Amnesia

Perhaps I’m a rare breed. I’ve never gone to someone elses desk and just taken something without permission. Yet, it seems to constantly happen in my work environment. I guess because I’m the office manager/administrative assistant, my title suggests that I like to be shit on.

This week I’ve come back to missing scissors, and today I came back to find my desk heater missing as well. Today happens to be a colder day in New England, and our building management doesn’t think it’s necessary to provide adequate heating for its tenants. It’s annoying to say the least, because I went out and purchased the heater in my spare time.

It doesn’t hurt to ask for things, and I’m a pretty easy going and generous person. This type of entitlement is one of my biggest pet peeves. Once you figure out that you’re not the king of the cube jungle, or the line everyone else has been waiting in, or the road on which everyone drives, you’ll be a lot better off and I think you’ll finally stop wondering why people hate you.

Because, really, they do.

I also happen to have a red swingline stapler, and if that goes missing, well there will be hell to pay.

Over at Shawn Powers’ blog, he figured he’d be stupid and try the Cinnamon challenge. After talking with him, he suggested I try it.

Here is the result.

Enjoy.

Steve Buccheit posted this meme on Story Bones, which he swiped from his pal Camille Alexa. Jim Wright thought you all might get a kick out of it, so he stole it and I in turn, borrowed it from him. The part of the interviewer shall be played by George Clooney. Because really, who doesn’t want to be interviewed by George Clooney.

You gotsta love teh intarweebs.

In thirty-five questions, tell me about yourself.

1) Ever been in a relationship lasting over 5 years?

Yes, my marriage lasted for six, on paper that is.

2) What was one of your dreams growing up?

To be an astronaut. 

3) What talent do you wish you had?

I wish I could draw.

4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?

If I’m driving, ginger-ale. If I’m not, a glass of sweet riesling wine, or a mudslide. But if you’re buying me a drink George, I’m probably going to be a puddle of goo on the floor.

5) Favorite books?

The Vampire Chronicles, World War Z, The Name of the Wind, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, The Lord of the Rings, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Song of Ice and Fire Series, The Harry Potter Series, The Android’s Dream

6) What was the last book you read?

“Ghost” by John Ringo

7) Astrology: Menace to science education or entertainment?

It’s fun to read other people’s horoscopes, especially if the warnings are nasty. One of my favorite lines pertaining to this subject is from the movie Sliding Doors.

“…but the big-flashing-red-light way of telling you’re not really over someone is when you’re still reading their horoscope in the hope that they’re going to get wiped out in some freak napalming incident. ”

8.) Any tattoos and/or piercings? Explain where.

I have my ears pierced. I tried to have double piercings, but neglect led to the holes being patched over. Oh well.

9) Worst habit?

Biting my nails.

10) Best attribute?

My eyes

11) What are your favorite hobbies?

Reading, writing, singing, playing with my children, computer gaming when said children are in bed or otherwise occupied.

12) Do you have a negative or optimistic attitude?

I am a paranoid optimistic. Don’t ask. I don’t even know how to describe it.

 13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?

I’d sing t.v. and movie theme songs throughout history wondering if you could guess them.

14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?

There are few that I can remember, but being on a land line when my father was suffering a stroke, calling the police on my cell phone while still asking my father to talk to me is probably right up there.

15) Best thing to ever happen to you?

Holding my children for the first time when each of them were born.

16) Tell me one weird fact about you.

I rip off the crust of regular bread when I eat it with hot dogs or hamburgers, but leave the bread intact when it’s a roll designed to be eaten with said food. Oddly enough, I’ll eat a whole piece of toast with regular bread as well. Yeah, I’m weird.

17) What if I showed up at your house unexpectedly?

Uh… ummm…. uh….

18) What was your first impression of me?

I honestly can’t remember the first time I saw you. I do remember thinking something along the lines of, “he’s not that hot.” As I grew older, my opinion changed.

19) What scares you?

Not being able to provide for my family.

 20) If you could change one thing about how you are, what would it be?

I would like to be less of an emotional eater. It tends to pack on unwanted pounds and I need to get to a point in my life where I don’t run to food as a comfort.

 21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?

Depends. If someones gonna get hurt, I’d be your conscience. If it’s all in good fun, I’d be a pretty big prankster.

 22) What color eyes do you have?

Blue

23) Ever been arrested?

No

24) Favorite dessert?

Hot fudge brownies smothered in cold vanilla ice cream.

25) If you won $1000 today, what would you do with it?

Put it towards a new furnace.

26) Tell me something you want me to know about you.

I am attracted to smart and geeky men. They must also not be too bony or built. A little pudge is actually quite appealing.

27) What’s your favorite place to hang out?

My home office.

28) Do you believe in ghosts? Aliens?

Sure, why not. There are a lot more things I would call insane going around these days. A little belief in aliens or paranormal is the least of our worries.

29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Write

30) Do you swear a lot?

I really try not to when I’m around my children, but at work I’m dropping F bombs all “shock and awe” style.

31) Biggest pet peeve?

Rude and entitled people. Making someones day takes so little effort. Just because you’re feeling like ass, doesn’t mean you should treat people as such.

32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?

Multi-faceted

33) Do you believe in/appreciate romance?

I appreciate it a lot more now that it’s gone from my life.

34) Most unusual place you’ve had sex?

An abandoned department store backroom.

35) Do you believe in an afterlife?

I’ll tell you after I’m dead, how about that?

I have no idea what the singer is saying and I really hate death metal, but seeing the clever synch made me laugh.

As most of the more established readers on this site have seen, I recently purchased a new home back in December. I can honestly say I went into this purchase with no remorse, as the gentleman who lived here before me took very good care of the place. Everything was in working condition, everything was well maintained and everything checked out just fine on the initial and subsequent inspections before purchase.

 A week ago, my hot water/heat boiler started leaking water. Going back against the maintenance record, the Burnham V7 boiler was brand new back in 1999. It was cleaned yearly.

After paying $90.00 to have someone from a local oil company come out and look at the problem, I was told that my burner had a cracked casting. After further references and research, I found out that this particular model of oil burners made by Burnham is notorious for said problem.

Here is the catch. Had this problem occurred back in November or December, the original homeowner would have been covered by the 10 year warranty. Since we purchased the house, the warranty is now void. Although I’m doing my best to go through different channels to see how I may get this paid for, I’m constantly hitting brick walls. No one wants to help anyone out in this day and age.

I might just have to write the local news station and the AG of the state to see if there is any legal recourse.

Before you ask, no, there was no home warranty when we signed the paperwork transferring ownership. In some states, I found that it is a requirement to have one. I guess this is not so in CT. Considering everything had checked out just fine in the original inspections, I probably would have balked at spending more money if one was not included in the purchase price of the house.

What I find absolutely ridiculous, is that I need a new burner. While we still have heat and hot water, its only a matter of time before the leak grows too much and I will not be able to contain it with kitty litter and speedy dry.

Call it Murphy’s Law or whatever you want, but I am devastated. I’ve been worrying myself sick about this since calling the repair man out to fix it. $90.00 seems pretty steep to take a few covers off a boiler, go, “Yep, there’s ya problem”, take my check and leave.

Most likely, I will be left in the wayside like every other consumer who just happens to have a defective product. Going into this initial purchase, I was under the impression that boilers if properly maintained are supposed to last a good 30 years.

Considering that Burnham knows this V7 model was defective and pushed out their V8 very quickly, you would think they would make good on their promise to stand by their work and replace defective product, no matter who owns it at this point.

It’s really a shame that there are no good companies out there anymore. You can imagine that after dropping nearly 8K in closing fees while purchasing the house, I’m abit broke to afford any major repair now. Especially on a piece of equipment that by all standards was supposed to last me 20 more years. I’m going to pound my pillow some more and hope that six thousand dollars just happens to drop from the sky onto my head.

While checking site traffic on Pete’s site, because I’m anal like that; I was happily surprised that our numbers keep going up! There was another extra surprise this morning as well. When I was checking over referring links, I noticed that we had been featured on podcast.com. Right under the main article, the black square in ‘ a selection of podcasts’ is our podcast!

I have to say, with all the work I’ve been putting into these, this makes it worth it. We’ve seen some great traffic with this site, and I hope to continue the trend. To whomever visits either Pete’s or my site and listens every week, here’s a big shout-out to all of you. If you continue to think they are good, tell everyone about them!

You can click on the pic for a bigger version.

In light of the white fluffy stuff that we’re supposed to get tomorrow, here is some mood music. In case it doesn’t happen to snow where you are, this is just nice and relaxing.

Just a light and pretty piano.

I came home from shopping today and finally found out what Chloe does when I’m away…

Hai, this is for you. Play this sucker loud.

I realize that I put the last podcast up on Valentine’s Day. Considering the subject matter, it was sort of an ‘anti-love’ proclamation. I’ve softened up a bit now that the holiday has indeed passed us, and to make up for it, here is one of the most romantic scenes in a recent movie. For some reason, every time I see this movie, the fires of passion and longing start a new in this cynical old heart.

Enjoy: