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

Well, it can't hurt to think of someone if only because it's at least semi-permanent...

Hope you haven't had to work too hard shipping stuff today. I woke up rather early- my wisdom teeth are bothering me again. I think I'll go back to bed in a few.

Is Jools Holland on tonight? I remember watching that on NY Eve- it was a lot of fun, even if most of the acts sucked a bit.

Jools is on tonight, but the only draw for me is Madness, and I don't know if I want to stay up just for that. The suck factor increases with every passing year.

Not working too hard, though we do have to accelerate a bit for what we'd normally be doing tomorrow. And the quarterly audit. But it feels so much worse after a box of chocolate biscuits and 10 days of torpor.

Hope today and tomorrow you have a nice REST.

Rest? I've got to do a load of laundry and clean the bathroom, at least. But other than that, I'll relax as much as possible. I'm still stressing a bit about my little problem (I tend to ruminate obsessively, imagining absolute impending doom... you know. ) but trying not to think about it until I've had time to consult A Professional.

Don't think I'll be heading back to bed any time soon... I can hear K and Herman snoring all the way over here.

Talk to me about audits. Our annual audit starts soon. We're almost ready, but it's a pain anyway. Hope you get everything done early enough to get a decent start on the evening's festivities. I think we'll just have movies or something.

Sounds good to me. Might just stick Radio 3 on or something. Though I've arranged to go see Blade Runner: Final Cut with Tom on Saturday, never seen it on the big screen. I talk about rest, but I've planned to blitz the flat tomorrow. So far I've cleared out the cupboards and done my New Year tradition of sorting out the drawers of Things That Might Come In Handy At Some Point. I've got it down to about 50%.

If it isn't confidential, what sort of professional do you seek? Do you need Michael Brandow, Attorney-at-Law?

Not exactly- as amusing as that would be. Probably best discussed in email, though. I'll share those details perhaps later in the week when I'm better informed as to what I am talking about.

Tell me about the drawers (and cartons, and storage bins, yadda yadda) of Things That Might Come In Handy At Some Point. As well as Things With No Obvious Useful Purpose. K's no better; it's just different kinds of Things.

Love Is A Many-Thinged Splendour.

Ain't that the truth!

It's one of the reasons I've decided that while a second bathroom and a bit more closet space would be wonderful, I'm not as keen to relocate as I think I am. I'd miss the central heat/air, the dishwasher... but more importantly, I'd actually have to pack and unpack all of this crap.

But you could "lose" quite a lot, during the move...

That usually happens- though it's usually the stuff I wanted to keep.

Happy New Year.

Greetings from '08. Better times for the three of you, and good luck for the Democrats.

Hello from '08 to you, too. 2007 wasn't bad, overall, but let's hope that 2008 is a good one for all of us.

A bit of humor- Herman, K and I all need root canals. Care to bet whether or not the cat goes first?

We got a fair amount of snow yesterday. We may venture out to get a handful of grocery items later this afternoon (the store is open 10-6). When do you have to go back to work, tomorrow?

Yup, just when I was settling back into the festive torpor. Actually with most things shut and no buses I decided to take a walk out into the country, get some fresh air. I've resolved if nothing else to do more of that, it's just round the corner and I haven't done more than twice since I moved here two years ago. If we get a bit of snow, and that's all it ever is, it'll make for some nice photos.

Root canal, horrible. Sorry for all of you, but I can see who's the priority.

Just watching Eat The Rich. Classic Comic Strip stuff, utterly barmy - have you seen much of their stuff? Nice to see Lemmy, even if he's got a face like a stung scrotum and can't act. And Shane McGowan, Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, and Jools Holland as the grubby journo.

Glad you enjoyed "Eat the Rich". I thought it was fun.

SO, I inquired yesterday about the position at my company, and it turns out they've hired someone and that person starts middle of next week. You're probably right, though, that it wouldn't have suited Candy; it only pays about $45K. No way could anyone keep up a house, etc, on that little money.

Any big plans for this weekend? None here. We'd planned to see my grandma tomorrow, but she's developed a cold and doesn't feel up to company, so it'll be another lazy weekend watching movies in my jammies. Though I may actually get around to washing my kitchen and bathroom floors.

Even at current rates that $45k sounds like plenty to me, but I know Candy's more used to a bit above that. Though she might not have turned it away, I dread to think how she'd have coped getting into town every morning anyway. But thanks very much for thinking of her.

I've overspent quite drastically, so I've got 3 weeks of subsistence sitting it out to do. Tomorrow I'm hoping to go with Tom to Blade Runner: Last Cut, Honest; but apart from that I'm going to take advantage to make some music, watch some more of those DVDs and maybe read a little, while plotting what to waste my next paycheck on. I'll have a *bit* spare, but I don't know what to prioritise. Definitely a new hoover, but I also want a new printer, and rug, and sofa. And swivel chair, and I want a theremin. And a pot plant, and a kitten.

Getting into town every morning isn't as bad as you might think- people I work with come a lot further, and manage in an hour or less. Most contacts I'm likely to encounter would be downtown, but I'll send along anything I might hear of- can't hurt. Better to have options presented and pass on them, than not to hear of something that might work out just right.

Boy, you do have a hefty shopping list there. Well, here's how I would prioritize. Not that I expect you to follow my lead, or anything.

1. hoover
2. potted plant
3. kitten
4. kitten paraphernalia
5. new printer
6. rug (the thing you put on the floor, right? not a blanket, in which case I'd get that before the printer)
7. chair
8. sofa
9. what the hell is a theramin?

Just the coolest instrument ever created...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wph6wGwPn9M

I had forgotten that kittens need paraphernalia.

Rug is the thing on the floor, looking very grubby. Though I think thew plant would be better off left till a time it stands a chance of getting some sun

Kittens do require some paraphernalia. Food and water dish, litter pan, poop scoop, brush, scratching thingy, and at least one or two toys. Food and litter aren't all that costly, but I'd recommend feeding better quality food and paying for fewer vet visits. Speaking of which- kittehs need to see the vet once per year for vaccinations (even indoor cats) and a checkup. Not that expensive, really, but if you're on a tightrope budget it might do to set aside a little each month rather than delay the visit each year. It's one thing to blow off your own medical care for lack of funds; it's another to impose that on something utterly dependent on you.

That said, even during that time while I was having paycheck issues, we managed to keep the cat fed and healthy. In reality, we pay about $30 a month for vet formula food (moist and dry, and they don't *need* both) and $12 a month for eco-friendly non-allergenic litter. And $200 a year for vet checkup.

Will have to view the video clip later...

If you don't have a lot of natural light, there are a few plants that would do quite well. They also, coincidentally, don't require much watering. Senseveria (snake plant or mother-in-law tongue), pothos and aspidistra. I have a couple dozen house plants, many of which like high light, but I have two senseveria, one aspidistra, and one pothos, in corners that don't see as much sunlight, and they're thriving.

Thanks for the insight. I'm lucky that there is a very well-regarded vet clinic at the row of stores down the hill from me - it's where I've been looking for news of unwanted post-Xmas cats on offer.