Looney Bin

Real life questionnaire
You know how sometimes people on your friendslist post about stuff going on in their life, and all of a sudden you think "Wait a minute? Since when were they working THERE? Since when were they dating HIM/HER? Since when???" And then you wonder how you could have missed all that seemingly pretty standard information, but somehow you feel too ashamed to ask for clarification because it seems like info you should already know? It happens to all of us sometimes.

Please copy the topics below, erase my answers and put yours in their place, and then post it in your journal! Please elaborate on the questions that would benefit from elaboration. One-Word-Answers seldom help anyone out.


first name
K_________, though I answer to many others.

age
47.

location
The wild farmlands of Washington state there exists a small town. On the outskirts is a road that winds up and around a hill. I live on the backside of the top of the hill. Our hill has three bridges out of town, all of which have been closed due to flooding within the past 4 years. The dairy farm at the start of our road has a huge pasture that floods yearly, and we affectionately call it "Loch Cherry Valley." What do you expect? We're Scottish.

occupation
Currently unemployed after 15 solid years of employment (Washington state and Microsoft). It’s being really scary and strange and I am not really sure how well I am actually dealing with it as I keep staying up really late for me to make lists of things I need to get done. Trying hard to beat my resume into shape and actually put what I’d been doing into words that will make sense to others. It’s hard.

partner?
Married to the same guy I picked up in a park 27+ years ago. He’s a great guy and been really supportive during this time.

kids?
Three I gave birth to and a whole bunch more that call me ‘katmommy’.

brothers/sisters
One each. I actually talk with my sister.

pets
There are two cats in the house that see me as the chief food and water provider along with the occasional scratching post and the purveyor of pats, skritches and tummy rubs.

list the 3/5 biggest things going on in your life
The Job, or loss thereof. As I said earlier, this is the first time I’ve been jobless in 15 years. It’s scary. Really really scary.
Grandma G’s 100 birthday celebration My grandmother turns 100 in a couple of weeks. The Spouse and I will be traveling down to California to go to the party, because really, how often does one get to help to celebrate something like that?
Sewing. With the being laid off for the time being, I’ve been doing a lot of sewing, something I really enjoy and haven’t had the time or energy to do. I made a quilt for the GrandSpawn and now I’m working on re-doing Youngest Spawn’s quilt, which is falling apart. It’s been soothing and that is something I really need right now in my world.
The Kids, and how they're doing. Eldest Spawn is looking at going back to school for which I am very very proud. School was something she really looked forward to as a small child, but that joy was destroyed by bad teachers and worse schools. I hope that college agrees better with her. Middle Spawn being pregnant and on the other side of the state is worrying. I know she’s an adult but I wish we were closer during this time. SiL is working and putting up with Middle Spawn and the joys of pregnancy. He’s a good guy and I’m happy to have him as a son. Youngest Spawn returned to school and is doing well. She changed schools and I think it was a good change for her.

parents
Both deceased. It’s been a year and half for mom, 12+ years for dad. Yesterday would have been mom’s birthday, so I’m been a bit distracted as a result.

who are some of your closest friends?
The Spouse is my best friend, though we don’t talk as much as we used to. Something about living together for 27 (almost 28) years I think ::grin:: He is the Gred to my Forge.
Sj is my soul sib and my best friend I don’t live with. We do lunch and gossip about work and plan grand meals together. My life would be much poorer without him and Bj in my (our) life.
L, who I’ve fallen badly off the friend wagon with. He’s been a part of my life longer than Sj, shorter than The Spouse and I miss the closeness we once shared.
GB was a co-worker, is a friend and someone I really miss chatting with on a daily basis.

As Eldest Spawn said so eloquently, I do not make friends casually or easily, so even if I don’t stay in touch (which I am prone to do) it doesn’t mean that I don’t love you or miss you. It just means that I fail in the ‘stay in contact’ side of friendships.

Crossposted like 'woah' so if you get it more than once, my apologies.

I rarely rant and pitch a bitch fit on journals...just because it's not really 'me' to do that sort of thing.

But today I need to vent. After 10 plus years for the Evol Empire, I get hit in the latest rounds of lay offs.

Yeah.

My mind is spinning in place trying to figure out what to do next.

Shit.

However you celebrate it, have a wonderful day.

I'll be cooking a feast for friends & family while the Spawn are in Eastern Washington having a party at the middle Spawn's place.

Remember your ancestors, invite them to come and eat with you, and be kind to the Trick or Treaters coming to your door.

Today was my birthday and it's been a wonderful day!

I decided to work from home this morning since I needed to be online for a meeting at 8:00 am and didn't really fell like getting up early to make it into the office by then.

Took the rest of the day after the meeting off as a vacation day to laze about the house slothfully.

In the afternoon the Spouse and I headed out to see if Neovita had boots for me. Unfortunatly the one close (relative) to home had moved so we'll head back out this weekend to try our luck again either north (Alderwood) or south (Tukwila).

Chatted with the Middle Spawn for a while on the drive into town and then met up with Eldest and Youngest Spawn for Thai food for dinner. Nummy nummy stuff....

I got lovely cards from all my girls and the Spouse, along with wonderful gifties! A set of lovers goblets and a lovely jewelry box with home made earrings from the girls and an adorable cat ceramic jug and hair band from Miss Panda!

Its been a wonderful day and so now I'll say nighty night!

Xposted to RavenMcsidhe

And how time continues to fly away from me....

So... in the land of Nephir the Middle Spawn is spawning and I expect to be a Nanakat sometime between the end of February and the middle of March.

Ultrasounds show that the tradition of girls is alive and well in the Middle Spawn. The Elder and Younger Spawn have named the new spawnling 'Midget' for the time being.

All are looking forward to the spawning day so that they may share their influence with the Midget.

Work continues, so as long as I am employed I am content. Life continues on with small changes.

Youngest Spawn has returned to the halls of learning and Eldest Spawn will be joining her in December.

Youngest also has a case of the flu for the moment so is ensconsed at home with crackers and tea with a note to not return to public until she is feverless for 24 hours.

The rest of the family are crossing fingers and hoping to not get sick as well.

And how is your week going?

Patrick Swayze dies at home today.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090915/ap_en_ce/us_obit_swayze

None of these are over FRT (pg-13). Enjoy!


( Kane RPS, Chris/Steve, scent of his skin )

( Torchwood, Jack/Ianto, something sweet )

( True Blood, Godric/Sookie, tasting love )

( BtVS, Anya/Xander, flutters )

( Leverage, Eliot, He's trained to be silent, even when injured )

( Leverage, Eliot, everybody needs a hobby )

So, it appears that John C. Wright (http://johncwright.livejournal.com)has removed all the comments and locked his journal from annonymous & non-friend posters.

Interesting.....

Personally I don't care if he changes his story now and says that it was all in sarcasm and jest. It's no excuse for actions like that.

It always amazes me when 'rational' and thinking human beings open their mouths (or use their keyboards) and utter dross/trash falls out.

Take for example this published Science Fiction writer....http://johncwright.livejournal.com and the nasty post he made about homosexuality and television here: http://johncwright.livejournal.com/269139.html

It just makes me glad that I've not ever contributed money towards his upkeep by purchasing any of his titles. I know it's only pennies but they are my pennies by the Gods and I'll spend them where hatred and ignorance isn't offered as pearls of wisdom.

Every one is entitled to their opinion, and he is as entitled to his just as I am mine, so he's allowed to say nasty ugly things by right of free speech, just as I am allowed to say that I believe he is an idiot for spouting such things. Free speech all around.

But it still makes me angry. I can understand that he's uncomfortable with homosexuality. If it makes him uncomfortable, then he should not engage in homosexual acts. HOWEVER.... his understanding of homosexuality is woefully incomplete. It would be like me saying that all heterosexual people only have sex to create babies.

I know that's not true and I really really wanted to put in some really exaggerated piece of crap as the example because it seems that those who fear and hate homosexuals believe that ONLY homosexuals have sex that is not the 'missionary position in the bedroom' type of sex, and I would be a poorer person for spreading such lies.

I have to say that the vast majority of the nasty filthy porn I have read was created by 'good upstanding heterosexuals of the mainly Christian persuasion.

Reading over the comments (8 pages worth) is painful and sadly amusing.

Mr. Wright, I think your are a bigot and and less evolved human being. I hope for the sake of your (possible) children that you have never procreated, and I know that when you are face to face with your maker that (s)He'll be mightly upset with you.

Linking as per requested -- this is a wonderful short piece and I encoursge everyone to read and think on it.

http://fragbert.livejournal.com/442522.html

It was a lovely if a bit too warm for us weekend for the 4th of July holiday. Friday was the bank holiday, so we spent the day trying to keep cool, finally escaping to the movies and saw Transformers; Rise of the Fallen.

Not a bad movie, but then again I wasn't looking for anything more than giant robot fights and explosions (I really enjoy adventure films) and there were plenty in the movie to satisfy me.

I am looking forward to GI Joe, especially since it looks like Christopher Eccleston is Destro and Joseph Godon-Levitt is Cobra Commander. *fangirl squeeing commences*

We spent Saturday at a friends house where it was thankfully air-conditioned and BBQ'ed and ate till it felt like we wanted to burst. The Spouse and I got to see some lovely fireworks on the way home afterwards being set off on the ridge as we entered the valley.

Sunday was spent lazing around and napping. All in all a good weekend in my mind.

Monday arrived, somewhat windy and 20 degrees cooler, so it looks like a typical PNW summer day (grin). The weeks of 80+ degree temps and no rain were just wrong so early in the summer. Normally we don't see those until after the 4th of July, and more into August so it looks like some of summer came early.

Hope you had a safe and sane holiday (for those in the US).

Its a beautiful sunny day here in the foothills of the Pacific Northwest Cascades with the promise of 80+ temps again.

It's also the Fourth of July for those of us in the US, Independence Day.

Politicians like to trot it out once a year and use it in whatever jingoistic blather they are trying to push, retailers use it to push merchandise with flags printed on it, and kids like it because there are parades and fireworks.

For myself, I like to take time when the house is quiet and reflect on what it means to me. It gives me a moment to thank my family and friends that have served in the military (The Spousal Unit who never saw battle (thank the Gods); two my uncles, one in Vietnam & one in Korea; the SiL, Iraq; D&M over in Germany at the moment; The Martian...MonkeyBoy...Mice.... the list can stretch out forever)

Its a celebration of sacrifice and honor, of disparate peoples coming together and taking charge of the place that they live. It is political unrest and anarchy in a simplified history lesson snack, just bite sized enough for those who have the attention span of the average goldfish to swallow.

So take a moment of quiet reflection and remember what the holiday is really about, and then go about your day in the knowledge that some sacrifices are remembered in glory and song long after the events that required them.

Goodbye Karl Malden, your acting and commercials shaped my childhood without my awareness....how else would I know not to leave home without my American Express?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090701/ap_on_en_mo/us_obit_malden

And on the other side of the pond....we've lost Mrs. Solcomb from Are You Being Served?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8129617.stm

From over at Live journal: http://community.livejournal.com/escapade_con/65683.html?view=227475&style=mine

Minotaur, whose wonderful website gave many a intrepid slash fangirl the logistics and how-to knowledge for writing male/male sex scenes has passed on.

I had the privilege to meet him at the second Sylum Clan Gathering, held in Anaheim. He was kind enough to come down and answer questions from a room full of women about sex and the gay male.

My thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family today.

Another one passes on.

Saw the new Trek last night. I enjoyed it muchly. But even more so the previews...

TRANSFORMERS.....oh yeah. And GI Joe looks pretty nifty as well. I'm an action movie junkie.

Anyone out there a fan? I've been re-watching the series (I've only got seasons 1 & 2 so far) and I am experiencing much Mulder love.

Its been a bit of quiet time here -- works been consuming the majority of my attention with Sylum grabbing a share of what I have left.

My knee's been giving me the grumpy treatment for a few weeks now. I actually went into the doctor's to have it checked out but they didn't find anything via the x-rays. Doctor suggested PT, I've politely declined until I see a orthopedic specialist and had an MRI. I think it's either tissue or ligament issues, which won't show on an x-ray and have no desire to go through months of PT without making sure that's the issue.

So Friday I'll be in the ortho's office to have it checked out.

Writing -- nothing much happening there on that front, though I've gotten some knitting done and I'm compiling a recipe book for Sylum.

Hope your Spring is going well.

( messy female complaints )

Just ewwwww.

I now return you to your regular reading pleasures.

I managed to survive the anniversary of my mom's passing with only a week long melt down, some of which embarrassingly happened at work. I'm feeling more stable now though, and less prone to random fits of anger and/or tears so that's of the good.

Yesterday was the Son in Laws (forever more to be called Soldier Boy) birthday. Poor Boy..... birthdays are chaotic and weird at our house. We like to go all out in ways, treat the inner and outer child, so you're as likely to get toys and candy as you are serious gifts. Favorite food preference is a must and cake.

So, he got computer games, books on tape, Pez, a dinosaur picture punch out book, little plastic cowboys and indians (we couldn't find army men), silly putty....you see what I mean?

He couldn't articulate what it was he wanted for dinner, so I chose to do pasta alfredo, garlic chicken, salad and steamed asparagus.

For cake, we had Cookie Dough Extravaganza ice cream cake from Coldstone. All in all, I think it was a good day for him. Tonight they are planning on going over to friends for another party, so it should be a good thing for them both.

On the down side, Middle Spawn (Soldier Boy's wife unit) lost her job, so she's a little less than happy with that.

In rest of the family news we're mainly doing okay here. My knee's been giving me grief like woah, so much so that I actually went to see the doctor yesterday about it. (I know, mark the date!) Xrays didn't show any fracture, but a weird shadow which my inner voice has decided is cancer (yeah...right, just paranoid). The still need to be read by the radiologist though. I'm gonna hold out for an MRI rather than PT first though. The manipulations for the xrays my knee kept me up most of the night aching and hurting so I really cannot even begin to imagine what PT will bring about. That was with taking two pain pills before I went to bed.

Yeah, no fun there.

I'm sure that the knee issue started on the trip home from California last year after Mom's death. I slipped coming out of the shuttle bus and missed the last stair completely landing flat footed with all my weight on one foot/knee combo. It ached and by the time I was done sitting trapped in a tin can and got home it was swollen and painful and just not happy. I didn't go see a doctor then (as I told my doc, I wasn't in the head space to do anything for months after that) and after several weeks it finally began to feel somewhat better.

Now, it hates me again, and I am tired of it.

On other news, I got sucked into the cult of Facebook, where I play a lot of Mafia Wars and that's about it.

Hope your spring is looking up for you where ever you are.