Hola, gente!

I'm so tired because work kicked my ass BUT I am leaving on a jetplane for Barcelona tomorrow at 4pm. I don't know what last minute stuff will occur to me before I go so I wanted to post now.

I'll miss you all! *smushes* I'll try to post from there!


You all take care and I'll talk to you in a week! Don't break the Interwebz in my absence! :-D

See now, this is getting creepy.

For months now I keep getting friended by mystery people in...Russia? Maybe, if the usernames are any indication? Except the journals are then promptly deleted. So I have a list of people with Russian sounding names that have 'friended' me and whose LJs are now deleted and the names are struck through. It's like, ten by now.

What is this about?

Because it's giving me creeps.

Do you know what is meep-making? When I thought I was leaving for Spain on MONDAY and I am leaving on SUNDAY. MEEP. ( Before then I have to: )

And I work tomorrow MEEP. And...and...I know there's more! *faceplant x eleventybillion*

In other news...

+ Watched ( the VP debate. )

We all know I don't like to say something if somene else says it better and winterlive pretty much nailed that:

(I)n summation: if you vote for mccain, you deserve what you get, you poor sad bastards.

Well said, well spoken, and very true.

+ I wanted to comment on the whole Frankie Iero was an asshat in college thing because, seriously? I just laughed and laughed and LAUGHED omg Frank. Really, if anyone were to hold up how I was at eighteen as a judgment for THE REST OF MY LIFE, dudes. I would be so screwed. My snotty, self-important, annoying self was at tiny community college when I was espousing tripe pretty to the style that he does, and I thank the lord and sonny Jesus that's where the tripe will stay. Someone just happened to dig up his 18 year-old asshattery, which I did read. And. Well. Am I missing something? Because OMG FRANK ILU *LOL*. He is so FLAWED AND STUPID AND PRECIOUS. I just. *hands* I can't EVEN.

+ Why don't I know anyone in Spain that I could go have lunch with?

+ I stumbled along a link to that song 'Never Ever' by All Saints on YouTube and it is the cheesiest, over produced, late nineties fluff I have ever heard and I have had it on repeat for the last half hour. Don't judge me!!

I know there is more but I don't even know what it is. I have so, so much to do I am tharn.

However, Barcelona in two days! So, you know. I'll take the trade off. :-)

Take care, gente! I'll be running like crazy until I leave Sunday but I'll talk at ya'll later.

Paul Newman died. He is one of only two celebrities that could reduce my mom to utter fangirl joy. He was a big supporter of gay rights, a longtime philanthropist, and an all-around amazing, talented man.

Rest in peace, kind sir.

In other news....

+ Sweet Pea got out when we mistakenly shut the door behind her. Ten minutes later one of our neighbors knocked on the door and told us she was loose. I pulled on some clothes (because, no, I don't wear a lot when I'm at home) and ran out to find her. She was totally freaked out huddled against a wall. My mistake was I picked her up around her middle and she FREAKED THE FUCK OUT on me. Snarling and biting and going utterly Cujo. Before I knew it she'd bitten my hand and my finger and sank a puncture into the meat of my right palm. I finally manged to talk her down and scoop her up but I was pretty shaken.

I know she didn't mean it but that hurt like a motherfucker.

+ We did a small grocery run but our fridge is still very bare. This is a rent check cycle so not a lot to spare but it's a start.

+ Work is slowly getting back to normal thank god. Daycare HPL's last day was Friday, also thank god. the hours are still 10-7 for this week, tho. That should be back to normal in short order, too.

+ Work tomorrow. Boo.

+ I have jury duty on Monday, which I forgot. Crap. I have a shitload of work to do before I leave for Barcelona.

+ I didn't watch the debate because I am SO SO ANXIOUS OMG, but I had D DVR it. I might get brave later.

+ I watched the first ep of SPN online. Dean: Really? Oh, boys. *LOL!!!!* Heroes is next. I WILL catch up.

For now there is a A Hard Day's Night on the Independent Film Channel, a roast chicken for dinner, and privacy. I'll take it.

*hugs electricity* Never leave me again.

( This is not usually a very political journal. )

As always, someone has compiled and said it better than I and today that person is penknife, whom I found through beanside's journal.

This is what she says and what she's found.

So, yeah. That's what I know.

Back to work, gente.

Oh, BTW, the guys at the complex talked to CenterPoint Energy. Might have no electricity for two. More. Weeks. Aces.

Adios for now!

We saw CenterPoint Energy trucks a block over last night. We can but hope. I'm kinda worried because one can't see our transformer from the street, but the fancy brick house behind us is without power, too, so I'm hoping they notice the pole then.

The night was so, so stifling and incomfortable.

*sigh*

As someone on my FL asked, how does Monday keep happening? Someone should get on that.

Do not have lunch for today. :-(

Still inundated with librarians from branches that are not open. We know how that goes: some are willing and flexible and will find work to do and others hide and dodge as much as they can. *sigh*

I miss reading fic.

I am going to miss the HEROES season premier tonight. :-(

I miss laying in bed with the sheet on.

I am kvetching.

OH, but I did see Jumper yesterday at my friend Kitty's house. Why did that get sucky reviews? I liked it! Samuel L. Jackson is THE MAN. And is there any slash? Because Hayden Christaianson/Billy Elliot guy= much chemistry.

So I'ma go since I am not fit company for anyone right now.

I'm also going to go listen to the Barack Obama 'Yes We Can' song to get me through today. I have five minutes left on break. I can just make it.

You all have a good start to your week and I'll talk at you later.

I know I am so boring on this but the status is the same: no electricity. Don't know when we'll have some. *sigh*

The pleasant weather went bye and it is now hotter and more humid. SUCH JOY. *fans*

I know. It could be much, much worse. HOwever, everyone at the complex is getting more snarly and less chipper and the situation is grating on everyone.

On the plus side,I'm at my friend Kitty's doing laundry instead of finding laundramat, so that's good! She's awesome.

Also awesome is the article ninamonkey linked to on her lj here. I might get flack for thinking this, just like the author did, but I think it's incisive and true.

I'm going to go check laundry to see if we can leave my generous friend Kitty to her Sunday.

You all take care and I'll talk at you later.

( American Politics )

Show it to the world. Keep the faith.

So The Mayor, in his infinite wisdom, has decided we need to open a daycare for all the city employee's children so said employees go back to work.

A noble gesture, to be sure, however, *I* am not comfortable with the free-and -easy way this is going down, and I'm not going to be liable for not knowing these children's medical history, their allergies, their temperment, and who has clearance to pick them up after the day is done. I'm sure I sound negative but if you just think of all the things that occur when someone signs their kid up for school or childcare and think of how many of those things we are *not* doing, it is nervous making.

Oh, and we can't call it a 'daycare' since we don't have any licensure of the kind for such things. We are offering 'employee relief services.' Sure.

Thankfully, the KIDS room staff is staying at our regular department doing regular things, thank god.

I need to go out front soon but, to sum up:

+ Still no power.

+ The communal good will is cracking just a bit, only because everyone is SO over not being able to be in our apartments with our stuff because it is stuffy and dark.

+ Still better than people who lost everything. Every time I get growly I remember that.

+ All programming is apparently cancelled for this week. I need to call the Ballet Folkorico people and tell them it's not a go this Saturday. I don't even know how their offices faired.

+ I am a bit better now that I can at least check the Internetz at work. I missed you all!! *smushes*

Ok, gente! Onward to another day!

Will talk at you later!

I had power! Yes, I HAD power. My complex had power for 40 minutes. Then a tree, which did not deign to fall DURING the 60-80 mph windsm and torrential rain- fell AFTER. On a main line, which took out the electrity to our complex and the two house behind us only. So we are the only ones on our block without power. It sucks.

However, if anyone has seen the devastation on Galveston, Port Bolivar, where D and I actually lived for year and a half, and all the cities along the coast- I think we're pretty lucky.

We never lost water service. Our complex had 3/4 of the units take in water but mine and the one next to me did not, miraculously. The gay guys across the way have an enormous propane grill and have been feeding everyone every day; we all pooled our resources and no one is alone.

The heat, the boredom, and frustration have caused a few conflicts but not too bad.

I'm at work because they called today and at least this place has power and a potty I can see before I sit down in it.

I'm so so sorry for scaring everybody by not leaving!

But we are fine.

They are saying it will be as long as two weeks for power to come back up. Mergh.

But still. Blessings.

*hugs you all*

I miss you all so much! I am suffering severe internetz withdrawl and I'm never catching up on my FL but I'm ok!

Will write again tomorrow!

At least as long as it lasts! *crosses fingers*

We're ok! Power went out at 3 a.m. last night and is trying to come on intermittently. It's on now and we're all hoping.

Gonna go see if we have anything that can be grilled for real food before it goes bad. The fridge has been out over twelve hours.

*hugs you all*

Will update as much as I can!

In Galveston.

We have the tub full of water, candles in candle holders, all our supplies, clean clothes, lots of books and board games, and lots of bottled water.

My family has been calling really worried because I know my dad and he has been watching The Weather Channel and the Texas 24 hour Channel and making himself crazy.

I know some people think we ARE crazy not to have left, but the roads are grid-locked for 80 miles out of town by now, even if we wanted to go.

I have emailed them a list of helpful links like the link to this journal, though I've sent it to them numerous times throughout the years, two local news channel links, my Myspace, My Facebook, and the red cross registery Safe and Well where people log in to tell their friends and loved ones they are ok. The link is here.

I urge anyone going through this to register and update regularly so your gente can search and find out if you are OK.

People, I know you all are worried and I love you all so much for your concern. *smushes* But we'll be ok. Our apartment has a group of people that have stayed including the gay guys and their nephews, the old couple down the way, some other single people and a single mom and her daughter, and we are watching out for each other so we are not alone.

I'll update as long as I have Interwebz.

In random news, the author of Strangers in Paradise Terry Moore also lives in Houston and he did not evacuate either. He is also blogging. Us Texans, we crazy, we know.

I'll keep you all posted.

Apparently, Hurricane Ike is going to make landfall into the Brazoria area, threabouts, which is pretty damn close to Galveson and Houston. The storm is supposed to come in as a Force 3 and we're hoping that's all it strengthens because anything stronger is v.v. bad. Force 3 is just BAD, with high wave action, very high winds, flooding, and a partridge in a pear tree lots of other scary-type weather conditions.

D and I went down to the LaPorte house yesterday in a laughable attempt to get it ready for the storm since we have no plyboard for the windows, not the strength or money to put it up, and no water in the house so going potty was an interesting experience. We're going back to day to see if we can move everything somewhat valuable to the middle of the house away from the windows.

We also got hurricane supplies last night at midnight before the insanity started today. We weren't even sure the insanity would start but figured, eh. We were up and it should be quiet. It was.

This morning when the eye shifted North, we were pretty glad. We still have to do some stuff; get prescriptions, some odds and ends at the $ store, cook all the perishables in the freezer, but we got the main stuff yesterday.

I've never been in a hurricane despite the fact that I've lived in TX all my life and on Galveston Island for four years.

Kinda freaked out but it still seems surreal.

I'm sure by Friday night when the 100+ winds start to hit shore it will get pretty real.

We are not leaving Houston. We are hunkering down and riding it out.

It is a given that power will be out in the storm so I will obviously be without interwebz when it does. I will be posting until I'm able to but we're gonna be running around quite a bit today.

At least as soon as D's back pain pills kick in.

Wish me luck, gente! That is one big, scary fucker of a storm and our area has been on borrowed time for a while.

You all stay safe and I'll talk at you later.

D and I ( Watched Fringe last night. )

In other news....

+ Someone on my FL linked to an Educators for Obama t-shirt and I searched and found a Librarians for Obama t-shirt!! WANT!!

+ I'm watching this pretty good gay movie I didn't know exsisted called Strange Fuit." The title is from a Billie Holiday song about lynchings and the story follows a gay lawyer that goes home to Lousiana after a gay high school friend is hung. I had lots of issues with the movie, including the ending, but it has strong performances from all the main characters, including 'Jenny' from The Jefferson's fame as the lead protagonist's mother. The many sub-plots kind of get muddled but it's a good story. Worth watching.

+ The hurricane in the Gulf is headed close enough to here for us to need to buy at least a few supplies. *sigh*

+ I am on vacation until this Monday but it looks like most of it will be spent watiting to see what the storm will do.. It is still nice to wake up in a liesurely fashion and not have to hurry to get somewhere.

+ I've gotten to where I can't watch any election coverage at all, I am so apprehensive. I want my country back. The further deterioration that will occur if McCain wins frightens me to a point of blank, utter despair. The Indigo Girls have a line in one of their early songs that says, "No one can convince me we aren't gluttons for our doom." I feel like that.

Now D and I have to go buy duct tape to tape the windows in the LaPorte house. Fun times.

You all take care, yeah? I'll talk at you later.

Last night the phone rang at ass o'clock in the morning. D's freind was calling from California ( about a gun. )

I've been reading people's political posts about Palin and all that and rather than say, again, what has been said, I give you a smattering of poli-links that address my mindset on these matters.

+ Except for the first one. harriet_vane's post which pretty much sums up the way I feel in the most succint, to-the-point manner possible. I can't link to it because her LJ is friends-locked so I'm quoting it whole cloth because it is just that perfect.I hope she doesn't mind.:

"Sarah Palin is a creationist, she is anti-abortion, and she doesn't believe climate change is man-made. There is no one I am less likely to vote for, regardless of the fact that she's a female. I am incredibly insulted by every headline that suggests otherwise.

Also, I am not giving the GOP props for choosing a woman, because TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AGO the Democrats nominated Geraldine Ferraro. Suck it."

Well said, Ms. Vane. Well spoken.

+ synecdochic linked to the most comprehensive poll tracking website I've ever seen. It is run by a person that used to do stats for major league baseball and it is awe-inspiring in it's detail. And also scary.

+ Here is an article discusses Palin's belief on book censorship and her retaliation against those who don't share her beliefs.

+ Lastly, only because I want to keep this list down to a nice respectable level, a former POW's explanationon why he is not voting for McCain. Illuminating.

That concludes my links on the subject, for now.

In other news...

+ ( Did I ever tell you all I had a Michael Huchence obsession in community college? )

The video is here:

How I go from tall, sultry Australian front man to short, pornstached, tattooed guitarist I don't know. Anyone? Thots?

The quality's pretty shitty and the sound sucks, but wow. Wow. He was something.

+ Hurricane Ike might be headed to the Gulf. IKE! TOWARDS the GULF! What are the odds??

+ In closing, I have decided to edit the hell out of Embers and see what happens. Eh. *shrugs* What's to lose?

Ok, gente. This rambling discourse has gone on for too long and I go now.

How well do you know your significant other? :-) ( Take the survey! )

Check your answers and have your darlin' do it back. :-)

I've decided I want one and damned if I can find the directions anywhere....

One of the earliest songs you can remember listening to: Oh What A Night- Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons

Song from the artist you last saw live: Leviathan- Leathermouth

Song you currently can't get out of your head: Baby Can I Hold You - Tracy Chapman

Song by someone who is dead: New Sensation- Michael Huchense, vocalist, INXS

Song you discovered from a film: What Becomes of the Broken Hearted - Joan Osborne, 'Standing in the Shadow of Motown'

Song you love to sing along to: Ramblin' Man- Allman Brothers

Song that makes you nostalgic: Closer to Fine- Indigo Girls

Love song: City Hall - Vienna Teng

Song that makes you cry: Halleluia- sung by Ryan Adams

Song that makes you laugh: A Little on the Trashy Side- Confederate Railroad (I swear this is my cousin Richard's theme song)

Song with food in the title: Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground

Song you like only because of the title: This is What They Do to Guys Like Us In Prison- MCR (only not JUST for the title, but is it not genius??)

Song you hate: Most things by Maroon 5. They just bore me.

Now ya'll!

Is that I can't re-sub-title my journal 'What's Gay About Blowjobs?' much as I really, really want to. It just looks....wrong. *lol*

Hai, gente!

It is just past 1:30 a.m. and I wide effing awake thanks to the sips of Dr. Pepper I've had from D's glass. Or, you know. That whole waking-up-at-11 thing. :->

So we are watching Trauma:Life in the ER, which we are both shamelessly addicted to.

Bullet Points, yes? Yes.

+ We are eyeing Gustav nervously. The main path takes it to the border of Texas and Louisiana which is still very, very close. Meep. You all think good thoughts.

+ Went grocery shopping today to stock up on stuff like water and non-perishables, just in case.

+ Macaroni Grill and possibly movie/museum tomorrow.

+ Burned my finger taking nachos out of the oven. OW.

+ stele3's Two Knights and A Pawn: So. Much. LOVE. I didn't even know I wanted Frank/Gerard/Bob. And I DO! I really DO!!!

+ Apartment is a pit. Must do laundry tomorrow.

+ Saw movie Win a Date with Tad Hamilton and it was surprisingly good! How precious is Topher Grace in that film, I ask you? And Kate Bosworth before she became a stick and that really good chick from the Johnny Cash movie and other good people. All around a pretty enjoyable film.

In closing:

+ Sarah Palin: Really, John McCain?

This is mostly filler, so I go 'night. Si?

You all have a good weekend! I'll talk at you sometime soon!