Aggg!
I'm so freaking irritated with Blogger right now. I have a team blog ready to go for our BratGammon staff, but for some reason, which even Blogger can't explain, it won't publish. According to their support folks this particular prob hasn't been resolved since 09/03/02! Here is the message that I keep getting when I try to publish the blog:

"Oops, your blog was not quite ready to be published. Please try again."

I've tried everything. Even creating a new Blogger account.

After I went to their support pages, I found Blogger's response to this problem:

Blogger is currently (09.03.02) experiencing problems publishing some sites. We're looking into the problem. A fix or workaround will be posted here, as soon as we can figure it out. Sorry for any inconviences.

And, there weren't any updates posted.

So, I did the next best thing (laff at best); I asked to be notified of any updates.

This is a shame 'cos I'm comfortable with Blogger and until today it's worked out well for me. So, I'll be patient and see what happens tomorrow. Curses! It's Sunday after all, and I'm sure because I'm not a Blogger Pro customer, my stuff won't even be reviewed until the next millineum day. Geez, you'd think they'd at least have a forum on their site somewhere, but I couldn't even find one.

I guess ya never really know how good a service is until something gets broken :-(

Crud.

The E-mail that I Shouldn't Send

OK, I'm blowing off steam because I'm having staff issues @ BratGammon (a backgammon ladder that I co-own in a chats community). This is something I'd like to send to my staff, but know that it isn't a good idea to do it. So, instead, I'll write it here.

The e-mail that I SHOULDN'T send:

OK, I did have it all written down, but I changed my mind because we have a great staff. And, to put down what I had originally written might be taken offensively and personally. I don't want to do that.

I'm just tired of the bullshit that, lately, has been finding a home on our ladder. I'm tired of the drama queens/kings.

Drew Disclaimer aka CMA (cover my ass)
Since I think Drew Barrymore is such a cutie, I decided to put her image on my page. I am not sure who took the photograph, but when I find out, I will surely give credit. I don't usually like to post images unless I've made them because of copyright guidelines, etc., but I thought, well I'll just see what comes of it. If I have to take it down, I will do so without hesitation, but in the meantime, I'm going to enjoy her pic on my site :-) I hope you will too.

** The image of Miss Drew Barrymore in no way whatsoever has been copied, distributed or used in any promotional matter. It is being used for the sole purpose of kernyen's enjoyment on her personal website **

The EnD.

Lasagne and Admin Day
Remember, the spagetti and lasagne from school cafeteria lunches? Everything else that was served was usually yucko with the exception of those two dishes. Well guess what? Here at work, they fix a school cafeteria lasagne! I can't believe I've been working here for almost three years and didn't discover that until now. It was soooo delicious. That baked on cheese with the filling oh-so right.

Yesterday for Admin Day, I received flowers, balloons, cookies, jelly beans and Almond Rocha from my boss.

Man, I shouldn't have been late getting in that morning.

MonDay
What a busy day today. Aside from the usual maniac stuff, I was informed today that I am a member of an IT Injury Preventive Taskforce Team. Why? Well, because they chose one person from each safety committee within IT. From the looks of the distribution list, there must be about 15 safety committees. Ooo.

In the meantime, this other committee that I co-chair is hosting a Spring Carnival so I've been occupied with that as well.

Oh - oh - oh...and then...did I mention that my 2-week sabbatical from BratGammon officially ended last Sunday? It's like I never left. All the crap that could happen did happen, but was put on hold until I got back - dangit. I hoped in vain that some of it would resolve itself, but alas, I must have merely been dreaming.

I just joined a project - found out about it via Simply Sara's site. Ya might wanna check the project out:



I've also been tinkering with RSS feeds and site syndications.

Then, unable to help myself, I have made my site "cute."

Maim is over for dinner - actually, I sent her out to get dinner heh....and she wanted me to buy her cigs. I said no.

I better hit it - dinner has arrived :-)

This post officially rated "R" for "Rambling.

XXxxOoO!

OK, I'm running some tests here. .

Keeper of the Flame
Meerie still has that great way of making ya feel special so she can get shit done. Like for instance, she wants a fire started and then maintained, but wanted Kim do it for her. So Meerie tells her how great she is at getting the fire started and keeping it going.

"You are my Keeper of the Flame," Meerie tells Kim.

Indignant, I demand to know what I am.

"Um...well you drive good," Meerie says. "Out of all my kids, I feel safest with you when you're driving."

"Okay, but I wanna title like Kim." I say.

"Oh geez," Kim rolls her eyes. "you're such a nerd."

Meerie is laughing. I'm serious.

By the way, my belated birthday dinner was great. As usual, Meerie fixed a fabulous meal of Australian lamb, snap peas and asparagus served with steamed rice (of course). For dessert, coffee and a cheese cake with cherries.

Mari came over as well after she got off work. It was such a nice evening. After dinner, we sat around and watched some television, which reminds me - I have another fave actor to add to my list. It's John Corbett.  He plays in the new series called, "Lucky."  He also played in the feature movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Then again, you might remember him from a series called "Northern Exposure." And, he's also played in a recurring role on Sex and the City, a role he was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series.

Anyhow, I just love to watch that man act and I think his role in Lucky is one of his best so far. It's worth checking out.

For the Road
I'm headed to Meerie's soon for a belated birthday dinner. I think I'm gonna be lectured to as well 'cos lately I've been a hermit.

I couldn't resist this test:



Find your inner Smurf!

Until the next post, ciao!

Stuck
Words that are stuck in mah brain:
jaded, tom-foolery, schnikies

Tom-foolery is just hanging in my brain more than the others. I like it.

"Now, be good dammit! No tom-foolery!"

"Quick Reginald! Something is afoot, some tom-foolery, I guarantee you."

Slow
Today has been a very slow and laid back day. Aside from watching television, I've been parked in front of the computer finishing up the next issue of the BratGammon newsletter (BratGammon Connection). I've added a few new features, so hopefully, it will catch some interest.

I am finally satisfied with the layout of my site. It took approximately a week, but contentment reigns in my soul!

Well.

Okay....except for the couple of errors on this page that I cannot find (but no - oh no, I refuse to go into the bathroom and cut off all my hair - I have matured somewhat).



(sniff).

Tomorrow, I am planning to take take Maim out to a nice Easter dinner (Asian style, of course). I know she will enjoy it 'cos her fave is Japanese.

Speaking of food, I should grab me something to eat....of course, it will be something that I can throw in the microwave.

Eat your heart out Julia Childs.

Birthday Girls
I had a nice birthday yesterday.

Hm, 42 feels like 27, except maybe for the swollen ankles.

I received some nice gifts from both family and friends.

Meerie called to wish me a happy birthday, and as usual, couldn't quit exclaiming how she could have a 42 year old daughter.

Kim, Maim and I went out to dinner for my birthday. We ate at one of our hangouts, "China Star."

Buv called and wished me a happy birthday and invited me over for Easter dinner.

I decided not to go. Mari will be coming over and I'll fix an Easter dinner.

Hey, I wonder if China Star is open on Easter Sunday?

Mari's birthday is today. We were supposed to spend the whole day together paintin' the town red, but since she needed to borrow money, it came out of the pot that I had saved for her special day. So aside, from a Hallmark moment, her car was repaired for her birthday.

Mari is 23 years old and it seems just like yesterday that she was 2 years old.

Man, she was a handful.

Man, some things neva change.

Happy birFday, Maimeeeeeee ~

Hump Day
Today, started out good. I was able to get a lot done at work, which is getting harder to do with so many meetings to schedule, attend and projects to complete. I've never been so busy. I had to leave at about 3pm today to help Mari out - her car is need of repairs so I loaned her money and drove her to pick up her car. I am beginning to realize that I do not have a savings account - it's actually a Mari Account :o)

I'm bored. Took a test:


You're a Classic Cup 'O' Joe!


What Kind of Coffee are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Suits me.

I volunteered Meerie and Kim to help out at the Spring Carnival in May. Meerie will be doing bingo and Kim will be manning the fishing game station. I will be found near the refreshment wagon testing out the cotton candy.

Okay.

I meant, the candy apples.

Oh shit. Look. Damn. Another test.



Which tarot card are you?

I dun feel so magical. I didn't see a fat cow card - I'm sure I would have been dat card.

Oh well. Not that I dun mind being the magician. I can turn a few tricks for ya's *winks*

Who said dat?!

Anywayyyssss, Kim is visiting and watching the Sci-Fi Channel. She calls me Nerd Woman, but she is Weird Woman. She loves that creepy stuff, but the funny thing is that she reads romance novels while she watches the Sci-Fi Channel.

"Oh John!"
"Oh Marsha!"
"Make it so, Numba One."
"Beam me up Scotty!"

See? Weird Woman.

Kim is also a social butterfly, loves getting out and doing stuff, but then again, she likes to hang out at home. She is a fantastic cook, although I must say she doesn't cook her vegies enough. She loves my steamer.

"Why?" I asked her. "Ya don't cook the damned vegies - they're so raww!"

"Well," Kim replies. "at least they have texture unlike your babyfood version of cooking them!"

"Oh yeah?! Well, it's my steamer!"

::::::

"Real smooth, Karen."

Okay, so I wasn't blessed with quick wit.

Trouble
I'm having blog troubles.

Fried Chicken & Fred Flintstone Feet
Tonight I took Meerie and Kim out to Hop Sing Palace where they serve a great wor won ton mein soup. I've been bragging about it to Meerie for quite some time now and couldn't wait to take her. I felt like a little kid when I looked at her expectantly as she took a taste of it, then beamed when she said to me, "You did good, Karen - this is very good."

W00T! Yes, my mommy's opinion matters :)

Kim ordered the fried chicken dinner - yes folks, the fried chicken dinner at a Chinese restaurant.

"Kim," I say. "we're not at Denny's. Can't ya order the soup? That's why I brought you and mom here."

"But, I'm sick of Chinese food, Karen."

Of course, that didn't stop her from ordering the pork fried rice with her chicken.

About eight minutes later, our orders arrive. Meerie and I have these big bowls of steaming soup filled with noodles, won ton, shrimp, chicken, pork and Chinese vegetables while Kim's plate was filled with the fried rice and chicken nuggets?

"What're those?" I ask her as I take a sip of my soup. "I thought you ordered fried chicken."

"So did I, " she sighed.

"Well, it is fried," Meerie points out.

"Yeah," Kim sighs again.

Meerie and I felt sorry for her, so we gave her some of our soup. She offered us pieces of her nuggets, but we politely refused and sorta shuddered just looking at 'em.

After dinner, we went to Starbuck's and then went shopping where I bought myself a pair of my fave ever-so faithful Nike tennis shoes and Meerie bought her some Reebox, a pair of pants and a top. Kim bought herself a pair of shorts and a top.

When Meerie was trying on tennis shoes, I stood what seemed like forever watching Kim as she helped Meerie tie up the shoe and and I finally said, "Meerie, yanno methinks you're gonna have to get up one hour early just to give yourself time to tie up those flippin' laces. I vote no on those shoes"

"But, these are cool!" Kim exclaims.

"C'mon Kim," I tell her. "Mom looks like she's 13 years old from the ankles down with those shoes. Plus, we've already been here 10 minutes and she has only one of 'em on, tied up and ready to go. At this rate, the store is gonna close before she can do the other one up."

"Ha, ha," she says. "very funny, Nerd Woman."

"Forget it Kirby," Meerie says to Kim. "I don't want them."

So, Meerie tries on another pair and Kim doesn't hesitate in pointing out in her own special way, which is quite loud: "Mom, those shoes make your feet look wide, round and BIG!"

Well, thanks to Kim, our family secret is out; the entire shoe department now knows Meerie has feet like Fred Flintstone.

Friday Five

1. What was the first band you saw in concert? - The Beach Boys

2. Who is your favorite artist/band now? - I have several - too numerous to list.

3. What's your favorite song? - Read answer to #2.

4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be? - Piano.

5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why? - John Lennon, because he's beautiful and soulful.

Blog & Moon Pie
Today as I was visiting Bacon, Cheese and Oatcakes, I found out my faerie name.

Rhian SpringCheeks of the Glowing Bog

That's fine and dandy, but what's up with the word, "bog?" I hope the fae will think of me as Rhi and not Bog.

Then, I went to visit Bloglicious and found out my Southern Sign.

MOON PIE (March 21 - April 20) You're the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch. A cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. Big and round are the key words here. You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea. It's not going to be easy. You always have a big smile and are happy. This might be the year to think about aerobics. Maybe not.

The Request
Today, I received an e-mail from my manager with an URL and the following typed in the subject line:

pls print, staple / hole punch

So, I printed the article, stapled and punched holes in it and put it in a binder thinking why would he want me to staple it if it's going in a binder? Anyhow, I set it on his chair and about one hour later, Patrick returns from his meeting.

"What's this?" He's holding up the binder.

"The article you asked me to print," I reply.

"How come it's in a binder?

"Because you asked for me to staple and punch holes in it. I figured you wanted it in a binder."

"Nooo," he says, "that's not what I asked. I asked you to staple it."

"Patrick," I say. "you asked me staple and punch holes in it."

"That's not what I asked," he repeats to me.

"Here, let me see the e-mail that I sent," he says. So, I so show him the message he sent to me.

"See?" he says. "There it is," he points to the subject line. He goes on: "If the article is short with a few pages, just staple it; otherwise, if it's too thick, punch holes in it and put it in a binder."

pls print, staple / hole punch

At this point, I'm thinking, "Great. He expects me to read what he meant, not what he typed!"

"One day," He says as he leaves my cube with the article in hand. "we'll understand each other."

"Well sure," I think to myself. "just as soon as you learn to MAKE SENSE!"

Happening Stuss
I've had some happenin' stuss going on:

I received a promotion - yay! I am now a grade 37 instead of a 36, which basically means, "I KICK ASS!" OK, maybe it doesn't mean exactly that.

"Go Karen, go Karen, go Karen."

As you can see, I changed my layout. I'm not 100% happy with it; it's the colors - it always takes me forever to find the right colors that make me snappy - er, happy. One thing is for certain -- I like this layout a lot better than the last one. Let me know what ya think (like I give a rat's ass).

I've taken a 2-week sabbatical from BratGammon. It's been more than nice, but I've come to realize when it comes to the ladder, I'm bit of a workaholic - who dat?!

Yes, me.

I must say that out of everything I've been called, a "workaholic" has never been one of them. I go to work and work. At 5pm, I come home and dat is dat. Work stays @ work. Oh wait. OK, maybe it doesn't - on occasion, I've worked from home. Oh hell, this past year, I've worked from home more than ever.

Okie doke - forget the workaholic stuss.

This post is officially rated "R" for "Rambling."

MSN Search #14

Well, it seems you can find my page by typing in: "Singing Penis."

SPAM

The last thing spam is noted for is distinction, which is why I become amused when I login into my e-mail and read some of the "catchy" subject lines for those e-mails intended for the guys:

"Be Proud When you Whip that Thing Out!"

Better

I'm feeling better.

My friend told me I had the flu. She's my doctor, you know. We all have doctors like that - admit it. Until we are dying, then we see the peeps that have gone to school and earned the title "Doctor." But, until then, anyone from our friends to our family members are our doctors.

Friend Diagnosis
Friend: "That's what I had - you had the flu."

Me: "Really? I didn't know you had the same symptoms."

Friend: "Oh yeah. Just drink plenty of fluids; otherwise you'll get dehydrated. You should be feeling back to normal within a day or two."

Me: "Thanks."

Doctor Diagnosis
Doctor: "You have the flu. Drink plenty of fluids, get some rest. You should be feeling back to normal within a day or two."

Me: "Thanks, doc."

Doctor: "No problem - that will be $3 trillion dollars please."