Borrowed Internet

I went without internet all day yesterday (Friday) and I couldn't do it a second day, so I came out to Starbucks for some Internet and caffeine.  I suppose I should head home soon as I don't want to be out and about once all the drunken revelers hit the road.  But that means the end of my internet until tomorrow (and the tech had BETTER fix my internet tomorrow!)

I worked on the Closet from H3LL yesterday and made quite a bit of progress even though if you looked at my bedroom now you might not think so. Trust me, it is better than it was.

I am pretty blue about spending New Year's Eve alone as I am a firm believer that how you spend NYE sets the tone for the year.  I will, however, make the best of it and look forward to bigger and better things in 2012.  I refuse to buy into 2012 being "the end of the world"... I will, however, do my best to make the most of the time this year gives me.

Weird thing... before I came out today, I totally changed clothes and actually looked in the mirror.  That is not "normal" for me, but I have decided that I need to be more conscious of things like that.  I need to not settle for "good enough"...

Have a Happy and Safe New Year's Eve, y'all. Hopefully, I will be writing from home tomorrow.

On Hold

Tuesday night I got home late, went to log on to my computer and....no internet connection.  Annoyed, I reset the router and...no internet connection. The modem is in the livingroom, the router and computers are in the office. I went out to check the modem and...hmmm... that's not good, there were dark spots where there are supposed to be lights.  Cycle the modem and... no internet connection.  Tired and frustrated, I went to bed thinking it would all be ok come morning (as it has been before when this has happened).

I woke up at 4:30AM on Wednesday, stumbled out to the livingroom and... still a lack of lights on the modem.  Cycle everything (once again)... no internet connection.  Call Time Warner (don't like them, but they are the provider in my area. sigh.) and there is no outage in my area.  Tech asks all the standard questions, we conclude that maybe my modem (6 years old) needs replacing.  Great.  Just what I need. Especially on top of the fact that sometime between Sunday evening and Tuesday morning, the driver's side headlight had burned out.

Managed to get the headlight fixed (thanks to a handy co-worker) and get a new modem on Wednesday.  Brought the new modem home, installed it and...no internet connection.  Called the lovely folks over at Time Warner again and they say they need to send a technician out, how does SUNDAY sound?  Seriously? I live in a major metropolitan area where you people employ hundreds, if not thousands of people and I have to wait from Wednesday until SUNDAY (a weekend AND a holiday, to boot!) for a technician?  But... I took the appointment after griping about losing work opportunities being offline that long.   So, on Sunday, some time between 10 and 2, there will (allegedly) be a technician at my place and I will (hopefully) be back online.

I suspect that one of my illustrious neighbors was fiddling with the cable box and messed things up, because everything was working fine on Tuesday morning and I noticed that the box that houses all the cables outside has been tampered with.  (Welcome to the 'hood)

I am taking all of this as divine intervention designed to get my butt in gear and deal with the Closet from H3LL.  Of course, if I spend the weekend at the coffeehouse on the Internet, I will thwart divine intervention but not get things cleaned up.. place your bet as to whether it will be productivity or procrastination.

AdSense makes no sense to me...

A few weeks ago, after years of not joining Goggle Adsense because I didn't think it'd be worth it,  a friend talked me into trying it out.  This is a growing blog and I am experiencing a growth in traffic and I thought it might be worth a shot.

Lo and behold, I started getting some clicks. I got to the payment threshold and did all of the things you have to do to get a payment.

So, imagine my utter dismay when I get in my email box CHRISTMAS MORNING an email from AdSense saying that they are disabling my account for "invalid clicks".  Now, I run their ads not only on this site, but on my other sites as well. I have no idea which of my accounts was allegedly generating the illicit activity and Google can't (read: WON'T) tell me which account is the issue.

This is all highly suspect to me, because until I was in line to actually get a payment everything was fine.  Also, way to ruin my mood on CHRISTMAS. 

Google AdSense violated Wil Wheaton's Prime Directive "Don't Be A Dick"... I did nothing wrong, brought traffic to their advertisers and they have disabled my account, which after reading their forums seems to mean I am banned FOR LIFE with no recourse.  And the money I made? Yeah, not going to get it.  But to me, the worst part is that this all happened CHRISTMAS MORNING, when I was already feeling pretty blue about things.

Since I wasn't really counting on revenue from AdSense, the loss of the accounts is a petty inconvenience. I am, honestly, more insulted than anything else.  And if anyone ever asks me if AdSense is a good program I will tell them to not even bother considering it.  Nor will I ever consider using them to do advertising for my business or any business I am involved with. 

Makes no sense to me... Now, on to bigger and better things!

Since I already missed "bedtime"...

I was so happy that I had no plans for tonight because I was going to come home and get things done and now's it's about half past Midnight and I'm still up (AGAIN!) because I have kept telling myself "just one more thing..." and then here I am still awake 2 hours past the time I really wanted to go to bed tonight!

Tomorrow night (well, since it's after midnight I guess what I really mean is TONIGHT) I will go do my volunteering with the cat rescue so I won't be home until later.  Friday I am off work but have a critical errand to run. The majority of the weekend will be spent trying to organize the chaos that is currently the Closet from H*ll (an unfortunate side-effect from cleaning the Closet o' Doom).  I also need to get the livingroom whipped back in shape and the kitchen beaten into submission.  Don't get me started on the state of the bathroom or the fact that I have a pile of laundry to tame!

My original plan for Christmas was that I was going to go to Arizona to spend it with my Mom and The Girl (my daughter).  But, life happened and so I'm not going (which I've known for a couple of months now).  I have plenty to keep me busy this weekend, though, so I am hoping to not sit around being mopey.  Actually, I will probably catch up on my blog reading and posting and coupon clipping over the holiday. And maybe actually address holiday cards (yes, I KNOW they'll be "late" by traditional standards but I figure if I get them out before Valentine's Day, I'm doing well for me!)

If you are taking the holidays off from blog reading, allow me to wish you a Merry ChristmaHannuKwanzaSolstica!  (Try to include everyone there) and if you don't celebrate any winter Holidays, perhaps I'll see you around the blogosphere this weekend!

Need to get on the (cake) ball!

It seems in the last couple of weeks, everywhere I click around the Internet there is a mention of cake pops or cake balls and people, I have never had either and that's just not right. 

I will confess that my favorite part of cake is the FROSTING but I'm seeing these delicious looking little cake snacks everywhere and I WANT IN!

It is mind boggling to read all of the reviews of this pan or that pan for making cake pops/cake balls or this gadget or that meant to make "the perfect cakepop".  I just want to EAT some before I get to trying to MAKE some but haven't been able to figure out where to start.  I mean, I suppose I could give in and order one at Starbucks but honestly, I think they are $1.50 APIECE and I just can't justify spending that much money on one, maybe two bites of cake. I've never in my life had cake that was worth $1.50 per bite.

People are starting entire cake ball/cake pop BUSINESSES.  Are there really people out there who will pay for tiny tastes of cake? Seriously, people like this are getting $29.00 for 12 cake balls.  That's almost $2.50 APIECE.  And these are cute, but wow! $24 for 6...

I guess that the original cakeballs were cake that was crumbled and mixed with frosting then formed into balls and dipped in chocolate. Oh. My.   How is it that I have never in my life had a cakeball? I need to fix this. I need to fix this NOW.  And so... I am on a mission... I hope a delicious mission. I will find some cakeballs and devour them (in the name of research, of course).  I hope to not have to pay $2.50 apiece for the priviledge, though! 

Off now to get my labcoat (because you need a labcoat in order to properly conduct research).  Have a stellar weekend!

Wait, Christmas is WHEN?

I don't know why I thought I had more time, but the clock is ticking out if I am going to get anything mailed before Christmas. Every year for the past 3-4 years I've thought "This year, I'll send out Christmas cards" and, well... I have a bunch of cards still sitting here, waiting to be sent. So, maybe (no promises) I will get around to actually doing cards this weekend between bouts of trying to beat the Closet o' Woe into submission.

The sad reality is that I probably need at least one more closet and a couple of walls that are built-in bookshelves.  There are TONS of books that need shelf space and my cheapo bookshelves are already about to fall down from the weight of all the books on them.

I definitely have more to say, but the clock is ticking and it's an hour past the time I should have hopped into bed, so I will say goodnight for now.  More this weekend!

Wine & Writing Wednesday

Usually I am at the Wine Bar on Tuesday nights with my laptop and some other writers.  But this week, we had to rearrange things and ended up having Wine & Writing Wednesday.  I am so used to doing it on Tuesday nights, though, that I have been thinking all day today that today is Tuesday and then having to correct myself, which has been a bit weird. 

Tuesday nights, the wine bar is very quiet and we chat.  Tonight is pizza night, though. And live music night. And crowded as heck night.  Which has made things interesting. I don't know if it has made things more or less productive.

By the way, the pizza is Chef TJ's Woodfired Pizza and if you are in the DFW Metroplex, you need to find them and have their pizza. These are not your average pies... they are really tasty and unique.  And how fun is a MOBILE woodfired pizza oven? 

And if you haven't been to The Wine Therapist, you should make the trip. It's a nice little place and very writer friendly (like a coffeehouse, but with wine.... and ambience....)

So, tonight has been a nice night.  A welcome respite from the chaos that has been going on lately.  I think I have a date this weekend with the Closet o' Awful.    But once that's done, things should be much more organized.  I'm sure other things will come up, but it will be nice to get that done.

A Case of The Mondays

This morning I attempted to get on the right track but was quickly run over by a runaway train of thought... I was just out of sync and off-kilter all day today and I have had a really hard time focusing lately and I don't know exactly what my problem is.

I need to get my closet cleaned out but that will be put off for another week which annoys me somewhat but I guess if my happy heinie had gotten around to doing what needed to be done sooner, I could have gotten things done and actually had some sales for the holiday season but here I am now with all of the things I need scattered here and there and buried in the Closet From H*LL and so, I have set my sights on getting it cleaned out and getting things organized and then using the month of January to get things on track to have sales in February for Valentine's Day (I am either an incredible optimist or incredibly stupid... the jury is still out as to which actually applies!)

BUT... I've been getting writing done lately (both novel writing and blogging) so I guess I haven't been a total slacker.  And I may have found another couponing friend!

Stuffed!

Went grocery shopping today and the cashier forgot the coupons. I HATE it when that happens because then you have to go to Customer Service and wait for the person returning individual grains of rice (ok, maybe that's an exaggeration, but it FEELS that way).  It was not one of my better couponing days plus I was kicking myself for having missed going shopping YESTERDAY when I could have gotten a $10 gift card.  *sigh

Anyhow, dinner tonight was make-up Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas Christmas dinner because the POSSLQ was out of town for Thanksgiving and will be gone again for Xmas. *sigh   So, we had roast pork, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and because we hadn't had NEARLY enough carbs (/sarcasm) we had mini cupcakes for dessert because some evil sample guy at Target was handing out samples and the stupid "hot chocolate" flavor mini cupcakes were to-die-for delicious.  And it's probably going to take me weeks to work off this single dinner, but it was TASTY and the only reason I am still up blogging is that I wanted to give it SOME time to digest and not put it DIRECTLY to storage on my hips!

But, I have to work in the morning, so I should probably go to bed. Any tips for helping the cashier remember the coupons? (Yes, I am STILL annoyed about that!)

Holiday Feasting

So, the POSSLQ is home from his latest business trip.  While out on the road, Thanksgiving happened and the next trip out on the road will include Christmas.  This means there are two feasts to be made up for. When I'm home alone, I seldom cook much beyond what can be microwaved.  There just doesn't seem to be a point to cooking when I'm the only one who is going to eat it and I don't want to be eating leftover whatever for days after the original meal.  I know, picky picky.  So, when I can get a good meal, I am happy to have it.  Plus, the POSSLQ is a far better cook than I am and meals I don't have to cook taste better to me.

It's really late and I should be in bed by now.  I feel bad that the apartment is sortve a mess and I should probably do some cleaning tomorrow.  I mean, it's not FILTHY or anything, it's just not as nice as I would like for it to be. 

So, there will be grocery shopping to do and feast prepping and some cleaning and whatever else I can stuff into the day assuming that I get to bed soon now so I actually get up at something before the crack of noon tomorrow.

Crazy Cat Lady

I must confess that I am a Crazy Cat Lady.  Even though I only have two cats (because that is all my apartment complex will allow).  I talk to them. I let them sleep on my bed. And that's just the way it is.  I also volunteer for a cat rescue and would love to take ALL of the rescue kitties home.  ESPECIALLY the hissy/growly ones because I would love to be the person that they grow to love. 

But, I don't want to write the blog that everyone whispers about... you know... "She has 35 cats... in the house... can you IMAGINE??"  And yet, I can't NOT blog about cats at all because I am too much of a Crazy Cat Lady.  Heck, I even follow blogs about people who have lots of cats so I can get vicarious cat lovin' time.  And yes, if the cats on the cat blogs I read are having fun or going through something sad, it does impact my mood.

So, don't be surprised if there is an occasional post about cats or a cat product review here.  (You may have gotten a hint that I am a Crazy Cat Lady a couple of posts back... For the record, I am also Crazy Chinchilla Chick).  I'd write more, but I have cats to pet!

Vitacost $10 Coupon

Have you heard about Vitacost.com?
They have over 30,000 health and wellness products, including vitamins, supplements, herbs, personal care products, organic foods and more; and it's all way cheaper than the health food store!
If you decide to check it out, please register through my link so we can both get a $10 off coupon!

 

Cats to cuddle before I sleep...

My to-do list seems about 3 miles long. And I don't just have one, I have the one for home, the one for work, the one for blogging... and I keep forgetting things I need for doing other things (like forgetting my coupons that one of the people at work give me for the second day now... grrrr!)

I need to remember to do things like fill cat water bowls, remember to check their food, make sure I have laundry done for the week and I have big, special projects like cleaning out the Closet O' Doom.  I also have bath fizzies and other things to work in along with research on building a brand and marketing, etc.  This is in addition to what's going on at work and how far behind I am there!

And at least one cat is angry with me because I haven't had time to cuddle. Tomorrow night I have to deal with the stuff from the Closet O' Doom, Thursday I have my volunteer gig...and it's late and the cat is being cute but I guess I should cuddle a while before bedtime.  Which should have been an hour or so ago.

I'd best get to the cuddling so I can get to bed at some point tonight!

Diamond Candles is looking for bloggers...

Diamond Candles Campaign Announcement ~ Call For Bloggers To Review & Giveaway Unique Soy Candles With Ring Surprises

The Criteria for Your Participation Are Simple.

• This event is Free to you. Open to US only.
• If you are to review and giveaway a product sponsored by Diamond Candles Company, you'll need to include in your giveaway the sponsor's Facebook and Twitter mentions, and a couple of keywords within your review.
• If you are to participate in this campaign, Blog about this event on your blog, linking it to my post here.
• Then, fill out this Form with information about your blog.
• Once you're approved by the Diamond Candles Company, I'll ask you to confirm your mailing address for mailing products to you for review and giveaway on your blog (FYI: Diamond Candles does all mailing to the winners for giveaway.) 

I am pretty sure there are still spots left, you've got nothing to lose!  Good Luck!

Weirdness...

So, I had 16 or so GFC followers a while back and now there are only 4 and I don't know if it was something I said and people fled and unfollowed me or if something weird is going on. I suspect that the Tea Monkeys have something to do with it...

I tackled the Closet o' Doom this weekend. It wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. Now I just have to figure out where to put all the stuff that was in there.

It rained most of the weekend.  We needed the rain, so I guess I shouldn't complain but I could do without the cold that came along with the rain.

I would sure like another day of weekend. 

Random Acts

A couple of days ago I followed a link that took me to a Target Coupon that was for a $10 gift card if you spent $50.  My printer ended up printing two of them (yay!) BUT they expired Dec. 3rd and I could not do two $50 shopping trips that quickly (the budget groans at the thought) so I put both in my purse and had a plan...

I did my shopping, paid, got my gift card (saved $30 with coupons + $10 gift card... go me!) and then walked slowly down the row towards the door glancing at the totals of other folks checking out.  I found one over $50 that hadn't paid yet so I swooped in, handed the cashier the coupon, wished the couple a "Happy Holidays" and scooted out of the store.  No, I'd never seen them before in my life but I like to think I brightened someone's day (cuz, hey, $10 gift card that was FREE, right?)  So, that was my Random Act for today and I'm pretty happy with how it went!

So, this is December?

I'm not quite sure where November went. It zipped right by as I worked on my novel, I guess.   Actually, I sortve feel that much of life just went zipping on by in November and am ready for the relative calm of December.

Tonight I ended up working late. I was trying to get a headstart on a big project that I should finish tomorrow and was entering data at my desk when my boss walked out of his office (my desk is in a hall space between two offices), walked right past me and out the door, switching all of the lights off and locking the door behind him as he left....as if I wasn't even there.  I'm hoping that this means that the tea I've been drinking is not only antioxidant, but is also imbuing me with the power of invisibility. Because that would be awesome.  I mean, it obviously has its down side if no one can see that you show up to work every day I guess eventually they'd hire someone else to do your job but you could just hang around and wait for bank vaults to open and help yourself or hang around at the bank and when they open your file just add some strategically placed numbers to your account balance...  If you are a more ethical invisible person, I still bet there are people who would pay for the services of an invisible person.  You could approach corporations and suggest that you sit in on competitor's high-level meetings (ok, still an ethical gray area) or maybe offer your services to prisons to hear what the inmates chat about, which crimes they are admitting to committing and the like.  Maybe work for the police by infiltrating a suspected drug cartel?  Or, hey, loss prevention at retail establishments.  No more shoplifters getting spooked by visible store security personnel.

Of course, this assumes you are either a full-time invisible person or that you have absolute control over your invisibility because I am guessing that invisibility doesn't totally work if you are wearing clothing and to all of a sudden turn visible, stark naked, would probably not be a happy outcome.

I'll bet you could do pretty well as a private investigator if you were invisible.  There are always going to be people who need information about other people that they can't outright ask for...

So, maybe my December won't be productive... at least not in a traditional sense.  I'm going to have to drink lots more tea.  I theorize that all the oxidants and free radicals are what keep us visible so if I can just ingest enough antioxidants, I should ring in the new year a less visible me.  I should probably work a little on my body just in case invisibility DOES require nudity.  Tea leaves may make tasty tea, but they do little to provide ample coverage if your invisibility wears off.