1600icq w/[Skye_ds]. Somewhat pleasant.
Sep. 4th, 2003 04:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Sep. 4, 2003
SkyeDS: hola :)
evile: Howdy :)
evile: How's your week been?
SkyeDS: other than having three fingers nearly amputated and the
worst sprain in more than a decade, fine and dandy :) how's you?
evile: yow! That sounds awful.
I am OK. Bored & travel-buggy, but OK. Still alive, still employed,
still healthy.
SkyeDS: they have another security assignment for us starting Monday,
it will do, it's evenings, so I can job hunt during the day.
evile: That's good. Hopefully you'll be recovered by then. What did
you do?
SkyeDS: fell down stairs into two fireant mounds (covered in bites)
evile: Yucko! that's awful!
SkyeDS: travel buggy = wanderlust?
evile: Indeed. I've been wasting all kinds of time at work pricing
trips hither & yon, reading travel books, etc. I just want to GO!
evile: Of course, with Sweetie still unemployed, I cant' waste my money
on stupid things. So I get to stay home and dig holes in myself
instead. (not literally)
SkyeDS: ow :(
evile: I don't mind being a homebody when it's my choice. But when I
have no options, I get stir crazy.
evile: I am still trying to justify a trip to the beach this weekend.
SkyeDS: nodnod
SkyeDS: had the guy talked into letting the horses go to CRW and then
they changed management, yet again, and the answer changed again. OF
course with the sprain, it was moot anyway.
evile: CRW is going to be...bad.
SkyeDS: I think you're right.
evile: I am not a psychic or anything, but I *have* organized events
before, and this one just looks very shoddily put together.
evile: I just hope that no newbies get hurt or turned off of HFS
because of it.
SkyeDS: one of these days I want to do my own IKP. how hard could it
be if these clowns can do it.
SkyeDS: besides, I have you and Rita and other vastly knowledgeable
and experienced peeps to ask questions of.
SkyeDS: Sharjinka is taking newbies and has a very bad feeling about
it.
evile: Not me. Everyone would bitch because it cost too much $.
Nevermind that it would be worth every dime. But kids dont' know the
difference between Koolaid and Krug, so why bother.
evile: Jinx is very protective, which hopefully will keep 'her '
newbies well.
SkyeDS: I think Lake Somerville would be ideal.
SkyeDS: very centrally located, and I mean central, to all of Texas.
evile: The web site makes it look super-nice.
SkyeDS: great dining facilities, ample camping, cheap.
evile: Cheap is good :)
SkyeDS: and so what if the mundanes see us. what better advertising?
evile: Yeah...HFS is not really the thing to do if you're self-
conscious or want to 'fit in' with regular people.
SkyeDS: and I don't see why CRW needs to be catered.
evile: I really liked Krause Springs when we went out there a few
weeks ago. It's no pets, but nice facilities, gorgeous swimming,
awesome camping.
evile: CRW doesn't need to be catered, Patrick just didn't want to
let go of his testicles long enough to delegate any authority to
anybody
SkyeDS: where is Krause Springs?
evile: It's in Spicewood, TX. About 30 mi outside Austin. West, I
think.
SkyeDS: I could do what Rita did for last feast, for $3 per, easily
(rotisserie chicken from like HEB/Sams, potatoes and rolls)
evile: yup.
evile: I am no good at being cheap when it comes to putting together
a gathering. I can budget just fine for everything else, but when I
do something for a group of friends, I want it to be memorable. I
want it to be decadent. I want it to be better than anything they've
ever done or had. Which...is silly. But that's just the way I am.
SkyeDS: it is NOT silly. I don't have it in me to do what you do.
Everything you do as a hostess is beyond memorable in every way.
evile: Which is fine if I'm paying for it, but not good if
my 'guests' are paying and don't want to pay a lot. Which is why I
won't do anything for any large HFS gathering ;)
SkyeDS: I'm afraid I'd have the same problem. I go very overboard
when I cook.
evile: *sigh* Which is why I guess these things need to be done by
committee, so I am not sitting there going "and for the 5th course,
we'll have quail en brochette"--someone can sit on me and remind me
about the budget :)
SkyeDS: LOL
evile: Once Sweetie is employed again, I may think about organizing
some major gathering. Maybe for HFS or maybe just for whoever. The
good thing about if it was an HFS thing is that people would chip in,
however grumblingly. But that would leave out a lot of people I would
like to feast & debauch with.
SkyeDS: why couldn't you invite outsiders?
evile: Well, if it was something like Decemberween, I'd just invite
everyone and let them sort themselves out. that worked pretty well
last time. But if it was like an HFS event, with the battle games and
role playing etc, there would be awkwardness with non HFS people not
knowing what hte hell is going on.
evile: I think Evite has a feature where you can ask for donations
for your event, but I also think that's tacky if it's not something
like HFS or another group like that.
SkyeDS: point.
SkyeDS: and possibly being bored witless.
evile: yup. That too. And all the little 15 year old stick-up-their
butts who think that a person having wine with dinner is 'disgusting'
and 'drunk'
SkyeDS: sigh...omfg.
evile: Don't know if you've read the HFS in chaos forums lately, but
I had to put in a word when all the little DARE-brainwashed children
were going on about how anyone who drinks is so WRONG an EVIL. Little
shitheads
SkyeDS: I saw that.
SkyeDS: I'm probably nto going to really miss CRW.
SkyeDS: besides, the CBAR ride is coming up next month.
evile: I am not going to miss CRW either. Hopefully next years event
will be cool. I have the CBAR event on my calendar, but theres a ton
of other stuff that same weekend. It is too far off to make a good
decision yet.
SkyeDS: I need to go pick up the Coggins on the horses (had it done
two weeks ago), and now all they need is shoes.
evile: cool.
SkyeDS: the trail goes all the way from Pease park to Shoal Creek, is
very pretty, going to ride it this weekend.
evile: Awesome :) Are there going to be any barad-duin folks at the
park on saturday?
SkyeDS: assuming I manage to get into the saddle of course.
evile: *nods*
SkyeDS: maybe half of us. I'm sure Kelly will be, I will be, Mom,
Dad, Aeris might be, [Sonar0m] will be.
SkyeDS: don't know about Kim and Travis. I don't know that they have
the money for CRW but they might go anyway. <shrug>
evile: Here in town, there's 'pagan caffeination night' saturday
night, Poly 101 saturday night, GWNN Voyagers party saturday
night...and then there's the Beach.
SkyeDS: I might talk to the organizers of pagan pride day and see if
I can help with the entertainig of children. maybe.
evile: You're a braver woman than I...
SkyeDS: that's why it's a vague maybe. I'm not so sure.
evile: San Antonio's pagan pride day is the weekend before Austin's--
the 20th. I am wondering if it would kill me to try to do that and
then go to the GWNN play party later that night.
evile: Plus that weekend is Tablerock Faire. *whew!*
SkyeDS: I haven't looked into Tablerock yet. if it's on the 20th, I
think Laurels is on the 20th :(
SkyeDS: but table rock is more than one day right?
evile: Yeah, I knew Barad Duin was doing something that weekend, too.
I hate not being able to do everything.
evile: Table Rock is Saturday and Sunday. But, being such a small
faire, I imagine Sunday will be pretty 'dead'. Maybe not...
SkyeDS: laurels wouldn't be any big deal but I promised Aeris I'd
help him with his lauresl and he's running for office.
evile: cool.
evile: I don't know why September is so busy. I figured I'd get in a
breather before TRF, but I guess not
SkyeDS: breather? what's that?
evile: break/rest/time to just sit and breathe. Or did you mean that
question sarcastically? :P
SkyeDS: ;-P~
evile: Well, with Sweetie's non-work situation, I am not really making
any plans for TRF as of yet. But, it's looming on the horizon,
nevertheless.
SkyeDS: how's the job hunting going?
evile: He is taking a break from that, I think, and working on Cisco
(sp?) certificaations.
evile: He passed one on Tuesday, has to take another one before Sept.
7 and register for the 3rd one by Sept. 7
SkyeDS: there was a time when MS Certs would let you write your own
paychecks.
evile: Most of the state agencies have a lot of openings right now
since it's the beginning of a new fiscal year.
SkyeDS: I noticed that. Got two interviews next week. Only sent
three apps. not a bad return.
evile: I remember the days of the MCSE-gods. Sweetie despises Microsoft
however. I think working MS would be a step above 'would you like
fries with that' in his eyes.
evile: *fingers crossed* I hoep your interviews go well.
SkyeDS: I'd rather work closer to home but I'm not turning my nose up
at anything.
evile: *nods*
SkyeDS: one is with the TSBME (3d & Guad, very pretty)
evile: yup.
SkyeDS: the other is with TDHCA, 5th & Sabine.
evile: And unlike TWC, they have parking ;)
SkyeDS: not having parking downtown sucks.
evile: None of the park & rides are very convenient.
SkyeDS: I might ought to look into flyers from up north. If I end up
downtown.
evile: There's the North Lamar transit center. I can't think of any
others, but I haven't been in the market for a park & ride for a
while now. Since #37 comes right by my house & takes me right by
work. And Sweetie gives me rides while he's unemployed, too.
SkyeDS: there are flyers from like Leander and Pflugerville
evile: I am sure there are. I think capital metro might have a
website. I know they just put out the new schedule books. There were
a bunch at the library today.
SkyeDS: in the meantime 30 hours a week at night doing brainless
stuff at Parmer/I35 is not bad.
evile: This is true. Any work is better than nothing.
SkyeDS: and if this assignment lasts long enough maybe will be
worthwhile to put on my resume that I was a sergeant/admin
supervisor. a 12 month promotion in under two months should be
impressive to somebody.
evile: yup.
SkyeDS: need to call them tomorrow and tell them which shift I want.
And ask them fo rthe umpteent time when I will get my back pay.
evile: What a hassle.
SkyeDS: I"m inclined not to go back to work until I get it. On the
other hand I don't need to be out of a job either.
evile: Yeah.
SkyeDS: if nothing else, I write it off, just don't work any more
over time, not do any on call work. Wear the stripes, and try not to
go over and beyond the bare necessities (hard for me).
evile: One would hope that being polite yet persistent would do the
trick. Hopefully you won't have to escalate. the fact that you're
still working for them (& doing an excellent job) may be a point in
your favor.
evile: Well, even your 'basic' is better than most
people's 'excellent'. ya know?
SkyeDS: I've got the fax number to corporate payroll around
somewhere, but not the telephone number. I'll just fax them a memo
saying hello, 12 hours of OT and a pay change, retroactive for 30
days, please.
evile: good plan.
SkyeDS: no point in doing anything I don't get paid for, such as
overtime/oncall/or actually giving a damn about being a supervisor.
evile: Yeah. But I know that for me, at least, NOT doing something
that obviously NEEDS to be done is more stressful than just doing
it, if they pay me for it or not.
SkyeDS: exactly :(
evile: At work right now we are super backlogged, so I'm actually
working my ass off to try and get us caught up. Which is about double
my quota every day. I find it's easier and less stressful to work at
full capability than it is to 'pace' myself to ONLY do my quota
every day, like I had been.
evile: But then I think about what they're paying me 'per case' as
opposed to the lazy fuckwits I work with, and then it pisses me off.
SkyeDS: I need to talk to Peak Performance too. If hta'ts a good way
to get foot in door.
evile: You would be a gift from God to them, if Scott the Village
Idiot is any indication of their usual caliber of worker.
SkyeDS: most temp agencies act that way, give me their hardest
client, and then I never hear from them again afterwards.
evile: Our resident disgruntled pot-stirrer was asking all kinds of
squirrelly questions about VI today. Unfo I fell right into it and
said what I actually thought of the man. I bet I get an earful
tomorrow.
SkyeDS: I have got to figure out how to avoid office politics.
Before I go back to an office.
SkyeDS: State Farms was like this.
evile: I do all right when I keep my headphones on and don't talk to
anyone. :( But I undid all my efforts with my fat mouth today.
SkyeDS: 8:30 - 10:30 coffee break, gossip (bout clothes and the
senior partner's secretary having an affair with the sr partner (old
enough to be her father))
SkyeDS: 11:30 - 1:30 lunch
SkyeDS: 3:30 - 5:30 afternoon break, go home.
SkyeDS: and too fucking loud all damn day to get anything done.
evile: Gee, that sounds like my job. Except nobody's sleeping with
anyone cuz they are all fat and gross.
evile: They are about to not only office my boss' husband in our
dept, but he is actually entering our chain of command due to the re-
org. I want to know who I can sue. That is totally against TWC's
nepotism policy.
SkyeDS: surely [Aunt L] would know?
evile: She retired. And she said that HR will tell you anything you
want to hear, depending on who and when you ask.
SkyeDS: she did???
SkyeDS: thought they would have to take her coffin in there after her
evile: Yup. End of the fiscal year. The Re org was something she
could not agree with or implement with a clear conscience, so she
retired.
SkyeDS: good for her! (but I worry about you)
evile: me too. I am just waiting for the littlest nazi to come after
me again. My ally in HR retired recently, too.
SkyeDS: not good :(
evile: Nope. on the plus side, I can now transfer anywhere in the
agency, because I won't be in my aunt's food chain.
SkyeDS: this in the works?
evile: Assuming I can find any other dept that will not be poisoned
by the littlest nazi against me.
SkyeDS: I find it interesting that I send in 3 applications and get
two interviews. I will have to send in more. I just don't want to
work for teh OAG. Everyone in Law knows that's a graveyard :(
SkyeDS: nobody goes there except people who can't get anything
better. it's called the bus station and the pasture (as in, being
put out to)
evile: I may not have anything wrong with me on paper, but gossip
seems to be more of a motivator than anything else. // I wouldn't
work for the OAG on a bet. Not enough $$ for the hassles.
SkyeDS: I get so tired of hearing "overqualified" I could scream.
evile: yup.
evile: J-Law has been tweaking her resume to only show the stuff
relevant to the job, and leaving off the stuff that
might 'overqualify' her. Basically tailoring it to each employer.
Which is fine for resume, but you can't really do that with a state
app, since it's chronological. You dont' want to leave gaps.
SkyeDS: nope.
SkyeDS: and inevitably, gaps raise questions in private law firms.
evile: *nods*
SkyeDS: at least here.
SkyeDS: J-Law breathes much more rarified air as an attorney than I do
as a paralegal/admin. so there's bound to be differences.
evile: You could always lie and say you took time off 'for your kids'
(imply: pregnancy, etc.) not that it's legal for them to ask you
about that kind of stuff.
evile: brb gotta let the dog in.
evile: back.
SkyeDS: :)
SkyeDS: I'm always tweaking my resumes anyway. But the more I tailor
them to each employer the worse it gets. I have to be doing
something wrong.
evile: It's just a crappy market right now.
SkyeDS: I would love working in a law firm if it weren't for teh
political culture
evile: yeah, and it seems like it's part of the profession, not just
an isolated thing.
SkyeDS: next project is to get permanently sitcheated so that I can
get a lease on a little gas efficient something or another.
evile: That's important if you're going to be working in austin and
centering most of your social life here, too.
SkyeDS: nodnod
evile: Sweetie is still puttering with the VW vanagon, but hasnt' yet
made the move to run it on 'greasel' instead of conventional fuel.
The conversion will be about $300
SkyeDS: what dat?
SkyeDS: Catry from Silver S pire calls her vehicle a land dragon
SkyeDS: we could paint a dragon on the VW :)
SkyeDS: <is minded of Do Virgins Taste Better than Those who are Not
evile: bio-diesel. You can run a diesel engine on waste grease, like
from fast food restaurants & stuff. Very eco cool.
SkyeDS: did not know that!
evile: YUp.
evile: You have to filter it, and pre-heat the oil before it goes
into the engine. But yeah.
SkyeDS: note: must preheat and filter virgins before feeding them to
land dragons <g>
evile: So the conversion kit is a tank for the grease, filtration
stuff, and a pre-heater for the fuel. They sell one ready to go for
like $500, but Sweetie's found all the pieces & parts for cheaper.
evile: He may be a mess with way too much junk, but he is pretty
handy, that Sweetie.
SkyeDS: nodnod
evile: I will be glad when he's done with this round of tests. It's
pretty boring around here with him just studying all the time.
SkyeDS: but it's good that he's doing it and not being depressed.
evile: he's depressed, too. But at least not totally incapacitated.
SkyeDS: nodnod
evile: It sucks to be out of work.
SkyeDS: amen
evile: and it is very hard on your ego, even if you do know how tough
things are.
evile: I am glad that there are more state jobs opening. HOwever, I
saw a listing for a coffee place called Peets that has better bennies
than my state job. (they have really fucked us on that stuff.)
SkyeDS: :(
evile: depending on the pay, it would almost be worth it to quit the
state altogether
evile: I saw Dreamers is hiring again when I drove by a few days ago.
Also tempting. Poly Jason's wife Belinda works at the XXX one way
south.
SkyeDS: I keep asking them for a job. they keep telling me they
don't like to hire women. go figure.
evile: I can see that. Especially if you were looking for
evening/night shift.
SkyeDS: would be a cool job.
evile: Jason says Belinda is kind of burned out on it.
evile: Hm. I was thinking Galveston. but maybe I want to go to Port A
instead. Haven't been there in years...
SkyeDS: haven't been either place, either sounds good to me :D
evile: it's a 4 hr drive each way from Austin. I might have to think
about stayin g overnight. Which I may or may not be able to talk
myself into spending the $$ on...
evile: Port A has rentahorses.
SkyeDS: I've seen people camp int heir horse trailers (not the ones
with LQ)
evile: I imagine there's a state park & I could do that whole camping
thing. That wouldn't be horribly expensive. ten bux maybe.
SkyeDS: I like the camping thing.
evile: and either sleep in the back of my car or take a tent. I have
my little one that I took to CMA.
SkyeDS: bet that little wagon is great for that.
evile: I've never done it. If I left it closed it might get hot. If I
opened it I'd get skeeters. hmm.
evile: http://www.corpusbeach.com/ridingstables.htm
SkyeDS: riding on beach would be way cool
evile: It looks awesome, anyway. I wonder if it's expensive.
SkyeDS: 40 an hour maybe? would have to go look
evile: For some reason I think Galveston is closer, but really I bet
they're about the same distance. Especially when you factor in
Houston traffic.
evile: I went to Galveston already this summer, even though I didn't
swim and we didn't stay very long.
SkyeDS: I have yet to drive the horses thru or around Houston.
evile: For Port A, you'd have to go through downtown san antonio.
evile: I don't see any 'horse friendly 'accomodations, but I bet the
folks at the stable could put you in touch if you ever went down
there.
SkyeDS: ragu vat. that was good. I never come up with such things
until it's way too late.
SkyeDS: I do pretty good finding places to stay, oddly enough.
SkyeDS: fairgrounds almost always put you up.
evile: Yup.
evile: I get a sense that there's this whole 'inner circle' of horse
people who know where to go and where to stay...
SkyeDS: one inner circle would be TETRA. which I intend to join
eventually.
evile: it's good to have a network.
SkyeDS: like anything you can find certain stuff out on the net.
evile: this is true :)
SkyeDS: I jsut started asking questions about where rodeo people
stay. t hey travel, they must have somewhere to stay.
evile: true.
evile: and I'm sure you're much neater and better-behaved than rodeo
folk :)
SkyeDS: I try
evile: I haven't been to a rodeo since I was a kid, so I have no idea
if any of that stuff about rodeo people is true.
SkyeDS: burnet county fairground is where they always had CRW when it
was a drandmir event
evile: I heard that they couldn't get a contract one year and that's
why the venue changed.
SkyeDS: yep
SkyeDS: I heard that and that it went out of business. bet it is the
former.
evile: me too.
evile: I wonder who is going to try and keep CRW7 from being such a
total tits-up...poor sucker.
SkyeDS: Jericho is a friend of Rita's might do a good job, I don't
know other than his association with Rita.
evile: Well, at least there's a competent feastocrat involved
already, then, from what I've heard about Rita :)
SkyeDS: Rita is exceptionally competent.
SkyeDS: and not everyone likes her. somehow those two things
occasionally go hand in hand.
evile: feh.
SkyeDS: wondering why Drandmir doesn't take CRW back anyway. Katie
says it was originally Drandmir's idea anyway.
evile: Well, we are already quite familiar with what a bunch of
whiney babies some HFSers can be, so I'd take any opinions with large
chunks of salt.
SkyeDS: I wonder if it wasn't a sign, the fingers, the fire ants and
the sprain.
evile: Drandmir is pretty prissy about alcohol. Plus the Glovers
would then be feastocrats, more than likely. ecch.
SkyeDS: that I shouldn't go to CRW even if I managed to get permission
evile: *nods*
evile: The Glovers are very sweet, they are quite reliable, they try
really hard. But...all their stuff is very very heavy.
SkyeDS: three changes of director in two weeks. lost money. lost
contracts (second year running)
SkyeDS: things that make you go hm.
evile: exactly.
SkyeDS: and tot hink I shared my personal waiver with them.
SkyeDS: sigh.
evile: what, like gave them your info, or provided them with the form
to use?
SkyeDS: the form.
SkyeDS: which they could get off the net, and not pay a lawyer for
anyway, I guess.
evile: aha. I heard comments about it. Mostly positive, but people
seemed to think it was uncharacteristic of PtA
SkyeDS: about my form?
evile: yeah.
SkyeDS: ??? I didn't realize he was sharing it. I just CCd him when
I sent it to Valverde
evile: Mosly amazement that it was so comprehensive and such.
SkyeDS: I hope he doesn't think he's going to appropriate it.
evile: He sent out a form that everyone is supposed to sign before
they are allowed to participate. I am assuming that is the same form
you're referring to.
SkyeDS: I haven't checked his to see if it looks like mine or not
SkyeDS: I sent Valverde an equestrian waiver at their request.
SkyeDS: apparently they don't have one
SkyeDS: I don't know how you operate such a facility, with campers
AND a saddle club, without one
evile: That's wierd, I thought they had their own horses & stuff.
Wierd that they wouldn't have some kind of protection in place.
SkyeDS: exactly
evile: shoot, I can't find it anymore. hojo sent it out to everyone
on the Drandmir yahoo group.
evile: I think yahoo groups new TOS keep attachments from working in
the web message list, but it was view-able when it went to my email
address.
SkyeDS: he had forms ready weeks ago
SkyeDS: so I doubt it's mine. Unless he revised it recently.
evile: aha.
SkyeDS: and a horse specific waiver would do him no good, but yes it
is entirely comprehensive, in equestrian terms.
evile: Gotta C.Y.A.! Especially in today's lawyerhappy society.
SkyeDS: will send it to you if you want to see it.
evile: Ok.
SkyeDS: have you got your accept turned off?
evile: um...I dunno. I am using ICQ to go, so maybe it doesn't work.
SkyeDS: I will email it
evile: thanks.
evile: here is Pat's form that I was talking about:
http://www.hfsinchaos.com/members/DocumentArchive/docs/CRW_6_Health_Wa
iver_and_Legal_Release_Form.pdf
SkyeDS: I"ve seen that. that's not modeled on mine unless it was
revisedi nt he last week
evile: Ok then.
SkyeDS: probably immodest to think that nothing he writes is likely
as comprehensive as my writing unless he stole it from someone else.
evile: true enough.
evile: Well, I should probably go turn into a pumpkin. Even though I
just want to go somewhere RIGHT NOW!!! Forget all this work and
responsibility nonsense...
SkyeDS: <dreamily> paid vacation...oh well. Buona notte :)
evile: Might see ya at the park Saturday, if I curb myself and stay
home all weekend (bleh!)
SkyeDS: hope you don't have to.
evile: *sigh* I probably _should_. But I really really don't want to.
I am bored to death. I want to see something besides my grubby little
craphole. Sweetie needs to get a job so h e won't be at home making
messes all day.
SkyeDS: I'm sure you can find some way to make a little road trip
somewhere that won't cost more than gas and victuals.
evile: *fingers crossed* me, too. I have got to resolve to go, enjoy
it, and not worry about the $, or just not go and not beat myself up
for not going. All of this internal sparring between gemini/taurus is
just wearing me out.
SkyeDS: nodnod, gem sun/gem moon/ taurus rising and mercury, I
understand somewhat.
evile: *sigh* wish I did, better.
SkyeDS: if anyone can do a thing you can.
evile: Anyhoo, good to chat with you. Hope you get to feeling better.
SkyeDS: nini :)
evile: :)
*hugs*
SkyeDS: hugs :)