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

Hi Edward! *waves*

Waves back atcha! I hope the painting and photography are coming along. Any good movies recently? I'm off to see The Incredibles on Friday. And since I've finally bought a DVD player, a friend has lent me 'The Legend of Bharat Singh' - a mainstream Bollywood movie about a 1920's Kashmiri revolutionary. My friend's grandfather was in the same socialist part as him!

Last night we watched "Fantastic Planet", which is the French animated sci-fi film from 1973, and "The Brood", which I can't even begin to talk about without giving it away (although I can say that yes, the killer children do resemble deranged Teletubbies when they wear their snow suits). I'd recommend them both.

Today has turned out to be quite interesting, to say the least...

K had an interview with a marketing firm downtown, so we weren't working all that hard on our account reconcilation this morning. So I was poring over the job ads on the Career Builder and found a listing that I printed off as a joke. It's for a parts supervisor for a company that assembles and distributes automotive electrical switches.

Bear in mind I have nearly a decade of experiece in automotive parts dealing, six in management, as well as a couple years of customer service/ clerical stuff like I'm doing now. So the guy who got my resume was so impressed by that, and by the enthusiastic tone of my cover letter, that he invited me for an interview this afternoon. He's calling me again tomorrow afternoon to schedule a second interview and to make me a salary offer. If it's a decent enough offer, I'm taking it. Which means (I think) I'd be starting in a couple of weeks!

All because of something I was making a joke of: thank goodness K marched right over and told me "you send them your resume RIGHT NOW- you'd be PERFECT for this". And so, it seems, I just might be.

So anyway, that's the latest: we may well both be employed elsewhere by the start of the new year.

I've got another homemade pizza in the oven and now I'm preparing for a hot bath and an evening of reading, then early to bed. I've been so stressed, my blood pressure is up to 150/96 from 116/75 just three months ago. I need to relax a bit and give my poor nerves a break.

Oh gosh I hope you get it PC! *good vibes, good vibes, good vibes*

Yay, Edward has a DVD player! *Thinking of good movies you must rent* You have seen Harold and Maude, haven't you? And Eternal Sunshine? Fraid I haven't gotten much painting done lately, I need to start a new project.

PCandy, I'm sorry your blood pressure has been up. Hope you get the job and like it and BP goes down.

Oh how marvelous!

Hey, it's "post early for Christmas" Vix! Muchos gracias pour le carte de Noel amigo! You are far more organised than me, haven't even finished making mine yet, then i have to get it copied, then actually get round to putting them in envelopes and actually posting them

PC, fingers and eyes and legs crossed the job works out for you both!

zdt

Well, I had to post Geo's crappy sister her birthday pressie on Tues so I did it all in one go!

Speaking of the freak (sis-in-law) the other year, Geo's mom was sorting out her decorations and we were all given the choice of what to have.

I continued to sit on the couch quite sedately and aloof while the freak and brother-in-laws wife, descended on the box of decors like vultures to meat...and watched whilst they argued over the prettist desirable ones.

I didn't want to join in the fray because they are family decorations, and well we have our own, I shipped all mine over and didn't feel the need to interrupt - when the freak comes over and says, "you can have this one, it's really nice."

It was a handmade needlepoint stocking. Made by Geo's former wife, and says quite clearly on the back, to Geo's family love from Beth n' Geo.

How nice.... I declined and pointed out that it was made by Beth politely, to a horrified silence as Geo and his mom had come back in the room.

Was too funny She can be such an idiot and she must have known full well who it was from. I think, that she thinks I destroyed their marriage, but it was well and truly done for, before I came along.

I don't like the freak too much as she is Geo's older sister and was abusive to him when he was small, in quite demoralizing ways

We are going over to Maine for the week before christmas this year...I'm looking forward to it, and wondering what the freak has in store for me this time...she's so competitive it's very sad really!

Good luck on the job front Pc

Well, good news from PC. The man I interviewed with yesterday called me back today to offer me the position, and I accepted. It pays $4,000 US more than I make now, but without the overtime, so it's probably an even trade. There will also be commissions involved, at some point. And I start two weeks from Monday, which means I won't be off the week after Xmas, and forfeit three of the four paid holidays... but it's a trade off sometimes. It sounds like something I'd be good at, and enjoy. (And if it turns out I didn't, I can always look for more...)

So now, please focus your good luck and well wishes and energies on K, that he'll find something really good soon as well.

Thanks!

MV, thank you so much for the Xmas card! Thanks from K, as well.

That was really rude what your sister-in-law did with the ornament. She sounds like a mean person.

Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay! You go girl!!

Focusing good luck beams on K now.

In the meantime, break out some cake and champagne.

JEllen

Yayas!

Oh how happy I am for you!!!! Best wishes n' stuff for K then

As for the freak I thought it was one of those funny christmas tales of family that are the best of awkward moments to chuckle at...later on that is!!!

Yay, I'm so glad to hear you got that job PC! Even if its not more money, I'm sure it will make up for it with the not having to work 80 hours as week and all, don't you think?

MV, your sister-in-law sounds like a pill. I hope you don't have to spend too much time with her over the next month or so.

I am taking a break from party preperations right now. I've been standing all day doing cleaning and baking stuff. My feet and back are starting to hurt. I still have to sweep and mop, bake the cookies, sort the laundry, move and decorate the tree, clean up the cat box, move the TV. I really want to sleep. I wish I could work up a little mania right now.

Sort the cat tray and go sleep, all the rest can wait!

PC, SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhappy you got it, see, the (Oirish ) works every time, now beaming across to K, with a name like his 'twill surely work!

bisous,

zdt

*Vix, just pat her on the head and say "awww, so sad, so sad, one day you will get over this dear."*

Hi peops!! Psychocandy, I'm TRULY happy to hear you got this job opportunity! I hope it pans out superbly!! And I'm holding thumbs for K as well, contributing to the 'vibes and going his way, hopefully ... !!

News from moi ... things are moving along slowly as allways. My little nephew Christiaan was one year old two weeks ago, and we went to his party in Pretoria, which was fun. Back home here in Pietersburg, we had some good rains over the past week. That's rather a Big Deal for us, because we're in a state of drought almost all the time. I'm planning to do something soon ... go to a nature reserve, do a bit of exploring, feel a bit of serenity.

Hi guys! Not much time to reply this morning, but I'm going out for dinner tonight so I wanted to check in now, just in case. Will catch up further tomorrow evening.

Thanks for all the congrats and well wishes. I hope the new job will work out well now. I'll be nervous for quite a while yet.

Had a lovely weekend with K (although I must admit we spent a good portion of it in bed ). Did a bit of shopping at a great toy store in the neighborhood and had a nice late lunch Saturday, then spent the evening watching "Another State of Mind" (old documentary from '82 about a Social Distortion/ Youth Brigade tour) and "All About Eve". Yesterday we just chilled out all day then K's other band (and a few others) had a gig/Xmas party at the recording studio they use. It might've been fun, if not for so many people jammed into such narrow corridors: I got claustrophobic so K and I left right after he played and hung out here for maybe an hour until we said goodnight.

Good-ish news, though: was worrying about the upcoming rent situation (roommate is going to Mexico for the entire month of January but is paying me rent before he leaves) this spring. K said he was serious when he mentioned he could move in here the beginning of June, he'd love that arrangement, and we'll talk about it more when the time grows nearer, or when I want to. You lot sending me good luck seems to work, so keep on keeping those fingers and toes crossed- everything might be working out more or less well for me these days. It's about bloody time!

Okay, gotta jet and get myself to work. Have a really great day, all. If I don't get to check back this evening, I will see you tomorrow.

Wheeeeee!

Hey kids... been around to post to some of your conversations... must somehow catch up on "Eye Say", but it moves along so fast some days!

Anyway, just waiting for K to collect me for Wing Night: I'm looking forward to a yummy dinner and some nice cold cider to wash it down with. I get the jerk wings- they're spicy as hell and not greasy like the milder Buffalo wings.

Wednesday night I'm planning a stir-fry with scallops and mango served over saffron rice. I'll let you know how it turns out...

I'd best get myself together now, I'll see you lot again tomorrow. Hope everyone's had a good day. I did- I gave my formal notice at work!

I didn't realise jerks had wings, that's good they have their uses.

Pillowcase, great to hear about the rains, yes, i know how vital this is!

PC, you seem to be onto a winner in all this, jolly good! Hope the job goes well, also obviously the "K as flatmate" thing, that's always a weird one isn't it? I have had Himthing staying over here this weekend, in less than ideal situation, ie: i am not geared up for sharing sleeping arrangements, so we have been cluttering up the living room.

But when it gets to the stage of him having his own toothbrush here, time to say "hmm..." and make somewhat more permanent arrangements...i am trying hard not to read too much into things but...

zdt

Well, Christmas plans are relatively advanced in the Bonobo household...apart from Amazon consistently failing to deliver male Bonobo Jr No 1's Gameboy...and me not having written any cards yet. Still...at least I got my shopping done last Friday. A pleasant day in Glasgow rushing round the shops but with refreshment breaks at the genyoowine imported German Christmas market. Glühwein and Kartoffelpuffer a-go-go. (the last are a sort of deep-fried hash bown - only less dense - served with apple sauce). Sehr gemütlich! It all felt very civilised and European. We're getting there - slowly. If only we had the sense to use Euros!

Apart from that, at the weekend we went to see Santa and his Reindeer at a local National Trust house. (http://www.rampantscotland.com/glasgow/glw_holmwood.htm) Every year santa has do do some shopping in town, so this is where he parks his reindeer. (For the more cynical amongst us - they do have actual reindeer, but borrowed from Cairngorm). Male Bonobo Jr No 2 (aka 'Poop') was suitably impressed. When he saw them, he said 'Jingoo bez alla way!'. We also went to see Santa in his grotto. Unfortunately, a rather stressed Santa who forgot to ask them what was on their lists and then gave them totally age-inappropriate presents.

We also bought our tree, but have been too exhausted to put it up yet (it means fighting my way through the loft to find lights. And anyway, I had to be up at 5 to fly to London).

What's Edward hoping to find in his stocking? The new White Stripes live in Blackpool DVD. And books. Lots of books. Rather embarassingly, we haven't actually got round to playing any DVDs yet - apart from a Chinese pirate copy of Shark Tales.