Relaxing, then Doing Stuff
Jan. 4th, 2013 08:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livingdebI've been doing a lot of relaxing on my time off, mostly reading and watching movies. I just watched "Paris, Texas" for the first time. That's a classic? It sure feels more like a cult classic. And it felt really slow, like a movie from the '70s instead one from the '80s. And for the exciting bits, they broke the rule to "show, don't tell." Still, it was quite effective, like reading a book. The ending was not informative enough; I guess you're supposed to make your own sequel in your head. But I'd rather watch a sequel by someone more creative than me. A sequel with a happy ending for everyone.
I also got to go to two parties last week. Woo hoo! I advanced science, built a small urban neighborhood, rescued treasures from a sinking island, and grew a lot of beans. Yes, it was a games party. Full of gamers. I wasn't quite in the mood to be as evil as you're supposed to be to win some of the games, so I think I lost the respect of some these strangers, but oh well.
At the other party, one of my friends morphed into a beast master and, after catching up to us when we ran away, quickly killed us off. Yes, that was another game. Then we watched "The Avengers" again and relived our favorite lines. "Puny god" was probably the overall favorite. As well as the whimper made by said puny god afterwards. Paid more attention to Hawkeye this time--awesome. Didn't like Captain America as much--no sense of humor. Although he did get a funny line (when he finally got a reference that someone else missed). Still loved Black Widow's opening scene. And her scenes with Banner/the Hulk showed she might be the bravest of the lot, though she doesn't talk about it like Captain America does.
I also visited the central library. Man, I like that library, but there is very little parking and it's all metered. But I can easily walk there from work on my days when I work a half day and then take a bus home from there. It's being re-located sometime soon to a place that is not convenient to my house, my work, or (I don't think) a bus route to my house, but I don't know if they will be building parking. Hope so. My local branch is so small in comparison.
And I've been exercising my shivering muscles. I am not good at dealing with chilly weather. Which I why I live here. We keep it as hot has R can stand in the summer and as cold as I can stand in the winter. So it's my turn to be macho, and I should have an easy job of it. The house still has barely gotten cooler than 60 degrees with no heat, but it's going to be another week before the outside temperature is warmer than the house, so I may give in and turn on the heat for a while soon. R still wanders around in shorts and/or bare feet most of the time, though he also usually wears a flannel-lined shirt or bathrobe.
Last year around this time when I quit my job and had all kinds of free time I was so gung ho--exercising every day, brainstorming jobs I could look for, starting another blog, working on a book. Not so much this time--I just really want to curl up into a little ball and not move out of the space I have heated. I am remembering to always have something on my feet and a hat, plus to drink hot liquids. Last year I gave up on finding any tea I liked (especially without loads of sugar), and I really shouldn't be having several cups of hot chocolate a day, but I'm finding that I'm perfectly happy with just plain hot water this year, so that's good.
Today I did some stuff, though. I worked out with my pilates video. Normally I get hot enough to put up my hair up after 10 minutes, but today my hands felt cold until 30 minutes into it. Not fair! Then I did my stretches and strength training for my strained body parts.
Then I drove to the blood donor place and got rejected because I had visited the Dominican Republic within the last 12 months (one of the stops on the cruise), but I can go back next month. Getting rejected always makes me angry, and it's not always rational. I'm not the Hulk, but it's still not something I appreciate about myself. They still gave me a coupon for a pint of Amy's ice cream for "trying." I have mixed feelings about that. Why should I get ice cream when nobody gets to have my blood? That just makes everything even more of a waste.
On the other hand, a whole pint of Amy's ice cream? That's better than any of the birthday coupons I've gotten in e-mails--no purchase is required. And it's a fun coupon: It has a drawing of a cow saying, "Heard you're down a pint." I guess they're hoping I add mix-ins (not included) or that I bring friends who will buy things. While it's still winter (it expires on February 15). (In case you're nearby and thinking this sounds like an excellent bribe, I went to the Blood Center on Lamar near 45th.)
Then I went to the bank to ask about a $116 withdrawal I didn't make. No, it's not some kind of evil fee. The staff member who got stuck with me was able to see the withdrawal slip online and could see that it was for a different account where an "8" in their account number looked a bit like the "5" in my account number, and so their money came out of my account. Since it's over $50, he can't take care of it himself, but it should be fixed in two to five business days. I did wait a week after the withdrawal, but since it's a new month and a Friday (high chances of a recent payday), I'm hoping that if the person thought the money had already been withdrawn, the actual withdrawal won't wreck their day.
I also answered the phone three times, which I regretted. First a computer tried to offer me something for diabetics on Medicaid. It told me to press "1" if I was interested, but if I'm not a diabetic on Medicaid or would like to be removed from the list, I could press "2." Sounded like the easiest get-me-off-your-list process ever, but no, they stuck me on hold. After several seconds I hung up. The second caller wanted to ask me questions about my young children and what TV they should be allowed to view. She hung up once she was clear on the fact that I don't have any children (or grandchildren) of any age and I do not watch enough TV to even be able to guess what the answers would be. The third caller said I was on a list of people who said they did not want to receive a Yellow Pages. I said this was still true. They said these these had recently been delivered in my area and asked if, indeed, I had not received one. I confirmed that I had not and did not have the heart to say that I do not want any deliveries or phone calls concerning phone books.
Time to heat up another mug of water--my back is aching (from the shivering).
I also got to go to two parties last week. Woo hoo! I advanced science, built a small urban neighborhood, rescued treasures from a sinking island, and grew a lot of beans. Yes, it was a games party. Full of gamers. I wasn't quite in the mood to be as evil as you're supposed to be to win some of the games, so I think I lost the respect of some these strangers, but oh well.
At the other party, one of my friends morphed into a beast master and, after catching up to us when we ran away, quickly killed us off. Yes, that was another game. Then we watched "The Avengers" again and relived our favorite lines. "Puny god" was probably the overall favorite. As well as the whimper made by said puny god afterwards. Paid more attention to Hawkeye this time--awesome. Didn't like Captain America as much--no sense of humor. Although he did get a funny line (when he finally got a reference that someone else missed). Still loved Black Widow's opening scene. And her scenes with Banner/the Hulk showed she might be the bravest of the lot, though she doesn't talk about it like Captain America does.
I also visited the central library. Man, I like that library, but there is very little parking and it's all metered. But I can easily walk there from work on my days when I work a half day and then take a bus home from there. It's being re-located sometime soon to a place that is not convenient to my house, my work, or (I don't think) a bus route to my house, but I don't know if they will be building parking. Hope so. My local branch is so small in comparison.
And I've been exercising my shivering muscles. I am not good at dealing with chilly weather. Which I why I live here. We keep it as hot has R can stand in the summer and as cold as I can stand in the winter. So it's my turn to be macho, and I should have an easy job of it. The house still has barely gotten cooler than 60 degrees with no heat, but it's going to be another week before the outside temperature is warmer than the house, so I may give in and turn on the heat for a while soon. R still wanders around in shorts and/or bare feet most of the time, though he also usually wears a flannel-lined shirt or bathrobe.
Last year around this time when I quit my job and had all kinds of free time I was so gung ho--exercising every day, brainstorming jobs I could look for, starting another blog, working on a book. Not so much this time--I just really want to curl up into a little ball and not move out of the space I have heated. I am remembering to always have something on my feet and a hat, plus to drink hot liquids. Last year I gave up on finding any tea I liked (especially without loads of sugar), and I really shouldn't be having several cups of hot chocolate a day, but I'm finding that I'm perfectly happy with just plain hot water this year, so that's good.
Today I did some stuff, though. I worked out with my pilates video. Normally I get hot enough to put up my hair up after 10 minutes, but today my hands felt cold until 30 minutes into it. Not fair! Then I did my stretches and strength training for my strained body parts.
Then I drove to the blood donor place and got rejected because I had visited the Dominican Republic within the last 12 months (one of the stops on the cruise), but I can go back next month. Getting rejected always makes me angry, and it's not always rational. I'm not the Hulk, but it's still not something I appreciate about myself. They still gave me a coupon for a pint of Amy's ice cream for "trying." I have mixed feelings about that. Why should I get ice cream when nobody gets to have my blood? That just makes everything even more of a waste.
On the other hand, a whole pint of Amy's ice cream? That's better than any of the birthday coupons I've gotten in e-mails--no purchase is required. And it's a fun coupon: It has a drawing of a cow saying, "Heard you're down a pint." I guess they're hoping I add mix-ins (not included) or that I bring friends who will buy things. While it's still winter (it expires on February 15). (In case you're nearby and thinking this sounds like an excellent bribe, I went to the Blood Center on Lamar near 45th.)
Then I went to the bank to ask about a $116 withdrawal I didn't make. No, it's not some kind of evil fee. The staff member who got stuck with me was able to see the withdrawal slip online and could see that it was for a different account where an "8" in their account number looked a bit like the "5" in my account number, and so their money came out of my account. Since it's over $50, he can't take care of it himself, but it should be fixed in two to five business days. I did wait a week after the withdrawal, but since it's a new month and a Friday (high chances of a recent payday), I'm hoping that if the person thought the money had already been withdrawn, the actual withdrawal won't wreck their day.
I also answered the phone three times, which I regretted. First a computer tried to offer me something for diabetics on Medicaid. It told me to press "1" if I was interested, but if I'm not a diabetic on Medicaid or would like to be removed from the list, I could press "2." Sounded like the easiest get-me-off-your-list process ever, but no, they stuck me on hold. After several seconds I hung up. The second caller wanted to ask me questions about my young children and what TV they should be allowed to view. She hung up once she was clear on the fact that I don't have any children (or grandchildren) of any age and I do not watch enough TV to even be able to guess what the answers would be. The third caller said I was on a list of people who said they did not want to receive a Yellow Pages. I said this was still true. They said these these had recently been delivered in my area and asked if, indeed, I had not received one. I confirmed that I had not and did not have the heart to say that I do not want any deliveries or phone calls concerning phone books.
Time to heat up another mug of water--my back is aching (from the shivering).
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no subject
on 2013-01-05 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
on 2013-01-06 12:24 am (UTC)I was surprised how little niceness paid off in that particular game--people were always giving me more stuff, and I got to cash out the max amount most of the time. And I basically never had to cash out when I didn't want to--I didn't even use my third field or my extra spare cards much. It was fun, though.