Wednesday, May 24th

You better get your towel ready

music: Dinosaur Jr. - Feel the Pain
mood: eh

Towel Day, May 25

I'll be sporting my towel around Uptown tomorrow evening.
PikaPikaChick on 05.24.06 @ 04:18 PM CST [link] [No Comments]

Tuesday, May 23rd

Breaking the chain

music: none
mood: tired but motivated

I am freewriting. I have been so busy and so stressed out lately that I haven't been able to do much of anything creative. My comic sits undrawn, my skin is unadorned with henna, and I've got a toolbox full of paint and a bunch of empty canvas staring at me.

Work sucked today and I don't know if it was me being overly sensitive or if the combination of things that happened really were out of the ordinary. I just know that I exercised a great deal of restraint today when someone was talking down to me and making accusations in a not-so-subtle way via email. I simply deleted the emails and moved on. In hindsight I probably should have kept them to re-read them later when my emotions were calmed down. They could be useful in talking to my boss about this guy if things keep going they way they started going today. Unfortunately there's one thing I hate and that is a cluttered Exchange mailbox. I try to keep mine as manicured as I can.

We're having family over tomorrow for Dan's birthday dinner. I hope I haven't forgotten anything.

Gotta keep writing. This is only about 200 words. I'd like to have at least 500 here.

We're going to Duluth this weekend and doing it properly, as opposed to going up Friday night and coming back Sunday morning like I did last weekend. That just doesn't leave enough time to get anything accomplished, including relaxation. Last weekend I was supposed to be initiated into the Women of the Moose (that being the Loyal Order Of) but people didn't have their shit together and they called it off. I don't understand why I couldn't be initiated like my dad and husband were: step into the back office, take an oath, shake hands, receive membership card, drink tokens, and moose pin. The women have to go through this big ceremony where there are silly hats and reading of passages involved. It's way more of a production than the men get, and it's their damn organization. So I wait. I've been waiting for like a year now.

361 words. I should really be studying for my MCSA, but it's going to be really hard now that the IT budget was frozen and Ican't take my training course as originally planned. Now I have to rely on my own will and determination to study on my own, and I've let myself down many times in the past. Not to mention that all my old MCSE materials that sort of apply to MCSE are outdated Windows 2000 versions.

Gah, I'm going to go study now.
PikaPikaChick on 05.23.06 @ 08:51 PM CST [link] [No Comments]


Insects are still icky

music: Violent Femmes - Cool Blue Reason
mood: hungry

...But this is one of the coolest things I've ever seen.
PikaPikaChick on 05.23.06 @ 10:36 AM CST [link] [No Comments]

Sunday, May 21st

NO NO NO BAD BAD BAD

music: none
mood: ARGH

A clip from the FFVII: Advent Children English dub.

Further proof that English dubs are of the devil.

Cid does not have a redneck accent. STOP KILLING MY FANTASY.
PikaPikaChick on 05.21.06 @ 03:41 PM CST [link] [No Comments]


Hot damn

music: none
mood: a-twitter

Who's the fucking man?
PikaPikaChick on 05.21.06 @ 03:35 PM CST [link] [No Comments]


Procrastinating again

music: none
mood: amused

So I'm wasting time again. My current fascination is with Barats and Bereta. Highlights:

Suburbanites
Mother's Day
PC Fratboys
PikaPikaChick on 05.21.06 @ 03:09 PM CST [link] [No Comments]

Friday, May 19th

Ahhhhhhh Friday

music: Dropkick Murphys - Heroes From Our Past
mood: good

Too busy to write. Auugggghh.
PikaPikaChick on 05.19.06 @ 03:23 PM CST [link] [No Comments]

Monday, May 15th

I'll never be sad again

music: none
mood: sleepy

Hardcore Penguin
PikaPikaChick on 05.15.06 @ 10:05 PM CST [link] [No Comments]

Friday, May 12th

I'm one of the cool kids now

music: Elton John - Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me
mood: tired

1. Do you have a crush on somebody?
Yes. Tee-hee.

2. Do you hate more than 3 people?
Doubtful.

3. How many houses have you lived in?
The shack in Hermantown, the house in Rock Rapids, the house in Burnsville, half a house in River Falls, Half a house in Minneapolis, and now our very own mortgaged Minneapolis home.

4. Favorite candy?
Dark chocolate cherry cordials.

5. Have you ever tripped someone?
Not intentionally.

6. Least favorite school subject?
Math and American history.

7. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
Four or five.

8. Do you own a Britney Spears CD?
Uh, no.

9. Have you ever thrown up in public?
Yes. Most recently about three years ago outside the St. Paul Humane Society.

10. Name one thing that is always on your mind.
Money, sadly.

11. What is your zodiac sign?
Pisces.

12. What time were you born?
Sometime around 6 AM.

13. Do you like beer?
Only when it's dark and strong. I'm a beer snob like that.

14. Ever made a prank call?
Yes.

15. What is the most embarassing CD you own?
I have no idea.

16. Are you sarcastic?
Yes.

17. What are your favorite colors?
Orange, various shades of blue, yellow

18. How many watches do you own?
I might have one lying around.

19. Summer or winter?
Summer. For the love of gods, summer.

20. Is anyone in love with you?
Yes.

21. Favorite color to wear?
Black.

22. Pepsi or Sprite?
Sprite.

23. What color is your cell phone?
Gray.

24. Where is your second home?
Umm.... work?

25. Have you ever slapped someone?
Yes.

26. Have you ever had a cavity?
Yes.

27. How many lamps are in your bedroom?
Just one.

28. How many video games do you own?
Ohhhh boy..... a whole bunch.

29. What was your first pet?
Not counting the various fish I've had, my first was a cat.

30. Ever had braces?
No.

31. Do looks matter?
Depends.

32. Do you use chapstick?
All the time.

33. American Eagle or Abercrombie?
You're kidding, right?

34. Are you too forgiving?
Maybe.

35. How many children do you want?
Two.

36. Do you own something from Hot Topic?
Lots of patches.

37. Favorite breakfast meal?
Biscuits and gravy!

38. Do you own a gun?
No.

39. Ever thought you were in love?
Yes.

40. When was the last time you cried?
This morning on the way to work. Ian Punnit was reading a super cute obituary about a couple who were together for 74 years and died a week apart. The wife died first, then the husband died of a broken heart. Leave me alone. I'm PMSing.

41. What did you do 3 nights ago?
I went skating at a roller rink.

42. Olive Garden?
Hell yeah!

43. Have you ever called your teacher mommy?
No.

44. Have you ever been in a castle?
I don't think so.

45. Do you know anyone named Bertha?
I wish.

46. Ever been to Kentucky?
I doubt it.

47. Do you own something from Banana Republic?
I've never set foot in a Banana Republic.

48. Are you thinking about somebody right now?
Yes -- Spicy McHaggis.

49. Ever called somebody Boo?
My dog Bindi.

50. Do you smoke?
No.

51. Do you own a diamond ring?
Yes.

52. Are you happy with your life right now?
Yes.

53. Do you dye your hair?
Haven't in a long time, but planning on it soon.

54. Does anyone have a crush on you?
I certainly hope so.

55. How many siblings do you have?
One.

56. What were you doing in May of 1994?
Probably sitting alone in my room on Compuserve chatting on WorldsAway.

57. Do you own a Backstreet Boys CD?
Um, no.

58. McDonald's or Wendy's?
Wendy's.

59. Do you like yourself?
I guess so.

60. Are you closer to your mother or father?
Neither.

61. Are you afraid of the dark?
No.

62. Have you ever eaten paste?
No. Ick.

63. Do you own a webcam?
Yes.

64. Have you ever stripped?
Only for an audience of one.

65. Ever broken a bone?
I broke my pinky toe once.

66. Are you religious?
No.

67. Do you chat on AIM often?
Never.

68. Pringles or Lays?
Pringles!

69. Have you ever broken someone's heart?
I certainly hope so.

70. Rugrats or Doug?
Ren & Stimpy.

71. Full House or The Brady Bunch?
Cut. it. out.

72. Did you like your high school guidance counselor?
I don't know who my high school guidance counselor was.

73. Do you have a birth mark?:
No.

74. Do you own a car?
Yes.

75. Can you cook?
Yes!

76. Do you text message often?
At work.

77. Money or love?
Love.

78. Do you have any scars?
I've got lots and lots of scars.

79. What do you want more than anything right now?
To go back to bed.

80. Do you enjoy scary movies?
No.

81. Relationships or one night stands?
Relationships. Then again, I've never had a one night stand. Too dangerous and creepy.

82. Big Red or Juicy Fruit?
Big Red.

83. Do you enjoy greasy food?
Yes!

84. Have you seen all the Rocky movies?
I don't think so.

85. Do you own a box of crayons?
Yes.

86. Ever had sex in a public place?
No.

87. Who was the last person that said they loved you?
Dan.

88. Who was the last person that made you mad?
About five people at work today.

89. Who was the last person that made you cry?
Ian Punnit.

90. Who was the last person that made you laugh?
The guy Kevyn and Colleen were talking to about movies today.

91. Who was the last person that you fell for?
Dan.

92. Who was the last person that called you?
Someone at work.

93. Who is the person most likely to fill this out?
No idea.
PikaPikaChick on 05.12.06 @ 12:46 PM CST [link] [No Comments]

Thursday, May 11th

3 Mbps of love

music: Enya - Pilgrim
mood: relieved

DSL is working like a champ now. Got the wireless network up and running again. Comic is updated. How nerd I am.
PikaPikaChick on 05.11.06 @ 10:22 PM CST [link] [No Comments]

Wednesday, May 10th

A hoopy frood, indeed.

music: Operation Ivy - Sound System
mood: weird

Vatican astronomer denounces Creationism as "paganism"

AH HA HA HA HA HA HA
PikaPikaChick on 05.10.06 @ 12:41 PM CST [link]

Friday, May 5th

I'm too young for this

music: Rocket From The Crypt - Ditchdigger
mood: yay Friday yay

Went to my parents' house last night to pick up a screen tent for Sunday's festivities. We ended up standing around for a few hours and talking. As we were leaving I noticed that my right knee was hurting a little bit like when you stand in one place for too long. No big deal, we were standing in the kitchen for about 3 hours and I'm not used to being on my feet for that long. I'm not lazy, I'm a computer tech.

Woke up this morning around 4:00 with a charlie horse. I was able to grit my teeth and plow through it with the mantra of "point your toes! Point your toes!" When I got out of bed this morning and walked to the bathroom I noticed a sharp pain in my knee. Stinkin' arthritis.

It didn't get really bad until I went down the first few stairs to the basement. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. I ended up doing this gimpy little straight-leg limping shimmy down the rest of the way.

Bending my leg in any way, such as sitting down in a chair or getting into the car is extremely painful right now.

Stupid arthritis.
PikaPikaChick on 05.05.06 @ 11:24 AM CST [link]

Wednesday, May 3rd

Stupid pet peeves

music: Rancid - Otherside
mood: hungry

Oooh, I hate it when people misspell "oops" as "oopps." As in, rhymes with "cops."

Use as many Os as you want, but for crying out loud keep it to one P.
PikaPikaChick on 05.03.06 @ 11:42 AM CST [link]

Monday, May 1st

This one's important

music: Tiger Army - Grey Dawn Breaking
mood: caffeinated

Do you buy books online, use Google, or download to an iPod? Everything we do online will be hurt if Congress passes a radical law next week that gives giant corporations more control over what we do and see on the Internet.

Internet providers like AT&T are lobbying Congress hard to gut Network Neutrality—the Internet's First Amendment and the key to Internet freedom. Net Neutrality prevents AT&T from choosing which websites open most easily for you based on which site pays AT&T more. BarnesandNoble.com doesn't have to outbid Amazon for the right to work properly on your computer.

If Net Neutrality is gutted, almost every popular site—from Google to eBay to iTunes—must either pay protection money to Internet companies like AT&T or risk having their websites process slowly. That why these high-tech pioneers and others are opposing Congress' effort to gut Internet freedom.

You can do your part today—can you sign this petition telling your member of Congress to preserve Internet freedom? Click here:

http://www.civic.moveon.org/save_the_internet/?id=7449-6963387-OTMETFjo8RrgatpV5kWYQQ&t=4

I signed this petition, along with 250,000 others so far. This petiton will be delivered to Congress before the House of Representatives votes next week. When you sign, you'll be kept informed of the next steps we can take to keep the heat on Congress.

Snopes.com, which monitors various causes that circulate on the Internet, explained:

Simply put, network neutrality means that no web site's traffic has precedence over any other's...Whether a user searches for recipes using Google, reads an article on snopes.com, or looks at a friend's MySpace profile, all of that data is treated equally and delivered from the originating web site to the user's web browser with the same priority. In recent months, however, some of the telephone and cable companies that control the telecommunications networks over which Internet data flows have floated the idea of creating the electronic equivalent of a paid carpool lane.

If companies like AT&T have their way, Web sites ranging from Google to eBay to iTunes either pay protection money to get into the "fast lane" or risk opening slowly on your computer. We can't let the Internet—this incredible medium which has been such a revolutionary force for democratic participation, economic innovation, and free speech—become captive to large corporations.

Politicians don't think we are paying attention to this issue. Together, we do care about preserving the free and open Internet.

Please sign this petition letting your member of Congress know you support preserving Internet freedom. Click here:

http://www.civic.moveon.org/save_the_internet/?id=7449-6963387-OTMETFjo8RrgatpV5kWYQQ&t=5

Thanks.

PikaPikaChick on 05.01.06 @ 03:08 PM CST [link]


Lurker no more

mood: angry

Maybe you're aware of this particular Intarwebs shitstorm. Normally I don't bother with this kind of tripe but this time I made myself involved. The more I read and the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't just sit on the sidelines.

Some anonymous "James" replied to my comment. I was going to reply right back but I know that I'm not going to be able to change his or anyone else's mind on the subject when the dander is up so high right now.

So I'm going to put some of my thoughts here instead. Go ahead. Call me a coward. I dare you.

Using the same line of logic that "James" is using, I give you this:

OH NOES I'M THE MULTICULTURAL DEVIL OMGWTFHAX!!1!!111

That's it, from now own I claim my Swedishness to be my ONE TROO CULTURE XD !!!!1 I'm going home tonight and throwing away all my anime tapes, DVDs, and soundtracks. I better get rid of my Dance Dance Revolution game and pads and I certainly can't ever play Katamari Damaci ever again. Time to get rid of all my husband's hip-hop CDs. Damn, I really liked that Brother Ali disc, too, but he's black AND Muslim AND albino. I have to throw away all my kimchi, rice, and seaweed and replace it with lingonberries, herring, and reindeer meat.

And HOW DARE YOU ALL SHOP AT IKEA?!!!111??! You can't possibly understand the plight of the Swedish just because you bought affordable and well-constructed yet stylish homegoods! STOP STEALING MY CULTURE! YOU CULTURE THIEVES! MINE MINE MINE MINE
PikaPikaChick on 05.01.06 @ 09:46 AM CST [link]