If Only

Today, to me, was the ultimate summer day. It was 75 degrees, not at all humid, a nice breeze, a few poofy white clouds drifting lazily across the brilliant blue sky.

It’s sad that there’s only one or two of these perfect days a year in this area. And now one of them is almost over. There’ll be another, maybe, but likely not until almost fall. Sigh. I really need to move north where this is how the weather is most of the summer when it’s considered hot there.

Maybe, someday. It never hurts to dream.

Maybe I Was Bad

I’m out of space to plant anything new in my yard. A real pity considering one of my favorite greenhouses was having its Spring sale this weekend. I was sure they’d have some lovely stuff left. What’s a girl to do?

Simple. Go buy wonderful plants and stick them in someone else’s yard. Cool, right? I got a whole mess of stuff and mixed it all together. No planning. No color scheme. Just cool plants in all shades tossed here, there and everywhere. That’s how I generally disorganize my gardens. Drives my Master Gardener mother crazy because I plant everything in the wrong place with stuff that doesn’t like each other and then ask the yard spirits to watch over the garden. It all grows and forms the prettiest mixed up rainbows and she has a fit because it shouldn’t work.

Hopefully the yard I planted today has spirits like mine does. Just in case, I had a chat with the ones at home while I was squeezing in the three plants I just couldn’t resist for my garden. I’m sure they’ll go visit the other yard now and then to check on it for me.

Ooh, by the way. No one was around when I was planting and um, they didn’t know I was coming. Boy, won’t they be surprised?

TGIF

My mind is pretty much blank so I really have nothing to say other than yay, it’s Friday!

I suppose I could ramble a bit about my grandmother’s island that was supposed to one day be mine and how my mom sold it when my grandmother died, I suspect because she knew how much I wanted it. Nah, that will just piss me off and Neeley’s coming back into town to have dinner with me. Yes, I’m spoiled, I admit it. I don’t want to be in a bad mood to hang out with her so maybe its best we skip that one for now.

Anyway, have a good evening, whatever you do. I’ll try to come up with something more interesting for tomorrow.

Chaos

The book, not me. Well, perhaps me too but today let's stick with the book. Chaos is the second in my Cosmic Connections series. Yesterday, I was given the release date. September 30. From Ellora's Cave. Book cover to follow.

Blurb

When Shane McKade wakes up, trapped in bed, handcuffed to his brand new cousin-in-law, all he’s interesting in is getting them free so they can indulge in more mind-blowing sex. The woman aggravates him no end when clothed so better to keep her naked.

Alyssa Campini couldn’t agree more. Ever since she spent time on the street, capturing young gang members on film, McKade has been a thorn in her side. His only redeeming feature is that he comes through on his promise to deliver twenty four orgasms in twenty four hours.

Things get complicated, however, when Shane is shot protecting one of Alyssa’s gang kids while she’s off photographing tornados with a team of storm chasers. With their lives at stake, both are forced to reevaluate just what it is they really have together.

My Yesterday

But first, my Penguins are in the Stanley Cup playoffs! Not sure who they’ll be playing yet, either Chicago or Detroit. Those two teams haven’t finished their series so we’ll have to wait and see. Lets go Pens!

Yesterday was so busy. It started off with Howie going to the car doc. He had a broken window gizmo. Last week, when I put it up one day, it went snap, crackle, crunch and quit working. It sounded like the window broke inside the door but the noise was a cable slipping off its pulley and wrapping around a thingamabob where it didn’t belong. Then, the next time Howie and I went out, the window started drifting open so it’s been wedged up with cardboard for a week.

I was a bit confused when I got a call asking if I preferred to have the entire unit replaced, all new parts so Howie would definitely be fixed or if I would rather save a few bucks by replacing only some of the parts, risking it happening all over again should one of those not replaced be the one that was worn and caused the malfunction in the first place. Hmm, seemed obvious to me since it wasn’t that much of a cost difference. I chose to have Howie fixed for real. I don’t have time to worry about whether or not he might make that awful noise again and have the window crash down inside the door. The girl who took my money explained that they had to offer the cheaper fix because some people are more concerned with cost than safety. Howie’s a happy bug again after his big day out without me.

Last night was the last of our shows with the little girls. Annie this time with another yummy dinner again first. Very nicely done but Riley and I agreed it will never be our favorite show. What’s truly important is that Eva May and Mackenzie thoroughly enjoyed it. Their smiles alone made it well worth going.

Time to plan more adventures!

Texas Government Propagates Zombies

Ha. Got your attention now, don’t I? Good because it’s true, though not in the sense you’re thinking. I’m talking fire ant zombies, not people. And the government is doing this by way of parasitic phorid flies.

The flies are native to South America and introducing them into Texas to help control the fire ant population is USDA approved. They do not attack any native ant species, not that has been documented thus far and they’ve been in use for over ten years.

Here’s how it works. The flies bite and lay an egg in the ant. The larvae then feasts upon the ant’s brain as it grows, eventually consuming the entire thing. That’s the point where the ant becomes a zombie. Once its brain is gone it wanders aimlessly for a few weeks until the maggot outgrows its host, causing its head to pop off. This allows the fly to emerge to go on to continue the cycle.

So far the Texas government has introduces four different varieties of phorid flies. They’ve been tracking their progress and flies are now widely found in the south. This won’t eliminate fire ants entirely but hopefully it will keep the ants in check.

Um, okay. Definitely interesting. But how are they so sure the flies won’t mutate and become compatible with other hosts, say people for instance? I wonder how you know if you've been bitten by one and have one growing inside you?

No blog tomorrow. Stuff to do. I’ll be back Wednesday. Until then, beware tiny flies trying to roost in your ears.

Never Forget

Mm

Picked these this morning and had to have a few. Still warm from the sun. I’ve never understood the need some people have to put sugar on fresh fruit. Biting into a red, ripe, succulent berry, flavor bursting on your tongue. Doesn’t get much better than that.

Idiot

There was another bank robbery this week right around the corner from where I work. Great entertainment watching the police swarm the area, checking rooftops to see if the robber tossed the bag of cash to be recollected later. My squirrels were not at all happy. Their lunch was interrupted by an officer searching their courtyard. Nope, he hadn’t been there. I admit I can be somewhat unconscious at times but I think I’d notice someone scaling the wall, hiding something and then climbing back out. The yard isn’t that big and I sit right by the window. If nothing else I’d look out to see what the squirrels were chattering about. That’s how I know the police searched it.

So it seemed the robber got away with it as the bank photo was as fuzzy as ever.

Wrong! Later the same night, a car cruised by city hall, radio blaring, speeding. An officer happened to be pulling out and got behind it. The driver didn’t stop when he flipped on the lights. He tried to get away. He made it maybe a dozen blocks before losing control and crashing. Fortunately, into a wall and not into an innocent bystander. The driver wasn’t hurt and attempted to continue running on foot but was soon tackled and taken into custody.

As it turns out the driver just happened to be the bank robber. Pretty dumb of him, right? He actually might have gotten away with the robbery had he not screwed himself by being such a moron.

A Lump

A few days ago I was just about to leave work when I noticed a little lump on my jaw. Being the calm, reasonable individual I am, I immediately mushed the hell out of it just in case it was a spider bite. Had to make sure I squished it real good so none of the spider eggs would hatch because I really couldn’t handle itsy bitsy spiders crawling out of my chin.

That done, I then considered other options of what it could be. In the end I decided it’s probably tooth related even though nothing hurts. Well, either that or an extremely fast growing tumor. Come morning, I called the dentist to see if he could check to see if something’s going wrong. Nope, not that day. He’s already on his summer schedule and closed completely Wednesdays.

So today I called again and the receptionist worked me though not until after declaring that it’s the badness coming out of me. Hey, she’s known me since I was five. What can I say? I went and yep, I definitely have a lump. Not tooth related. He recommended warm compresses and to let it be for now. So she was right, it is the badness. Oh, I mushed it again, just for good measure in case it really is a nest of spiders growing in there.

Local Quandary

I’m a bit confused. This morning, on the radio, I heard a promo for our local minor league baseball team. They have games today and tomorrow, both beginning at 1105 a.m. That, in and of itself, isn’t the problem. What I find questionable is that they are having a special giveaway on both days for the first 3000 kids.

I don’t know about your area but here, schools are still in session. Therefore, to me, this isn’t quite right. I don’t think going to the ballpark to collect the latest bit of Phillies memorabilia is an acceptable excuse for skipping school.

Now it is possible that some schools are having fieldtrips these two days. That’s hardly fair though for kids whose schools aren’t. And the 3000 thing? How sad it will be for kid #3001 when all his buddies get whatever it is they’re giving away and he doesn’t.

I Wanna Play

Have you seen the commercials for Crayola’s 3D sidewalk chalk yet? I noticed one the other day and must admit, I’m fascinated. It looks like it would be so cool to play with. It works by combining warm and cool colors. When put next to each other with the glasses on, the warm colors appear to pop up off the surface. And Crayola is so nice that they even pair the optimal color up for you so you don’t need to figure it out on your own,

Several problems however, the biggest being I have absolutely no artistic talent. Nope, none whatsoever. I doubt I could even manage the basic fish they show on the commercial. That means I can’t just get myself some and go out and draw pictures in my street. I think, if I were creative that way, I could pull it off as artwork and people would just shake their heads, saying Barb’s at it again as they do when I undertake one of my yard projects. However, not being so inclined, they’d just think I was insane. Which, okay, I probably am.

I suppose I could buy some for the kids I know and then beg them to let me play with too. But, since they’re kids and I’m not, I’d have to sit back and be an adult, letting them do the majority of the playing with me merely adding tiny bits here and there as they directed me to.

Why is it, I wonder, so unacceptable for adults to have harmless fun without children involved? Why would it be frowned upon for me to get some of this amazing stuff and use it all by myself? Come on, you know I’m right. If I went out to the sidewalk across the street that borders a fenced in parking lot and drew unrecognizable stuff all over it someone would call the police. To come with backup for the crazy woman drawing in the street. Can you imagine the expressions on their face if I tried explaining that I was just playing?

I don’t think it’s quite fair that we, as adults, can’t indulge ourselves with all the nifty new things that have been invented since we were kids. Hmm, going to need to give this one more thought, I can feel it.

I'm In

There’s a dare going on at my writer’s group for all of us to post a picture of ourselves in our raw states. Um, okay, proceed at your own risk. This is the only recent one I have. But it’s accurate. I generally have a cat attempting to sit on my head, especially while I’m writing. They just don’t seem to be happy if they’re not involved and I think they may have actually learned that I have a problem with letting them help type. So here I am, with Mouse. You can tell he was absolutely thrilled to be having his picture taken, can’t you? Oh, I’m the one in the back in case you’re not sure.

Interesting Stuff

Finishing up my edits today but I found something to entertain you.

1. Money isn't made out of paper. It's made out of cotton.

2. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper.

3. The dot over the letter 'i' is called a 'tittle'.

4. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

5. Susan Lucci is the daughter of Phyllis Diller. (This one's false.)

6. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.

7. 315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were mis-spelled.

8. The 'spot' on 7-UP comes from its inventor, who had red eyes.. He was albino.

9. On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents, daily.

10. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine are brother and sister.

11. Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small sized dog.

12. Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark's stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.

13. Most lipstick contains fish scales (eeww).

14. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.

15. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine.

Have a Good Day

Edits for me today. You go out and do something fun.

New Covers

Hot Rush - releasing June 30 form Ellora's Cave

Blurb:

Rick Jensen is working undercover to bust up the largest drug distribution in the city’s recent history. Everything is going as planned until the hottest redhead he’s ever seen comes storming into the warehouse. Now if only he can stop thinking with his cock long enough to save her luscious ass and convince her that love at first sight really does exist.

Being sentimental has always been Casey Carmichael’s downfall. But this time her impulsiveness lands her right in the middle of a full contingent of heavily armed drug dealers. When one of them tosses her over his shoulder and carries her up to the office the last thing she expects is out of control sex with the undercover cop trying to protect her.


Questing - releasing August 26 from Ellora's Cave

Blurb:

Jordan McKade knows Kiley Fisher is his destiny the second he sees her. She, however, needs a lot more time to accept it. The last thing he wants to do is scare her away before she’s ready and it takes more self-control than he ever thought he possessed not to blurt out how desperately he wants to fuck her no matter how true it is.

Kiley’s problem isn’t that she doesn’t want him. It’s that she’s intimidated by the super sexy Jordan with his overwhelming business success and his voice that is so sinfully sensual she is ready to come every time he speaks to her.

When a no-good crook uses Kiley in his nefarious plans to save his own ass, Jordan comes to her rescue which finally lands them in a setting where they can no longer resist each other and the chemistry that’s been slowly building between them ignites in an inferno of passion.

Lunacy Continued

While I have you all thinking I’m a tad insane, I’ll ask you the same question I posed to a few friends yesterday. Do you read in your dreams? I mean really read as in you remember it when you wake up, not imagine yourself sitting somewhere, holding a book. Of the people I asked, I got only one yes. Frankly, that amazed me. All this time I believed that everyone reads in their sleep.

What I’m not sure of, however, is whether or not I’m reading real books. Ones that I could find and finish when I’m awake if I wanted to. The problem is that I never see the covers so I have no idea what they’re called. I can’t check. The other possibility is that I write things unlike me in my sleep in order for me to then read them in a later dream. Interesting supposition, isn’t it? I thought so too though I doubt it. Why? Well, the book I’ve been reading this week is a travel guide to adventures you can have in Venice. Nope, never been to Venice. Never read any similar books while I was awake. Never read enough of anything set in Venice that would add enough detail to support what I’m dream reading now.

Of course, that could just mean I’m making it up as I go along. Wouldn’t surprise me. That’s how I live most of my life when it comes right down to it. Hey, speak clearly and act like you know what you’re talking about and the majority of the time you can get by just fine without anyone ever calling you on it.

There have been times when I’ve had déjà vu moments from things I know I read in my sleep. Not sure what that means exactly, or any of this for that matter, but you have to admit it’s an interesting concept.

My Playlist

I may have mentioned it before but there’s always music of some sort playing within my head. My very own soundtrack. Sometimes it’s whole songs but, for the most part, I can’t tell you what they are. I really suck when it comes to that sort of thing. It’s okay though. I know people who pay attention and indulge me if I ever get around to asking.

The thing is, a lot of the time, what’s playing on my internal sound system, isn’t just one song. No, I have the habit of taking bits and pieces from things I hear and linking them all together, rearranging them, until they become fixed into something new only I will ever know. Then, when I hear the original on the radio, I think, no, that’s not right. It doesn’t go like that.

I have a friend who’s been exposing me to new things lately. Things I really enjoy and have made my own compilation of. I wish there were some way to share this in return. Hmm, I wonder, with all the technological advances being made, if that will one day be possible. To tap into someone’s mind and record the music playing there. Nah, probably not. But wouldn’t it be interesting?

Something else. My characters do the same thing. Not surprising, since they’re all bits of me anyway. The twist is they don’t necessarily hear the same things I do at the same time I am. So there are multiple playlists going on within my mind simultaneously. I’m not sure how it works but they coexist in harmony. Combined, they do not equal noise. What’s really amazing is that, on occasion, I’ll have a character that knows what all the songs are. I suppose that means I really do pay attention on some level. It’s nice to be able to take a break from asking my friends no matter how tolerant they are.

How about you? Is it quiet within your mind? If so, I’m sorry. I can’t begin to imagine what that would be like.

Believe It or Not

I watched my very first reality show. Which one? Any Dream Will Do on BBC. Why? Mainly because I was channel surfing and heard a song I like. It had good points I soon discovered. It’s hosted by Graham Norton. Two of the panel members are John Barrowman and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Sorry, no idea who the other three people were. The premise? Finding the next Joseph for the West End version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a show I adore.

The episode I saw was already down to six contestants, all teenagers. Not sure how many they started with but there are four more weeks to go. I don’t how other reality shows work but the group all came out and sang a song from Joseph. Then each participant sang a song on his own after which the panel members had a chance to comment. After that they had groups of three perform together to compare and contrast. At the end the panel selected the individuals that they definitely wanted to continue and had a sing off with the ones they weren’t sure of in order to eliminate contestants.

Overall it wasn’t bad. The performers I saw were already weeded out so they all had talent. The songs they did from Joseph were great. The ones they chose, not all to my taste but not badly done, even the guy who was voted off at the end. Will I watch it next week? Um, maybe? If I remember and I’m not involved in something else. Do I now get the fascination with reality shows? Oh hell no! But then I doubt I ever would, even if I watched a series start to finish.

Seems Wrong

In Afghanistan there’s a human rights group that’s investigating the possibility that white phosphorus was used in a recent skirmish because of the burns that were found on some of the local villagers. According to the army spokesman in Afghanistan, US forces that were involved denied being the culprits, suggesting that it was the Taliban fighters instead because they’re know to have used it in the past. A Taliban spokesman couldn’t be reached for comment.

White phosphorus is used to illuminate targets, create smoke, or as a direct weapon because of its spontaneous combustibility. Its use is deemed legitimate under international law but human rights organizations have a problem because it indiscriminately burn civilians when employed in populated areas.

Since there were so many villager casualties in the battle in question it is under investigation and the group, Human Rights Watch, has petitioned NATO to release the findings. They are also working to get white phosphorus use banded.

Does anybody else see this as beyond odd or is it just me? I hate war but I’m not naïve. I know there will always be one going on somewhere in the world. I understand how many treaties have been signed in the past to cut down on collateral atrocities because outright war is bad enough. But I’m wondering. If these people have the power to do this sort of thing why not outlaw all forms of weaponry that can kill or maim anyone? Why can’t they arrange instead to have one huge thumb wrestling competition or some such thing?

Mother's Day

The thing about all the hype of this day that no one ever seems to realize is how much it hurts those who wanted to have a child, but for whatever reason, didn’t.

My Yard

Happy Saturday!

Explanation?

But first, Drake’s Rules received a most excellent review from Brenda Talley at the Romance Studio. Click here to take a peek.

I was involved in a ponderance the other day. The topic? Tub mats. Why do they now slip around instead of staying put like they used to? Even the non-slip ones. The suction cuppy type, not the use adhesive to glue them down type. Have you noticed it too or is it just us?

We had a great debate on design. With the several we have and tried combined, none seem to make a difference. Many small suction cups, a lesser amount of large ones, one piece molded construction, suction cups of differing materials attached to the mat surface. They all slide. Maybe environmental constraints make the polymers less suctiony?

Then we wondered if it were perhaps something that has been altered with current soaps, shampoos, cleaning products. Since they’re less harsh now, do you think that makes them slipperier? None of us have new tubs so we know that’s not it. Nor do we have water softeners although we do have city water so maybe it’s something in the treatment of that.

Any insights on the matter?

Odd Day

Today is 05/07/09. A naturally occurring consecutive sequence of odd numbers within a date. There are only six Odd Days per century and today is the third so you better enjoy it. Go out and celebrate. Be sure to do something odd while you’re at it. Hmm, since the majority of my life is odd by society’s standards I wonder if I could get away with the claim that I’m simply enjoying the phenomena.

This year is even more special because it also contained Square Root Day – 03/03/09. Darn, I missed that one. Personally, I think we should pay more attention to math holidays. Perhaps even make them national holidays and all have the day off to commemorate the momentous occasion. Why? Well, why not? I’m sure I can come up with a good counter for any reason against it you may have. Email me and we’ll talk.

Have fun and remember, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do without calling me to join you first.

And the Winner

Of tonight’s What the Hell is for Dinner contest is…

Vanilla Almond Special K

Thanks for entering and best wishes to those who also ran:

Cinnamon Life
Apple Jacks
Cinnamon Pecan Special K
Frozen Chicken Parmesan to be eaten in a roll (Microwave – too much like cooking.)
Popcorn (Microwavable – see above)
Frozen Homemade Vegetable Soup (Frozen being the deterrent here – I’m hungry now.)
Pork Tenderloin and All That Goes with It (Also frozen, not to mention raw – see above again.)

Better luck next time.

How Sad

I heard on the radio last night that the FDA is attempting to get a company to cease and desist selling “Swine Flu Prevention Kits”. Excellent, considering what they include won’t really protect you from anything.

For the ridiculous price of $199 you get a packet that includes shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion, all made with a silver base. The ad sounds very convincing, not that any of the products will do any more to combat the flu than any other generic hygiene products. So far, there’s been no success reaching anyone at the company that created this scam.

What I find disheartening is that people are so willing to blindly throw away their money due to fear. If preventing a disease were as simple as using a metallic shampoo, it would be mass produced and available everywhere, hopefully for a more reasonable price.

The other aspect of this that disturbs me is how some can prey on those who don’t stop and think logically before jumping on a bandwagon. Yes, I understand the whole buyer beware concept but maliciously profiting from news of a possible epidemic just doesn’t seem right to me. Even though technically, improved hygiene habits of any kind has the potential to help prevent the spread of disease overall, it still seems tawdry to make the claim that their special kit will specifically protect the purchaser from swine flu.

Oh, just in case you’re interested, there are legitimate kits available from reputable companies that contain gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer for the combined price of all the individual items.

An Observation

There are two types of people in the world, those who cut down half empty bags and those who leave them in tact down to the last crumb. I am the later. Why is this significant? Hell if I know but I’m sure it is.

I suspect there are numerous studies that have been done, detailing what this says about one’s personality. In great depth. The fact that I’ve never once considered altering any bag’s size probably says a lot too. Perhaps that I’m secretive and like to exhibit the unexpected? That I don’t want to reveal my depths by compromising anything including the integrity of an original container? That I like the unpredictability of what will be found in life as well as when reaching into a previously opened bag?

And what about those who do cut things down? What does that mean? That they’re rigid within their lives and like things streamlined? That they can’t handle not knowing what they’ll find every time they delve into something? That they’re anal about overkill and can’t tolerate excess?

What does it all mean? I don’t know, I just don’t know. Do you?

Hate Ants, Love My Friends

Yes, ant season has started again. Little suckers get a break today. It’s raining so I can’t spray the hell out of the foundation of my house like I normally do to rid myself of the pesky nuisances. Oh, it’s not a total invasion. I’ve only found half a dozen of the teeny tiny brown ones but that’s six too many in my book. Ants belong outside. Period. End of discussion. I don’t go out and mess around in their hills. They can damn well stay out of my house. It’s going to be nice tomorrow and I’ve warned them. If they want to live they will vacate the premises instantly. Otherwise I’m declaring all out war and I’ve had years of experience so they don’t stand a chance.

On a much happier note I had dinner with my adopted family last night. Neeley was in town for a few hours so she called and told me they were on the way to get me, destination to be determined en route. Riley is just back from her visit with the Middle Child, still on her big adventure in France, and I hadn’t seen her yet to hear all about her trip. Guess what! I got presents. A bright yellow Tour de France T-shirt and Milka bars. She knows me so well. The Little One wasn’t with them but that’s okay. I hung out with her the other night when my phone wasn’t working, something I might have to do again soon simply because she makes me laugh. And the Paternal One, well, he’s so kind, putting up with me as he does for the sake of his girls.

Okay, time to get to work here. I’ve been playing far too much lately instead of revising the story I should be working on. I left my characters in limbo because I couldn’t figure out the best way to get them from where they are to where they have to be next. Maybe they’re finally sick enough of just sitting there doing nothing to help today. Let’s hope so.

Happy Writer Girl

I have some news. Questing, the first in the Cosmic Connections series, has a release date – August 26th.

Blurb:

Jordan McKade knows Kiley Fisher is his destiny the second he sees her. She, however, needs a lot more time to accept it. The last thing he wants to do is scare her away before she’s ready and it takes more self-control than he ever thought he possessed not to blurt out how desperately he wants to fuck her no matter how true it is.

Kiley’s problem isn’t that she doesn’t want him. It’s that she’s intimidated by the super sexy Jordan with his overwhelming business success and his voice that is so sinfully sensual she is ready to come every time he speaks to her.

When a no-good crook uses Kiley in his nefarious plans to save his own ass, Jordan comes to her rescue which finally lands them in a setting where they can no longer resist each other and the chemistry that’s been slowly building between them ignites in an inferno of passion.

A second bit of writer news – My wonderful editor has given me an Ellora’s Cave Exotika contract for Controlled Desires, my new hot, hot, hot little story. More on this one later.

I’ll share covers when I have them.

Times They Are A Changin'

Well, perhaps not but they certainly should be. The other day I got home from work and my phone was dead. No reason for it. It was fine in the morning. But this isn’t all that unusual. Normally, I unplug it for a bit and then it’s fine. No luck.

When that doesn’t work, I call the phone company, they push whatever magic button they have and then it comes back to life. So I used my cell to report it, cursing in my mind because I had a whole slew of online things planned. The first woman I spoke with was funny once I told her how having no functional phone line was interfering with my ramble about seasick fish. She agreed that they were airsick, by the way.

Unfortunately, it was after five and the technicians were finished for the day. The earliest she had available for them to come out was Friday, maybe. I kept begging for her to push the magic button, which made her laugh. Too bad she didn’t know which one it was.

She forwarded me to a supervisor who didn’t understand why I was with her at first. I went through my list of reasons again as to why Friday was unacceptable to which she was sympathetic even though she couldn’t help me either. She couldn’t even make the line test they normally do go through. We left it with me insisting the problem be fixed on Thursday for sure, not Friday maybe and her promising to try after a long explanation of budget cuts and a reduced tech staff with no overtime. I do understand that. Really I do. Didn’t make me any less insistent. Hey, it worked in the morning, it should work at night. Right? She assured me she’d give it her all to get a tech to my area and have it fixed.

The snag was that my little gray box is in the basement, not outside so I was required to be there when the tech came. Which meant I would need to go into work, explain to my employer why I would have to run out with absolutely no notice at some point during the day. Yeah, not exactly good for keeping a job in this day and age, is it? Thank goodness I am five minutes from work so it’s not quite as bad as people who drive an hour because it’s the only job they could get.

Fortunately for me, my lovely phone line took pity on me and healed itself in a few hours. How? I checked it yet again. Oh come on, you know you would check it repeatedly too, just to make sure it hadn’t miraculously started working again. Admit it. Anyway, nope, still dead. So I decided to call myself and see if that fixed it. Ha! It did! No idea why but I’m not questioning it further. A gift is a gift, thank you very much.

Yes, my phone was working again but it brought up a lot of thoughts about that whole leaving work at the drop of a hat thing. You think, in a time when everyone, everywhere is cutting back, service industries would go out of their way to accommodate longtime customers. Why have techs who only work until 5, same as a big chunk of the rest of the workforce does? Instead, why not have them work split shifts so that people who actually pay their bills can continue to without fear of losing their jobs in a time when little things can make management choose one employee over another when faced with a difficult decision of who to let go and who to keep? I seriously believe it’s high time for them to rethink how they conduct their business.

In the morning, I called to cancel my service call. The man I spoke with had absolutely no sense of humor. He didn’t quite understand when I said it healed itself. Nor did he appreciate it when I contradicted him after he stated to call back anytime if I had more trouble since they’re there twenty-four hours a day to help.