darkitysnark

I'm glad you're OK! You handled the potential accident perfectly. Things are starting to get back to normal here in Portland, though my bus did have a few heart stopping moments skidding around from a hill stop. My parents are in Texas. They sent photos of the icicles hanging off their gutters. Ugh. Office cold (it was 55... I think it's up to 62 now). Can't think right now.

One word: cheese. S'my kryptonite and my catnip.

Good luck on your presentation. Perhaps you should wear The Boots that day. Might distract some of the non sequiturs.

Eep! Sounds like you are taking the proper steps to alleviate the situation. If this *does* show up on your credit report(s), there is recourse for you short of the whole attorney thing. I had to have a credit card collection investigated several years ago (one of my old roommates during my Springer Year used my SSN to get a platinum card - I mean, c'mon, a college student with a platinum card? So obviously ID fraud.) and had all the "charges" dropped. It involved lots of phone calls with the collection agency and issuing bank (and a detective!) but no attorneys. Good luck!

Snarky's office smelled of gas earlier today, and since then she and her co-workers have been experiencing moments of giddiness and short attention spans. Of course, the spicy hot cocoa mix Snarky has been downing (with hot, strong coffee as the re-hydrating agent) probably is adding to the giddiness. She is finding herself in a very weird and easily distracted head space this week. The Mister continues to fight the last bits of this horrendous monster cold they've both been fighting (Snarky still gets occasionally froggy, but is otherwise Back to Normal) and has been coming down from Host Mode (the Darkity'Rents are safely back in their home five states away). He's been feeling very worthless and lost this week since he isn't currently working, but is too sick to really explore the possible employment avenues about which he was most curious. Snarky is Queen of Sloth and hopes to be able to encourage a few good days of solid down time for The Mister through example. Monkey see, monkey (don't) do, as it were. There is also a weird undercurrent of Impending Doom circulating around the office today (along with any brain cell killing gases that might be wafting). Next week is going to be insane with an annual sale that will require the man power and time of everyone on staff. This is a huge event every year that traditionally gives the company a start of the year boost upon which all sorts of annual projections and planning hinge. And some of the veterans of this melee are feeling that Something Will Go Horribly Wrong. All in all, the year has started off strangely. There is a feeling of restlessness and unease but also a kind of exhilaration - very reminiscent of the pit-of-stomach feeling one gets while being inexorably dragged up up up toward the payoff of a large, menacing, candy-colored roller coaster ride.

Asian moms are crazy. Take it from me: it gets much, much better when they are five states away. Hang in there!

The Snarks have been unbelievably sick these past few days. Snarky began showing signs of not-quite-rightedness during the Asheville leg of their North Carolina circuit of Ought Six and has since gone through losing her voice, running a mild fever, eye-watering sinus pressure, and persistent, hacking, non-productive coughs (the worst kind!). The Mister's symptoms appear to be on almost exactly a 48 hour delay from Snarky's. The biggest problem, besides having slept for almost three days straight (what New Year's celebrations?), has been the phelgm induced anosmia. Even if the Snarks were to get hungry (which is a rarity given their complete lack of activity as well as their sneaking suspicion that snot has been draining directly into their stomachs this whole time, which, yeah, ) they can't smell anything well enough to taste it. This is a great and terrible curse for foodies, which is just a less sexually suggestive name for what the Snarks really are, which are hardcore, dyed in the wool sensualists. (Snarky doesn't really know what "dyed in the wool" sensualists are like, but she is enjoying the mental image of drifts of alpaca fleece being soaked in a vat of deeply crimson dye) What did the Snarks eat this weekend? Two frozen pizzas. With nothing added to them. It just seemed like a waste to add the usual tangy/zesty/cheesy additional toppings they usually do with their "cheat, heat, and eat" meals. Why bother? It was all just so much texture in their mouths, and nothing more. So sad! Which reminded Snarky about the last years of Michael Hutchense's life. He was never a role model for Snarky, but she felt a certain affinity with his public image. He was probably the prettiest man at the time to give her funny feelings in her tummy. When she found out about his head-trauma induced anosmia, she couldn't imagine the anguish he must have felt. Side note: the step-sister-in-law's new boyfriend earned points with Snarky by going into a rather detailed discussion of how he possesses a very particular kind of synasthesia - he smells in colors. She left him an imp of Tombstone to see if it came up as a rusty cream with evergreen edging. Anyways. The DarkityFam is still scheduled to begin showing up starting tomorrow night. Snarky thinks she'll be almost human enough to host, though the house is an utter and complete shambles (which will give DarkityMa something to keep herself occupied, if nothing else). The Mister will probably be pretty wrecked, but they will manage. Interesting start to the new year, indeed.

It was.

So red jasper is for grounding! A-ha! That explains a lot. I bought a pair of red jasper earrings a year ago from a friend of mine who designs beautiful jewelry. We had just moved out West and I was feeling very unconnected to the world without my usual support network and old haunts. Hm... I love the idea of you slicing through a crowd of be-dazzled politicos in a blaze of ol factory and sartorial fierceness. All no-nonsense, grim and intimidating at the prow, but with a wiggle and a wink in your wake. And for whatever it's worth, I'm glad you are rounding a corner on that-which-must-not-be-described-to-death.

Snarky could probably content herself with a cup of hot water right now, though she has had startling moments of one-nostriled clarity every once in a while. DarkityPa went to four, count 'em, four different grocery stores while Snarky was at work today (and The Mister was passed out sleeping through his misery), and DarkityMa cooked up a big pot of chicken jook. Snarky is a bit embarrassed to have her parents restocking her pantry for her, but is looking forward to some tummy happiness.

Welcome back, sprained ligaments and all! I think if I ever were to stay in Vegas, it would have to be at the Golden Nugget. Because... Golden Nugget! Either that or Circus! Circus! 'Cause that's how I roll.

Was he a white dude? Because all those white dudes look alike. I still have school dreams that have to do with scheduling and where's my locker and I have a test when?!?! and all that fun stuff.

(Either Snarky just lifted the entire title of a book she once read in elementary school... or a surreal p0rno.) The promised finished heart t-shirt pics, plus bonus t-shirts because this did turn out to be a very addictive hobby: Unfortunately, Snarky cannot walk and chew gum (AKA craft and make clear documentation), but here's the finished heart! Detail of the heart. Snarky went back in after taking this picture to clean up the semi-painted spots. Niece #1 requested a drawing of a "pink unicorn with a white horn standing on green grass". So Snarky bent the rules a bit. Mane detail. The grass ended up overpowering the unicorn a bit, but Snarky figures a five-and-a-half year old won't mind. (Hopefully!) The Mister's one request for Christmas: a shirt that he could wear with (stinky) pride. Snarky also enjoyed "open studio" last night at work and will have more crafty pictures to post after she gets back from her trip Back East. The Mister seems to be in a much better place mentally, even though his job situation is even more complicated, though possibly in a good way: he's been tentatively offered some continued part-time work that he might be able to do from home for his current employer, and he just got the results from an online personality test that prompted a company to immediately contact him for an interview. This might end up becoming the major fork in the road for this part of his life that defines how the next several years roll out. Snarky hopes all of you are enjoying good food and great company. The passing of the Winter Solstice feels like the turning of a very important page for her. She's hoping for the same sense of forward momentum for everyone else who is currently Doing the Unstuck.

The Mister just threw together a garlic broth last night to try to fight this horrible clud (flu + cold + crud?) they picked up Back East. To no avail, but it was still delicious! Incidentally, The Snarks ended up gifting The Mister's "got garlic?" T-shirt to his budding-foodie step-brother, so now Snarky is gonna hafta make another one.

Hee! "Snarky Shirts". Snarky is planning a few BPAL blog-inspired designs just for the helluvit. The Mister was near-chipper yesterday, which did lighten the mood in ChezSnark quite a bit. Perhaps this trip Back East will be more Food Folks and Fun rather than Misery Loves Company.

We can do it! After I finish this yummy sammich.... There is this thing that's like touching except you don't touch Back in the day it just went without saying at all All the world's history gradually dying of shock There is thing that's like talking except you don't talk You sing You sing Sing for the bartender sing for the janitor sing Sing for the cameras sing for the animals sing Sing for the children shooting the children sing Sing for the teachers who told you that you couldn't sing Just sing There is thing keeping everyone's lungs and lips locked It is called fear and it's seeing a great renaissance After the show you can not sing wherever you want But for now let's just pretend we're all gonna get bombed So sing Sing cause its obvious sing for the astronauts sing Sing for the president sing for the terrorists sing Sing for the soccer team sing for the janjaweed sing Sing for the kid with the phone who refuses to sing Just sing Life is no cabaret We don't care what you say We're inviting you anyway You mother[frakkers] you'll sing someday... You mother[frakkers] you'll sing someday... You mother[frakkers] you'll sing someday... --"Sing" by the Dresden Dolls Snarky had a bad day yesterday. The Mister did manage to go in to work for half the day, but the first half was spent in moments of panic and anxiety. He says a switch has gone off inside his head that has turned his soon-to-be-former work place into a place of near-terror for him. He apologizes to Snarky for being broken, and it's breaking her heart to see him like this. But she's beginning to feel her fists harden into tiny little knots of grim determination. Her brow is furrowed and she's rolling up her sleeves figuratively (because it is friggin' COLD over here, making rolling up her literal sleeves a non-option) in preparation for the Work Ahead. The Mister is broken, but he is healing. Snarky will do her best to support and ass-kick as needed. She's also keeping an eye on her own stress-levels to make sure they complement - rather than exacerbate - his. Last night she worked on his special shirt. He requested a "got garlic?" shirt which has proven to be a bit more problematic than the other ones. If things turn out well (which they will... eventually) Snarky will post pics. She still owes finished bleeding heart and unicorn t-shirt pics too! Tonight, Snarky is staying late because her work is having another employees-only open studio session (with potluck panini! ). She's very excited about this, though she has absolutely no idea what she's going to make. Wish her luck!

Thank you so much! Today is much brighter than yesterday. Last night Snarky cranked some serious glass craftage (to the tune of seven soap dishes) that have apparently *not* exploded in the kiln overnight. A triumph! And, the t-shirt she's been waiting to do for The Mister is about half-done now... and looks pretty sweet. And! Though this is the darkest day of the year, the sun is out! Finally: The Mister might have worked out a stop-gap with his current employer in which he can provide some estimating help from home, which would give him an opportunity to still generate a little income and avoid all the stress-making people/places/things, at least for the time being. So yes, today feels almost like a 180 snap around from yesterday. Snarky knows more roller-coaster moments are on the horizon, but she's feeling much stronger than she did a mere 24 hours ago. Thank you!

Apparently Melody just doesn't have a last name. Feel the Love! Interesting. The whole Arc of the Covenant thing really gives me tremendous pause, but the crystal people out there do consider this book The Bible of their studies.

I'm so incredibly out of the BPAL loop! I was all "Wha-? What are these Kritters of which Cordia speaks?" Sheesh. I like 'em, but naw, I ain't crazy about them. Then again, I ain't into any of the ugly/cute plushies out there right now (though I play with them when we window shop the hipster stores). dawndie, admit it. You got the miniature Tomorrowland stuff not for any nostalgic future kitsch kick, but because you want to have a room set up with tiny things where you can feel like a GIANT!!! (We just finished off a gift basket at work that included these tiny pears that made us feel like viscious vegetarian Amazons.)

First the semi-tragic ordeal of the Kim family, and now the climbers on Mt. Hood. This has not been a good season for hope. Snarky finally hit her bummed out wall yesterday early afternoon. She and The Mister had been fairly functioning up until then, completing last minute holiday preparations for their trip Back East, s-l-o-w-l-y cleaning up ChezSnark for the impending white glove inspection from DarkityMa, generally acting as if life was going on without a hitch. Then yesterday afternoon Snarky fell hard into a funk and didn't really recover until late in the evening. She just could no longer pretend that Everything Was OK. She's fine now, but this morning The Mister, as he prepared for work, came into the bedroom (in which Snarky was determinedly NOT preparing to work out before work, but rather trying to discover just how much of her could be covered up before suffocation would become an issue) and started to hyperventilate and repeat over and over "I can't go in, I just can't go in, I can't go in there, I just can't go in....". She took some time off of work to make him some pancakes and get him in bed and talk to him. Assure him that it would be OK eventually, that they were on their way to finding a better path. And Snarky does believe this, firmly and with a steely resolve she doesn't normally feel for anything in her life (except for the Big Stuff). But she just wishes she could make The Mister believe it as thoroughly as she does right now too. In the meantime, she continues to do little things for him. Tell him how proud she is of him, all the things she hopes will help him to regain some of what he was before all this stress wore him down.

The Mister gave his notice last week. This is For Real this time. He did make it through roughly half a day of working. The replacement they brought in for him (when The Mister was moving back into the Project Management position) has more experience in this particular field and is apparently very bright, so at least The Mister won't have to worry about leaving his former department in the lurch. Though he confessed to Snarky today that that has not been a concern for him. In his own words: "It's like a switch has gone off inside my head and suddenly [soon-to-be-former-office] is the source for all my anxiety. I don't think you realize how hard this [returning to his office for the afternoon] is for me right now. Just physically going over there." He's right. Snarky doesn't understand this level of panic. But she does know The Mister is in pain. So she's here for him. Trying to give him the space he needs to take deep breaths but also be close enough should he need a hand to squeeze or a shoulder to lean on. ---- Referring back to Valentina's earlier statements: Snarky has sort of gotten used to being so close to so many treacherous giants. But every time they drive inland, the fact that the mountains don't seem to change at all on the horizon for so long and then wha-BAM are so humongous and landscape consuming is really quite impressive. Snarky grew up in the midwest (Iowa) and is in awe of rugged landscape and large bodies of water. The Oregon coast always takes her breath away (sometimes literally).

As a Newlywed, your holiday gifts are covered: just give everyone framed photos of you and The Man! Instant thoughtful gifty goodness!

Packaging reads: Disco, optional So, after a brief brush with the concept of single-income-dom a few months ago (that was circumvented with a lateral career move), it looks like The Mister has finally reached the end of his rope with his current employer. He's meeting with his supervisor sometime today to announce his intention of resigning from his position effective the end of this month. Snarky will surely panic later, but currently she is feeling oddly fine about things. It's not the end of the world... just the end of the world as she knows it. And when she looks around, she sees all sorts of things that can be trimmed away to make their impending financial strain less panic-inducing. Snarky grew up not quite poor, but very, very frugally. She can re-create some of the methods her parents employed to ensure that the important things remain covered. Normally, and this was proven in very recent history with The Mister's last "I've had it!" moment, Snarky does not handle the threat to her creature comforts well. But this morning when The Mister reached over to take her hand, it was shaking violently enough that she thought he was rapidly squeezing her hand for some unknown reason. She gave him one of his emergency panic attack pills, cooked him a quick breakfast, and went out into the rain. Now she's wondering if she should have stayed behind to provide moral support while he prepared for this life-changing day. In slightly better-perhaps news, she pointed The Mister to the "Be an Actuary" site that antimony suggested a while back, and he was very intrigued. Turns out the actuarial field was one of his top picks based on some sort of career choice evaluation he did a while ago. In the meantime, Snarky knows The Mister well enough that he will land on his feet. It will be rough going, but they will get there.

Thank y'all... deeply and truly. The Mister seems to be doing alright, considering. His immediate supervisor told him: "As your supervisor, I'm upset by this. But as your friend, I'm glad you made this decision". So yeah. This has not only been a long time coming, but it isn't even a surprise. The Mister is probably meeting with one of the presidents of the company tomorrow as well (as his supervisor went straight to him after his lunch with The Mister). Snarky doesn't think meeting with the president will change The Mister's mind, but maybe it will give him the kind of real closure he needs to be able to start thinking that he's worth something again. That the Snarks' life together in this fantastic city is something worth fighting and demanding more for.

I gotta break the third person thing to say: Thank you, dear! Ahem. Snarky would've tried to lobby for some middle ground on The Mister's decision, but that happened back in July/August. This truly is the end of the rope for him. He has worked himself into a state of actual physical jeopardy because of this job (most likely compounded with the five years at his previous hellaciously bad job) and has confessed to thoughts of not-exactly-but-close-enough suicide, bleakness, and worthlessness. It's time. A few quick cheapie pointers: buy generic when you can, set the thermostat for fah-REEZ-ing and bundle up, weatherstrip doors to the exterior, insulate the water heater, if your windows aren't double paned got those weather-proofing kits and seal 'em up (sort of like plastic wrap for your windows), if you eat meat opt for the non-skinless (be-skinned?), non-boneless cuts and do the butchering yourself, plan oven use around several dishes for several meals to make maximum (and one time) use of the heat, etc. etc.