Musings of a chick

What do you think?

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:21:00 +0000

The mayor of Los Angeles has said that the city of LA will pay for the funeral expenses of Michael Jackson.

This is bogus, in my opinion. The Jackson family is rich enough, they should put some money forward as a goodwill gesture if nothing else.

I don't have much to say about this other than I disagree with what the mayor's doing.

What do you think of this? Should the city of LA pay for MJ's funeral, or should the family pay for it?

Note your answers in the comments, please...

So what did our fair heroine do on the 4th of July weekend?

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Not a hell of a lot, really.

D and I went to see fireworks, and went to church on Sunday like good little Episcopalians.

It's funny...since I started blogging again, I am still having trouble coming up with topics. You'd think, after I removed myself from exile, that the topics would flow like water, but NOPE NOPE NOPE. Still stuck.

This whole Michael Jackson funeral thing is pretty intense. I'm surprised they're not making it a national day of mourning. I'll be at work, of course, with no way of watching the memorial service on TV. Bummer...I really want to see who comes out for it.

Planning on going back home to IA in October, and kind of excited about it. I'm going out for Mom's 70th birthday, and my sister and I are trying to figure out what to do to celebrate it. Not sure if we'll do just a family thing, or have an open house, or what we'll do. Should be interesting to see how all this long distance planning will turn out. If Ruth and I can keep from killing each other, things should turn out just fine. I know...I know...I was very vehement about not going back to IA but I guess "old age" (as in 40) has mellowed me to some extent. I'm not going to LIVE there, it's just for a VISIT. It'll be fine.

Today, it's deader than Elvis in this department, so that's why I'm blogging...just to pass the time if nothing else. It's skeleton crew time around here, but tomorrow it should be back to "normal"...whatever THAT is.

As I mentioned, I like this department. I like the people, and the environment is so much better than where I was. I liked my co-workers, but I had lots of issues with the boss (as you can read a couple of entries below). It amazes me that someone that lousy at people management can be a manager, but I guess that's what happens in this crazy world. As for me, I don't have any goals that manifest themselves in management so I'm cool. I just want to work and leave my troubles at the door when I'm done for the day. I couldn't do that in the previous job, but I can with this one. It's a good thing, as ol' Martha Stewart would say.

What else can I tell ya? Not a whole lot, really, other than I called it that MJ overdosed, and it looks like I'm right based on the evidence presented thus far. I really wish that hadn't been the case, but that's what we're looking at, methinks.

Bye for now...

That's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:08:00 +0000

This place is so much mellower than where I worked before. People are nice and helpful, and it's a good place to be so far.

More news as events warrant.

PS: One question I have...I noticed that Diana Ross hasn't spoken out about Michael's death. Does anyone else think that's strange, considering the friendship they shared?

RIP Michael Jackson

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:35:00 +0000

Didn't want to include a pic on here as it would make me feel too sad.

Is it just me or has Michael Jackson's passing touched a nerve with Generation X'ers as far as mortality is concerned? I mean, he was only 10 years older than me.

Wow...scary stuff.

Will be happier over the weekend, I promise.

RIP, Farrah

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:48:00 +0000

I admit, I was never a "Charlie's Angels" fan, but Farrah is an icon and will be missed. Whenever they come around again, watch "The Burning Bed" and "Small Sacrifices" so you can see how good an actress she really is.

The Hollyweirdness continues...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:52:00 +0000

Surrogate makes Parker, Broderick parents again

(Uh, weren't they parents before?)

Phil Spector is hoping to get a few comforts of home in his new prison cell, and a television, iPod and computer access are at the top of his list.

(Gee, maybe he should have thought of that before he killed Ms. Clarkson?)

Here I spent all this time being depressed, and so many celebrity issues went right past me. What was I thinking? (this is a joke...I couldn't really help being depressed...)

Tell me more, tell me more...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:57:00 +0000

So I have this evil boss, right?

She's worse than any other boss I've ever had save one, and they were both comparable in terms of nastiness.

She would YELL down the hall for me if she needed me to come to her office.

She would badmouth me in front of my coworkers.

She would blame me for misplacing things when she actually misplaced them herself.

She called herself "honest" but my contracting bosses caught her in one lie after another.

The only saving grace at that job were my co-workers, three of whom went to my contracting boss to complain about my government boss's treatment of me.

So now, I'll be in a much better place than before, and with a pay raise to boot.

Miracles do happen...I'm living proof.

So where's she been?

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:51:00 +0000

To be honest, I've been fighting off a big beastie depression since I started this job. My boss is a scary woman, and I've been struggling with depression off and on since I started.

So basically, that doesn't make for interesting blogging.

But...dear friends...I will be leaving this position for bigger and better things effective Monday, June 29th when I start my new job (still at Walter Reed).

So I'm feeling better, and hopefully I'll be back and ready to annoy you all. That is, if you're still reading this.

Bye...

Mardi Gras Gig? No thanks, I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Had a gig last night, and it was really lame. It was the Mardi Gras ball in Frederick, MD.

Normally, this gig is pretty good...you get to see lots of people on the dance floor and very interesting costumes (as it is also a costume party for those who wish to participate) and masks. The Mardi Gras queen and princesses are pretty and young, and all in all, it's a good time.

Not this year.

The only thing that didn't change was the fact that the Mardi Gras princesses and queen were pretty and young. The rest of it was very lame.

The biggest mistake, I think, was the fact that they wanted us to be set up and ready by 8:30 PM, but at 8:30 PM they were still involved with the princess presentations. It's like they just magically wanted us to *POOF* be ready to play. Usually, for a gig, Don sets up everything well ahead of time so all we have to do is show up and get our sections organized. This time, we weren't allowed to do that. So people were making comments about WHY wasn't the band ready already? God I hate that.

Another big mistake (at least for us) was the fact that they had two dance floors. They had us and they had a DJ in the courtyard. Usually, the "older folks" prefer our music and the "young un's" go for the DJ. This year, hardly anyone stayed to listen to us. In addition, they didn't have snacks for sale, meaning people showed up to see their kids, then left to go get something to eat and didn't come back.

As for myself, my skirt ripped so badly I had to turn my skirt sideways so people wouldn't get flashed in the rhythm section.

All in all, a very lame night.

I could have been sleeping. At least after the gig, I FINALLY got to go to a Waffle House (they're big in the South, and we're far enough south that we have one in Frederick) and have some down time with a few of the guys. It was another case of the day being saved by fried food. Can't beat it.

So there...a post about the gig, Ed. Hope you're happy!

A Long Awaited Blog Post About Nothing In Particular

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:07:00 +0000

I know I've been delinquent in writing...it's been crazy learning my new job and all. I find that when I get home, I don't have the energy to write. Well, today I have the energy and am going to write a little bit about a lot of things.

First of all, I wonder what Chris Brown had done to Rihanna before he actually put his fists to her. Usually, abuse starts slowly...isolation, verbal and psychological abuse are present before the first physical blow is struck. I hope whoever leaked that picture got a decent payoff because they aren't going to have a job anymore.

Secondly, the weather here has been up and down a lot. Today it's sunny, but chilly when the wind kicks up. I can't wait for spring, but I can wait for the crowds at cherry blossom time. Yuk...I dread those crowds.

The job is slowly gelling together. It's a challenge. That's all I can say, really. It's a challenge. (Wait a minute...I just said that.)

I got to see my mom a few weeks ago, and right after that I got sick with an intestinal bug. Yuk. I'm having a hard time getting my energy back from that. I haven't sung in choir for a little while now, and this weekend will be no exception because I have a gig on Saturday that will run late and I KNOW I won't wake up in time for church on Sunday morning.

I turned 40 on February 9th. The world didn't catch on fire like I thought...just a nice, relatively uneventful birthday. We like those here at Rancho Sudiegirl.

So that's the skinny. Sorry it's so boring, but things will eventually come around.

What do you do...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:37:00 +0000

when you're thankful for something in some ways, but not others?

Like my job, for instance. I'm very thankful for it in many ways, but not as thankful in others. My boss is a challenge to me, but is it a good or a bad challenge? I'm not sure.

I am thankful I have a job, though. I'll fight like hell to keep it.

In other news, my mom surprised me...she flew out to Philadelphia and is staying in Dover, Delaware for at least a week. I'll see her next weekend; sort of an early birthday present. I'm glad. It's been a while since I've seen dear Ma-ma in the flesh.

Weather has been a little warmer, which is a good thing.

What would you like to talk about, dear readers? Let me know in the comments.

Saying yes...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:55:00 +0000

Just finished watching "Yes Man" (shhh...it was a bootleg...don't tell, 'k?) and it made me think a little bit.

The main character felt compelled to say yes to things because he was afraid of bad things happening if he didn't. So to him it was magical thinking.

I don't say "yes" to much either, because when you're bipolar, saying "yes" to too many things is a bit dangerous and then you over commit and then you get depressed because you can't do everything. Including run-on sentences.

But I'm going to try to be a little bit more positive about things, even if it kills me. Which it could easily do. (God...I'm just unable to leave the negativity alone, aren't I?)

Has anyone out there seen "Yes Man"? If so, what do you think about saying "Yes" to more things? Is it a good or bad idea?

First post of 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:25:00 +0000

I can't believe I am going to be 40 this year. Wow. This is the big one, folks.

(I realize that there are readers who are already 40 or older but this is the first time I've been 40 so cut me some slack...)

I'm not sure what direction to take this blog. More personal? The usual mishmash? Who knows? All I know is that my boss' unknown nickname is "Old Yeller" because she yells at me from across the hall to come to her office. I am being mega careful with respect to writing about work because this is a new job and I don't want to step on any toes or anything like that. In this day and age, I'm thankful to have a job and don't want to screw it up.

So on that note, I'm off in search of more topics.

Smooches!

In which our heroine is sick of looking at blue polo shirts

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:22:00 +0000

Yep, I had to work today, and that meant helping out the head admin with sorting blue polo shirts (both long and short sleeved) into various groupings.

I hate polo shirts now.

However, I like having a job so I sorted polo shirts.

Yesterday was a nice quiet Christmas day. D and I went to see "Doubt" (a very good movie; I highly recommend it) and then had Chinese food. Just the kind of day I wanted, and I like getting what I want. (Oh, no...I opened the door for the Mighty Dyckerson to come in and wreak havoc...oh well...)

But seriously...RIP to Eartha Kitt. Ed wrote a better tribute to her than I could so check him out on my side bar.

And have a safe weekend, y'all.

Another boring post - sorry, Dyckerson

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 13:23:00 +0000

Well, it's Christmas day and I'm typing this from my "lair".

Not much happening - D and I went to church last night and I forgot to eat before we started choir rehearsal. I almost passed out during my little solo! Duh...note to self-eat before choir.

Today, it's bright and sunny. Last night it was in the 50s with no rain (rain was predicted).

You might wonder why my posts are so boring...it's because I am holding back on writing about my family. This includes any forthcoming "Moment of Dad" posts. You see, I have some relatives that like to read this blog and mis-interpret what I say, then go out and tell all their friends in our backwater town that I'm crazy. I have enough problems, I don't need that because it hurts my mom and sister. So I'm stuck for topics to write about half the time.

If anyone has solutions to that, please provide them in the comments.

At any rate, merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sunday Smatterings

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0000

It's a chilly Sunday here in MD, and it supposed to get way cold tonight. Colder than usual, in fact. Bizarre, since at the beginning of the week it was 69 degrees.

I'm not sure why I'm stuck on things to write about now. I'm trying to be careful about writing about work since I work in a contracting position. I don't know what kinds of things will be coming across my desk and I want to be as careful as possible.

My family is doing well. It's funny, but since my dad passed, we've kind of rebuilt our family into something different. I guess it goes to show that you can surround yourself with caring people who aren't related to you, but still seem like "family". Sometimes God surprises us with "people gifts".

D and I are still together, and DD is out of the picture. Not really sad about it either. He's never going to change and that's probably why he'll remain single for the rest of his life. Just an old grouchy bachelor with a coke problem.

I haven't kept up with Hollyweird news in a while...perhaps I shall again, but maybe not. I've found that they don't really give a damn about what I think (can't imagine why) so why preach to the choir?

I am dreading the crowds for Inauguration Day...it's going to be crazy. A friend of mine was just named Deputy Chief of Staff for Michelle Obama, which means he'll be working as an admin assistant of sorts for when she travels to the North Central part of the U.S. I think that'd be a cool job. Very busy, but very cool. I asked him if he could do something about the crowds and he laughed at me. That wasn't very nice!

Anyway...not much more to say here. Again, have a happy holiday season and a fine '09!

OK, so she's got a laptop. Now give us a post!

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:06:00 +0000

With pleasure, my friends.

It's the end of my first week at Walter Reed Hospital, and I can honestly say I think I like it. I'm not one to write a lot about work, and this will be the same, but everyone at my department has been nice and helpful so far. Now if I can just get used to the walking, life will be good.

I don't have a lot more to say, so MERRY Christmas and have a fine '09! I'm sure I'll have more ideas for posts by the end of the month, so stay tuned!

So how's the new job, you say?

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:26:00 +0000

It's good. Very good.

With Walter Reed closing either in 2010 or 2011, the job isn't PERMANENT, but there's at least two years we're looking at which is good. Right...?

My feet are killing me from walking all over the base, and I swear I will never remember all the acronyms and where the buildings are. I'll be in training for SO many things it makes my head spin.

But it's a good kind of confusion. Thanks for the well-wishes, y'all.

Today's moment o' culture from Rancho Sudiegirl, where our motto is "Don't take any wooden nickels from Oprah Winfrey"

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:02:00 +0000

This is kind of funny...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:04:00 +0000

I'm not a fan of Sarah Palin, but I'm also not a fan of Oprah even though she supported Obama. Click on the title to read the full story, but the jist of it is that Sarah Palin has not said she would be on Oprah's show, which qualifies as a "snub".

I don't know a lot about talk-show etiquette, but I figure Sarah has a right to say no to Oprah, right? Oprah has a lot of influence, but the last I heard we had freedom of choice around here.

What do you think, readers? Should Oprah be mad or should she just let it slide? Did Sarah P. make a mistake in skipping away from the big "O"?

Me, me, me...sorry for the self-centeredness.

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:34:00 +0000

Well, I'm back and the same problems exist...what to write about.

I'm scared about this new job. Walter Reed is a big place...I hope I don't get lost in it.

I've caught up with all the "Simpsons" episodes for this season, and I'm not sure what to make of it. Are they as funny as they used to be, or are the writers caught up in "being wacky" instead so the essence of the show is gone? I'm not sure what to think on that.

I have found that laptops are nice to have. We had to return the first one due to a system crash (note: DO NOT BUY ACERS AS THEY ARE MADE OF LOTS OF REFURBISHED PARTS AND ARE NOT DEPENDABLE). We wound up with a Dell and it's pretty nice. We named it "Florence" after my late aunt whose inheritance made this purchase possible.

I'm debating whether to install Limewire on my computer again...I think I've got enough music on my mp3 player for now and it's better to hold off, but the musichead in me just screamed MORE MORE MORE. *sigh*

I got my first Christmas letter of the season from a friend who is going through a divorce. However, she sounds pretty bitter about it and I know both sides of the story so I'm not sure what to think other than I wish her peace of mind. (Sorry for the run on sentence.) Divorce is so hard to navigate through, and there's always two sides to every story.

I haven't interacted much with DD since I left NOAA and I feel OK with that. I've talked to him on the phone a few times and that's about it. I guess I've come full circle or something. I just hope he's not back on the nose candy but something tells me he either went back or he's switched addictions to alcohol. Weird.

Anyway...that's all I've got for today. I'll write more when I'm inspired.

So what's been going on, you say?

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:15:00 +0000

The main reason Sudie went on hiatus?

Mostly because I figured daily entries of "Still don't have a job" would bore you people. I know I was getting tired of it.

But I was depressed too, and I figured that I should fight that dragon and slay it dead before coming back. It's not dead but it's comatose for the time being. As long as I take my meds and go to therapy I'll be OK.

Anyway, I now have a laptop so I can write from deep in my "lair", so to speak. It's got Windows Vista on it so I have to argue with it and make sure it does what I want it to do, but I guess that's what makes computers like men, right? Ar Ar.

What else has been going on? Not a whole lot, really. Thanksgiving was good...D and I spent it with another couple and their family. We went to a dinky town about 1 hr. west of here (I think...I'm lousy with that whole north/south/east/west thing) and had a good old fashioned family-style Thanksgiving dinner that cost $15 a head. If you left hungry, though, it would be your own darned fault, because they had so much FOOD! I was a happy li'l puppy and ate my share.

Unfortunately, the week of Thanksgiving was yucky because I caught a cold and was fighting that off as well. I sounded real attractive. Kind of like gargling razor blades, to be honest. I'm on the last stages of that cold now and should be rip-rarin' to go by 12/15/o8.

So that, gentle readers, is what has been makin' your favorite bipolar redhead tick the past few weeks. I'm glad that you left messages and sorry that I was so wrapped up in my own head that I couldn't get back here sooner.

Thanks to you all.

Will be back when I have more to comment on...

I'm BACK...with a new job!

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:18:00 +0000

Yes, Rancho Sudiegirl is once again open for business...I got a job, and I'll be starting on December 15. I'll be working for Lockheed Martin at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC.

So MERRY CHRISTMAS to me!

Thanks for all the supportive comments left during my hiatus...I just wasn't up to blogging for a while.

In case I get busy with the new job and don't have time to come back before the holidays, may everyone have a happy holiday season.

Smooches!

Three years ago today...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:20:00 +0000

My dad passed away.

I feel kind of numb today...not happy nor necessarily sad. Just numb.

Hope this feeling goes away soon.

second verse, same as the first, isn't much better but it's not much worse...

noreply@blogger.com (Sudiegirl) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:46:00 +0000

This is the first time in a few weeks I've been back on the blog.

As of now, I'm still on the temp job. I don't know if it'll go past October 31st or not...I guess I'll find out soon enough.

I'm impressed that Groovygrrl has been doing the "NABLOWRIMO" project again this year. Check out her blog...she's got some great pics and interesting topics to explore. I don't know why I haven't been inspired to write so much. I guess I'm just wrapped up in myself and I don't like that. But I can't seem to help it. That's why I admire Groovygrrl...she's got ten times the pressure I do and she writes every day, and the entries are GOOD.

Please, please...if you want to read back entries, do so. But if not, check out the folks on my side bar. They're all good writers and great people.