Dear God,
Could today have gone any worse?
It starts at the UHaul place. My father had arrived 20 minutes early and was freaking out because there was no truck under my name. I got there and got it sorted, they had a truck, but my name was mistyped. They gave me a truck with three-quarters of a tank, rather than the full tank that I had initialed the contract about.
We get to the storage place and get to my unit. The lock was frozen. Happily, my father had a screwdriver and a hammer in his car. With some judicious smacking, we got the lock rotating. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the damned thing to open. Dad had a hacksaw. (I do hope he's also got a jack otherwise, he's going to have some troubles with a flat.)
While they worked on that, I went to the office to see if I could get a bolt cutter to snap the lock. They promised to send someone out. My father and my brother had sawed almost through it, when the lock popped open.
Now the storage unit door wouldn't open. (There was ice covering it.) My brother and my father were chipping away at the ice, but it didn't do much good. The maintenance guy came by with the bolt cutters. That wasn't useful, but he went and got some ice chippers. That worked much better to get the door opened.
Then the drive to Boston began. We got to the place and I went to the front door and remembered something. Before we left, I had printed off directions, so that we'd be covered in case we got separated. Unfortunately, I left my USB thumb drive in the computer - with the key ring it was attached to. That was about 150 miles back and almost 90 minutes ago.
While I was freaking out about that, my brother and my father showed up. My good news/bad news attempt at humor didn't go over well.
I checked with my landlord - no one was home - called my roommate - away from his desk - and figured we couldn't do anything until they called, so we went to grab some lunch.
Once I got the landlord's key, moving in was short, simple and easy.
I drive to the UHaul to drop off the truck - and promptly get lost. I call UHaul, who tells me that they don't have a UHaul location at the address I was given. They give me a different address. I drive to it and find it's the same place that I was going to. My address is their side street, the address I had just gotten was the main street it was on.
As expected, there was nothing that I could do about the gas. I had initialized it. But they also wouldn't accept the truck because there was some crap in the back that was in there when I got it. So I had to clean all of that out, before they'd take the damned truck. I shoved it all into a trash can at the place.
And as an added bonus, when I got home, I found out that tickets for a friend to visit were wrong and I need to go to Orbitz tomorrow and try to change them. AIGH!
At least the day is almost over.
February 28, 2008
February 26, 2008
Sleep Study
Woo! I have an appointment. Now I just need to find some footie jammies, so that I don't scare the nurses by sleep in the raw.
February 25, 2008
Ah... Health Care...
Okay, I'm perfectly willing to say that I was spoiled by the UK health care system while I was over there. Say what you like about the National Health Service (NHS), it was simple. You go to the doctor in your neighborhood, they take care of you, and because of my medical condition, I even got free meds. No hassles with insurance or anything like that, the only issue is that I might have to wait a few weeks for an appointment. When I had to go to the hospital, ambulance, visit and meds were all free and the care fantastic.
Now, I'm back home in Boston. My doctor refers me to a sleep center to get checked for sleep apnea. I call the referral number. They can't do anything because they haven't been given a fax from my doctor. I call my doctor and get bounced to the referral department of the health center that he works with. They can't do anything until they get a doctor's name. I call the sleep center. They can't give me a doctor's name until they have a referral.
Jesus H. Christ!
I called back. Oh, no. It's less of a referral that they need than a doctor's order, so that they know what I need and where I'll be going. Okay, I told them where I lived and explained that we're just trying to find out if I have sleep apnea. Unfortunately, that doesn't nail it down enough.
More phone calls and more annoyance on both ends. At least now, it's back with my doctor faxing something to the sleep center so that hopefully they'll let me schedule an appointment.
Happily, this isn't the same for all things. I called up my doctor and got an appointment to see him in a month or so. And a referral to the dermatologist is only about a week away. So at least that's working okay.
Now, I'm back home in Boston. My doctor refers me to a sleep center to get checked for sleep apnea. I call the referral number. They can't do anything because they haven't been given a fax from my doctor. I call my doctor and get bounced to the referral department of the health center that he works with. They can't do anything until they get a doctor's name. I call the sleep center. They can't give me a doctor's name until they have a referral.
Jesus H. Christ!
I called back. Oh, no. It's less of a referral that they need than a doctor's order, so that they know what I need and where I'll be going. Okay, I told them where I lived and explained that we're just trying to find out if I have sleep apnea. Unfortunately, that doesn't nail it down enough.
More phone calls and more annoyance on both ends. At least now, it's back with my doctor faxing something to the sleep center so that hopefully they'll let me schedule an appointment.
Happily, this isn't the same for all things. I called up my doctor and got an appointment to see him in a month or so. And a referral to the dermatologist is only about a week away. So at least that's working okay.
February 14, 2008
February 13, 2008
Quiet Week
Fighting a miserable cold.
As well as miserable code, at work, but that's a different issue.
Cough my way through the days at work, then go home to curl up in bed with a pile of comics that I've slowly been making my way through.
All in all, I think the only thing taht I've been missing is ginger ale and ritz crackers liberally spread with peanut butter to feel like I'm 8 again.
As well as miserable code, at work, but that's a different issue.
Cough my way through the days at work, then go home to curl up in bed with a pile of comics that I've slowly been making my way through.
All in all, I think the only thing taht I've been missing is ginger ale and ritz crackers liberally spread with peanut butter to feel like I'm 8 again.
February 9, 2008
February 5, 2008
Primary Day!
It's Primary Day in Mass. (And many other states around the country.) Don't forget to get out and do your civic duty today!
February 3, 2008
Another bad diet day...
It's been a while, but I fell off the B&J's wagon.
But boy did it taste good.
But boy did it taste good.
January 26, 2008
WTF with Mass Drivers?
How difficult is it to remember that you pass on the left not the right?
Two lanes and I'm behind someone going 10 miles per hour slower than the speed limit, because he can't move into the right lane, because people are wizzing by at 90.
AIGH!
Two lanes and I'm behind someone going 10 miles per hour slower than the speed limit, because he can't move into the right lane, because people are wizzing by at 90.
AIGH!
January 24, 2008
Internet Addiction - Day 1
Yesterday, I had to relinquish my beloved mac to the shop to get the ethernet port fixed. (It's on the motherboard, so the whole board needed to be replaced.)
Hopefully, I should get it back in 48 hours or so.
Last night, I was on my Palm, using that to go online. On the other hand, it was good to get a full night's sleep. Especially needed after going to the gym yesterday.
Hopefully, I should get it back in 48 hours or so.
Last night, I was on my Palm, using that to go online. On the other hand, it was good to get a full night's sleep. Especially needed after going to the gym yesterday.
January 23, 2008
January 21, 2008
Last Week's Winter Storm
Test of the phone.
Woo! I can add blog posts from my phone again and just take pictures.
Technology rocks!
January 20, 2008
Busy weekend...
First off, I want to thank the people that have been constantly abusing me about going to the gym, pushing me to go to the gym today, giving me ways to make up for missing the gym, etc...
Unfortunately, I didn't go to the gym this weekend. I did do a good amount of walking, though. Saturday, I went to the mall on an errand for a friend of mine. He needs me to pick up a PS/3 and a few other things and ship them to him. I also wanted to go to the Apple store and gawk, as well as ask them a couple of questions and picking up the mac version of Quicken.
After I got home, I schlepped around Ashmont a bit trying to find a grocery store. I was annoyed. I saw a big sign for a Super Stop and Shop and headed over there. Two miles later, I saw the part of the sign that was hidden - it said that the store was an exit down and then down the road. (According to the locals, that's in Quincy, so I'll probably be using Peapod or shopping in town and bringing my groceries out to Ashmont with me. There are a couple of small shops that have a lot of the staples near me, so I was able to get some peanut butter, some jelly, bread and orange juice, which will tide me through for a few days.
I also have some cool software for the mac: Quicken, which is just always friggin' fantastic; the Missing Sync, which is a better syncing program for the mac than the software it comes it.; and Spanning Sync, which allows me to sync my mac's built-in iCal calendars with the Google Calendars.
This gets me the same calendar at home, at work and in my pocket, which is just very very handy.
I've also been playing with Twitter. Not sure how I like it for me, but I've been working on a Twitter fiction project which I enjoy a lot. (http://twitter.com/Helsing if you'd like to check it out.)
Saw a movie that didn't really wow me last night: 28 Weeks Later. It was a sequel to Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later about a zombie infestation in the UK. There was a lot of carnage, some tension and plenty of stress, but it didn't really cover much new ground.
Today was the LGBT parents' brunch, which I enjoyed. I talked to a couple of other people that had adopted DSS kids, which is what I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of an older kid and a DSS kid, which will speed things up, but also means that they've been in DSS custody and the foster care system with the problems involved with that.
Unfortunately, I didn't go to the gym this weekend. I did do a good amount of walking, though. Saturday, I went to the mall on an errand for a friend of mine. He needs me to pick up a PS/3 and a few other things and ship them to him. I also wanted to go to the Apple store and gawk, as well as ask them a couple of questions and picking up the mac version of Quicken.
After I got home, I schlepped around Ashmont a bit trying to find a grocery store. I was annoyed. I saw a big sign for a Super Stop and Shop and headed over there. Two miles later, I saw the part of the sign that was hidden - it said that the store was an exit down and then down the road. (According to the locals, that's in Quincy, so I'll probably be using Peapod or shopping in town and bringing my groceries out to Ashmont with me. There are a couple of small shops that have a lot of the staples near me, so I was able to get some peanut butter, some jelly, bread and orange juice, which will tide me through for a few days.
I also have some cool software for the mac: Quicken, which is just always friggin' fantastic; the Missing Sync, which is a better syncing program for the mac than the software it comes it.; and Spanning Sync, which allows me to sync my mac's built-in iCal calendars with the Google Calendars.
This gets me the same calendar at home, at work and in my pocket, which is just very very handy.
I've also been playing with Twitter. Not sure how I like it for me, but I've been working on a Twitter fiction project which I enjoy a lot. (http://twitter.com/Helsing if you'd like to check it out.)
Saw a movie that didn't really wow me last night: 28 Weeks Later. It was a sequel to Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later about a zombie infestation in the UK. There was a lot of carnage, some tension and plenty of stress, but it didn't really cover much new ground.
Today was the LGBT parents' brunch, which I enjoyed. I talked to a couple of other people that had adopted DSS kids, which is what I'm thinking of. I'm thinking of an older kid and a DSS kid, which will speed things up, but also means that they've been in DSS custody and the foster care system with the problems involved with that.
January 17, 2008
Okay, I need help...
Rarely do I open myself up to constant abuse like this, but...
I've got a gym membership. I'm also working from 7.30-6 (or 7). If you don't see me talking about the gym and whining about working out. I want abuse. Push me.
Thank you.
I've got a gym membership. I'm also working from 7.30-6 (or 7). If you don't see me talking about the gym and whining about working out. I want abuse. Push me.
Thank you.
January 16, 2008
Registered to Vote!
Woo! I made the deadlines and I'm ready for the primaries.
Still getting settled in, both at home and at work.
Still getting settled in, both at home and at work.
January 14, 2008
First Big Snow Storm
Well, the first big storm now that I'm back. Strangely, I'm looking forward to it.
I've heard the sand trucks and the plows going by for a few hours, but the room has been too cold to get out of my nice warm bed.
It's weird now that I'm back in Boston, how easy it is to slip back into my routines. My time away seems to be receding a bit. Not like it's a dream or anything, but more about how life here feels a little more solid with the roots that I have in Boston. Which makes sense, I suppose. You can't live here for all those years and have so many people that I care about and not be connected.
Of course, there are some things that don't feel as solid any more. Tried what I used to think was the great vegetarian place in Chinatown the other night. It was eh at best. Maybe it was the meal, but I wasn't very impressed. Of course, Sorrento's was everything that I remembered. The service and the food were exquisite. The waiter that I'm used to had changed, but it was a Sunday afternoon.
We'll see if some of my other favorites hold up soon.
I've heard the sand trucks and the plows going by for a few hours, but the room has been too cold to get out of my nice warm bed.
It's weird now that I'm back in Boston, how easy it is to slip back into my routines. My time away seems to be receding a bit. Not like it's a dream or anything, but more about how life here feels a little more solid with the roots that I have in Boston. Which makes sense, I suppose. You can't live here for all those years and have so many people that I care about and not be connected.
Of course, there are some things that don't feel as solid any more. Tried what I used to think was the great vegetarian place in Chinatown the other night. It was eh at best. Maybe it was the meal, but I wasn't very impressed. Of course, Sorrento's was everything that I remembered. The service and the food were exquisite. The waiter that I'm used to had changed, but it was a Sunday afternoon.
We'll see if some of my other favorites hold up soon.
January 9, 2008
January 5, 2008
New Apartment
Here's the new apartment:
The view from the stairs on the way up.
The entrance hall.
My bedroom
The second bedroom that I'm going to turn into an office. I'll toss in a sleeper sofa for visitors. *HINT*
The full-bathroom
Full-bathroom's shower and towel closet? What do you call those things?
Dining room portion of the living room, note the bar for entertaining.
The living room portion of the living room with a working fireplace. The room is divided by an archway. There's a cable modem, but I haven't been able to get it to work with my computer. Will try with a wireless router tomorrow.
The kitchen.
The washer/dryer half-bath
The view from the stairs on the way up.
The entrance hall.
My bedroom
The second bedroom that I'm going to turn into an office. I'll toss in a sleeper sofa for visitors. *HINT*
The full-bathroom
Full-bathroom's shower and towel closet? What do you call those things?
Dining room portion of the living room, note the bar for entertaining.
The living room portion of the living room with a working fireplace. The room is divided by an archway. There's a cable modem, but I haven't been able to get it to work with my computer. Will try with a wireless router tomorrow.
The kitchen.
The washer/dryer half-bath
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