be the fourth person I'll have chatted with.
Tracy > Of COURSE I am now worried.
Tracy > I'm not looking for phone SERVICE.
Dowell Angelo > I can assure you that this would be the last department that you will be transferred.
Tracy > I am looking to change the number on my Comcast ACCOUNT.
Dowell Angelo > And from there, everything will be fine.
Tracy > Not get a comcast phone, or comcast wireless.
Tracy > Do you understand what I need to do?
Tracy > I need someone in account services to change my existing account.
Tracy > Ping time 7:40pm

Dowell Angelo > I understand that. That is why I needed to transfer you to the Digital Phone department because you were transferred to us the Order Taking department.
Tracy > I do not NEED A DIGITAL PHONE. [Is yelling now...for good reason]
Tracy > I NEED CUSTOMER SERVICE on an EXISTING CABLE ACCOUNT.
Tracy > I do not HAVE a Comcast phone, nor do I want one.
Tracy > I just need to change my account phone number..on my ACCOUNT.
Tracy > My CABLE account.
Tracy > Please connect me with a department supervisor.
Dowell Angelo > Yes, that is what I am trying to say. I needed to transfer you to the appropriate department so they can be able to change the phone number.

Tracy > I would like to escalate this further up the tier.
Tracy > You keep saying digital phone.
Tracy > You are incorrect.
Tracy > Please have a supervisor enter the chat room.
Tracy > Thanks
Dowell Angelo > Alright. Just a minute, let me get my Supervisor online.
Tracy > Thank you.

Dowell Angelo > Just a minute, my Supervisor is just setting up her tools.
Dowell Angelo > I appreciate your patience.
Tracy > All right.
Tracy > Ping time 7:45pm
Dowell Angelo > Thank you for patiently waiting.
Tracy > Okay.
Dowell Angelo > I will be transferring you now to my Supervisor.
Dowell Angelo > Her name is Iris.
Tracy > Appreciate it.
Dowell Angelo > Is there anything that I can assist you with before I transfer you?
Tracy > No, thanks.
Dowell Angelo > Alright. Please stay online while I transfer you.
Dowell Angelo > Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst


(Tue Aug 18 19:49:35 EDT 2009)
Iris.18173 > I am more than willing and happy to assist you with that.
Tracy > Fine.
Tracy > I hope it's your supervisor not another analyst.
Tracy > Iris, can you explain to me what it is that I need tonight?
Iris.18173 > Yes Tracy, this is Dowell's supervisor. How may I help you today?
Tracy > Did he not tell you?
Tracy > ping time 7:50pm
Iris.18173 > Alright Tracy, I will double check that here on my end. Just a moement please.
Tracy > I'll be patiently waiting. [The Return of Sgt. Snarky]
Iris.18173 > Thank you.


Iris.18173 > Hi Tracy, If I understand it correctly you are requesting to change your phone number on your account and you are transferred for 2 reps already . I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you.
Tracy > Are you able to make that change for me?
Tracy > You are, after all, the fourth person to whom I've explained this.
Iris.18173 > Can I get to verify your account number?
Tracy > ###
Iris.18173 > Thank you for that information. Let me go ahead and check what I can do here on my end.
Tracy > ping time 7:57pm

Iris.18173 > Thank you for waiting, as much as I want to help you with that for security and protection of the account we are not allowed to alter any information on your account. What I can do is to refer you to our Comcast Digital Voice Department to help you with this concern. [huh?!]
Tracy > But I do not have Comcast Digital Voice.
Tracy > I have a Comcast cable account.
Tracy > And a tech coming tomorrow who will call the wrong phone number to try and reach me.
Tracy > According to your website, the only way to change my account phone number is to either call or use this chat system.
Tracy > Why can I not use this chat system to do something as simple as change my own account phone number?
Tracy > I am not trying to obtain new service, just service an existing Comcast Cable account.
Tracy > And I guarantee, if you transfer me to Digital Voice, they will be surprised to hear from me since I do not have a Digital Voice package with my cable service.
Tracy > Of course, right now, I don't even have cable service.
Tracy > Which is why the tech is coming out in the morning.

Iris.18173 > Alright Tracy, I just want to verify if this is your correct home phone number Old###?
Tracy > I've answered all the security questions, so please, just change the phone number on my acount.
Tracy > No.
Tracy > That's what I am trying to change.
Tracy > My phone number is ###.
Tracy > The tech needs to call that number, or he will not reach me.
Tracy > Ping time 8:04pm
Tracy > Iris, surely you can see why this is becoming frustrating for me.

(Tue Aug 18 20:06:48 EDT 2009)
Iris.18173 > Thank you Tracy, would it be alright for you to give you the number of the local office so that you can contact them and at the same time I will take note on your account your correct phone number which is ### so that they may contact you before going to your place to check on your cable service.
Tracy > what?
Iris.18173 > I understand where you are coming from, Tracy. [No...no, you don't.]

Tracy > Wait. So you're saying your website is incorrect.
Tracy > And that I cannot service my account information by using the chat system.
Tracy > So I've been online now since...gee, 7:15PM or so....for nothing.
Tracy > Why, that's almost an entire hour of chatting!
Tracy > If you can get to my account, I would really appreciate it if you could simply change the phone number.
Tracy > What is the purpose of having a nationwide network if you are unable to centrally service any account?
Tracy > ping time 8:09PM

(Tue Aug 18 20:11:09 EDT 2009)
Iris.18173 > I apologize for the long wait. Can I get to verify the last 4 digits of your SSN please.
Tracy > Again?
Tracy > For goodness' sake, it's still me! The same person who gave you all this information an hour ago, since it's now 8:11PM!
Tracy > As I'm being transferred internally through your chat system, you surely don't think that I've changed somehow?
Iris.18173 > I have checked you previous conversation and I have checked your SSN . I just want to verify the information. I will now change your phone number. Just a moment please, Tracy.

Tracy > Iris, are these chat logs reviewed later for quality assurance purposes?
Iris.18173 > Yes.
Tracy > Okay. So you don't mind then if I post this session for peer review? [y'all are my peers]
Tracy > ping time 8:15pm
Iris.18173 > I understand where you are coming from Tracy. i just want to verify your number because on the previous chat it is ###, or is it ###?
Tracy > ###
Iris.18173 > Thank you. I have changed you phone number on your account. Would there be anything else I may help you with?
Tracy > No, thank you.
Iris.18173 > You are welcome Tracy.

(Tue Aug 18 20:18:41 EDT 2009)
Iris.18173 > I will appreciate your feedback about the service you experienced with me today. It is our priority to provide you the best customer service. Kindly answer the survey at the end of this chat so we will know how we can improve our service. [roflmao!]
Tracy > Oh, I sure will!
Iris.18173 > Thank you for contacting Comcast. We value your business. If you need assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us through Live Chat or E-Mail (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). As well, Comcast offers excellent FAQ and Help forums located at www.comcast.net to help you reach a resolution without contacting our technical support.
Iris.18173 > Analyst has closed chat and left the room

Aiee!

Our marketing dude took some headshot photos of me in case I'm included in a list of "influential women in MMOs" in the next month or so. Hahaha! This would be all Nancy Berman's fault ;)

My hair looks terrible in every shot. :D Oh, well!

While I can't talk much about my job, I will say how I love it. Whenever I get a little email telling me that something I've written is good, it makes me happy. I hadn't realized how much I've missed getting feedback on my work.

Nearly done with first Blackrose sock. It's going to be difficult to take a good photo of it on me as the lace runs up the outside of the leg. I've tried to, but I am not a contortionist and so cannot bend that way.

Hope I get some sleep tonight. I don't want to take any tylenol pm as it's already after 11 and that stuff makes me really groggy.

The Land Before Time

I've never lived on the East Coast before. It's very peculiar to me to be up and at work while it's still 6AM on the West Coast. It also leads to situations where I need to do some business with places further to the west and they aren't even open when I call. So strange!

One interesting aspect of this coastal change is upon viewing some of my favorite TV channels. Dan and I watched a lot of HGTV together, which would often show a program at 6PM, then repeat it later that night at 9PM. If one were home for the first showing, the second airing of the same show was a little irritating. Here on the East Coast, that show's on once in prime time, then not until midnight. Additionally, the HD channel and the regular channel are in sync, instead of being offset by a few hours.

While I'll probably miss having access to the Canadian channel during the next Olympics, right now I'm reveling in two PBS stations, with regular broadcasts and their HD counterparts. Between these channels, I am able to catch a couple of my favorite shows (History Detectives and New Tricks) that I missed in Seattle. Yay!

Humidity and Me

Yarrrrrr! A trip to the Inner Harbor with Ray, Rane and Jack completely wiped out my energy on Saturday. Although I had an open house invitation for that night, when I stopped at home to shower and change, it was too late. The moment I got to my room, I lay on the inflatable bed and passed out.

I do not like humidity. I really hate perspiring so much. =\

Then again, this is my first weekend not in my own place. Today, in lieu of tubing down a river with some co-workers, especially in light of the early morning downpour and accompanying thunder, I stayed home with the cats. We lounged. We knit. We discovered the joys of internet TV (thank you, neighbor's wifi).

It's now late (well, late to me) and Mittens is curled up on my leg. He's been very cuddlesome, probably hoping that there is no more upheaval in his future. The last big event will be the arrival of my household goods, which should be in a couple of weeks at the latest. Fingers crossed, anyway.

I suppose I should be grateful that at least I have straight hair. The humidity may make me feel icky, but it doesn't cause my hair to do peculiar things.

Sleepless in...Baltimore

Now that I finally have electricity, I inflated the mattress I've been carting around in the trunk of my car since Seattle. It apparently has a slow leak in it as by morning, I could feel myself sinking into a depression...quite literally. Very sad!

And so, having been up since 2:30AM, I am going to sleep now. Re-inflated the bed, took a couple tylenol PM's to ensure zzz's and there you go.

I did mean to finish knitting my self-striping sock tonight. It's the end of a milestone at my new company and we are going bowling after work tomorrow...and all my other socks are with my household goods (which won't arrive for another 2 weeks). I cannot wear rental bowling shoes without socks! Aieee!

Also won't be able to bowl without a wrist brace. I'm going to stop by the athletic shop in the mall across the street tomorrow to see if they have something I can use.

Saturday will be awesome...Ray and Rane are coming up from the DC side of Baltimore and we're going to the Aquarium! Yay! I've already been to a knitting group here, now the Aquarium trip and with any luck, I shall also make it to Zeb's housewarming party Saturday night. That's a lot of socializing for someone (me!) who doesn't know anyone in the area.

And with any luck, Mr. Moorgard will bless the presentation I put together for our AGDC lecture such that I shall not be spending my Sunday evening fretting over it. We shall see!

Good Afternoon, Baltimore!

After the world's longest drive, I'm finally in Baltimore. Technically, Pikesville, but close enough.

The drive went fairly well, with only one kitty poo accident in his carrier along the way. Fortunately that was on the day I was heading to Dan's father's house, so I was able to wash the cat bed in the carrier with more than just a moist towelette!

This morning I looked at a cute little cottage that I'd had my eye on for over a week now. It's a stone house built in 1840 with only two rooms (not counting the bathroom). My Ikea computer hutch will dominate the living space, so I hope my TV will fit into it, making it a TV hutch instead. :) And there's not really going to be a graceful way to get my lovely tall dresser into the bedroom/basement. Well, maybe there's a way, but it will be a bit exciting.

Not as exciting, of course, as the very loud crash that marked the guys moving that dresser out of our house in Redmond. Dan and I had taken a moment to sit down when we heard the very loud sound of what turned out to be two of my dresser drawers falling out of the cabinet while the movers were carrying out. Grrr... both drawers are damaged on their front edges. Doubly grrr as this was entirely preventable had the movers taken precautions.

I shall not post a bitter review of their service until after all my things show up here on the East Coast, though. After all, I want all my things to arrive. They had better!

Then again, they won't all fit into this cottage. Sigh. No matter how much stuff I get rid of, I still have too much.

Settling In...for now

Though we still have some clean up to do at the house (our landlord is awesome), we are in the condo. Two adults, three cats and a dog.

They did not tear the place up yesterday while we were gone. Yay!

In this smaller venue, Scooter has become resigned to her frenemies, Mittens and Melody. They can now all be within a couple of feet of each other without hissing. I think the problem in the house was that we initially had all the pets segregated as Heather and Dan's two cats were still living there, and that compounded the stress level. Now, in a place all their own, the cats can duke it out (or not) without added discomfort.

I got up this morning a little before 5, to the pinkish orange sunrise and the sound of birds chattering in the trees below us. They are very loud birds. We're close enough to the water that seagulls also fly by. It would be cooler if it weren't so daggone early in the morning.

Oh, and it seems to be trash day. They are already picking things up; I can hear the back-up beeping, the slamming of bin covers and the roar of engines up and down the streets. It's 5:45AM.