phyncke

I am here and around. I have been meaning to post and failing at that so here is a year end post. I am glad this year is ending and I don't know what the new year will bring. The political scene is dampening my mood for 2018. I am trying to be hopeful but I really hate our current administration and what they are doing. They just passed this horrible tax plan they totally benefits the wealthy and corporate interests on the backs of the middle class and the poor. It is decidedly not fair. Sure our taxes may go down in the short term but over the long term they will go up and significantly. They are really trying to pull one over on the American people and hoping that the short term dip in taxes on payroll will help them on the midterm elections next year. I really hope people are not fooled. The Democrats are doing well right now and heading for an upswing. I am a Democrat and I hope they take back Congress and stick it to them. I vehemently oppose this administration and all that it stands for. They lie and cheat and steal. This is kleptocracy at its worst.

Lord, I did not mean to post all that. But that is how I feel.

So I did not get that job I applied for. I got terribly sick for the interview and had to video conference for that and I think it totally hurt my chance for that. I was psyched to get to the third round and be in the running so will take the positive from that. I want to work on my resume and cover letter and keep looking. I am bored where I am and kind of just dial it in. So I need more of a challenge. I will keep looking for that. I could also use more monay. So all of that. I can stay where I am too - I mean, I have a job but something better would be good.

So I am going to get a newer car. Not sure if you know but I have a really old car - a 1993 Ford. My friends have a 2006 Subaru and want to sell it and it is in great shape so I am going to buy that from them for a very fair price. I am also going to turn my current car into the CA Air Quality people and get some money for it which will pay for most of the newer car. So exciting news on that front. I have never bought a brand new car. I think cars depreciate too much - I mean like the minute you drive it off the lot - why lose all that value and pay that much? I have had good luck with used cars and so there you go. The new car is a small wagon and a 5 speed so I will be back driving a manual. No problemo on that.

So - I have to start the paragraph with so - I am spending the holidays with friends in the area. I am not traveling this season. I looked into airline tickets back east and it was ridiculously expensive. I have some projects to work on in my house - clutter to go through so that will keep me busy. I want to work out and do some hiking too.

So I am 4 pounds away from goal on the Weight Watchers thing. I am super excited about that! Yay! It is going slowly and holidays are hard with all the events to go to and all that. I am thinking I will hit goal in January some time. I will post here when I do! Yeah.

So I hope you are all having a great holiday season and enjoying your time with family and friends. Take good care and comments are love. My one New Year's resolution is to post regularly on LJ. I really like the blog thing here. So I will try to post a bit more here.

Happy Holidays!

Here and there - hither and yon. Doing this and that. Little of this and that. Uhh.

I had all my work projects finish up in October and so work is easier now. I have all fun stuff to do now - like our holiday party and other easy things. I am keeping my eye out on the job market and edited my resume this week. Things are shifting at work in terms of the leadership so I have to be ready to move if I need to. Best to have it all prepped. I would like to stay at the Uni but I might branch out to other organizations.

Getting ready for the holidays - gobble day and Hanukkah and Christmas. I am staying here on the West Coast. I have visitors coming here so that will be fun - khylea is coming and we will be going to see The Hobbit - Battle of Five Armies in December and hang out here at Christmas so good times, good times.

Anyhoo. That is it. I should make some graphics but am not motivated to.

I have been reading but not commenting all that much. I do try and read everything though.

Cheers to you!

Well I am sick. Sore throat, achey yech. I was hoping it would miraculously go away by today and I have been sick since Friday night, Saturday morning but no dice. I stayed home today. I don't believe in infecting co-workers and really hate when people come in when sick. I am handling essentials here and resting. I don't feel well and why spread my germs all over there? All the flu posters say stay home when you are sick.

I slept some and watched the special features on my Casino Royale dvd. I am loving Daniel Craig as James Bond. We caught up on Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale this weekend and just loved them. I heart me Daniel Craig as 007. I know people disagree but for me, he is my favorite Bond so far. I grew up with Roger Moore and Sean Connery, I know, I know but I like this interpretation. Everyone has an opinion on that, legitimately but I like this one.

My friend is still here and is leaving tomorrow. We have had a fun time chilling and relaxing this week. She took off and went on a tour of Alcatraz today and is doing some things in SF. Sight seeing. Always good to do here. I am planning to go visit here in Vegas in January or February. Tres excited about that! Woot.

So hope all is well with you there and that you had a fun Thanksgiving holiday in the USA. I should put up my tree but don't feel well enough to wrestle it out of the closet. I will get to that this week.

Anyhoo. Post holiday post on in. Cheers to you all!


by yueshi at monlichtung on livejournal

The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16.

Interesting factoid there. :P I love looking things up.

I have tomorrow off. I so happy.


by hisescape

Home stretch of Hanukkah 2009. This is night seven and tonight's menorah photo. I am not feeling well so not much of a post tonight. Just the piccie. Be well all. Last night of Hanukkah is tomorrow night.





by hoarilysatan

Here with a late post tonight. I was at the movies, more on that another time. Here is the menorah picture for tonight.

( Three candles lit from right to left... )

No cultural or other factual things tonight as I am very tired but thank you for looking (if you do).

Good night all!

Those of you who have been with me a while know that I celebrate Hanukkah up close and personal on my journal. It reminds me of times growing up and I do enjoy this ritual. I try to post nightly during the Festival of Lights, over the eight nights and share what I am doing. I am not devoutly Jewish but creatively so. I also celebrate Christmas and decorate for that. I am an adult and can do what I want. I have my own beliefs and hold to those, such as they are.

Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah and I was supposed to light the candles at sundown but I was out at the mall. Oh wells. I lit them when I got home and took pictures of them for the blog-o-sphere. Over the next eight nights, I will post a bit about this holiday and its meaning and personal stuff etc.

Tonight, just the menorah which symbolizes the ceremonial lamps that are in the temples or synogogues. More on this later. Each night you light a candle for a night of the holiday, adding one to the menorah while there is also a "worker candle" (shamash) used to light the symbolic candle. The worker candle is the center candle on the menorah...lit first, it is used to light the candles from left to right. Tonight, I lit two candles...the shamash and then the far right candle representing the first night of this holiday.

Sooo...I took pictures. Three this time so you could see the progression. Most nights I will just post the one of the fully lit menorah.

( Menorah lighting step by step... )

You light the menorah while singing the blessing over the Hanukkah candles:

English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Sfaradi/Modern Israeli:
Barukh Atta Adonay Eloheynu Melekh Ha-olam Asher Kiddeshanu Be-mitsvotav Ve-tsivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel khanuka

You leave the candles until they burn out naturally. I am watching mine go down now. It is best not to leave them untended...more on that another night.

Cheers to all and happy weekend, happy Hanukkah.


by hoarilysatan

I am here at the Uni and it is a bit slow here so I sign on and post. Yayus.

I have discovered the joys of Pandora. Have you all figured this one out yet? It is all about music.

http://www.pandora.com/

You set up a free account there and you can program in "stations" which are really musical preferences. It will then select music that is similiar to what you like and play it for you. It remembers your stations so you can go back to them later. It is advertising based so occasionally it plays a short thing there but by in large, you get a lot of music played for a little bit of ads. I have programmed in some of my favorite bands, Christmas instrumental, Christmas swing and a few others. The Enya station is outstanding as their are some great companion artists in that. This also works with my iphone and there is a free app for it for those of you who have those. I think there are apps for a few other devices. You can also use Pandora on its own, on your computer and just have some really nice background music. It is web based so a good internet connection is important, I think. So let me know if you sign on to that. I am loving this and it is expanding my music by a ton and I don't have to buy anything. Edit: The free account limits you to 40 hours a month of listening. You can pay 99cents to get unlimited listening that month. That is one caveat on the service so I have to see how it goes. I do like it and don't know if I will exceed the 40 hours.

Other news and newsworthy things...

I am almost done with my Crimmas, holiday mailing of packages. I have one more thing to mail back east, my niece's present. I have to get more cards as I am out and have yet to get to family and friends from my address book. So I will do that. I love the Hannukah stamps this year from the post office. Really cool.

Tomorrow, I have my 10 year service award luncheon from the Uni in the large ballroom. A bunch of us from the Division are going to that and will sit together and raise a ruckus. :P Free lunch is key and I think the Cal Band plays. Woot.

Thursday, I have the staff holiday party which is the event that I plan each year for the Division. It seems to going smoothly right now. People keep signing up, but that is all good. The thing to decide is what to wear. The right amount of elegance and comfort. Yeppers.

That is about it and a pretty good ramble. :) Thanks for reading.

V-gift thank you's to:
esteliel, chaotic_binky, whitestar_alpha, weepingnaiad, and pierrelle
Very fun!


by izabeth

A quick post from the East Coast tonight. I head back tomorrow. It seems that my week here went by quickly and I fly back to Calif tomorrow. Good times had with my family. My niece has been hanging here for a few days and we get along really well. We spent some time singing along to Mamma Mia last night and today and then went to see Madagascar 2. I really like silly movies.

I have totally enjoyed spending time with my family. I am gearing up for the tearful good bye. My mom always cries when I leave. I admit I do too, when the plane takes off.

I still have time off when I get back there and will be able to rest some more. I will enjoy that too. My cat sitter has been sending me daily updates on the Boo cat so I know she has been well tended. So glad I got a professional to mind her. Really happy with that.

New Year's coming up. I think we are just cooking a nice meal and staying in for that. No need to drive around and be dangerous. I like it quiet now that I am older.

Hope all is well with everyone on the friendslist. Remember, kindness given is good karma.

Cheers.


by nienna_weeper


Note: Bunday will return next week.