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

I splurged earlier this week and bought myself a new book. It's called "Milky Way Marmalade" by a guy named Mike DiCerdo. Has anyone else read it? I haven't finished it yet or anything, but from what I've read so far, it's really good. It's kind of a wacky rock'n'roll sci-fi with a bit of mysticism and tongue planted firmly in cheek. I'm really enjoying it!

Sunday afternoon I'm supposed to go see Return of the King again, I can't wait!

Oh, and guess what? My dad called me last Sunday, we spoke for about 20 minutes or so. It was really nice talking with him again, it's been a long time and I have missed him! He's doing well. I've also been keeping in touch fairly regularly by email with my grandma and uncle (on my father's side), I love them a bunch and they're very good to me.

Well, I'm off to bed, as I've got to be up early tomorrow. Tomorrow evening I've got to work on getting my house cleaned up, it's gotten sort of cluttered and I've got clothes from one end to the other!

Hope everyone else is keeping well.

One other idea I've been toying with... quitting smoking (again). I'd smoked for around 12 years and quit four years ago. Then, last May, I got really overstressed and picked the habit back up again.

I'm not so worried at this point about the ramifications to my health. But it is so expensive, and right now I need to cut back on any "unnecessary" expenses I can.

I don't know if I could quit cold turkey like last time, but I'm trying to work on ways to eliminate some of the associations. Like maybe no smoking in my computer room, or only in the computer room... cutting back first and then trying to give it up from there?

But then I'm not so sure if now is the right time to try. I'm still a little stressed about all of the immigration and money stuff, and the busy season at work is about to begin. Would taking on another challenge be such a great idea right now? I don't know if I can do it. The friends I spend the most time with don't smoke, but most of my co-workers do. It's hard to get through the day without the cigarette breaks. And Krispy smokes, if I were to give it up, I wonder if I could stick with it once he got here?

Maybe I should find some other way to save a bit of money each week?

I'm happy you're feeling better! Heh heh you shouldn't ask *me* about smoking! I'll allways try to persuade anyone to stop! But at any rate, I don't think 'taking on another challenge' would be so bad for you right now. Having another challenge might keep your mind off other, more challenging challenges. I dunno, you could try, and if it doesn't work, then so be it.

Good Luck with your decision.
It would save money!
They now say it helps with lowering pain levels of all kinds, particuarly inflamatory diseases and fatigue. You will need some extra skills in place for stress and avoidance.

Ooh, I didn't know quitting could help reduce inflammatory disease. I'm definitely going to try to cut down, at the very least. Saving money and lowering pain levels are both powerful motivators!

Yesterday was a good day for not smoking too much. My friend Stacy and I went to see Return of the King, then went to Barnes and Noble (I was a good girl, all I bought was a leatherbound edition of Shakespeare's complete wroks for $20!), then out for a pasta dinner. She doesn't smoke, but we usually sit in smoking so that I can... this time I offered to sit in non-smoking, and made it through without going too crazy. I think I had half a cigarette between the restaurant and the car, and that was all I had for around nine hours. We'll see how it goes...

Well, it's time for me to head out to work. Where does the time go? The weekend flew by before I knew it and I still haven't finished tidying up.

Yeah, I know I'm mainly talking to myself here, but hey, that's what a journal is for, so what the heck.

Today I had one of the worst days I have had in a very long time. Everything that could possibly go wrong, did. I found out, through a slip-up someone made, that a select few have been allowed overtime recently, including some of the temps. It was like a slap in the face. I may have been feeling bitchy, but everyone was. Then I go to a supervisor to vent, and someone else butts in... and how I *hate* when people raise their voices to me. I was livid. Tomorrow will be better, I hope. I certainly hope my attitude doesn't begin to reflect the way I feel, or my work performance either. I don't want to take my frustrations out on the customers.

All day I looked forward to coming home and having a nice, hot bath. So much for that- the tank was empty again and my bath was barely tepid, even after pouring a few kettles of boiling water in.

I've had a glass of red wine and some pasta to soothe my nerves, I think the best medicine right now is some loud music!

Right now, as I'm venting away, I'm looking at a photo of Krispy in a frame on my desk and remembering why I subject myself to this b/s in the first place. Spongebob Squarepants is on TV, that's not hurting things any, either.

Oh, well, end of rant. No sense b****ing about things, it doesn't change them.

How unfair!
You have been talking about extra hours for a while


Thank goodness for cartoons,music,good food and wine they can help you a bit with an attitude adjustment.

I know. I was really hurt by that. Tomorrow I'll try to snap out of it. Today was a wash from the get-go.

The good music and wine has helped adjust my attitude a bit. I had a good cry and now I feel refreshed.

How are you feeling, Abbi? I got your email, it made me feel really good. I did send a reply, hope that you received it. I think of you very often.

Yes I did get yours also.

I usually feel better after a *good cry* too.
It will never fail to amaze me how it helps, along with the phrase - tomorrows a new day. I don't even know why that helps me but I am glad it does.

Hi PC. Sorry you've had a bad day, I'm sure tomorrow will be better. Positive thoughts. The overtime thing does seem unfair though. At least you have the love of Krispy to keep you going.
Hi Abbi, I haven't had much time to chat lately but hope to soon

Yes, tomorrow is a new day. Hopefully, it will also be a better one. Whenever things are really bad, I sing to myself the words from a song by Big Audio Dynamite:

"When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do, is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Anything you want is yours"

When it's really, really bad... things can only get better. Right?

Thank you, Abbi. You're always here when I need you. I'm glad you got my email, too. Sorry I was such a dork when I wrote it.

Oooh, hi Meg! Seeing you and Abbi here has brightened my whole day!

Yes, I do have some things to keep me going. And if I think long enough, I can get some perspective. It's all in the perspective, isn't it?

Thank you both for being here. It's appreciated more than I could ever find words to articulate.

It's good to feel appreciated Just wish I had more time to talk, I should be sending out appointments about now but would much rather chat to you.

I'd rather you chat with me than send out appointments too, Meg, but that's my selfish side talking.

I wish you could talk more too, it stinks sometimes only being able to catch you once a week. But better once a week, than never!

How are things with you this past week?

I also must admit to being a bit of an a**... I've had a total of 1, 500 calories today (more than I allow myself, usually). That's not so bad, except that only about 300 of them are from food... the rest are from wine. I'm such a naughty girl.

Have replied to another thread of yours also. It is hard to catch-up with a week's worth of mailings. You obviously needed that wine today. You might not need any tomorrow, I don't see it as naughty. We do what we have to do to survive and make life enjoyable. Don't beat yourself up for being human. I wish I could have one with you at this point in time

Well, then, we're having a virtual together in spirit. It works better that way anyway! :D

forgot to say I've had a good week on the whole. Work wasn't bad, children good, Trouble has a verrucca, cats and hamsters good fun, social life zero. I have arranged a party for after our wedding abroad but am still arranging catering, DJ etc. Busy, busy.
How's things with you?

Glad to hear you've had a good week. Busy with wedding stuff is stressful but can be good and happy, right? Sorry to hear of Trouble's veruca. I had one once, had a prescription to rid myself of it. Yucky!

I'm okay. Work sucks but life is otherwise good. Except I'm beyond broke and sick of it. But that's life, eh?