Doesn't it seem like we are all here, working for our few dollars an hour, to keep the banks, insurance companies and lawyers in silk ties, priceless antiques, custom high rises and money to burn? The government seems to have made it impossible to avoid the three evils. It just makes me so mad!

Tomorrow night I have a meeting with the owner of HerPlanet, the network that hosts HerCorner. I'm not sure what she wants to talk about. If there is even a plan or if we are just keeping in touch. I know communication and keeping everyone involved is high in importance to Dottie, the owner. I think that's great. It shows that each of us does matter and has a big part in the whole network.

Anyway, it's much better than BellaOnline where I was ripped off and then ignored. Bitches! I've heard there are new owners there now. But, there is no way I will ever go back and I will never have anything good to say about that organization. They were a pretty shifty bunch, I'd take any rumours about new owners with a bucket of salt.

I sort of re-pierced my ears tonight. The holes have never healed really but it's been about 20 years since I tried to stick anything through them. Yesterday at the store I noticed a necklace with a birthday fairy and thought it would be cute to give to the girl next door, Jade. It originally came with a matching ring and earrings. But, the ring had been stolen in this package. So, I asked how much it would discount for. Turns out it was down to $2. In my price range. I plan to give the necklace to Jade this Christmas. I was just going to toss out the earrings but they are kind of pretty. Plain and simple but nice: one tiny glittery stone. So, I gave into temptation and took them into the bathroom so I could see which of the holes in my ear looked most promising, and hopefully straight. With a little careful poking they went through. I wondered if at least the back of the holes had healed over but it was no problem to push the poles through. Anyway, I'm wearing them now. Not sure if I will have a problem with them but they are ok so far. I'm sure they aren't hypo allergenic so I might take them out at some point.

What other flabergasting news do I have....

I've been listening to a radio station that promises to play just Christmas/ seasonal music until Christmas comes along. It's nice, cheery music most of the time. I like hearing the oldies, like Dean Martin. They keep pushing "I Wish I had a River" by Robert Downie Jr. I don't see the relevance of it as a Christmasy song. I guess he has paid for the air time or some such deal. It's not a bad song. Kind of strange when you think that he has made a big mess of things. I wonder if he is doing any better for himself. I'm certainly doing better than I was six months ago. I think most of it is littered all over the Bewitching Vagabond column.

Anyway, there's about all the news anyone could stand to read. My brother is coming back this weekend and my Dad is planning to leave. So, soon I will have the house to myself. At least for a few hours now and then. I won't have to bother cooking dinner, which is nice. Also, I will do one big clean up day and then I won't need to worry about house cleaning again. I'm only using three rooms in the whole place. It will be easy enough to keep those going.

I just got the first statement from my US bank that I have seen since the divorce in July. Guess what they have done? Over drawn my account! I have no idea why they did this. Don't banks usually freeze an account if its a penny over the money in the account? I expected they would. But, for some reason without my knowing anything about it they have my balance in the minus range, by quite a lot! I'm not sure how I will manage this. It's not like I have any real access to the account now that I'm not in the US. I just keep thinking how strange it is that they let this happen. Also why does Sympatico send me an email about my payment not going through when I emailed them about a month ago to ask that the account be closed. The really ridiculous thing is that the email address they wrote from is the same one I wrote to a month ago. Just proves they don't read their email.

Well, I plan to do more than blog tonight. There is a ton of stuff I want to do with my personal site and I have to catch up on the BackWash newsletters for Home & Garden and Wordcraft. Kids BW has gotten behind too. I had a good idea for a new erotic story in the Little Chris series for the Adult BW column too. Chris gets tormented in a Santa Claus suit. We'll see how it goes. If it doesn't seem to be going anywhere I won't use it. Just like the car sex idea that wandered off into boring. Someday I'll find a way to use the original idea. It just wasn't working that day.

I really need to put more into my personal site. Sometimes I stumble across an exceptional personal site and it just makes you see what really can be done. Here is the site I'm thinking of today. French Toast Girl

Make sure to read the Adventures of Chalking. I linked to that in my Bewitching Vagabond column at BackWash. I just love oddball art stuff. :)

I can't keep denying it, I've got a cold. It seems to be in my throat of all places. Work won't be so fun if I keep coughing like this. At least my period finished.

I'm working 9:00 - 3:00 tomorrow. I think I will miss Sarah's baby shower. Her in-law family have arranged it all. The only thing I needed to do is show up. I was all set to enjoy just showing up and seeing how they do a shower. But, now I'm going to miss all or most of it. I would like to come over for the last hour but I've been so tired after work that I don't even want to put my feet on the gas to get the car going anywhere right away. So, I've been debating with myself, trying to decide if I should send an email letting the hostess know I might make it or should I just get out of denial and admit to both of us that I won't make it for the shower. I do want to go too. I just don't think I will still want to go as much after six hours of walking around being nice and trying not to cough on everyone.

Oh well, that's standard. Life gets in the way of itself all the time.

I am liking the job, did I already say that? I like helping people and so far there has only been one grumpy customer. Most people say they don't need help but about half of them pause and then ask me about something. I really liked Friday when I found a lady a pair of exactly the pants she wanted for half the price she said she was willing to pay for them. She was impressed. :)

The car is getting more cracked. While I was driving around on Thursday I heard a little noise and looked at just the right time to see the crack in my front window grow another inch or so. I hope it lasts until Spring. If it gets right from the bottom to the top or sides will the whole thing fall apart? Definitely not a happy thought.

I watched Robot Wars on TV tonight. It was great. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Best of all was the comradery between the players. They hammed it up a bit but overall they were cheering for each other even though they would like to have their creation win, of course. The big winner of the show was a bot called Pussycat. I'll watch again, if I happen to see it in the TV listings.

Almost time for me to shower and hop into bed. Last night I went to bed early and this morning I was up by 7:00, just in time for getting ready for work. But, I had the day off. Not so for tomorrow morning. I need to buy an alarm clock. The clock radio I bought it supposed to have one but it isn't going off. Kind of an essential thing for an alarm clock.

BackWash isn't working this afternoon or evening. I hope it isn't being hacked or something worse. The main page is not coming up at all. I've never seen that happen before. I did update Kids BackWash, that works. But, it has a different domain.

Not a real first day since it was just an orientation. We toured the store, signed papers, got a uniform (golf shirt) and found out what we are doing. I am a floor service person. Sounds great so far. From what I know I walk around and see if anyone needs help. If they are looking for something I take them there, offer to show them little extras to go with their planned purchase, etc. Basically it's my job to be friendly and outgoing. How hard can that be? I guess we'll see.

Anyway, I hemmed up the black pants I bought for work. So I'm pretty much ready to start tomorrow at 9:00am. If that turns out to be my regular shift I'd be happy. I still don't know that part for sure.

Of course, my period started today too. It does seem to have great timing. I've heard it's due to stress that you get your period at the worst times. But, I don't believe that theory. I've been under a lot of stress and it stopped completely for several months. I was sure I had early menopause. I began to feel extremely hopeless. That's a horrible thing to feel. Now, I really understand suicide, what goes through someone's mind and what drives them to take that last step. It's not feeling sad, feeling you can't cope, etc. It really is a lack of hope.

Enough of that. Just now when things seem to be getting better I don't want to rehash the past few months.

The little car is great. That crack down the front window IS growing. I look at it every day, how can I miss it after all. But, other than that I am really starting to love my car. I talk to it now and then. No name yet, I haven't found one that has that feeling of total rightness.

It's been a long time since I updated. Things have changed, as things do. I bought a car, a Ford Tempo (93) for about $2,000. On Friday I heard back from Zellers, I got a job! Tomorrow afternoon I'm going in for an orientation session and then I will find out just what I'm doing and when.

For HerCorner I am lagging behind from October. In part due to the server move, in part due to just not getting two articles done on time.

My sister, Grace, has moved out to Vancouver. Men were here over the weekend to move her stuff out there. She had it all really well packed and ready so it just took them half an hour at the most to load it up and get on their way.

Not much other news. I'm tired tonight. I seem to be tired every night these past couple of months. I guess I've run low on my night owl-ness.