December 2006 Archives

The holidays are coming to a close; there's only one more day to get past - the dreaded New Years Eve, where the usual mentality is "party until you can't party anymore". What better way to enter the new year if not draped over a toilet, emptying your stomach of the numerous vodka tonics consumed in preparation for that one moment? If you're lucky, your boyfriend is there holding your hair for you. If you're really lucky, all your friends are gathered around you recording the moment so they can later post your humiliation on youtube.

Some people might argue with me, but I stand by that last statement. OK, maybe the youtube part was taking things a bit far. Something I've realized lately is that it's rather easy to find a significant other, but it's much more difficult to find good friends. Relationships come and go (as my blog definitely proves), but good friends stick around with you through all of the tears, the plots for revenge, the sociopathic ranting, and even the self-centered overemotional blogging that spews forth when one of those flavor-of-the-week relationships go sour.

I've always been involved with someone. Always. It's not intentional; I'm rarely looking for someone when it happens. It just happens that way. I met Mike shortly after leaving my husband. I met Greg when I was running away from Mike. I took more of a break before I found Keith, but it wasn't really all that long. Because of this, I've rarely had much attention to dedicate towards friends. I'll admit that when I'm with someone, most of my attention (that teensy bit that isn't all about myself) gets focused on that person. I had a lot of friends, but most of the ones I'd qualify as really good friends were actually ex-boyfriends. Since I moved here, that has been changing.

I don't regret that I won't be part of a couple on New Years Eve. Maybe the one person that I might let hold my hair back - if I hadn't chopped it all off - is halfway across the country, but I kind of prefer it that way. I'm spending this New Years Eve with good friends, and that means a lot more to me right now.

As a side note, I'm late on getting out holiday cards. I was getting ready to send everything out the day I had the motorcycle accident. So what were Christmas cards are quickly becoming "Happy New Year" cards. My apologies, and many thanks to those of you that sent me a card for the holidays.

Also, one of the many benefits of working for Yahoo! is a pro Flickr account, so any new pictures will be posted to my flickr account.

Yahoo! is very big into charity work, so it was no surprise when each employee was given a gift certifiicate to re-gift to charity. I was spending my lunch hour poking through various causes when I found one that really made me go "awww".

From donorschoose:

North Charleston, SC
subject: Literacy
grade level: 3-5
% low income: 93%

In my Title I school, students go to Computer Lab once a week, but, other than that, have very little exposure to computers and the Internet. Young people are sponges when it comes to learning how to use technology, but unfortunately that use is often limited to video games, DVD players, and boom boxes. With only a few computers in my classroom, it is difficult to utilize them for research activities when the students come to school knowing little about computer safety, search techniques and publishing options. A digital projector would give me the opportunity to teach those things more easily to the whole class, so individuals could use the class computers efficiently.
In addition, the use of computer simulations, interactive games, and streaming videos greatly enhances learning for most students. The number of available videos on the computer is astounding. They have been aligned to state standards and provide excellent visual support to content lessons. Interactive games on the computer are a very good way to reinforce and enhance math skills and concepts. Again, an LCD projector would allow me to show streaming videos to the whole class and model the use of interactive games and simulations. My Title I students are fascinated by technology, so what better way to excite them and stimulate their interest in learning? An LCD projector could be used in many, many ways to enhance lessons, provide practice, and facilitate research in my classroom. A bonus result would be safer, more proficient consumers of all that the Internet has to offer. Thank you for considering this proposal.

There's still quite a bit of money to go until they reach their goal. Help them out, donate some moeny. Even if it's only $5, it's a Christmas gift you can feel good about giving. Who needs another ugly pair of gloves from the Gap that will probably only get worn twice anyways?

I got in an accident on Saturday when I was taking out the motorcycle. After examining the situation and what I think happened, there's nothing I could have done to prevent it. The Seca is mostly OK. I'm going to have to replace the clutch handle and get a new starter cover (although that's just for cosmetic reasons). One of the exhausts is a bit scraped. It managed to land on the handlebar though, which kept anything from getting too damaged. It's pretty impressive if you lay down your bike and your turn signals aren't even broken.

I, on the other hand, am slightly damaged. I wasn't bleeding, but I did manage to take a layer of skin off one of my knees. I wasn't hurting too badly (yay, adrenaline!), so I went to the pharmacy and got some anti-bacterial ointment and some gauze, then proceeded to bind my knee up pretty tightly. I was limping for the rest of the night, but it didn't hurt much at all. When I woke up the next day, the pain was gone.

Today, I took the gauze off - bad idea. Within 2 minutes, my knee had swollen up to two times its previous size. Totally awesome. This picture doesn't do it justice. The bruise very dark, almost black. You can at least see some of the swelling, though.

Today, I think I'm going to head to the hospital. It still doesn't hurt that much. In fact, the area near the surface of the big bruise looking thing is almost completely numb. If I press down at all, it hurts more inside, like a bruise usually would. My toes have been curling/cramping as well. I have no idea how I managed to bruise the inside part of my leg. It's all very strange.

This is the first time I have ever laid down a motorcycle. I was really hoping that my first time would be something really impressive. I'm talking a helicopter flying me to the hospital, the remaining recognizable pieces of my bike being able to fit into a shoebox, etc. I'm a little disappointed that it was this unimpressive. Oh, well. Maybe next time. :)

Here's an image you won't forget
All your life, I'll tease, I'll torment
I'll be gone as soon as you click a page

Don't you wish you could hold
The pretty little jpeg doll
The one you couldn't quite control
Who walked away from you

- Pink, Centerfold

Ok, those lyrics aren't quite correct, but I like them better.

Monday night is the cutoff for signing up for a Christmas card. I've got 40+ people on the list thus far, and I'll be ordering the cards soon, so sign up now if you want one. :)

I like to poke through my stats page to see how things are going occassionally. After I took down the gallery, hits to the dropped a bit. Looks like some people found the stash in ~sektie though.

I was amused to find this post about me on some random forums. I've never heard of bluegartrls before. Well, uh, thanks for mentioning me, I guess. FWIW, most of the pics in that directory are from my teenage years. I always publish new ones on the main site. Although honestly, I'd rather be known as "that chick that knows FreeBSD really well" instead of "that chick I'd like to stick my penis in."

PINCH gloves are my kind of bling. A bit pricey. If I wasn't getting a new motorcycle in early 2007, I'd consider it.

... even though it's kind of weird.

I feel like I should be converting to vegetarianism and start wearing all natural hemp products. Is this a normal thing to be feeling? California needs support groups for people that never lived here before.

"Welcome to San Francisco. Here's your hippie badge."

I'll be there. :)

Yes, I will still send you a card if you are outside the US. I've had a few people ask me what my address is so they could send me a card as well - just do a whois on FreeBSDGirl.com. I always keep it updated with my correct information.

Also, please make sure the subject is "FreeBSDGirl.com Christmas Card". I've got a smart mailbox set up in Mail.app to keep track of who I need to be sending cards to, and it matches on that subject. :)

and so here it is.