GothGeek's Musings

Why hello there! A while back, I discovered this site: AnyLuckyDay, and today, they are giving away the very cool Flip Ultra video recorder. I've linked directly to it, so check it out. Even if you don't want to enter today's contest, you may be interested in the next one!

Today has been busy.

Well...things are going to be very busy for quite some time.

We got a rather late start - didn't get up until about 8:30. Still staying at mom and dad's at night, as we have no sleeping arrangements at the house yet. Besides, they feed us. LOL

Played DDR with Noel for a bit. We left around 10:45 to return the U-Haul. Got it there in plenty of time...we came around full circle - took the van back to the same company we rented from when we moved out to Oklahoma two years ago. They're the only place in town who takes them anymore.

Went to the house and cleaned up a bit. Around 1:00, +Kyle went out to Decatur to talk to Mr. Graham about the job at Lucky's. I stayed at the house, called to cancel all of our utilities and things in Oklahoma, and got some of the living room arranged. Mostly, it consisted of moving boxes out of the living room and into the second bedroom. I got the entertainment center set up, and was just getting the couch cleared off to move it when +Kyle came back around 2:30 or so. Good news - he does have the job, and starts tomorrow - 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. He will likely be working Sunday evenings, which means time and a half. Don't think there are any benefits involved, but this is a start.

Mom called and came out shortly afterward to clean while we unpacked boxes. I'm SO grateful she's helping with this...we have been going pretty much non-stop for over four days, and the house is enough of a disaster area that the thought of doing actual cleaning, much less unpacking stuff, is overly daunting. The house isn't UNCLEAN, per se, but it's rather dusty in places, and has that old house smell. We need plants badly, and probaby potpourri or candles until it gets that normal lived-in smell again.

Sidestep...
We're watching some TechTV show...Nerd Nation, I think... It's about Star Wars fans, and I cannot believe what kind of tragic lives these people lead. They don't call them fanatics for nothing...

Before Mom actually got there, I went out to get the utilities here put into our name. +Kyle hates dealing with the people at Athens Futilities...they're not *that* bad. That took some doing, but it's done. I just remembered I was supposed to get a smoke detector today, though... :P Have to do it tomorrow.

Went around to about 5 places and picked up applications, and by then it was nearly 5:00, so I thought it was time to get back to the house and help out. Let's see...within biking distance there are many places I would be willing to work, many more I don't really care to work, and several that appear to be 'family' businesses that wouldn't accept outside help. I'll put in apps in that order until I find something. Geekgrrl said there's a position open at the hospital...it's secretarial, but I bet they have health insurance. :P

We cleaned and unpacked until about 6:30. The living room is looking almost liveable, but we have to figure out what to do with the computer desks. I think a setup like what we had in Madill will be best, but one of us will have to face away from the TV. That's fine with me...I don't really watch it when I'm using the computer. If I'm going to watch something, I'll sit down and watch it, or work on a project on the couch while doing so.

Got showered and came back to the 'rents' house for dinner, stopping by Piggly Wiggly first to say hi to +Kyle's old co-workers. Only Kristie was on, and he "scared the crap" out of her while she was in the office, sneaking up behind her silently. She was bent over, reading some article, and he came up behind her and said, "That's cute." She jumped, and we were most amused. We got keys made for the house, too, as I needed copies.

Had hamburgers at mom and dad's, played more DDR with Noel - we killed ourselves - did laundry, and have been catching up with emails and blogging for much of the evening.

Now we need to gather edibles...it is quite late, but hey, at least The Dreaded Mart of Wal in Athens is actually open 24 hours a day...

So in the morning, I need to fill out applications and take them around, then pick up more within a reasonable biking distance from the house. I need to find a job quite soon. Don't really want one, but we have got to get caught up financially, and there are so many movies we want to see this summer. ^_^'>

Tired. Need to shop. But mostly need sleep.

For your entertainment...something that Ian said he sent me, but I apparantly never received:
Hello C'thulu

And something else he posted in his blog...it made me giggle until I hurt...
Why you should never post your picture on the internet

My brilliant younger brother has written an interesting article taxation in the U.S.

Everyone should read this.

Question!

Any of you guys know a good (free or demo) MP3 editor program that will let me bring down the quality just a touch? I've got some at 320, but would like to bring them down to 256 or even 192 just for the sake of filesize.

I've found a bazillion *potential* programs on CNet, but I don't feel like downloading them, trying them, finding they're not what I need, and going through all that rigamarole. (I actually had to look that word up to make sure I spelled it correctly...how embarassing, although I did have it spelled correctly on the first go.)

www.puppet.org

If you ever get the opportunity to see The Salzburg Marionettes, do so. It's absolutely one of the most incredible performances I've ever seen.

MSC was able, with the Oklahoma Arts Council, to get them to perform on-campus this evening. The program was The Magic Flute by Mozart.

The articulation and range of physical motion, and EMOTION was phenomenal. The stage sets had such illusion of depth. +Kyle knows for a fact they had no more than 15 feet to work with, but some of the sets look like they have 40 or 50 feet back there! Of course, all the puppets are masterfully created.

I can't even talk about it, it was so wonderful. The troupe only tours for about 6 weeks in the US, so if you ever hear about them in your area, do yourself a favour and see them. They're in Atlanta this weekend!

Since I like forcing things on unsuspecting innocents, here are pix from Halloween. There's me on my own, and me and Jon. Yes, he really is that tall, and I really am that short.

Soon as I talk to Susan, I'll see about the ones from the dance. :)

*edit* The link works now
http://photos.yahoo.com/lsdiamond