evile | Entries tagged with house

job hunt continues.

I had an online questionnaire and prerecorded interview for a position with an insurance company near the house, I got that done yesterday. I loathed recording myself. And there was no way to blur the background.

If/when I get a rejection note, I'll be sure to bring up my concerns re: privacy & ask what their storage, retention, and disposal policies are regarding the video interviews they obtain, and let them know that I'm not comfortable with the idea of them keeping or using my material for any reason, especially not for 'training' AI.

if/when I get an in person interview, I will raise the same concerns. perhaps in a more conversational tone.

Seems to me that any company that is in the business of risk management (insurance) needs to think long and hard about things like that, and be more transparent when they are using those kinds of tools to screen applicants.

I am wondering if. in addition to the economy being weird because of El Stinko and his 'tariffs' and continued blundering with international relations, and in addition to all the weird scammers and likely resume-harvesters out there in job-hunt land, the fact that I'm over 50 is factoring in to this long period of unemployment.

I am slogging thru a 7 hr Excel Data Analysis video I found on Youtube. It is helping me. I need to start taking actual written notes in addition to just watching. The class material is in a zip file and winzip is $34/year subscription. Seems excessive for a single use of said zip, but that is the wave of the future--we won't own anything, we'll just be renting apps and software and everything else from a big company.

I went running around in the world today; tried to offload some 'witchy' books, I was hoping the local witch shop would have some kind of free libary/sit and read/lounge type area but I didn't see anything like that. Maybe the Vortex theatre will have something like that? I dunno. And I tried to offload some coloring books I haven't touched in years at the Kava shop, because I seem to remember going there with friends some years ago and coloring and drinking kava and having a nice time, so I was gonna get a kava and sneak my books in to their pile...but then I got there and the kava place is closed for remodeling. Their Oak Hill location is still open though. But I don't feel like making that kind of drive.

Honestly I should just throw those books and coloring books away, or donate them to Goodwill even though part of my brain is going "no, they're too wierd/witchy, no one will adopt them from Goodwill"....I need to lose my attachment to my 'stuff' and not care what happens to it after it leaves my home. It's not making me happy, it's not my responsibility to find it a home where it will be appreciated and loved, it's my job to make my home a place that isn't cluttered with things that dont' make me happy.

sigh. I have fucking brainworms when it comes to 'stuff' and 'clutter' and all that bullshit. throw it away. run away. die.

I just want to be done with everything.

Current Mood: cranky

My temp job ended Friday. I spent the weekend feeling pretty low energy and icky. No covid though, my test was negative so this is just 'recovery' I guess. No appetite, unhappy insides, various headache/bodyache/tired/blah.

We are taking a 3 day weekend to go to a steampunk festival in Galveston where my husband Thax will be one of the VIP guests of honor due to the podcast. I was on it for a season or two but only when it was audio. Now that they've moved to video I didn't want to be on anymore; I hate the way I look. I cultivated my Radio Voice for a good while in college when I had my shows on WGRE so I'm confident about that, there's not a fucking thing I can do about my stupid fat old ugly face and body.....it's just a horrorshow. Anyway.... I'm not super excited about it, I feel like shit and I am pretty sure most of my steampunk clothes don't fit me anymore but I'm not going to ruin it for Thax by being a bitch. I'll just try and go and stay quiet and out of the way. No matter what I do or say it's gonna be wrong anyway. :( Yes, I know these are brain worms talking. I will get over it before the weekend. I hope. I like Galveston.

My brother A will be at home with the dogs for the weekend.

so, as far as I can tell, my senses of hearing smell and taste were all affected by Covid. My ears occasionally pop when I sneeze or cough and then my hearing gets better, when I hadn't realized it was bad to start with. Smell and taste seem normal at the moment EXCEPT: water tastes *terrible*. Even my usual trick of putting ice and a few drops of lemon or lime juice in doesn't help. It just tastes....like green stagnant lake water smells. So awful. I tried to have a beer with supper last night and it was terrible. Hard liquor is absolutely unbearable. Coffee seems more bitter than usual, even with cream and sugar. I had a fizzy water last night and that seemed ok - basically the HEB brand version of Topo Chico or whatever. I know hydration is important but I just cannot stand water right now. And I think the sucralose in the 'water flavoring drops' things is maybe what was making my intestines hurt so I don't really want to keep trying those. bleh bleh bleh.

I'm trying to clean house today, starting with a thorough cleaning of the bedroom. Dusting, vacuuming, changing the sheets, maybe even decluttering and re organizing some drawers. I also have a giant pile of laundry to put away.

I have a good list of things I want to accomplish in the next week or two before whatever my next job will be; we'll see what happens.

Today's thought from Hazelden is:

More is not necessarily the answer.

We often think that if a little is good, more will be better, or that if we are not happy, it must be because we don't have enough of something.

Wanting and craving. The desire for what we don't have prevents us from appreciating and enjoying what we do have - right now, this moment. We often sell ourselves continual dissatisfaction by focusing on what we appear to lack.

So how much is enough? Can we learn to savor the blessings we have now, today? Do we really need more, or do we need to fully experience the gifts of the present?

I can always want more, but today I will concentrate on what I have right now.

You are reading from the book:

Inner Harvest by Elisabeth L.

Inner Harvest by Elisabeth L. © 1990 by Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the permission of Hazelden.

Current Mood: thoughtful

I'd actually thought of retiring to Brazil someday...( Read more... )

Survey-type meme:

If you could have one thing right now what would it be?( Read more... )

P. S!

OMG FURBY IS REAL

Current Mood: calm
Current Location: Work
Current Music: Alfie, Lily Allen

Imagine you own a small grocery store and there was a kid you used to pay to sweep the sidewalks out front of your store...

One day his dad walks in, a shady character in a shiny suit, who hands you your wallet and tells you that his kid stole your wallet and he's real sorry but the kid or some of his bad friends might try and use your checking account and credit cards.

"But I gotta deal for youse," he continues. "I'm gonna watch your accounts for ya for 2 years, absolutely free. All you gotta do is give me your credit card info."

...

You'd call the cops, right?

Amusingly, or not so amusingly, my mortgage company just tried to run the same scam on me.

www.abc2news.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=62977609-ada1-44cd-8972-c637dae2b25d

www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/371/RipOff0371129.htm

Funny how when it's government or big business doing it, it's legal.

Ah well. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. I don't take kindly to scare tactics, Guido.

Current Mood: angry

longshot14 posted some links that he finds interesting and useful. I checked this one out, since clutter is a constant foe at my house. The top article pushed my buttons like ... a crazy amount. Wow, I can't believe it still pisses me off so much!

I hate to be one of those people who starts a sentence with "My therapist said"...but I gotta take exception to the last part of #3: "Discuss the real problem. If you’re upset that your wife repeatedly leaves her dirty dishes strewn about the living room your frustration has very little to do with dirty dishes. You’re upset because you believe she doesn’t care about the cleanliness level in the living space. So, talk about the real problem and use the dirty dishes as an example of how that lack of caring is expressed."

See, to *me* dirty socks on the coffee table meant "I don't care about this house and I don't care about you. I have no respect for the home we bought together or the household we've made together."

(which, as it turns out, was true. But his slobbyness was not relevant to that fact.)

HOWEVER, according to my REBT therapist, his messyness didn't MEAN anything to my partner, one way or the other. There was no 'underlying issue' in his mind. The coffee table was just a handy place to stash socks when he came home from work. The problem was not his action or his behavior, it was my assumptions and my emotional response to his actions/behavior.

So, step one is not to get to the underlying issue. It's to own your feelings about the behavior, not blame him for the feelings. THEN address the behavior, not your emotional response to the behavior.

And never EVER EVER EVER EVER assume that you know what someone is thinking or feeling because of how they're behaving. You may be right, you may be wrong.

The point is not to assume, but to ASK.

(I still don't have ANY clue how to live happily with someone if your ideas of cleanliness are completely different. My solution was to keep the house and dump the mess-maker. And now that it's MY house, I'm afraid I've become somewhat autocratic in how I keep it. My house, my rules, you don't like it, bye-bye.

Possibly not the best solution, but one I am currently pretty happy with.)

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: work

I was browsing through friends' LJs and memories and such and I found this quote. It's brilliant and perfect for today:

from http://zoethe.livejournal.com/170683.html:
( Read more... )
According to Webster's Dictionary, drama is "a state, situation or series of events involving intense conflict or force." Passion, on the other hand, is defined as "a devotion to some activity, object or concept." ( Read more... )

Current Mood: hopeful
Current Location: work
Current Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0v-7t9UJQs

15 Nov. 7:38 am

housebuying
created by neko-carre
read other people's answers

description: I'm about to delve into the terrifying realm of first-
time Home Buying. I'm slowly becoming edu-ma-cated about the process,
but I'd like to get as much advice as possible from people who have
done it. So HELP PLEASE!

Here are eekyfreeky's answers:

1. What city do you live in? Oh, and how old were you when you bought
your first house? (all)
Austin TX, 30
2. What year is your home and what the style of your house? Also,
what size is it (bedrooms, bathrooms, etc)? (all)
1970, 1 story, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths
3. What year did you buy it? How much did you pay? What is your
interest rate? (all)
2000, 105K, 7.5%
4. What is your monthly mortgage (including taxes, insurance, etc)?
Was it within your price range? Was it what you expected to pay, or
was it a surprise? (all)
995. Our agent told us we could afford more, but we wanted to keep it
around a grand, so we could afford to do other stuff besides just
make a house payment.
5. What type of loan did you get? What financial institution did you
use? How much was your down payment? What about your closing costs?
(all)
30 year fixed. 10K, closing costs rolled into mortgage (Ithink)
6. How did you choose your agent? Did you use more than one at the
same time? Did you like or dislike him/her? Why? (all)
we went to a 'first time buyers' class and the guy teaching it became
our agent. We liked him. He drove us around and really explained
things to us as we went along.
7. How many houses did you look at? How long did it take for you to
find the right house? Did you get that "this is THE ONE" feeling?
(all)
We looked at a bunch...maybe 20 or 30, the market was really tight
and when we'd stop to think about it, the house we were thinking
about would get bid on and sold. We got tricked into bidding when the
seller's agent had already accepted a bid and knew we weren't going
to get it, and then we were just like 'bla' and the next house was
the one. We saw the front,went 'bla' then came in and saw how light
and spacious it was, and that was that.
8. Tell me about your offer. Was it high? Low? Did it have
stipulations? Was there a lot of back-&-forth? Any problems? (all)
We offered what they were asking; the market was VERY tight at that
time, very much a seller's market. No problems.
9. How was the whole home buying process in general? How long did it
take from deciding on a house til you were moving in? (all)
We started looking in april, closed in july,moved in August. Not too
bad.
10. Okay, so you're in your house. What happened next? How did you
feel? Did you love it? Find things wrong? Wish you'd waited? Feel
gidy with happiness? (all)
we were giddy. I have never doubted the choice. When part of our yard
fell into the creek, Sweetie started getting down about everything.
He wants to sell it and move, but now it's a buyer's market, of
course
11. How did it affect your marriage/relationship? Was it better or
worse? Did you still have sex? Did you fight about house stuff? (all)
So far it's been fine. He knows I like the house, I know he'd be
happier elsewhere, and we just go along with life.
12. How did it affect your social life? Did you stop doing things
with friends? Or did you see no difference? (all)
I don't think it made any difference. We had a great housewarming
party :)
13. How was your financial situation afterward? Did you go overboard
with home design? Did you have to stop buying personal things that
you'd purchased in the past (like clothes, haircuts, alcohol)? Did
you no longer take trips? (all)
There are a lot of things I want to do to the house, but since he's
not interested I don't really feel like being the one hand clapping,
ya know? So I've paid for a few repairs that needed doing, he's done
a few things that needed doing, but life has mostly continued as
usual for both of us as far as spending money on our own interests.
14. Did you have to do any construction, remodeling, or repairs on
your house right away? (all)
nope
15. Have you had to do any emergency repairs on your house? If so,
what? How did you afford them? (all)
the flashing on the roof around the chimney. I think I wrote a check.
16. Did you regret your decision to buy a house? Or was it the best
decision you ever made? (all)
I don't regret the house. Sometimes I regret the Sweetie. Most of the
time I think the house and the Sweetie were both good decisions.
17. Give me what you think is the single most important piece of
advice about buying your first house (more advice questions below -
this is the spot for the *most* important). (all)
don't let them talk you into spending more money than you want to
spend. Make sure you'll still have $ for going out, buying clothes,
paying bills, etc.
18. Can you recommend me a lender you've had luck with? Or which
lender should I totally steer clear of? (all)
we are with GMAC. They're OK. MBNA sucks. Bank of America sucks.
Never had a house thing with them, but in general.
19. I don't have a down payment. I know there are types of loans you
can get with zero down. Do you know anything about that? (Disregard
if you've already answered this in Question No. 5.) (all)
nope.
20. Give me advice on choosing a lender/loan. What "under-the-
surface" things should I watch out for? (all)
the balloon payment thing is a rip, and a variable interest rate can
be, too.
21. Give me advice on selecting a house. Obviously "pick one you
like," but what other stuff would a first-time home buyer not know
about? (all)
never buy one that's had foundation work. Look for new roof, AC and
heat, that's something you dont' want to bother paying for right
after you buy a house.
22. How did buying a house affect your life, in the big picture
sense? (all)
I am happy to have a place to belong.
23. Do you feel really tied down? Does the responsibility of owning a
house weigh on your mind and your pocketbook? (all)
Sometimes I feel tied down, but most of the time I feel like it's an
investment; eventually the market will get better, and we can sell or
whatever.
24. What am I missing? What should I be asking you? What are the
answers to the things I should be asking? (all)
I can't think of anything.
25. I've said this before but, I'm BROKE! Should I not be doing this?
(all)
it's really a buyer's market right now. Mortgage companies are
falling all over themselves to sell to people who have enough for a
monthly payment but nothing for a big down payment. I'd take
advantage of that.
26. If you think owning a home is the best thing ever, and you
totally think I'm doing the right thing, convince me of that. (all)
Renting is throwing your money down a rat hole. Might as well be
spending your money on something that has a return, you get a tax
write-off, and eventually you can sell it if you want to.
27. Tell me anything here. (all)
I can't think of anything.

Oct. 6, 2005

I want this bed!!!!

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/102603_bed-system-complete-
storage-bed-walnut.htm

I also like:

Bill payers desk

http://www.silvo.com/shop/product.asp?
product_code=H10169&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=30
42&search_type=subcategory

http://secure.linensource.com/default.aspx?
uid=BJQ&CategoryID=&page=product&tlcode=KNC-26652&att=32909

Wrought iron hall stand

http://www.silvo.com/shop/product.asp?
product_code=H10306&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=30
42&search_type=subcategory

Hallway stand

http://www.silvo.com/shop/product.asp?
product_code=H10387&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=30
42&search_type=subcategory

Mission Art Media Double Door Storage Cabinet-Oak

http://www.silvo.com/shop/product.asp?
product_code=H10700&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=30
42&search_type=subcategory

storing chest

http://www.silvo.com/shop/product.asp?
product_code=H10830&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=30
42&search_type=subcategory

Apothecary 2-Door Multimedia Storage Cabinet

http://www.silvo.com/shop/thumbnail.asp?
ensemble_code=H10916X&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=
3042&search_type=subcategory

Apothecary 2-Door Televison Stand

http://www.silvo.com/shop/thumbnail.asp?
ensemble_code=H10917X&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=
3042&search_type=subcategory

ladder - shelving

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/4911_shelving-ladder.htm

Top Load Media Cabinet

http://www.silvo.com/shop/product.asp?
product_code=H11132&world_code=3&category_code=304&subcategory_code=30
42&search_type=subcategory

Oct. 21, 2004

Had a good/sad conversation w/Sweetie last night on the way to HEB for
him to get wing stuff and me to get paper plates for boss day
luncheon at work today. My attempts at discussion are viewed by him
as attempts at manipulation, and that's apparently why he refuses to
deal with me when I ask for help with household things (housework,
bills, big projects that I really dread paying for by myself but he
won't address, so if I don't want the roof to cave in I get to go
into 10K worth of debt all by myself to get a new roof someday soon).
I don't know how to ask without having him shut me out...but at least
I know why he does it now. *sigh*

I am really thinking that Dave & Dave have the right approach:
they've been together 5 years happily and monogamously and Dave has
his house in the Heights and David has his apartment (condo?)
Downtown, and they dont' share household bills or responsibilities.
If I had it to do over again, that would be the way I'd do it.

12 Nov. 6:33 am

evilE
Sun Sign: Taurus
Rising Sign: Sagittarius

Just because you are stressed now does not mean that you need to be
stressed tomorrow, or, for that matter, in the next hour, evilE.
There are steps you can take to soothe your troubled soul. Stop, just
for a moment, to close your eyes and let yourself relax into some
deep breaths. You'll be surprised just how refreshing these few
moments can be. Why not give it a try, evilE?

Your Rising Sign
You probably will start the day in a very introspective mood;
however, it could well be shattered by visitors or an irritating
number of phone calls. Pandemonium may break loose at some point;
everyone will be coming and going all at once, making demands on you
left and right! Don't let this get to you; it's only the Mercury-
Uranus square, which has a way of causing chaos. And it's totally OK
for you to run away and hide!

Daily Numeroscope - November 12, 2003
Life Path Number: 6 If you've been feeling a little bored with your
furnishings at home or the office, today's creative Three energy will
give you the boost to breathe some new life into your surroundings.
When it comes to this area, budget can play a role, but not
necessarily. Change the furniture around, rearrange pictures and
ornaments, or add a throw pillow to create a dramatic change in your
space. Add some dried or silk flowers here and there and put out a
bowl of fresh fruit. Let your creativity flow today and see what you
can come up with.

===
Definitely agree with the numeroscope, I've been itching to
redecorate the house & also get started on the birdbath outside &
other backyard improvements.

New flooring for guest bath

wide swaths of cloth hanging from beams in LR ceiling, with hanging
lamps. large cushions to sit on in LR. Maybe do all this in time for
Decemberween?

Sep. 1, 2003

Taurus
Horoscope (by Astrocenter.com)
Today you might find yourself craving the companionship of friends
and lovers alike, dear Taurus. You're probably in the mood for some
good food, good music, and great conversation, and that's probably
just what you'll get. Afterwards you might spend some time alone with
a love partner, reflecting over what was just said between yourselves
and all your friends. Some of it might be intriguing and worthy of
deep thought. Have a pleasant day, and a wonderful evening.
========

Yes, I would love to spend time with friends, lovers, good food,
music, in lovely surroundings. And people in Hell want ice water. My
friends are in California, San Antonio, and Germany. My lover is
studying for the Cisco certification.

Gemini
Horoscope (by Astrocenter.com)
You're apt to be feeling pretty strong right now, dear Gemini. Health-
wise, you're probably in at least fairly good shape, and your mind is
sharp and quick. You might, however, have outgrown some areas of your
life that might not seem what they once were. One of these
departments could be your work. You might be considering leaving
behind a job done primarily for money, and going for a profession you
really love. If it works for you, do it!
========

If Sweetie was working, I would be considering this seriously, especially
in light of my diaryland writings summarizing my work history & the
things I've loved doing best. Since I'm the only one making money
right now, however, I have to just put my nose to the grindstone and
work.

Realized how pathological it is to go to the grocery store when I'm
bored. Now I don't have anything to do when I'm bored.

I've outgtown lots of things and don't really enjoy them anymore, but
I dont' have anything to replace them with.

=======

The house stinks. I tried to vacuum & the belt burned up. Stink.

Sweetie's messed up the kitchen table and the couch to the point where he
can't sit there and work on his laptop. Now he's messing up the guest
bedroom.

The guest bathroom is all full of his junk & dirty clothes on the
floor.

I hate this.