The Hitchhiker's Guide

Sleep and Exercise

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Mon, 5 May 2008 14:49:00 GMT

I haven't been going to the gym recently because I haven't been sleeping well.

I likely haven't been sleeping well because I've been sedentary and not active enough.

2 weeks into the challenge and no gym, not once. Some good long walks but not formal exercise.

This is lame, and I'll change it starting tomorrow.

Seriously.

Its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life...

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Thu, 1 May 2008 09:39:00 GMT

... for an old journal.

Okay, not sure if this is going to be terribly interesting, but I joined in on a Biggest Loser-esque challenge here at work. We all put in some cash. Gotta lose 8% of my weight in 2 months to get that cash back, and split up the cash of those who didn't make the goal.

That's gonna be just over 16 pounds for me. That's just 2 pounds a week. I can totally do that.

Gotta get back to the gym, regularly, no excuses.

Have already started eating healthier.

Trying to figure out what supplementation, if any, I should be taking for this. There's so many choices. Some looks healthy. Some sounds downright dangerous. Sure, I'd like tl "eat all I want and still lose weight" by taking super doses of hoodia and green tea and other caffeine filled stuff, but being all jittery and getting even less sleep than I already do isn't quite appealing.

Step one is to start a new journal for this and other goals. And by start a new journal, I mean ressurect this one.

I have been using my other journal mostly for random updates, and the occasional meme (though I haven't done one for a while), but this one will hopefully be more goal driven, insightful, and help me truely track progress.

Step two...

Step three: Profit!

Resurrection of a Journal

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Wed, 5 Mar 2008 09:28:00 GMT

I think I'm going to start using the journal for some things again. Not sure what, and it may or may not be a mirror of my currently more-often-updated journal on LJ, but right now it is just kinda blank, hasn't been touched since Dec. 06, and I'd like to do something about it.

First though... a new look...

Ideas?

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:52:00 GMT

Two pending issues linger on my mind...

What to do for Erik's birthday? It's Tuesday Dec 26th. I don't even get home till almost 8. Wanna buncha people together to do something... but what?

New Years Eve... Wanna do something COOL. No idea what that COOL thing might be.

I live in effing Los Angeles. I should be able to do better than this.

Kickback Week and Non-Turkey Turkey-Day

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 21:36:00 GMT

Rundown of Turkey Day:
Slept in
Malt-O-Meal
Just enough "Sister Act" to give me flashbacks of highschool choir
The 4400, pretty neet sci-fi show
Doris Day Movies
That Touch of Mink
The Thrill of it All
Lover Come Back
*commentary* People were a lot wittier when they could only inuendo about sex, drugs, alcohol abuse, sexual orientation, and mental health
Cary Grant Movie - Topper
*commentary* I'm sure this was cutting edge special effects in the 30's, pretty funny, Cary Grant as a ghost!
Ice Cream
Soup
Omlette
Pumpkin Pie
Zathura
Soon Justice will be on

I'll probably make up for real turkey dinner once Erik can eat something more substantial. Things have been pretty kick back this week, just lounging around. I've gotten a little bit of a workout in. Tomorrow back to Cam email I promise. Not sure about any shopping tomorrow, but totally no 5AM bs that's for sure.

Sent email to my Mom today. Got an email back. She seems to be doing well. Thats about how things are family-wise right now. Talked to two of my sisters too.

Hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Time off for good behavior and taking care of the boy

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 13:13:00 GMT

I know I know... I never call. I never write. I work too much. Blah blah blah. :)

Figured that I'd do a bit of posting this week, as I took the week off of work, so I actually get a chance to actually think about what I want to write as opposed to a few words here and there while running around at work and taking calls.

First of all, I wanted to report that the boy is doing well, better than expected actually. Expected him to be really out of it yesterday but aside from some extra sleeping he's just fine. Will still be some time before we're out and about or inviting people over. Part (well, most actually)of why I took the week off was to help him out and take care of it. He's currently playing video games while I take a break from watching netflixed Veronica Mars.

I really needed to take some time off anyways, and it is a short slow week as well so taking the week off was no problem. Last week I was on call and as such was working on stuff at crazy hours of the night.

I've got some LARP/game stuff to catch up on, which I plan to do this week. So anyone who wants to chat with me about game stuff or wants to email me, please do so and I'll totally be up for responding.

Work has been crazy busy, but slowed down a little after the move. There will be some shuffling around soon at the office, and I'm not exactly sure what to expect of it all. Basically, my little group of myself and one other person (soon to be two) will be reporting to a different director in a different department. Department will be IS. Director is TBD. I'm kind of excited about it, but a little reserved. I'm sure I can adapt, as I often do. It is just going to be different.

Other than that, things are good at work. I like the people who I work with and the company is a good company. I mean honestly, do all companies provide enough insurance coverage to an employee's boyfriend that all he had to pay was 50 bucks for an in hospital surgery?

Well, I have so many papers and bills on this kitchen table of mine that I ought to tackle, and some dishes as well. I've been cranking up my reading again, to at least a book a week. Reading JPod by Douglas Coupland right now, borrowed from someone at work, and it is pretty amusing, especially if you've worked somewhere techy or corporaty (yeah, not a real word, whateva). Last week I finished The Eyre Affair, by some guy named Fforde or something like that. That was a great book too. It was old and a library book and I didn't see it or anything else of his at the bookstore, but I checked.

A Prayer

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:03:00 GMT

O Holy Deity of the Cinema
Who protects us learned in your ways
We laud you and hold you in high regard
O Keeper of Hollywood
As you watch over us and smile upon our triumphs
And as you surely wince at our failures

I come to you in contrition
And pray for your mercy
As I was not prepared for what I was to see
On the 18th eve of July, MMVI

I ask your forgiveness for watching Skinwalkers
For beholding the travesty in front of me for
The full 90 minutes
I ask your forgiveness to the screening staff
For they surely did not know their failure
Until it was too late
And please see to it, that you serve the wrath earned
By any who knowingly brought us to
The doom and despair of thisâ¦
Worst. Werewolf. Movie. Ever.
I believe this deserves fire and brimstone
If such things are among your resources

I pray for your mercy, that I led Erik,
Your eternally faithful servant
And that I led Nick,
He who is novice to your works
But enthusiastic at the fount of your blessings
Into this unholy disaster
They knew not what they would see
I take full responsibility for this
Erik, in your honor, walked right the fuck out
But I held to an unrequited hope of redemption
And found none

Please deal the director
And whoever bestowed Your treasured honor
The Greenlight
To this unholy abomination and waste of film

May it rot on DVD
At the local ghetto Blockbuster
In Your Nameâs Sake
The End
*roll credits*

The Sweet Red Plums of Summer

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 23:31:00 GMT

Not one but two months away from journaling. Not from reading mind you, I've been keeping up with all of you, but each time I sit to possibly do a journal entry, thoughts flit in and out so quickly. Among the many other things that I should be doing as opposed to a journal entry, or just not being able to focus at all.
Thatâs how I felt today, scattered and unfocused. About a dozen tasks in front of me, and doing a lot of work (a lot of my work is attending to tasks at a momentâs notice, among things on my list to complete, management stuff, meetings, etc.), but not feeling like I was putting much into it. Then I get that dreaded feeling that Iâve just been screwing around all day. So as I often do I bring work home. I havenât even pulled it out of my bag. Instead, Iâm watching Erik play the ânew toyâ (to be revealed later, it is still a surprise for some future visitors) and waiting for my turn to play again.
Today Iâve been lost in thought a bit I guess. Iâve been feeling a bit inspired, but also feeling a bit stuck. Feeling a bit accomplished, but also feeling quite behind. Feeling the brink of vibrant creativity, but also stuck in a dull grey holding pattern.
Okay, my turn. *cracks knuckles, rolls neck*â¦.(brb)
So okay, the past few weeks, two months, whatever. Highlights and lowlights:
Been working a lot. Being on call kinda sucks. Being a manager in the tech/info industry is not always the most glamorous job in the world. One year review coming up on the 25th of this month already. Wow. Dammit, I hope Iâve been rocking this place as much as I think I have. If not, at least Iâll know where Iâm at. Iâve felt a little like Iâve been flying blind with little to gauge/measure exactly âwellâ I am doing.
Yesterday: Waiting around all day for thorns to call. Caught up on BSG that we got from Netflix. I must say, I can see why Star Trek Enterprise had trouble keeping itâs head above water when going up against Stargate and BSG. I really dig good characters and plots that keep going in a very serial manner.
Texas was good. Enjoyed visiting with Erikâs parents. Glad I was able to go to help them out and to spend time with them and with him (without me bringing work home to stare at in the evenings and then go to bed first like I usually do). Caught up on movies. Chatted a whole lot. Very interesting, Starr and John. I can relate to both of them quite well, on different levels of things. Analyzed season one of The Office with John from a management instruction POV, and chatted about health and family and other things with Starr. Iâm really glad that I have gotten to know them as well as I do.
Excitement for gaming has been kinda holding steady, but dropping off a bit every now and then. Not sure if Iâm just getting jaded or burnt out, or if things have just fallen into a slump. Nothing recently has really struck me for a while to really get involved in, but there are some things that I am still looking for ward to. Maybe some events coming up with shake some excitement loose.
I did buy a critical costume piece for a new character in a new venue. Finally. It wasnât cheap, and is on its way from the UK as we speak. I am excited about it. Now to finally finish putting the character from my head onto paper.
*yawn* After 11. Considering I hit my snooze button this morning only to wake up two hours later, the second alarm completely failing to go off, I should probably get some sleep.
Payday tomorrow. Which means budget and bills. Been dropping a lot of money lately, so need to taper off and get some stuff paid up.
The next couple of days will include some major grocery shopping, organizing, cataloging my books (ongoing project), possibly chopping my hair way short again, more journaling, importing more music into my computer from my extensive collection, finishing season one of BSG, and I am sure there will be some, gaming, generally screwing around and lazing about as well.
And I will master Killer Queen if it is the last thing I do. (Okay, so that may have given it away)

Edit: BTW, in thorns defense, he was busy doing something really cool (jumping out of a perfectly good airplane), and it was totally his birthday so he can totally do that too.

Happy Mothers Day!... Or Maybe Not

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Sun, 14 May 2006 14:29:00 GMT

So my sister called me this morning. She was very upset, and understandably so.

*sigh*
So yeah, that happened.
Mom wants nothing to do with me/us.
Rotton luck with family this year.
Nothing I can do about it.
Guess I'll learn to just write people off better at some point. I had hoped to be able to at least call her or have Misty say hello to her for me if I couldn't make it down.

Today I had plans to get some stuff done and do some cool stuff. Today I've got a cold/flu and a fever/sore throat thing. Today's probably gonna be a write off too.

I think I fell for another show. We saw first 4 episodes of Deadwood. I'm digging it. Nip/Tuck is shaping up really neat too, if only Netflix sent the DVDs in order...

*sigh*

I'm gonna go back to bed.

From The Bus

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Thu, 11 May 2006 01:00:00 GMT

So it appears that I can read and update journalscape and livejournal from the bus, on my blackberry.

You're going to be hearing a lot more from me. :)

Gotta run. Almost at my stop.

Yay!

Squeaky Shoes and Other News

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Tue, 9 May 2006 18:58:00 GMT

*squeak suqeak squeak* If I don't start wearing these shoes with the wheels in (they're Heelys) I need to get some alternative shoes. My boots are kinda thrashed and my Heelys squeak when the plugs are in.

Being on call takes a lot out of ya.

12.25% raise and info on matching 401K plan. I'm down with that yo!

MI3: I'm sure was a good movie all the way through. I liked the parts I saw but only wish PSH had a bigger, more interesting part. If only they had waited until after the Oscar. Totally JJ Abrams-esque.

Lost ARG - Totally rocks! Erik's obsessed. I'm very interested (but not as obsessed about it yet) It's what our Noah Boddy game was supposed to be like. (The ARG we put together to continue tales from Push Nevada)

Got Friday off. Mostly likely ditching everyone else and heading out to Universal Studios with the boy.

Things to see (November and December) Lion King (because Misty just has to see it) and Edward Scissorhands (The Musical) just becase I absolutely have to. The pictures look a little goofy but hell, its based off of Danny Elfman's score.

I've conquored every room in my place except the bedroom. Hoping to get some organization done finally.

Geez I feel fat these days. Need to set up a real plan to fix that.

Did Our Chair Eat Your Phone?

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Tue, 9 May 2006 15:56:00 GMT

Are you missing a phone? Does it say Nokia on the top and T
Mobile on the bottom?

Did you happen to park your booty unsuspectingly in our
clepto-chair in the livingroom?

Sure, he looks big and comfy, but thats just to lul you
into a false sense of security as he pickpockets your
belongings and swallows them.

I have no idea when this chair ate this particular phone,
but if you've been at me and Erik's place recently, and
have noticed that you're phone is now gone, you may likely
suspect... Erik and Thea's clepto chair.

Give me a holler at 213-215-1510 if you think this may have
been your phone.

Welcome to Management

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Tue, 2 May 2006 18:59:00 GMT

So I got the official word that my paperwork was finalized and that I am officially salary and a manager as of yesterday evening.

Yay!

Of course, I'm now on call (took my turn this week) and have been pretty much on the phone from about 20 minutes after leaving the office almost 3 hours ago.

Yay me!

Thea "Still Workin" Rivera

Musical Monday and Misfit Musings

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Mon, 1 May 2006 13:59:00 GMT

One interview down, one to go for today.

Can't stop yawning for some reason. We've got a coffee demo machine with the little single serving coffees. I tried a flavored one, really tasty. I would have thought it would have helped with the sleepiness.

Of all the music that I have been surrounded by in the past few days, The Pirate Movie, Xanadu, Moulin Rouge, and the 80's night music at Scriptease (which really kicks ass, and you should all come and see), what I have in my head right now is Bing Crosby singing White Christmas...

Explain that one. I dare you.

So yesterday, I learned something. I actually learned something that corrected a belief that I have had for I don't even know how long. It was astounding.

Ya ready?

I discovered to my surprise that narwhals exist. Narwhals! Unicorn-horned whales. I don't know how I managed it, but somehow I had thought they were imaginary, and my brain had stuck them into the mytical creatures corner of my reality. I had seen illustrations, and one that was claymation, but had somehow managed to get around ever getting any information otherwise.

You're probably not as facinated at this as I am. I just find it funny that facts have eluded me for so long for something like that.

Okay, one hour to the interview. Running out of steam here.

Planning on organizing some stuff in my bedroom/closet tonight, possibly watching Prison Break and 24 if I'm feeling accomplished at all in my tasks. Hoping not to run into too much issue in my commute home. Thankfully I have a ride home most of the way so we can if nothing else enjoy the miserable traffic together.

Narwhals... What a funny world this is. :)

It's May Already?

thea@witty.com (Thea) — Mon, 1 May 2006 07:59:00 GMT

Ted Striker: Mayday! Mayday!
Steve McCroskey: What the heck is that?
Johnny: Why, that's the Russian New Year. We can have a parade and serve hot hors d'oeuvres...

Happy Beltane everyone, or any other holiday of the 25 entries at earthcalendar.net (Loyalty Day? Seriously?)

Oh holy cow have I been busy. It has occurred to em that I have yet again neglected to update my journal for frickin ever. Regardless, here's the 30 second tour of my last couple of weeks.

Kentucky: We came. We saw. We Gamed. We drank. We got rained on. I got to yell at a hundred people in a bad Austrailian accent and tell them what to do and thay actually (for the most part) did what I said! I think I like Werewolf best now. I made new friends. I saw old friends. Rex-Goliath Giant 47 Pound Rooster is a silly name for a wine, but a really tasty wine. Karaoke FTW!

Great T-Shirt spotted: Talk Derby to Me

Silent Hill: Creepy Girl + Borg Queen = Crazy Malicious

Waiting for HR... It's kind of like Waiting for Godot, but with less witty and thought provoking banter.

Interviews are a learning experience every time.

I have a new found love for The Pirate Movie and Xanadu.

I love my friends.

Never go grocery shopping when hungry. Especially if you are shopping specifically for a diet.

If you ever decide you'd like to have a couple of little baby turtles because they're so cute, make sure that you know what you're getting into. I love my little dudes, but boy are they little monsters.