h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's been a couple of weeks since I've checked in "officially", thought I'd leave a bit here and touch base with all my friends and loved ones.

Work's been all right, if a bit stressful. This is the "slow" season, yet we're still not keeping up with the work, thanks to glitches in the system and various other issues. The "no overtime" thing lasted all of three days, I'm back to a good 10 hours a week or more extra, which is a good thing for me, so hopefully it'll keep up.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward anxiously to my upcoming holiday in England with Krispy. I'd have the two weeks off anyway, and I sure do need them, even if I only get paid for four of the 11 days I'll be off. But I'm really excited about spending that time with Krispy, and having a reason to anticipate the "holidays" rather than dread them. I'm not a religius person at all, and hate the whole phony attitude of good will and peace and all that shit that comes this time of year- all of the pretense and obligatory kindness, etc, etc. And if I hear one more stupid Christmas carol. I'm going to scream. I've been playing Peter and the Test Tube Babies' "I'm Getting Pissed for Christmas" over and over to get me in the proper spirit.

It's going to be fun to spend what are normally some of the most dismal days of the year with the person I love the most, avoiding all of the traditional nonsense and revelling in both togetherness and antisocility at the same time.

I've been very naughty recently, buying myself a whole lot of presents which I don't really *need*, per se, but which bring so much more pleasure into my life- which is a damned good life to begin with. Got myself a few more DVDs and videos, including the first two seasons of "Space Ghost Coast to Coast", the Bad News, "Bottom", and the extended version of "the Two Towers" (can't wait to see "Return of the King" with Krispy, promised to wait till we can see it together). I've also had a bit of fun picking up a few nifty surprises for Krispy for Christmas- I'm not into the whole holiday thing much, but it's been fun getting a few gifts this year. It feels so good to do something nice for someone you love.

Otherwise, things have been quiet and uneventful around here, for which I am very grateful. It's been unseasonably warm, and very humid and rainy, which means my fibro's been on the warpath. I've an appointment with a new specialist, can't remember what kind, who's recommended some new meds I'm a bit leery of. I'm trying to manage my sysmptoms homeopathically, modifying my diet and such, but I'm not sure where to draw the line. Especially after days like Monday, when merely excruciating pain would have been a huge relief. When does one give in and take prescription drugs, especially when most of the time you're swapping symptoms for side effects? A couple of these drugs tend to cause anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc, which I already have enough trouble with as it is. I'm not entirely trusting of medical "professionals", given my past experiences in mental institutions and such, and I'm always afraid I've found another "Dr. Feelgood" as opposed to a practioner who really cares. Argh!

On a happier note, I'm nearly ready to mail off my package of forms, vital stats, and miscellany documentation to the BCIS for my petition for Krispy's alien fiance visa. All I need is a few more photocopies, some phone records, and a couple of papers that Barton and Richenda have held for safekeeping, and I'm good to go- it should go out FedEx before I leave for England on the 19th. Woohoo! Everyone keep fingers crossed, hope and pray to any and all deities you see fit to talk with, we're happy for all the help we can get. I know the gods want us together, and I'm leaving it in their hands while doing everything in my power to help myself. You know!

In spite of the trivial frustrations, life is good. My job can be frustrating, but it pays my bills and I adore most of my co-workers. And most of them are tolerant and understanding of my issues and eccentricities. The love of my life is on another continent, but we're perfectly matched, love each other truly madly and deeply, grow stronger, more understanding of each other, and closer with every passing day, and have a beautiful life to look forward to. I mightn't see my friends as often as I'd like at the present, but they're good ones, and I can depend on them- Barton, Richenda, Stacy, Liam, Angel, John, Kaz, Mikey, JEllen, Abbi, Terri, Willem, Abbi... new friends like haikeeba and Meg... and s to all of you, and then some. And a great big to Krispy.

Once again, excessive verbosity has gotten the better of me. Sorry, guys, it just feels so good to share myself with you, and vice versa!

*dances around in head*
Oh Happy Day when you get to see Krispy again!
I hope the time pases quickly until that moment

*dances with Abbi*

Thank you, Abbi! I'm so very excited about seeing Krispy again, the time is passing so quickly and I do hope I'll have time to pack everything not at the last possible moment. I've been hoping my time there won't fly by *too* quickly, but I know it will.

Had some fun tonight swapping a few gifts with my friend Stacy, sitting around for an hour or two, drinking tea, listening to some tunes and talking all kinds of trash. It's a good thing she doesn't mind hanging out with me while I'm in my jammies.

How are you and your hubby doing, Abbi? How are your teeth? I've been really worried about you, and haven't seen you around on MSN to talk with you properly. I hope everything's been all right?

Off to bed now, gotta be up and at 'em in... 4 hours! Ack! See y'all soon- take care!

hi Psychocandy
its good to see you so positive at the mo. Bet you will have a lovely trip, what dates are you here? Hopefully I will have shifted my bug before you arrive!

I intend spending our 2 days of xmas, being with Moonglum, watching some tv, eating and hopefully going for a walk or two. He has to work around xmas so we never get chance to do the family thing, which suits us as we hate the family xmas! So I understand where you are coming from on that one.

Hello Psychocandy and everyone else here! Psychocandy, I'm *so* glad to hear good news from you!! I really hope this keeps up for you. At any rate ... me, I also don't like all the 'Christmas' crap. I'm not a conventional Christian anyways... the way the holiday gets stuffed down people's throats always bothered me. Anyways ... I would really have it that people treat each other well all-year round, and also, even give each other presents at random periods. It is great to be able to give the ones you love nifty presents. I wish I had more money!

I give random presents during the year Willem
I say it is Christmas in July or whatever the date
I will not go into debt for the season because it does not promote goodwill around the house!

Kids get presents from us but not many others at this season.
I could not agree more with the real point being goodwill is for all year and this is a reminder not the season for it.

Hi Kaz

PCandy I have had some good healing take place over the last two days in my mouth. I have counted on my mouth feeling natural by Christmas That is all I need!

After a recent series of computer crashes I can ony get msn IM when someone invites me. I cannot initiate That is the only way I could seem to keep from getting cutoff I am still waiting for my computer guy to sort things out. So ask me anytime you like to chat if you see me on. Hubby is doing well except for a slight gut thingee. I do not know what it is He has not missed work but is uncomfy. Hopefully that will resolve soon.

Hia Kaz and Willem! Hope you guys are doing okay as well. It's SO good to hear from you guys again!

I'm with you, Willem, I try to be decent to people as best I can all year round, and enjoy doing nice things whenever an opportunity presents itself. The phony, materialistic, overly-hyped atmosphere of the holidays can get to be downright sickening at times. And I understand all too well not having much inclination to spend all that time with family. When I'm not getting guilt trips laid on me, someone's usually whining or moaning about what a huge imposition getting together is anyway. Why bother?

I can't afford to get too many nifty things either, but sometimes you can find something small and relatively inexpensive, or do something kind, or make something, and it makes the person you do it for feel so good. I really like when I can do that.

Kaz, I'll be there on the 20th, and am staying till the 3rd January. If you and Moonglum wanted to meet up sometime, I'm sure I could manage to get Krispy and myself back into London. Hopefully we'll be spending lots of time lying around and doing nothing, watching TV and that sort of thing. And apparently Krispy plans to stuff me so full of cheese and sweets and other goodies, I'll have to fly back in the cargo hold.

I'm so glad to hear your mouth is healing well, Abbi, and that hubby's not doing too badly. When I see you online and fancy a chat, I'll be sure to say hello. I hope your computer problems will all be sorted soon.

Hi all!

Glad to hear you are healing abbi.

Psychocandy, xmas is on 25 and 26, but the 27 and 28 are on a weekend so transport will be back, maybe we could meet in London? I could show you my fav pictures in the tate britain, but then I have also linked to them on my page here, so you can see them that way. Have you been to the V&A museum, we have only popped in once, and it is amazing! Any ideas?

Hi, Kaz! I didn't see the V&A, we only visited the National Gallery, which was really great. I'd be happy to do or see anything, as none of us are independently wealthy, and I'm on a bit of a budget, I'd really enjoy something that was lots of fun but not too frivolous. I'm sure we could all come up with something. Let me ask Krispy what he thinks, too.

All that would be of importance to me would be having an opportunity to meet you, especially as I didn't get the chance in August. I'm not always comfortable meeting people, but I know I can trust you and would enjoy your company. Hopefully we'll have better luck this time.

Hey, Kaz, I've sat down and figured out just how much cash I can afford to spend, and I don't know as that I can swing a train ride back into London from Ipswich and back, and I can't ask Krispy to fork all of it over, under the circumstances.

Would you be willing to meet up either the day I arrive, or the day I leave? Both of those days, we'll be in London already, I arrive and depart though Heathrow, and I anticipate having only one suitcase and a backpack.

I'm not trying to blow you off or anything, just being realistic. I haven't even paid off my last visit back in August, and truth be told, I've already maxed out one credit card and will soon hit the limit on another. Come spring when my roommate moves out, I'll need the credit card to pay my rent till Krispy can pitch in, and it mightn't be as soon as we think. Once that card's maxed, unless I apply for another, I'm basically screwed. So, realistically, I ought to exercise a bit of caution finacially. It's no fun, but it's a sad fact.

Please, please don't take this as my begging off. I'm merely asking if you'd consider an alternate plan. I'd love to meet with you, but I don't think I'll have much money to spare, and I can't ask Krispy to, either. I probably should've thought about it more before I asked. Sometimes I just get so enthused, I forget to think things through and determine whether or not I can really pull them off. I'm sorry.

I hope you'll still see fit to meet us somewhere, even if we just come to your part of town for a coffee or something. I feel like such a tit just now.

Hi psychocandy, I just posted elsewhere about this as I had forgottom where I had posted it, so ignore the other one! As you arrive and leave on a Saturday, that shouldn't be a problem, what time do you get in? It might be better to meet you on your arrival rather than your departure, as it might be a bit traumatic for you.

Yeah, I don't expect my departure will be any more pleasant this time than it was the last. I hadn't thought of that.

I arrive Saturday at around 10 in the morning. As I have to work half the day Friday and it's an overnight flight, I expect I'll get some sleep on the way over, and will be ready to enjoy the day!

It was kind of funny when I came over last, I had a connecting flight in Newark, New Jersey and a five hour layover during which I was bored out of my mind, slept hardly a wink on the flight, and arrived 16 hours after leaving my house so tired I could barely see straight. This time I think I planned it a bit better, I've a direct flight which departs around my normal bedtime and arrives a mere eight hours later. And might I add it took less time to clear British customs and immigration as a visitor than it did at this end on the way back- as a bloody citizen. The funniest thing was the jet lag- it took me the better part of three days to adjust when I got there, but that was nothing compared to when I got back! I was waking up at 1 or 2 in the morning and falling over around 6 PM for a good two weeks or so.

Anyway, I'm rambling on again about nothing, as I tend to do. I'd love to meet with you on Saturday, early afternoon or something, if you'd like. Let me know!

Saturday sounds good, can Krispy get there in time or will work interfere. Of course if he can't then we can keep you company!

Krispy won't be working while I'm there, so he won't have any trouble getting in to meet me at the airport. Of course, knowing I have no sense of direction, I doubt he'd let me set foot outside the airport on my own, much less try to navigate the tube system.

I'll let him know you guys would be available that day. Is there a good place to meet up which is in between enough for us all to get to somewhat easily?