| Fuck me, I'm a poodle |
[Jul. 7th, 2009|08:17 pm] |
Those infamous words from the play "Bobby Gould Goes to Hell" are appropos once again.
So what is it this time, you might ask. Well, kids, let me tell you.
I had found an apartment that was listed on craigslist. Now, it's a bit small but it would do for now. It was advertised at $1045 a month, including heat/hot water and a parking space and it's a tenant-at-will, perfect in case I were to get the Key West job. After a bit of agonizing and talking to Lina, we decided to go for it. I got in touch with the guy who advertised the place and he sent me an application to fill out and send to the real estate company. I filled it out and emailed it to the company.
Now, a little sidetrack here. There's another job I applied for down in NY. That job was advertised with a start date of next week, so they're looking to move fast. But things didn't move that quickly and I called them to request an interview Thursday because tomorrow I am working down in southern CT and I could just get a hotel room and then catch a train into the city for the interview. I called them yesterday to follow up and was told I'd be called today. Well, I hadn't heard, so while I was at work, I sent them an email and apologized for being a bit pushy on this, but I have a number of time-critical things into which this job figures quite prominently. It would be foolish to pay the first/security on this new place here in MA only to have to forfeit it next week to instead move to NY. And it's not like I have an extra couple of grand kicking around either.
So..... 10 minutes ago I get a phone call from the real estate company apologizing for the confusion. See, the apartment is advertised for $1200 and the current tenant, with whom I was dealing, had zero authority to offer the apartment, never mind at a price below what the real estate company wants for it. The agent said he will call the current tenant and talk to his bosses to see what can be done.
But I pretty much know what will happen, and once again Lina and I are going to get fucked sans lube.
I am really really really fucking getting tired of being jerked around here by everyone and having thing after thing go wrong. I want to start punching things right now. Seriously.
Instead, I have to pack for tomorrow and pack my interview clothes just in case the agency calls. But I doubt they will. In fact, I'm pretty sure I fucked that one up as well.
And of course, no word from Moscow.
Can I catch one little break somewhere? Please? |
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| One last thing |
[Jul. 7th, 2009|12:29 am] |
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While Obama's over in Russia, is he going drink-for-drink with Medvedev and Putin? Enquiring minds want to know. |
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| Disappointment |
[Jul. 5th, 2009|10:42 am] |
No headlines in the Herald- "Local Freak Club Night Haven For Nazi Devil-Worshipping Vampires."
Maybe next time, eh ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) sparkgrrl658? "We ... must ... try ... HARDER!" |
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| Saving for future use |
[Jul. 4th, 2009|02:13 am] |
Tonight I find myself a lot less stressed and considerably happier. I decided to do a bit of writing. Not politics, but a bit of madness. It's been too fucking long. Enjoy. I did. ( Read more... ) |
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| Friends |
[Jul. 2nd, 2009|11:30 pm] |
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It was nice to get dragged kicking and screaming out of my little shell tonight. Went over and saw armandae for the first time since she's been back from Monk Camp. A lot's happened since then for sure. batcave was there with the new pup, who is totally chill and spent most of the time sleeping. sephardic showed up with Rubin too, and joined Tom and Drew. Food and drink were to be had and board games were broken out with double entendres aplenty. It was nice to decompress and be fucking human for a few hours, rather than a bundle of nerves about visas and everything else. Much much needed. |
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| Upgrade? |
[Jul. 1st, 2009|05:49 pm] |
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Anyone on my f-list install the newest version of Firefox yet? If so, report please. |
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| For those scoring at home |
[Jul. 1st, 2009|07:39 am] |
Radio silence from Moscow continues. My inbox is more bare than old mutha Hubbid's cubbid. (if you say it with a Boston accent) It's now 3:45pm there and I doubt anything will be sent today. Next step- tonight before I go to bed, a follow-up email seeing what's going on- or not going on, as the case may be.
Urgh. |
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| stoopid intawebs |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|08:02 am] |
Woke up about every 45 minutes last night to check my email, but nothing from the US consulate about the visas.
The fact that I sent it right near quitting time Friday means it's probably buried behind hundreds if not thousands of other emails. So the waiting continues. This is Not Fun. |
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| Hmmmm |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|12:09 am] |
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"Mans are from Mars and wimmens are from mans' ribs. So where do lyin' cheatin' whores come from?"- Squidbillies |
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| The ups and downs of life |
[Jun. 24th, 2009|02:16 pm] |
Today certainly has them.
I received text messages from Lina. So far so good in Moscow, except for the fact that the physical exams cost a total of about $350- on top of the $120 Lina had to pay for blood work in St Petersburg and however much she had to lay out for 2 train tickets from StP to Moscow in the height of tourist season and factoring in the 4 days without work, plus meals. Thank gawds they're staying at a friend of a friend's place and only had to spend some cash for a thank-you gift and not get a hotel. In all, this is costing another $800-$1000 or so, on top of the several grand we've already laid out.
But.... they're now back at the friend's place after a day of taking in the sights of Moscow. It's 10pm there and at 5:50am (9:50pm tonight EDT) they are leaving for the consulate to wait in line for their interview.
To say I am a complete and utter nervous wreck right now would be a gross understatement. All our hard work compiling documents, gathering the information, the dozens of hours of phone calls to USCIS and the NVC, the hundreds of emails, and the untold hours spent on the phone and online chatting with Lina..... it all comes to a head in the next 12 hours and our future as the family is in the hands of an official at the US Consulate. Please, whatever if any deity is out there, let this person have a good night's rest, maybe get a little somethin' somethin' to put a smile on their face, and hopefully they're not dragged down by the cold miserable rainy weather that has been hitting Moscow as well as Boston and StP, and that they've not been having a lousy week at work where all they want to do is get the hell out for the weekend.
No idea why I'm such a basket case right now.
And I got a very sad email from my Sis. This morning she had to have her cat Lulu put to sleep. My poor Sis has been having a very rough go of it lately and this is a pretty tough blow. Lulu's been a loyal if somewhat eccentric companion for about 18 years and it's never an easy decision to make to have to put such a friend to sleep.
So today, I am all over the place. Happy. Anxious. Sad. This schitzoid weather that teases us with the promise that the sun might break out is a perfect metaphor to how I am feeling right now.
Well, time to go pick up my paycheck and run errands. Hopefully that will be a good distraction. |
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| An extraordinary program |
[Jun. 23rd, 2009|03:17 pm] |
This isn't quite Boston, so if the mods remove this, I'd understand.
For fans of magic, there's an incredible show tonight at the Hong Kong Restaurant in Harvard Sq in Cambridge. "The Mystery Lounge" will feature magicians David Oliver, Steve Kradolfer, comedian Joe Wong, and hosted by Joe Howard.
Having worked with/for both Mr. Oliver and Ms. Dillies, I can vouch that you will be in for a mindblowing and entertaining evening of magic. |
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| Arrival? |
[Jun. 22nd, 2009|11:02 pm] |
According to the schedule, Lina and Alisa should have arrived in Moscow, barring any delays.
Next step, they have their physicals at 10am Moscow time / 2am our time. Then I imagine, a bit of sightseeing before they collapse.
Wednesday, they must get their results from their physical exams and get their pre-paid DHL airbills for their visas. |
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| The Midnight Express |
[Jun. 22nd, 2009|01:55 pm] |
I just got word from Lina that she and Alisa are finished with the rest of their packing and are heading out the door for the train station to catch the midnight train to Moscow. (4pm our time) They'll be getting there about 7am- 11pm tonight our time. Tomorrow, they have to report to the doctor for their physicals, and then get a pre-paid DHL airbill for their (hopefully) visas.
So this is it. Things are finally moving. It's pretty exciting.
And on a happy note, work today was supposed to run from 8am to 6pm, but we finished at 11:30 but we still get paid until 6pm. So I'm home and will grab a nap and then spend the afternoon and evening looking for jobs, gigs for the band, and apartments. |
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| Fini |
[Jun. 20th, 2009|02:41 pm] |
Ok, I survived. Got home about an hour ago from the last work shift. I was covered in mud and sore as hell- a lot of work involved coiling 4/0 cables that have been sitting in mud the past 3 days. 4/0 is heavy shit, weighs maybe a pound a foot, and these were 100' lengths. Oh, and they don't like to coil properly- you have to wrestle with them.
Then there was the fun part of taking cables down from the tent while the tent company was breaking down the tent. After they nearly knocked the guy I was working with off his ladder and then yanked a huge piece of vinyl sheeting from right in front of our faces, I went to their manager and asked him- very politely- to have his guys be a bit more careful. This guy really didn't seem to give a flying fuck. Nobody in his fucking crew spoke English and I'm guessing that if an INS truck showed up, they would have scattered for the woods. Which I don't care about, but the safety part- that's my fucking livelihood and if I get hurt on the job, I'm beyond screwed.
But I made it home in one piece, have showered, shaved, and eaten, and now it is time to head down to my brother and sister-in-law's place for my niece's graduation party. There will be beer there- oh yes there will- and there's a chair with my name on it. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|11:24 pm] |
Got to work for load-out only to be told the client decided to run the event until midnight. There goes an hour of sleep, meaning I'm going into tomorrow's 10 am load-out on maybe 3 hours of sleep.
Joy! |
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| For those scoring at home |
[Jun. 18th, 2009|11:00 pm] |
Today- left for work at 7am, got home at 9pm.
Friday- catch 7am bus, work until 6, home at 7, shower/dinnner/nap.
Drive to work 10:30pm, work until 3am, home/shower, to sleep at 4:30.
Saturday- leave for work 9:30am, work until 3pm, home/shower, drive to niece's graduation party.
Sunday- collapse
Monday- load in Symphony Hall, catch 7:30am bus, work until 6pm, home at 7pm.
Tuesday/Wednesday- courier work
Wednesday -->Thursday midnight Lina & Alisa's Consulate interview, sit by phone and chew nails until 3am.
Thursday- (hopefully) breathe sigh of relief or stab self in eye repeatedly with rusty fork.
Friday- courier work |
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| Stick a fork in this boy |
[Jun. 14th, 2009|09:55 pm] |
Folks, in a process going back to March of 2008, I have FINALLY sent the last of the documents to Russia for Lina and Alisa's interview at the US Consulate on the 25th. We are in the final stages of this madness, and they leave for Moscow a week from tomorrow (Monday).
I'm completely toast right now. I spent about 4 hours scanning and editing documents to email over there.
But not to worry- there will be more work. Oh no, you didn't think I would be sitting idle, did you? I must begin to look in earnest for a new apartment and trying to scrape together enough cash for first/last/security, while managing to keep my current bills paid.
Oh, and there's also the small matter of me trying to book shows for both Izba Trio and the circus.
And I must now begin packing up my apartment for the upcoming move.
This is why, my friends, I have been ungodly scarce these days. No time and no money really cuts into ones' social life, let me tell you.
But soon..... there will be time. I just need to make it through these next 3 or 4 months. |
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| Progress |
[Jun. 11th, 2009|11:44 pm] |
| [ | The Doctor is: |
| | accomplished | ] |
Ok, I am slowly pulling things together. Tonight I spent 5 hours working on sending out booking proposals for the band. I decide to concentrate on colleges and universities with graduate Russian programs. I found a website listing all the institutions with those programs and broke them down by geographic region. Now, one by one, I am going down the list finding the contact for the department and adjusting the proposal letter accordingly.
It's a lot of work, but if I can score maybe 20 events out of 38 institutions, that would be sweet. And that's not even looking at other venues.
Time to sleep. |
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| Mr Magoo confesses |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|10:59 am] |
Ok.... I am making a concession to my age, which for the record is 44. This schedule was too much. Was seriously comatose as I got ready for work, went out to do my first pickup, and realized I was too far gone to be behind the wheel. Driving in Boston while sharp is difficult enough, but half asleep? That's just asking for serious trouble. So I radioed my dispatcher and told him I need to go home and sleep for a couple of hours.
So here I am and now I am going to sleep. |
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| Sweet! |
[Jun. 8th, 2009|01:54 am] |
So tonight's load-out..... I got there at 11:30 and the guys already had half the shit broken down and packed up. I helped break the rest of it down and then the truck arrived and we loaded it up. At 12:40 we were done and I got home about 1:20.
Total time, including the commute- 2:50. I get paid for 5 hours.
Score! |
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| And.... |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|11:34 pm] |
Just a quick note to end the evening. Today is my father-in-law's 77th birthday. Gawd love the man- he's still sharp.
He's an amazing fellow. An engineer by trade, he's also an author with 11 books published. He won the Russian version of the Pulitzer Prize for literature, the Pushkin Medal, for one of his books. And he's a helluva saxophone player, which is where Lina gets her musical talent. Yes, Папа Лев- Papa L'ev- is a helluva guy.
Here's to many more, Papa! |
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| Oh my head.... |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|06:34 pm] |
One of the things that is completely laughable about the business world is the insipid cock-smoochery of the language. Jesus, just reading this shit is enough to make me want to jab a rusty fork repeatedly into my brain and then pour sulphuric acid into the gaping wound.
You have been warned- go behind the cut if you dare for Exhibit A from a Craigslist post: ( Read more... ) |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 30th, 2009|03:10 pm] |
| [ | Blasting from the speakers: |
| | Lemonheads | ] |
:: WOOT WOOT Lemonheads!!! :: |
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| More phone |
[May. 29th, 2009|11:21 pm] |
Ok, so I've had 24 hours with the new phone (the Nokia E71x) and here are my thoughts. ( Read more... ) |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 29th, 2009|06:24 pm] |
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I am digging the new phone very very much. More from my computer later. |
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| Could it be? |
[May. 24th, 2009|06:53 pm] |
I went online to look into apps for my soon-to-be-in-my-hot-little-hands Nokia and came across this article.
It seems that for once in my life, I might be on the cutting edge, ahead of the curve with something.
Damn..... Let's hope this continues. |
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| WTF? |
[May. 23rd, 2009|03:12 pm] |
I have a phone interview on Friday with the theater in Fayetteville Arkansas and am researching the area. I just went online to look at the school system and was reading the parent/student handbook and so far 2 things have leapt out. First, kids are not allowed to use cell phones during the school day. Now..... I can see not being allowed to use them during class, but what if you need to reach your kid or vice-versa? Oh, yeah, we're supposed to party like it's 1959 and call the principal's office.
Second thing is that it is a state law that you are not allowed to insult a teacher in the course of their duties. So, if they're an incompetent idiot, telling them so is a crime.
I'm sure the more I look at schools, the more I will find these policies common-place. Schools are pretty much meat-grinders and aren't especially equipped to bring out the best in kids. I've been in enough of them with Lyn's show to see how teachers herd kids around and try to cow them into submission in the name of "discipline". I worry about the education for Alice- the poor kid is going to have a tough-enough time learning English and assimilating, without having to deal with all this other crap. Geesh. |
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| More cellphone blather |
[May. 23rd, 2009|02:14 pm] |
Ok...
I went to the AT&T store and looked at some of the phones- the Nokia E-71X, the Blackberry, and the Xenon.
I liked the ergonomics of the Xenon. It's got a slide-out qwerty and a touch-screen for the best of both worlds and it has a nice big screen. The downside- no "push" and it uses AT&T's media net, not a browser. Would that be a big handicap- I dunno. It depends on what version of Yahoo messenger it uses and if I can keep it always on. If so, it would be like using my laptop- I get notified I have a new email (and if I see the alert, I see the sender and subject).
The E-71X is pretty sleek. I like it. The downsides- smaller crackberry-sized screen and no push.
The crackberry is the E-71X with push but minus the 3G networking. Good phone for use in the US, useless if I wanted to use it overseas, say, in Russia. For an extra 150 clams, I could go with the Bold and have 3G, but then again.... that leads me back to the I-Phone. I didn't have a chance to play with one at the store. I'll probably go back again. It was crowded and I was just gathering info on the other phones and right now, I'm a little better off than earlier, but still kinda going back and forth. Honestly, unless the iphone touch system is really obnoxious, I'm in a toss-up between that and the Nokia. |
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| Insipid douchbaggery at its finest |
[May. 23rd, 2009|01:20 pm] |
In this week's GOP radio address, Senator Barasso of Wyoming spoke about energy and basically said that the US shouldn't be pushing so much for "green" energy:
"Democrats have focused solely on what they call green jobs. Those are jobs from alternative energy. I support green jobs, but why discriminate?" Barrasso said. "American energy means American jobs, which is why I support red-white-and-blue jobs."
He said renewable energy such as wind and solar power is important, noting that Wyoming has world-class wind resources. But Barrasso said wind and solar only account for about 1 percent of U.S. electricity, far below what is needed to meet the nation's energy needs.
So let me see if I understand this- the US shouldn't be persuing wind and solar energy because right now it only provides 1% of our power? Ummmm, dude, isn't that the point- to use these PROVEN technologies and increase that percentage? Or am I just high? Oh, wait, I'm not high.
And the article did note that Wyoming, btw, is one of the top coal-producing states in the country. I will vouch- if you ever go to Cheyenne, mile-long trains filled with coal pass through there 24/7/365. So there's that angle to consider.
You also have to love the little jab as well, broadly hinting that those who support green energy are somehow un-American commie scum. Yeah, it's important whenever the GOP is trying to make an argument to slide that one in. And they wonder why they've become as relevant as tits on a Buick. |
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| Random giggle |
[May. 23rd, 2009|10:48 am] |
So yesterday I had a pick-up at Mass General. I was heading for the elevators and one on the far end opened up. I ran over to it before the doors closed and there was a woman behind me. I held the door and waited for her. She smiled and thanked me and said there was no way she could run on that floor in her heels and that she would fall on her ass. I kinda teased her a bit, asking if it would be a graceful slow motion fall with exquisite arm motions and all and she laughed. "Oh, gawd, no, it would not be graceful at all. It would NOT be pretty." I told her "not pretty" would not be a good way to start off the holiday weekend and she agreed.
It was just a brief exchange, but it made me smile. It's always nice to randomly run across someone who's friendly and has a sense of humor.
Had another one that made me smile too. I was checking into a building and the female security guards commented about my wedding ring and were admiring it. It is a pretty handsome bit of jewelry. The under band is yellow gold and the top band is white gold with a diamond-plate cross pattern. They thought it was very cute that it was the same ring I had picked out here in the US but then Lina told me we would shop for rings together over there, and without knowing the ring I had picked out, picked the same exact ring.
Time to start my day. Damn, I am tired. I think I'll bike to the AT&T store and start checking out phones. |
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| Opinion |
[May. 22nd, 2009|09:45 pm] |
Ok, my phone has pretty much shit the bed. It's time to get a replacement.
I'm looking at the I-Phone. AT&T has the 16gig model refurbished for $150. Which is pricy, but thus far this week, I've lost out on potentially $1000 worth of work because this one lighting shop is now sending out email blasts for work and first come first gets. By the time I download the email, type my response, and then have to redo it because my phone fucks up, other people have scored the gigs.
So it's time to upgrade. What say you, people, about the I-Phone. I'm especially interested in any issues about coverage or sound quality for calls. Most likely I'll be heading to the AT&T store tomorrow to talk to them. |
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