Have I stepped on anyone's toes during the past weeks? Tell me exactly who or what I have majorly pissed off so that I can someway somewhen somehow make some fucking amends here.

Other than having to not only replace the battery (that we find out we did a Very Bad Thing(tm) concerning we tried to jumpstart a dry as a bone battery 3 times - cause I didn't realize that it helps to keep a battery hydrated with water every so often) of my truck and then the starter, on top of the 50elevenmillion other things that have to be done to it that I can't fucking afford right now before I am able to go through on my threat to just grab a bag, change my identity and roadtrip to the ends of the earth before I lose the rest of what shreds of sanity I have within my desperate grasp.. our house about killing us today with a very bad gas leak that occured when the washing machine was moved from the wall the night before so that the repairman could fix a broken balance ring and lid latch thingy today.. How could a washing machine cause a major gas leak, you ask? Well, when said machine sits right next to the dryer and in moving the machine, you jostle the dryer in such a way it knocks some weak as a kitten cap off the gas pipe behind it, causing gas to leak out during most of the night on into the next morning.. Oh, and did I happen to mention the 4 or 5 car pile-up that almost fucking occurred not even 45 fucking minutes ago while on my way home because some asshole just had to be on some goddamned mission that gave him the bright fucking idea to go around another car, putting him from the one lane he was in into oncoming traffic, and I was the car he would have ran smack into if something.. something in the back of my head hadn't said, and very clearly, "Be Careful", as I was going around that bend on Old Norcross. If I hadn't slowed up even that tiny bit going down that incline, if I had been just a few second ahead of myself, we might have collided, and I would have been in between 2 SUV's, not to mention the rest of the cars behind me who could have found themselves involved as well. If I had been in the truck I might have limped away. But I just happened to be in the Lincoln.

My hands are still shaking. How badly? It's taken me quite a few tries to get this bit I've typed out, corrected typoes and all. Any other lack of coherency is beyond my caring right about now.

This all on top of a few other things that have been going on lately, though one situation at least has finally come to a positive end after a good month and a half of Saturdays, though I won't hold my breath until that check is fully deposited in my account..

I would chat about that a bit. But right now? I'm going to go and fucking get drunk and cuddle Ivy then look at pretty pictures of boys kissing or something. Yeah.. Yaoi always makes me feel better.. But first? Drunk. Must go get drunk.

I Feel: distressed

*grumbles at lucent_alchemy*

It seems like I'm going to Dragon*con this year...

I Feel: silly

Contentment is:

Awesome Party made of Awesome.

Seeing my Darlings and meeting new Darlings.

Feeding and fussing over said Darlings.

Darlings who spoil me with love, companionship, helping with prep, presents *bounce*, making sure I had times to sit down, eat, drink my much needed water, and taking out my trash.

Going to sleep nowhere near in as much pain as I normally would have been after the Party of Awesome.

Sleeping on and off for about 10 - 12 hours making up for the week or so of sleeping for only 3 or 4 hours at a time.

Waking up only more stiff than sore to a glorious breeze coming through your window (reasons for not being in as much pain anymore will be listed in a following post).

Waking up because of a phone call from The Mom, who seemed to be in a much elevated state of happiness (reasons will be listed in following post *nibbles muse_of_chaos*).

Taking a nice long hot shower to help with soreness and being so relaxed as to just want to snuggle back down into bed afterwards. And doing so.

A little kitty who wanted to spend time with her mommy loving all over and taking a quick snooze with until mommy is woken up by a phone call from lucent_alchemy.

Munching on a Sandwich of Awesome made of mayo, mustard, liverwurst and swiss cheese and a small helping of leftover ziti. Yum.

Sharing bits of said liverwurst with the furchild and having her promptly snuggle up against my leg, purring contentedly.

Finishing off the last of the turkish coffee (DeKalb Farmer's Market FTW ya'll) with only a touch of vanilla soymilk needed.

Ahh.

To whoever left that Huge bottle of water (I was told that it was meant for me as relief from having to stand in front of 2 huge pots), You dear, are completely made of Awesome. I had my Dwarven Drinking Mug O' Doom set aside and filled with ice and water at all times to help keep the dehydration at bay, but that bottle of water is in my fridge as we speak and will be consumed shortly.

Water. Yum. Oh yumyumyum.

*purr*

I didn't take as many pictures as I had meant to, and I had all intentions of taking pictures of the pots when they were full of Crab Leg Goodness, but I forgot. But I'll take pics of the (now empty) pots so people can see the size of them. I did have the presence of mind to take a pic of a pan that was filled with crab legs just taken out the pot, along with a small amount of pics taken of various Darlings. *evil grin* I seem to be one of the very few who can take pics of Darlings who otherwise would run away from the camera. Why? Simple. See all them crab legs ya'll were eating? Who cooked them? *smiles sweetly*

Hehheh.

There is something I would like to talk about later, when I have gathered together what I feel needs to be said. Now normally, anyone bringing this up could easily open them to the "Well, mind your own business" or "Well, we weren't forcing anyone to do it", or even the "Well those who did it knew what they were getting into" arguments/logic. And normally I would just as readily allow this whole thing to slide. But this caused something to happen in My Domain, and those I allow into my domain are all under my love and protection no matter who they are and - unless they give me reason to have them removed from my domain and my Presence - whether I've known them for a minute or all my life. Therefore, what did happen becomes my concern, whether you agree with me or not. I am not going to go into this in the name of Drama, so when I do bring this up, I will expect all Llamas to be held in check, or else.

But right now, I have a way-ward baby cousin of mine and his friend to go spend some time with.. If I can get my sore body up them stairs..

I Feel: content

My feets hurt..

But it's the best damn hurt feets I've had in a while *grin*.

Before I go finish the last bits of cleanup, lemme just say: You guys rock =). Thanks so much for such an awesome time. Thanks so much for the awesome goodies. Thanks so much for the awesome presents (even if I did trip back downing a particular 'hands free' drink breaking in one particular present and about spill it all over myself *facepalm*. I must be losing my touch. *sigh* I think I need to get myself back in practice again... *halo*). Yay for the yayness that are gifts of reisling and mead! Oh Yay and Yay again!! *wiggle*

I do believe I can call that first run of my jambalaya a true success *grin*. I'm thinking I may have to make it again. I hope I did The Baron proud *nod*. Man it was so much easier to make than I'd hoped. Damn I'm good *wiggle*.

Whew, cooking crab legs will sure take it out of me.

Okay. Last little bits of cleanup for the night to do. The pots and the rest can wait til tomorrow. Yay! Leftover ziti and rice pudding that lucent_alchemy made and that mac-n-cheese delight indigoskynet made!

*om nom nom nom nom*

Right now Thanksgiving is up in the air. Depends on finances, and whether Lucent is gonna throw a dinner at his place.

But next year will be (as The Mom put it) The Mom's Celebrate-her-turning-70-that-year Extravaganza.

Oh lordy. She's thinking to have parties and stuff from the summer on to her birthday (Oct 20th).

And guess who's gonna be doing all the cooking again..

I'll be in Siberia..

*grinwiggle*

Anyway, I really enjoyed myself darlings. Thanks for such an awesome time! *hughughughug*

I Feel: exhausted

Guess what I got..?

*looks over at 3 crates of crab legs and the pot of jambalaya she got fixing on the stove*

I Feel: calm

Are ya'll ready for a sexy partay?

I Feel: busy

Taking a bit of a break to watch Gravitation for like the 200th time (go go Comcast On Demand!)..

I just adore this anime..

Ah.. Shounen-ai/yaoi makes themy world go round..

My name is Zorathenne, and I'm sucha pervertyaoi fangirl. If I could somehow move into Cafe Edelstein, my life would be made.. hee!


Bring on the Bishies! *rawr*

I Feel: silly

I've been trying to fight this forever.. But I keep finding myself doing little stuff more and more that just seems to keep emphasizing the point.

I can no longer deny it to myself..

I..

I.. I've become such a girl*!

Gyaaaaah!!

*mutters* still refusing to keep too many items that are pink, dammit.. *shifty eyes* That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Pink is evil!! Evil I tell you!! *refuses to glance over at what seems to be a very slowly growing pile of pink accented items*


Oh, the shame.. *hangs head*




* Okay, so I'm not fussing so much about becoming such a girl (I'm quite enjoying it, thankyouverymuch), but it's the fact of all this.. pink that keeps finding itself in my possession. I've hated pink ever since childhood, where I had no choice but to have a completely pink bedroom from the age of 4 til 17 all because The Mom believed that just because I'm a girl I should have pink. Seriously. Pink bedspreads, pink curtains, light pink walls, pink shag carpet, pink lampshades - my bedroom (and half the clothes in my closet) was a study in lace-accented Pepto-Bismol. Until I was in high school and The Mom decided to repaint every room in the house over a summer. I thought I would finally be able to change the color of my room. I even went so far as to tell her I'd keep the pink carpet (would have really cost too much to redo the carpeting), so I came up with colors to complement it. Soft dove gray, greens (my favorite color(s) at the time involved green), anything but pink. The Mom said she would think it over and then announced she would grant my wish with a darker color. Until that moment, I had been helping with painting all the other rooms, so my room was to be saved for last while I was at camp so as to be a surpise for me. I was estatic until I came home to see that my whole bedroom became just a darker shade of pink. Everything.. Bedspreads, walls, curtains, everything just was replaced with a darker pink. Of course the arguement rendered unto me was the one involving the logic that my not paying the bills in that house meant I had no say in what color my bedroom should be, and if The Mom believed that a girlchile of hers was to have a pink bedroom, then a pink bedroom I shall have. The only time The Mom would relent would be during the times she would buy clothing to send me as part of the care packages she would send me in college (I have to admit, that woman has an awesome taste in clothing and what I would like) - though she would grumble and sigh about how I like colors that are just too 'manly' (cause they weren't pastels and such), and when she bought the jimmy. She knew how much I loved green, yet refused to get the darker green version cause it was just such a manly color. Given at the time I'd explained she could have bought me a puce-colored Yugo and I wouldn't have batted an eye nor complained one bit (the jimmy was a *surprise* - I'll tell the story some day), I didn't care what color the car was, although I really am glad I wasn't.. pink. Though I'd still rock it if it had been.

Err.. *blink* I think I've ranted long enough about that *cough*. But now you (and the rest of the whole wide world) finally know why Pink is my Bane..

AND THOSE PINK LACE-ACCENTED PAJAMAS AND PINK MONSTER FEET PLUSH FUZZY SLIPPERS DON'T COUNT, DAMMIT! >_< ...


Okay, back to the grindstone for me..

I Feel: busy

So..

Anyone up for some crab legs on Saturday?

*less sly, more hopeful look*

Anyone wanna kinda help me with some much needed help on Friday night/early Saturday morning? I'm gonna be on a bit of a time crunch this week, and the prep for crab legs (cutting of corn, potatoes, sausage, etc) is much more involved than for catfish frying. Otherwise I can't promise exactly how much of a crab boil this is gonna be *wince*.

Anyway, back to the grindstone for me; gots lots o'stuff need doing today.

I Feel: busy

That I'm an idjit..?

*Explaination will come after I finally finish with what I'm doing today. But let's just understand that I'm an idjit..

I Feel: silly

You'd think I'd finally get this right. I'd promised to have this posted by June 1st. I'm such a bad, bad girl. I should be punished.. *halo*

In answer to a few certain darlings who were sweet enough to *cough* send me tiny hints and reminders:

2008's 4th of July Party of All Things Food and Doom (which is rarely actually held on July 4th) is, of course, still a go. And still on Saturday, June 28th. Special guests include my baby cousin, possible various other family members, and a hopeful visit by my baby sister.

So yes, consider this the 'Official Post'.

(bout damn time you put up the official post, woman! those little teaser posts months back don't exactly count, you know!)

*cough* Anyway. By now, any and every one who has been to previous parties should already know The Rules, but for those new to this program and hoping to attend I will gladly give the quickie rundown:

( If you already know The Rules, then you don't have to click. But for those who don't, or may just want a refresher course, or are just curious to see what I ramble on about this time.. Then make with the clicky. )

Well, now that that bit of pleasantness is out of the way..

As always, this is also a potluck. The Queen Mother and I will, as always, provide the main course(s). Those who wish to bring a dish, understand that each party can tend to get larger and larger (though the last one was nice and cozy). Those who don't wish to bring a dish, but would still like to bring something, sodas, alcoholic beverages, chips, dips, etc. are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Ice (and reislings *halo*) is also greatly appreciated.

The grill out on the patio is always available for those who wish to bring various meats to burn. *tilts head* Who wishes to be on the Grill Team this time around? *wiggles*

*thinks* I do believe that's it for now. If you think I've forgotten to mention something, or you have any questions, or just wanna tell me how much you love and adore me, don't hesitate to reply to this post. I'm more than a bit sleepy, so I'm positive I'm forgetting to mention something. If so then I'll just make another post, like I always do *giggle*.

I Feel: sleepy

Okay.. I'm beginning to think that someone or something out there in The Universe That Is is doing it's damndest to keep me from finishing this absolutely soul-purging, spleen-cleansing post I keep trying to finish (though I was able to get most of it out during a small IM convo - you're still a dork, by the way lucent_alchemy and I still love you with the lovepower of a million gazillion cupids arrows even though you're The Mom's favorite chile instead of me - *sticks tongue out at Universe quickly for a split second before It could take notice*, so nyah).

First, it was the washing machine.

Now it's this.

*ponders* This may actually be a good thing(?).. It's related to what the main part of the post was stemming from. *shrugsigh* Ah well. One does with the message what one can *grumble*.

Anyway..

Okay. This one is for all you geeks out there.

First, let's get this bit out there: When it comes to learning something, I learn better by doing. Solely reading on it or being taught in a lecture form doesn't often work well because it doesn't quite click. That theory has been proven. Want proof? Ask vernard *grin*. He makes an awesome Professor, but my way of having to learn baffled him a couple of times I'm sure.

I need to learn SQL (ANSI). And I need to learn it. I don't quite need to be a whiz at it; I just need to be familiar enough with it so that when the Bossman has the time to get together with me to let me know what I will be expected to help with, and what he needs to train me on, I can at least be on a stable enough footing where we will both feel there's progress being made, instead of me looking and feeling hopeless and like I'm wasting someone's time and money.

Other than the job and much, much desperately needed monies, I have another reason to learn.

My poor, dear, sweet, little server sitting over there in the corner... I have been so lax in showing her my love and affection lately. I had plans for her, yes I did. She was to hold every, and I mean every bit of music I own (my personal jukebox), and I came across a bit of info that had me wondering if there were an easy way to 'catalogue' what I have so that when darlings would log into my server to take a look at the anime/game music they were interested in, they could easily see what I have before going into the server itself to dl any of it. I was told that learning SQL would help me immensely in being able to do that. But this was so long ago that at the time I'd just filed the info into my Least Priority Folder and shuffled it away somewhere deep in the back of my mind.

Now I finally have the opportunity. And I have an estimated time of 2 weeks to get familiar with what seems to be my new best friend.

So. Advice, oh geeky little darlings o'mine. Any thing out there other than just books and professors? Tutorials are usually up my alley, but they have to be more than just a tad engaging, and they have to have me doing as well as reading. I'd also need a real live human being. I'm not very easy to teach, but once you get me hooked you won't be able to keep up with me. I'll be asking questions and running off going, "Oh! Oh! Lookit what I can do!"

And maybe, just maybe, if I can get over this hump, more than half of what I have to deal with in my life right now will be that much more easier to handle.

I Feel: determined

Ugh.

Okay. Had to interupt typing up a certian spleen-cleansing post to make an inquiry..

Anyone here know the workings of washing machines?

Let me explain.

Our washing machine won't drain. It will go through the wash cycle, but once it gets to the point where it needs to spin to drain out the water, it stops. The Mom mentioned it may be a belt. And that it's quite the expensive endeavour to get it fixed. Said wachine machine is a bit over 7 years old and never had a major problem before this. I think the only thing that had a problem before this was the dryer, when a heating element or something had to be replaced some time ago, and that was in the $200 range (as informed by The Mom). Unfortunately said washing machine may no longer be under warranty.

Because of this issue, among a few other situations that I won't go into now (wait a bit for it), I'm hoping and praying there's a way to fix this that won't cost at or above the $200 range. But. But.. if there's any of you darlings (because I love and trust you all) out there who can in some way shape or form help us figure out a much more affordable way to deal with this (read: Fix said machine), The Mom would rather pay one of you darlings the money. Or feed you. Or something. We are willing to negotiate.

Um.

Help?

I Feel: worried