A sour Apple

I know what you all are going to say: "That's what you get for being so loyal to Apple." Nothing but bad news. Expensive bad news, too.
The iBook died a few days ago ... in a bad way. It suddenly wouldn't boot up properly, and all I would get on the screen is that random folder image with the question mark in it. This afternoon, I took it to the "Genius Bar" at my local Apple store, and was given an ominous diagnosis.
The hard drive is cracked out, i.e., the computer has the "click of death." This phrasing is techno-geek fabulous, and means that the drive has suffered some mechanical failure, and is no longer functioning. Oh yeah, "and if you haven't backed up in a while, you've probably lost all your data," the Genius says. Terrific. I'll tell you what I said to him, and then to my mother (much to her horror): I've never backed up my computer. I don't even know how.
So what's on this suddenly worthless piece of plastic laptop? Five years of financial records; the entire iPod library (which isn't that big a deal since the iPod also has the entire library. I guess that's my back up there); and, much to my sadness, everything I've written since college (term papers, reports and every article I've authored for every magazine I've worked for). Grr.
And here's the fun part: for Apple to fix it, it'll probably cost upwards of $350. The Genius gave me some cards for some guys that also work magic on Apples, and they should be able to beat that price by at least $100, he says. Let's hope so.
I'm really in a bit of a heartbreak over the whole thing. I do so love the Apple. And unfortunately, I don't have the cash to just write it off and buy a new iMac.

A "planet" no more

This, from CNN: "After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930."
I feel bad for Pluto (in the photo's left, with one of its moons). All these years it's been considered a full-fledged planet -- a major link in our solar system. And then, based on some new-fangled definition of what a "planet" is, its status as a member of the nine rocks around the sun has been stripped and demoted to "dwarf planet." That's deflating. As if the little place wasn't cold and alone enough, now it's going to be mocked by its larger neighbors, and perhaps even kidnapped by another solar system that sees it as our weak link.
I'm also concerned for all the kids out there who will now have to argue with their parents during the solar system portion of science class when their homework answer is eight, and the parents insist that, no, there are nine planets in the solar system.

Another blowie at the White House

ITEM!: I love it that the Internal Revenue Service is taxing the celebrities on the "swag bags" that they receive for showing up at awards shows and presenting a statue. It's no secret, at least among us entertainment whores, that these gift bags are worth upwards of $70,000, depending on the event. (I think the Oscars' bag was worth that last year.) It's ridiculous that a celebrity, who already makes a ton of money, should get stuff as random as a new phone, trip to a spa, invitation to a store opening or something like that, when they'd probably get it anyway, just for showing up at the phone store, spa or store that morning. At any rate, the taxes for the Academy Award bags will be paid retroactively by the Academy (through last year). This year, however, I wouldn't be surprised if such gifts were nowhere to be seen. (And lest we forget, the wonderful George Clooney donated his Oscar bag to charity to be auctioned off for hurricane relief.)
ITEM!: Paramount has severed ties with Tom Cruise's production company. Huh. It seems that becoming a kooky guy of the highest order can get you thrown off the lot -- no matter how big a star you were.
ITEM!: President Bush met with the guy who drove his FEMA trailer from Louisiana to Washington, D.C. today. The guy made news because, well, he wasn't invited to D.C. At any rate, it should be mentioned that the gentleman was on his way north to thank Bush for all the help that the government has given the region. Tell me that isn't a photo op waiting to happen! OF COURSE Bush would choose to meet this yahoo, instead of someone who has issues with the administration, like Cindy Sheehan, or the millions of other Hurricane Katrina survivors that are venomously unhappy with the president's reaction to the hurricane. Why try to solve something by hearing about people's problems when you can get blown on the White House lawn by a guy who just wants to get on television?
ITEM!: I'm loving the new Christina Aguilera. As a diehard Brit fan, you know how tough that is for me to say, but Aguilera's new single, and the potential in the new album is enough to make me bust out to get my computer fixed tomorrow so I can download the tunes on the Pod.
ITEM!: This image is brought to you by some organization's public service announcement in Scotland (I think). It's designed to ward people away from taking that one last drink that they know they shouldn't have, but are peer pressured into downing anyway. Seriously, it is disturbing, but it brings to mind my first year of college. Is that bad?

Chocolate, dudes. Just chocolate.

Is it wrong that I would have looked at this two-inch tall mound of chocolate drippings and thought, "Cool. Leftovers from the chocolate vat; right here where no one knows it drips;" and then I would have eaten it, and kept the little dripping place to myself so that every two or three days I could go to it and have a little secret snack?
Even in the off chance that I too thought it looked like the Virgin Mary, I would have eaten it, perhaps after taking a picture of it with my phone and blogging about it. (Actually, it looks more like one of those fake owls that people put up on the corners of their houses to scare away the pigeons.) However, I certainly would not have shown everyone in the building, put the photo up on every news wire site, and claimed that my chocolate workplace was the newest portal to religious bliss.
Do these people really think that, if there is a religious deity controlling the world out there, that it would choose to manifest itself in chocolate drippings? Or in water stains in a freeway underpass, or on a piece of toast, or in the random swipings of a window washer?
I would hope that such a deity would be a bit grander in its pronouncement of existence.

Happy 301!

It's hard to believe, but true, my friends. This is the 301st blog post on "It's all about..." I certainly appreciate your faithful readership, even if I have been slacking off a bit lately.
So what's the what: Oliver seems to have adapted well enough to our new environment; the apartment itself is becoming more and more comfortable every day; I'm getting into the swing of this whole working-at-home thing; and Brian is deep into getting his Arizona licensure.
This weekend, we'll make our second trip out to IKEA. Our second trip ever ... and it is to pick up the bookcase that we didn't get last week. Have any of you been to an IKEA? Holy crap! Talk about a huge store with tons and tons of stuff in it! Yikes! Mom and I would have had so much fun setting up my first dorm room in that place! As it stands now, since we have most everything that is necessary for a cozy home, there is little to nothing for us to buy there (a fact that is a happy for my credit cards), so a lot of the product goes unappreciated. However, the fact that they have little apartments set up throughout, and sample living rooms and the like, makes it one of the coolest stores ever. I'm wondering how well the bookcase will fit in the back of the car though. We'll take Brian's vehicle, because it tends to pack better, but still, I think we may have to leave the back open, and put me behind the driver's seat to get it home.
Since we are missing HBO in our new cable program due to a lack of funds, we've started digging in to our own DVD library for movie entertainment. Last night, we watched Stripes, starring Bill Murray and Harold Ramis. That movie is such a gem! The most fun about it is that, even though neither of us had watched the flick in a long time, we still could roll along with quoting the dialog, quips and phrases that made us laugh the most. (It's like how you know the words to a song even though it's been years since you've last heard it.) The movie was released in 1981, if you can believe it, and is still as much a giggle today as ever.

A desk reborn

Alrighty!
We've got a desk, and I feel like a normal computer person again! Yay! No more bending over, all hunched up on a chair or on the floor to compose my e-mails and blog posts. I never really appreciated the beauty of a desk until I was without one for several days. It sucks; believe me.
So now that all is somewhat normal in my life, I'll be able to get back into the real swing, and start haunting my entertainment web sites and all that. Yay for the return of my obsessions!!
So, how are all of you doing?

I miss my magazines!

I think that you all would be impressed with the amount of stuff we've gotten done over the last few days. With Mom here, I'm always more motivated to get more done during the day, so right now, this place is remarkably livable. We've ordered our new sofa; gotten a new printer/fax/scanner/copier; filled up the refrigerator at both the grocery store and Costco (my Fudgsicle tonight was DELICIOUS); and hung up some pictures. Really, the setting up of the house is all that I've been focused on over the last couple days. I know little to nothing about the news -- entertainment or otherwise -- so don't have anything else on which to comment.
Tomorrow, we get our mail delivered. It's been on hold since mid-July, and hopefully, we'll have a good pile of stuff to take care of. But really, who am I kidding, I just want my Entertainment Weeklys for the last couple issues. I've got the shakes, it's been so long since I've read that magazine. Here's hoping that all the forwarding is progressing well!

Happy jam

It's a good omen, don't you think, when one opens up a brand new jar of Knott's red raspberry jam, and this is what they see on the top? Awesome! Good omens outweigh bad omens by a long shot, and this is definitely a good omen!
So we've been in our new home for about three days, and have most every box unpacked, and just about everything put away. Brian and I tackled the kitchen today, and I'm happy to say that everything fits, and we've got a lot more counter space. I like that. And let me tell you; the three of us have slept so well in our own bed over the last few nights! Lovely!!
Mom arrives tomorrow for a weekend visit, so who knows how much blogging I'll get done. But once I've got a desk in my office, it'll certainly be more comfortable!

Home sweet...

Hello, my darlings!
It's been an age since I posted; I'm so sorry!!
And the scoop? Well, I'm in my apartment (siphoning off someone else's wireless), and I've got all my stuff surrounding us. The movers were here bright and early this morning, and were finished unloading the ungodly amount of furniture, boxes and crap we own at about noon. It was ridiculous hot out, and I don't envy them the job they do, especially since there were only three of them, and it was like in the 90s already. Too hot for me. Thankfully, this whole belly thing gave me the perfect excuse to sit on the rocking chair and do nothing but check off the stuff as they brought it in.
So, about the place. Well, it'll do. I won't be surprised if we end up changing locales, or even states, next summer. Never again shall we select something as important as a home straight off the internet. Not that it's too bad, but I did have a crying fit last night when we arrived. It looks much better in the light of day, and I'm sure will be a nice home once we've got everything unpacked. (So far, we've finished the master and guest room closets; and I've made the bed. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it is.) Quitting time for me today: 6 p.m.
So Matthew, the move driver, called us at 8:45 yesterday morning to let us know that he would be here between 8 and 9 a.m. this morning. Of course, we were cozy and happy in Sierra Vista, and took our time about leaving there, so didn't stroll into this place until 10:30 p.m. or so last night. It was a rough drive, since B was in his car, and I was in mine, and freakishly, it was the longest time we'd been apart in two weeks. (The drive was only three hours, but with the crazy thunder and rain storm, felt a lot longer.) So at any rate, we're here, and have our work cut out for us over the next few days.
Oliver, I think, has realized that this is home, and has been catching up on his sleep all afternoon. He's enjoying the return of his doggy door, too. Free and unfettered access to the balcony? Brilliant!!
Oh yeah, and it's f**king hot here.

August avatar

Back into the swing of things, I present to you the August avatar.
She is, of course, comfortably ensconced in her new apartment, with cozy furnishings around her. This is not me yet, but will be, I hope, some time late next week. Seriously, I'm ready for my stuff to get here and to get started finding places to put everything!
Okay, what's up with Mel Gibson? Did I call it or not when I told all of you that a religious zealot who lives his life based on The Passion, is a person taking a dangerous walk on the wild side of sanity. And now, his own actions have brought him crashing back to earth, where the real people are. Did you read his apology? Press relations brilliance, if completely without merit and sincerity. The mug shot cracks me up, as do the pics of him drinking and hugging all the girls at the bar. This is a real family man, isn't it? Whatever. He lost me with The Passion, and will likely never get any of my movie money again.
Also in entertainment news, Heath Ledger has signed on to play The Joker in the next installment of the Batman movies. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty excited about this casting. I love that the superhero movies are skewing younger. It gives me something prettier to look at.

Greetings from the Grand Canyon state

Well! HELLO from Arizona!!
We have made it to Brian's parents' home, and with only seven days, and about 3,400 miles put on the car! Who knows how much we've spent on shady motels and expensive gasoline, but we certainly made it! And boy, are my legs tired.
The last bits of drive from El Paso to Sierra Vista was a hop and skip compared to yesterday, so I won't even go into that. Suffice it to say that even the torrential rains and flooding we drove through heading out of town this morning did nothing to slow us down, knowing that a big bed, homemade dinner and six days minus the vehicle were waiting for us. At any rate, it's all done now, and in a few days, we'll finally cap off this drive by investing the final three hours to make it up to Scottsdale.
Things we saw today include: some guys in a red Mustang getting pulled over because the drug dog signaled their car as we drove through an inspection station; random rain storms that successfully washed all the big bugs off the car; and, in a "we must be getting close to the West Coast" moment, a convenience store that carried Lipton tea, unsweetened with nothing in it. Ah, the joys of home!!
So, enjoy the fact that I'll have regular access to my e-mail and blogging over the next few days, my dears, because I certainly will!!

Day 7: El Paso, Texas

Insanely long day in the vehicle, my friends. It feels like we drove a million miles, but I think it's more along the lines of 800. We didn't go 60, as the speed limit along most of the highway was 80, and made it to the city of El Paso in 10 hours. It's kind of a mindfuck when you condsider how big the state of Texas is.
I wish I had some great stories about our day, but really, it was spent sitting in either the driver or passenger seat watching the flat, scrub brush fly by. We stopped regularly for Oliver and I to pee, and to fill up the car, so, while we're certainly tired, I don't feel as cramped as I should. Walking around is good.
Because we spent so much time in the car today, we have splurged on ourselves and are staying at a La Quinta -- somewhere that we knew would have a decent bathroom, and where we knew we'd get a good night's sleep. (Hence, also, the wireless internet access.)
Tomorrow, after sleeping in a bit, I hope, we should make it to Sierra Vista in about 4.5 hours. A short day!!

Days 3, 4, 5 and 6

[Editor's note: I finally ... FINALLY ... have internet access on the road again. I've been a good little blogger though, and have journaled every day of our road trip. Day, 3, 4, 5 and 6, immediately following.]


Day 3: Hilton Head Island, S.C.

There’s no internet access at this hotel, so I’m journaling this for whenever I am able to get on line again. A full day of driving brings us to this lovely little island resort, full of families, and golfers. Brian wanted to get some golf in on this trip, so we’ve made a detour to Hilton Head.
I love it when I can look back at the day and count how many states we’ve driven through. We started off in Virginia, and motored straight through North Carolina and into the southern tip of South Carolina. One thing that we’ve noticed that we are super impressed with is the cleanliness … no, straight up, niceness … of the rest areas along the 95 South. They’re air conditioned, complete with cov ered picnic areas, and complemented by refreshment stands and the like at every one. They make it not as scary to pee in a new state.
At any rate, we’re comfortably ensconced in a Days Inn, and await our day tomorrow.


Day 4: Crestview, Fla.

Today, we changed highways. Huzzah!! But first:
I got Brian to the golf course around 6:45 a.m., returned, and fell asleep in bed for another 2.5 hours. It was a treat, really, to not have to get up before 9:30 a.m. Ollie and I had a relaxing morning, and by 11:30 a.m., were checking out of the hotel to go and pick up Brian so we could start our driving day.
It was a short hop to get into Georgia, which is famous, not only for peaches, but for pecans, apparently. We finally sucumed into our Dairy Queen craving, and I have a beautiful spot on my white skirt in a delicate shade of pink. I love me a good strawberry Blizzard.
I stopped, illegally and frighteningly, to get a picture of the “Welcome to Florida” sign, only to find a small sign below that sign saying that there would be a better photo opportunity at the welcome center a mere one mile down the road.
I’ve got a total of seven bug bites along the lower portion of my legs. I think I got a majority of them walking Oliver through the brush last night, but I swear that half of them are thanks to the clean rest areas’ dog walking areas. I’ve got some calamine lotion in my bag, and have applied it, but I think the lotion may be a bit too old to be too effective. I’m still feeling a bit itchy.
We are officially driving west on the 10 now. I love it that we’ve changed highways. It was pretty anti-climactic, really, but it was a major step in our trip. You know, our directions were, “drive south to Jacksonville and then turn right.” We’ve made our right turn today, and can see the end of our journey.
Tonight, Oliver is an official guest at the Super 8 in Crestview, Fla. He cost us an extra $5 for the night, but just the fact that we don’t have to worry about his barking is well worth it. It’s nice to not have to sneak him in, or to worry about his barking.
Tomorrow, we hope to make it all the way to Houston. It’ll be a long day, that’s for sure.


Day 5: Houston, Texas

Well, we’ve made it to Houston, and in no short amount of time. We logged 9.5 hours in the car today, taking off from Crestview at 10 a.m., and making it to our destination at 7:30 p.m. Seriously, by the last hour, as I was driving, all I could see in my rearview mirror was Oliver and his excess energy. He couldn’t lay still anymore. Bless his heart.
Anyway, as for states we drove in today, let’s count Florida (duh), Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Alabama and Mississippi: beautiful rest areas. Louisiana didn’t have any, it should be noted. I got a picture of every “Welcome” sign except Texas’s, but the logic there, apparently, is that it’s okay, because I’ve already driven through Texas once before.
In a move that I am not sure I needed at all, we drove straight through New Orleans on the 10. I really just didn’t want to see the destruction. I’d seen it on the news, and that was, for some reason, good enough for me. Not so for Brian, who wanted to see it in person. I’m still not sure if I’m better off having seen it all, but alas, it did make a tremendous impression on me. I love New Orleans. I think, when I visited there at 17, I fell in love; and then on a trip at 21, my adoration was complete. I wasn’t interested in seeing the area so decimated. I knew it would be ugly, but I wasn’t prepared for how … broken … everything still was. Complete buildings with no windows, skeletons of themselves, really. Streets lined with FEMA trailers. Apartment buildings were closed down, and no work being done on them at all. We stopped at a gas station, only to find that the building was nothing but concrete walls. There was traffic on the highway, of course, but I never once saw a person walking along any of the streets we drove by. I have no idea when, or even if, a city can come back from such devastation.
Having left New Orleans, it was s straight shot through to Houston. I’ve got to tell you – it’s been a while since I’ve been so tired on a day’s trip. Tonight, we stay at Jon and Emily’s old apartment.


Day 6: Houston, (cont’d…)
There is salvation, and it is called a day out of the car. We spent the day playing around in Houston today, taking a much-needed break from the road. Tomorrow, of course, we’ll be paying the piper, but for now, it’s all good.
We had a yummy breakfast; checked out Jon’s dad’s dental practice; cruised through the Nordstrom (and sadly, left empty-handed); and lunched on some yummy hamburgers and a delicious strawberry shake.
Oliver did perfectly well in the apartment on his own for much of the day, and I think, also got some well-deserved time out of the backseat. Jon and Emily had a softball game this afternoon, so B and I chilled out at the apartment, where I took a two-hour nap, Brian played video games, and Ollie rested.
Tomorrow, we spend our first full day in one state. Crazy, huh? We’re looking at another nine-hour driving day, and will go from Houston to El Paso. I think we’ll make it to Sierra Vista, Ariz. on Tuesday.
Here’s hoping that I’ll have some internet access tomorrow night.

Day 2: Chester, Va.

Alright. Now I feel all bad about talking crap about all the little po-dunk motels and the fact that they would never have wireless internet connections. Because here I am, in Chester Va., moseying along on the internet, wirelessly. And free. I love this country.
Okay. We took off from West Haven, Conn., kinda late this morning, as to not get stuck in the morning commute traffic going in to NYC. It worked, in that we weren't in commute traffic, but we were still stuck crawling through the Bronx, and spending an hour and 15 minutes crossing to the George Washington Bridge. From there, New Jersey and then into Pennsylvania.
The 95 South goes straight (-ish) through Philadelphia, a historic city that I had never before roamed through. We found our way to Independence Mall, decided "to hell with the $12" and parked in a nearby parking garage, and set out on foot for a quick, but educational, tour of the area. Of course, cruising around with the pup put us at a disadvantage, as we weren't able to tour Independence Hall proper because of him, but we did take a circuit around it, and I think I got some decent pictures of it. From there, we saw a statue of Commodore John Barry, who the Pennsylvanians are very proud of (he's also got a highway, if I remember right, and a rest area). Barry is the father of the Navy. After that, we walked several blocks to get Brian a cheesesteak at Jim's, and found our way back to the car. On the whole, it was a successful side trip.
Leaving Philadelphia was easy; we made our way through Baltimore with minimal traffic; and were able to circle Washington, D.C. with no problems. In all, we logged about 500 miles, and had to fill up the car twice with gas. Now, having showered and washed the road off me, all propped up in bed with my doggy sleeping next to me, I'm quite pleased with my day.
Random things we noticed: At the rest area in New Jersey, a driver has no choice but to get full service; the road crews seem to store all of D.C.'s snow salt in Maryland; Philadelphia is remarkably easy to get around; and sometimes the Days Inn is a better bargain than Super 8.

Day 1: West Haven, Conn.

Jump back, my friends. I'm getting wireless internet at the Super 8 in West Haven, Conn. I had thought, when I powered up tonight, that I'd be just writing out a post to save for some time tomorrow, when we wander by a Starbucks or something like that. I never thought that I would get a signal. Huh. There is real hope for this trip's consistent blogging yet!
So what happened today, you may ask. Well, we policed our permitted spots with a vengeance, and had five spaces allotted to the moving truck when it arrived. They got there at about 9:50 a.m., just within the whole 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. time frame. As there were four guys doing the work, it was done faster, of course, and by 2:30 p.m., we had a cleaned-out apartment, filled-up car, and anxious mindset to get out of town. But then, with Boston being that kind of city, we had to change our tactics and travel out of the city via the Turnpike, and through Connecticut. Since I was so tired, and Brian was jonesing for some television, we decided to stop before hitting New York City, giving us the opportunity to rest up before attacking that city's traffic tomorrow!

p.s. This particular Super 8 is the recent recipient of a brand-new video camera surveillance system. Last week, there was a drug deal gone bad, a fight started, and a whole ruckus erupted. (Don't tell Mom this part, please.) At any rate, the cameras made it a bit harder to sneak Oliver in, but wrapped up in a towel, he passes for a baby well enough.