MetaChat - One week in, how's the new year treating you? (Multipoint update.)

1. Car broke down unexpectedly; cost $$$
2. Unknown step cousin coming to visit, could be good or bad. Given my life, not holding out much hope for good.
3. Boss is a bonafide, card carrying IDIOT. So I'm looking for a new job.
4. I still don't own my house. It's a lengthy, drawn out saga that you don't want to know about.
5. More big family drama - three generations worth! That's freaking me out! Yay!

posted by mygothlaundry 07 January | 14:00

1)still non-ambulatory (and stir-crazy), which kinda sucks
2)as of this writing according to my online quitmeter, I am 5 days, 17 hours, 23 minutes, 53 seconds smoke-free, which has saved me $68.40
3)it's too cold to sit on the porch

posted by jonmc 07 January | 14:01

1. I am not back in the office until 21 January.
2. Tomorrow I fly out to New York.
3. I'll be seeing my lovely boo.
4. I'm going to meet gaspode's babby.

So, all in all, pretty good so far.

posted by essexjan 07 January | 14:11

1. Just after the stroke of midnight on the first, the businesses around the corner from my house went up in flames. Everyone got out OK but the Modern Cafe and the flower shop next door were gutted. Kind of scary because the back of those properties backs up to mine.

2. Son managed to blow the engine on his little car on Saturday so I'm going to be lending him my car so that he can get to college classes next week.

3. I've been deathly ill with some respiratory thing and am just feeling better now after a week of it. I easily went through six boxes of tissues this year so far.

4. No job and not too many jobs even to apply for.

So far this year has sucked.

posted by octothorpe 07 January | 14:15

I'm kinda 50/50 here but I can see that things can go into the shitter very quickly.

1. I rang in the new year with my best friend, which was awesome and filled with lots of alcohol, as it rightly should be.

2. My translation software project is going well at work (aside from Arabic, Hindi, and Latin, but those are the ones I expected to be a bitch.)

3. We got the OSHIT email from the head dude of libraries yesterday. There's some very important meeting on Thursday to discuss the financial issues. I'm quite worried, but there's really nothing our department of 4 can really do about it.

4. I'm worried that said financial problems are going to result in the budget to support employee's tuition is going to be cut, which means that I will be unable to afford to move out in August, which is not fucking acceptable. (Of course, if I don't get in, it's a moot point anyways because it's student housing and therefore, I'll be SOL *anyways*.)

5. I'm still waiting on one of my recommenders to do her letter for me. The deadline is the 1st! And she hasn't responded to my emails. I'm calling her by the end of the week if it hasn't popped in yet.

posted by sperose 07 January | 14:24

I still have hope, yet would like to lodge some complaints.

1 - Winter Itch. On my legs. Hideous. I need a topical lydocaine product STAT. I haven't had this in many years and it is both annoying and unsightly.

2 - Weight still up but creeping down, due mostly to diet changes (I started after Xmas, not after NY). Poor weather has prevented outside exercise and hey you resolutioners? GOOMG (get out of my gym) - I can't even deal.

3 - Resolving to pre-study for work course this month has resulted in no library books and an open boring book in front of me in the evenings, me holding a highlighter, and after about fifteen minutes, watching Crap TV. I don't watch Crap TV, or much of any TV, as a rule. Plan needs re-vamped.

posted by rainbaby 07 January | 14:36

1. Feeling well enough to travel tomorrow, though I'll miss my folks I have a lot to do in NYC this year.

2. Looking forward to relieving some of jonmc's boredom -- how's Friday sound?

3. I really miss my guitars.

posted by Hugh Janus 07 January | 14:43

1. Some strep/staph shit in my tonsils. weirdly no fever or pain, but they look awful.
2. Leasing office lost my rent check. Had to go there today to sort it out, and make another check. They still don't know where it went.
3. Lots of random crap at work, plus I have a lot of (regularly scheduled) stuff to do, and a class for the whole of next week.
4. "Due to the economy", company decided to give up on leasing an office building that is 4 blocks from my apartment. Seems I'll have to suck it up to a commute to the suburbs for longer.

posted by qvantamon 07 January | 14:43

sounds great.

posted by jonmc 07 January | 14:44

Mildly stressful:

1. Job hunting and its associated issues.
2. Stressing about money. Not about day to day stuff, we are lucky to be OK there, but Planning For Retirement, College Funds, Saving for Deposit for Home. That sort of stuff.
3. Not getting enough sleep.

Yay!:
1. Essexjan visiting very soon!
2. Baby still a delight. Not ready to send her back just yet.
3. Reading a lot recently. This makes me very happy.

posted by gaspode 07 January | 14:47

1. I haven't eaten the 'bad' food on hand as quickly as I thought so the next phase of my diet is postponed. It's all low-cal but moderate sodium like pickles, pepperoncini and such. Saturday am, all salt goes in the trash.

2. Organizing and incorporating new electronics took longer and ate up more energy than I planned.

3. I need a grandfather-type clock that constantly reminds me of the time.

4. Heartwise is so-so. Chest pains come more frequently and with less exertion since the surgery, but they are not nearly as severe and go away after only a couple minutes sitting.

5. This place has drafts like a sieve and the heating bill is twice what it should be. The rent is still free though.

posted by Ardiril 07 January | 14:50

1. I have had a bad cold this week. I stayed home yesterday, and will leave shortly (noonish) for the rest of the day.

2. The good thing is that with a lot of saline nose spray, I have avoided a sinus infection, I think.

3. There is a pile of 4 yo Airport Extreme base stations, new, in the boxes, that is being discarded. It's marginal, ethically, to grab one, since it's probably an upgrade for me, and I probably won't, but it seems like a shame to see them just go in the trash-recycling, whatever. . .

posted by danf 07 January | 14:54

1. I still have a job.
2. I will be getting a new apartment this weekend.
3. I'm sorta starting a newish relationship.
4. I am going to start a new blog soonish.
5. Writing for the existing blog remains awesome.
6. Essexjan is coming back to NYC and we will go to Maison again and it will be awesome. Er, right, EJ?
7. I am thinking of seriously quitting smoking again (see point 3, cuz he's a non-smoker).

This year will be my year.

posted by TrishaLynn 07 January | 14:55

hey you resolutioners? GOOMG (get out of my gym) - I can't even deal.

Oh god I hear you. Seems like every newbie has a locker near mine and they are always in my way. Plus, half the guys at my gym have bellies so big that they would not be arrested for indecent exposure, if you get my drift.

posted by danf 07 January | 14:58

1. The first couple of days (spent skiing with Mr Blandings at his parents' house) were brilliant.
2. The second couple of days (having returned home) had some nice stuff, but mostly ordinary stuff.
3. The upcoming couple of days offer some more nice stuff, lots of ordinary stuff, and a vague plan for some more really nice stuff.
4. The career angst has only intensified and I wish I could rent out my condo so I could afford graduate tuition cause I can't take on any more debt of that magnitude.

posted by crush-onastick 07 January | 15:00

1. Did a new exercise dvd last night. Consider my ass thoroughly kicked.
2. Started practicing some small quilting. Really really excited.
3. Some of 2009's veg. seeds came today! Boyfriend forced me to sit down and carefully plan garden with him, was so exasperated and frustrated and reluctant to do so (have attention span of gnat), but paid off tremendously.

posted by birdie 07 January | 15:02

1. some dingdong rear-ended mrs chewie last weekend. just the bumper, no painted parts, but it's impeding the tailgate door operation & has to be fixed.
2. so far 2009 is cloudy. every day. .V.
3. I'm wearing my uncomfortable suit and contacting press peeps to tie in with the new IKEA opening 3 hours down the road.
4. I have work through January but afterwards is dubious.
5. I would like to go to Sweden or Amsterdam.

congrats to jonmc on the 5 days!

posted by chewatadistance 07 January | 15:13

1. I've been working hard at getting projects done in my basement woodshop, but it's very disorganized, and so today for some reason I was motivated to start cleaning. Going well so far, and it will be so much nicer to do stuff down there.

2. Doing more woodworking means less photography. I need to figure out how to do both more often.

3. Work is actually looking up so far this year, though I've resolved to re-evaluate in a year. A lot of changes in the company, and I'm not sure how much I like them. Luckily I have a high demand skill.

4. I wish the wind would fucking stop already. We've had more wind this year than I can ever remember. We're talking 80-90 mile an hour gusts at times, and I live right at the bottom of a canyon which funnels it right into town.

posted by eekacat 07 January | 15:46

1. I have been offered I job I don't really want to take because it involves selling my cool house and moving me and my elderly cats 600 miles, but it is almost too good to pass up. indecisionindecisionindecision

2. I am recovered enough from heartbreak to be able to cook again. Last night I made Cincinnati Chili.

3. That's pretty much it.

posted by JanetLand 07 January | 15:54

JanetLand: in grief, I bake. I often wonder if I am cursing others with my cookies, but it never seems to be so.

posted by crush-onastick 07 January | 15:57

1. The work on my kitchen is underway again and hopefully this time it will be finished.
2.There is still the issue of the garbage disposal not being installed.
3. I won't be able to start making plans for the bathroom renovations until at least May because the passenger elevators are being shut down.
4. I put on twelve pounds that I don't need.

posted by brujita 07 January | 16:11

* I was dreading coming back, but it is nice to be back in my cozy little apartment. I missed my cozy bed.
* Lots of fun coming up in the next few weeks! Of course, I think weird things are fun- there's a budget meeting tonight at church, and I know that'll be fun because there will probably be a lot of draaaama.
* Haven't worked out in forever, must get back in the swing of things. Haven't even visited my new gym in NYC; cancelling the old one tonight.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 07 January | 16:19

crush-onastick: me too. I bake when I like someone and I bake when I have romantic problems.
When I brought banana bread in to work a while ago, my coworker said "Who's the guy?"

1. Things with guy are going well still.
2. Dutch invaders have left my apartment and it is nice to be alone.
3. New roommate moving in tomorrow (cross your fingers for me that he won't be bad like the last one)
4. I got a lot done this morning but now I am internetting instead of working which is bad.

posted by rmless2 07 January | 16:46

I'm having the worst day ever. I just dropped and broke our best teapot. To top it off, I cut my finger with a shard in a desperate attempt to catch it. I am very, very unhappy about this.

posted by Daniel Charms 07 January | 16:53

1. Got a cold, probably from nephew. Has delayed return to the gym, which is fine because they're pretty crowded this week with all the noobs.

2. I want a viola and a wooden oboe.

3. Not looking forward to my New Year's resolutions, which is 1) to resume computer dating and 2) to tackle all the volunteer computer work which has piled up over the past few months. The cold has been a wonderful excuse to delay everything.

4. There is nothing, NOTHING in the world like dry socks, and boots without hull breaches.

posted by Melismata 07 January | 16:54

sperose: what kind of translation software are you working on? I'm curious because I work as a translator and get to deal with different sorts of translation helpers quite often.

posted by Daniel Charms 07 January | 16:59

1. Took unpaid time off from xmas through new years to work on new shed. Project is going well, but taking some time since there is only me and nephew working on it for the most part. We expect there are at least 4 more weekends of work if the weather is somewhat tolerable. Really tiring work, but I love it.
2. My grumpy boss is still grumpy. And, during my time off, he ate the boiled peanuts someone gave me - I thought I had stashed them in a good hiding place in the community fridge, but, alas not the case. How come he thinks all food is fair game? It’s just unconscionable to me!
3. Trying to wrap my head around some personal issues. Cannot get there.
4. Finances aren’t so good right now with the cut in pay. Still, I have a job, so I’m not going to complain (much).

posted by mightshould 07 January | 17:08

Lemme see...

1a. Pie-dad hates me. The rest of the Pie-friends and family think I'm teh awesome.
b. I think it's funny. :)

2a. I start school on Monday! Yay, school!
b. Work is cool with it. Yay, full time pay!

3a. Had a great time running around in full on Lolita garb for MEW-con advertising event, especially when we were nowhere near the convention.
b. No, not THAT Lolita.

Yeah, so far so good.

posted by sakura 07 January | 17:28

It would be pretty difficult for 2009 to be worse than 2008, but ya never know. For now, I am trying to be optimistic.

1. Heat in car is lousy, and I live in Maine. Also, windshield washer reservoir is borken, which makes driving interesting.

2. Health is sketchy, so no energy at all. I fake it at work, then go home and crash.

3. My dog learned to go down the spiral steps (Yay! have some treats!) but can't yet go up. This will need to be resolved soon.

4. Soon I will leave work, go home & light a fire, and nest on the couch.

posted by theora55 07 January | 17:37

1. The mister's cardioversion failed after a week, so he's back in afib. So they're gonna try killing him again in the next month or so; he's also on a new, stronger drug with bad side effects.

2. I can't seem to shake the tail end of the flu. Between that and my period starting I want to be wrapped in cotton wool and spoon fed warm tea with honey and lemon.

3. It's finally warmed up a bit and raining, so we're finally losing the snow that's been around for a month or so. It's nice to see the ground again.

posted by deborah 07 January | 17:46

1. My need to be surrounded by music 24/7 is at a screaming pace - I nearly infarctioned when my iPod broke on January 1st. I have since replaced it with a bigger, silver one and I sometimes hold it like a small child coming home from the ER. This year so far is all about Yo-Yo Ma, Duke Ellington and the Brandenburg Concertos.

2. Job weirdness: will I or won't I get a contract extension in three weeks?

3. I went to New York over the Christmas break and have been haunted by it ever since. You ever see a woman in the hall or the subway or whatever and her whole manner sticks with you for hours afterwards? It's like that, only with New York City.

4. 2009 is also going to be all about making hideous cliches evidently.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 07 January | 17:58

*warms tea and honey for deborah* I'm sorry to hear about your husband's troubles, too. It sucks when the mister's are sick.

1. Mr. V is feeling like normal again, after this round of medicine. His feeling good leads me to feeling good.

2. Kids are all healthy, though I think they could try harder in school.

3. Money is tight. Today the main company announced that they are planning on closing 50 stores. But they have 2500 stores all together, so 50 isn't that bad.

4. I have hope for the new year. It's what keeps me going.

posted by redvixen 07 January | 19:10

1) I squirted myself in the left eye, directly, with two different products today. First hairspray and then perfume.

2) I had to staple my blouse together because, as I discovered in a most embarrassing way, it has the tendency to RIP OPEN at all the buttons at once.

3) My plans for cobbling together some kind of poutine substance were thwarted when the entire grid that the grocery store is on had gone out. I wonder what they'll do with all the frozen food?

4) I'm not feeling capable of thinking beyond today, either forwards or backwards, so this is a today update.

posted by Stewriffic 07 January | 19:25

1. Seven days without the internet or phone, but now it's back (yay!) but my cell phone has died (boo!). But it was kind of relaxing there for a week, with no ability to get all "must stay on top of news" anxious.

2. I'm in the process of getting an application submitted for another therapy internship, which, if I get, will let me quit my marketing job, which I hate.

3. I *really* hate my marketing job.

posted by occhiblu 07 January | 19:34

1. Finally think my subject for my course this semester has been approved, well, *fingers crossed* anyway.
2. Struggling with being back at work. I mean, I love my job, but want more time for me. Need to work out a way to make more time for myself and to actually use it productively, instead of frittering the time away, like I do now.
3. I'm in a bit of a romantic slump at the moment. 90% of the time I like being single and independent, and all. But you know what? It's been too damn long. Especially too damn long since I was in a real relationship.
4. I need to hide my credit card. I've been spending like it's going out of fashion... which come to think of it, it IS! So am hiding it, and have worked out a plan for how much $$$ I am trying to save by the end of this year. I can do this thing!

posted by jonathanstrange 07 January | 20:05

1) new job is teh awesome, Boss is a great mentor
2) home internets borked but doesn't matter cos ...
3) new iPhone yay!!
4) lots of big changes including great new photography inspirations :)
5) I may have just gotten a good friend a job, also yay!!

posted by lonefrontranger 07 January | 20:18

1) Still traveling in Asia for 4 more days (unless my return flight is overbooked).
2) Starting new job on Thursday.
3) Big life changes seems a little scary.

posted by special-k 07 January | 23:08

1) Tightening my belt so tight my eyeballs are popping
2) never never get a payday loan unless you're going to win the lotto the next day. It's horrendous. This is the direct cause of #1
3) Kidlets are happy and healthy, adjusting well to being back in school.
4) got my washer fixed! No more trying to keep small children in the laundromat! No more Younger Boy mooching money and candy from strangers!
5) So far, my kitchen and living room are functional, and I've kept it up two whole weeks!

posted by lysdexic 08 January | 11:27

In my experience, payday loans are much cheaper than late fees, bounced check fees and utility cutoff fees. Just don't let them rollover.

posted by Ardiril 08 January | 12:18

1) First cold since 2004. It isn't awful, but I'm being a big whiner about it because HEY RHINOVIRUS? I THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL! I'm sore, sniffly, tired.

2) Some mystery person arranged to have a copy of The Girls Who Saw Everything sent to me straight from Coach House. I finished it last night. I can guess who probably did it, but I'm not 100% sure.

3) I have resolved to wear real pyjamas every night, not just sweats, because I'm pretty sure I sleep better when I do. Consequently I treated myself to some new pyjamas.

4) I am using an established training technique to help Crosbie the dog be Mr. Cool when he encounters other dogs. We have two levels of treats: ordinary same-as-always treats, plus now the super-delicious special-occasion treats for when other dogs show up, so that he has added incentive to sit quietly and watch me instead of going into paroxyms of excitement.

5) Go Jon! Every one of those days and hours and minutes and seconds is its own little triumph.

posted by tangerine 08 January | 23:34

07 January 2009