Posted by criminal at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)

February 24, 2004

Road Blocks

I'm working on a project at the office that has me quite frustrated. We started it months ago, and it should've been done months ago. It was that simple. All I had to do was redesign a small site and put it on our server. Between my schedule and the liason's, we didn't get much done right away. Still, it should've been easy enough. What I hadn't anticipated was a rather large password-protected archival section. It has turned into a giant road block. For the last month, I have been trying to get direct access to the files through the network. With the amount of time I've spent explaining this to people, I probably could've downloaded all of the files through the existing site. Once I have access to these files, their names have to be changed from the Windows format which allows excessively long names and spaces. Then I need to recreate the archive web page and link it all back up. The owner of the computer hosting the original site has tried several times to give me access, with the latest attempt today. I'm ready to give up on it, but I know the information is important to the group, so I'll keep trying to get it. Since the rest of the site is ready, we're launching it without the archives. I expect those to go up sooner, rather than later. I really can't wait to have it done and out of my hair.

Posted by criminal at 06:12 PM | Comments (0)

February 23, 2004

Jewel of Denial

You're a Sapphire. You seem to be unreachable, but deep inside, you are really a nice and warm person. You are elegant and get along well with people once you know them.


What Jewel Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Posted by criminal at 02:29 PM | Comments (1)

February 22, 2004

apt take 2

WORCESTER Elm Park/Becker 1br, grnd level, great loc; Lndry, prkg, H/HW incl, hdwds, well maint. Must see for the person on a budget! $575. MICOZZI 508-798-6450

WORCESTER Elm Victorian. Fplcd. 2 room studio. $575, all utils, parking, laundry.; also 1 BR loft w/gar. $850. Apt. Dir. (508)799-6737 .

WORCESTER Highland. Cozy 2.5 rm studios in 2 fam. $400-$425. Refs. req. Apt. Dir. (508)799-6737

Worcester EXCLUSIVE BURNCOAT AREA *$649 Spacious, elegant Studio, 1 & 2 bedrooms nestled in meticulously maintained courtyard on quiet cul-de-sac. Fully appl’d, wall/wall throughout. Abundant closets with add’l private storage. A/C, laundry, tennis, saunas, Olympic sized pool, private fitness center. Free video library. On bus line. Conveniently located off 290 near Allmerica & UMass. Heat/hot water incl. *From $649. (508)595-0293.

WORCESTER New 1 BR for rent + priv. bath, $515/mo. Basement studio $650/mo. Quiet neighborhood, nr WPI. (518)793-2804.

HAJEC 508-797-1100

Posted by criminal at 10:49 PM | Comments (0)

February 20, 2004

Give Me a Break

< RANT > When Jeremy and Liz got home tonight, they brought in a note that was left on my windshield. "Could you park any closer asshole" scrawled on a crimpled sheet of notebook paper. At first, I was shocked. When I came home this evening, another car was just leaving a nice, large spot to one side of a driveway across the street. I pulled into the dead end street across from it, waiting for the car to pull out. I watched as the car was put it in gear, moved a couple inches and stopped, only to see the driver's side door thrown wide open. I squealing girl/woman jumped out and ran to the other side to talk to the other passenger for what seemed like an age. In my annoyance, I only waited for a minute or two before maneuvering around the open door and into the small space on the other side of the driveway. I parked within a foot of Liz's rear bumper and left a few feet of snowy curb behind my car, making it a tight fit.

Jump ahead a few hours to the note. I move from shocked to angry. Who the hell leaves nasty notes on other people's cars? And on mine, of all the other cars in the neighborhood. I'm probably one of the most consciencious people in the neighborhood, going out of my way to park in spots that won't block someone in, require removing an illegal space marker, or encroach on a driveway. I have even parked down the street in a rutted, unplowed lot covered in 15" of snow to avoid parking too close to the driveway in question, only to find that someone else would do it before I could walk back from my car.

Anyway, I look out the window and see that yet another car has parked pretty tight on the other side of the driveway. And another directly across the street, several feet away from the curb because of the leftover snow. One close car can be dealt with, but I can see how two or three would be a problem. When I used our narrow driveway, I would get frustrated when someone (usually Liz or Jeremy) would leave no curbspace beteen the car and driveway. From anger, I quickly moved to fear I was worried that they might have hit my car on accident or keyed or kicked it in anger. Or worse, like the time my old roommate Dan got his tires slashed for parking in a space a neighbor had "marked" with a couple buckets and a 2x4.

So I set out with a flashlight and my keys, getting mad at the thought of someone vandalizing my car. While I couldn't make out any damage, I really wanted to invite some by actually blocking the driveway. But I'm still a nice person, so I moved the car fifty feet further up the street. It turns out that some of the snow and ice I thought was hiding the curb, was actually in their driveway, meaning the 3-4 feet I thought I left was really more like 2. I wasn't blocking the drive and probably would never have parked so close if they had cleaned their driveway so that everyone could tell where it started and the curb ended. My actions weren't deliberately or recklessly malicious, the hallmark of an asshole. I don't feel like I deserved that note or my neighbor's contempt. < /RANT >

Posted by criminal at 11:30 PM | Comments (3)

Friday Five for February 20, 2004

When was the last time you...

1. ...went to the doctor? Allow me to consult my calendar... I've been to the doctor's office a couple times in the last year, but the last time I actually saw my doctor was September 3, 2003.

2. ...went to the dentist? December 29 or 30, 2003. And it was probably my last appointment with my first and only dentist, Dr. Plotnick.

3. ...filled your gas tank? Sometime around 6:00 p.m. on February 13, 2004.

4. ...got enough sleep? Last Sunday/Monday when Jon and I were slept in because we were sick.

5. ...backed up your computer? Umm...

Posted by criminal at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)

February 19, 2004

Come Heller High Water...

I miss Andrew Heller. He's a cynical middle-aged yooper with a column in my hometown newspaper, the Flint Journal. I've enjoyed his bluntness and sarcasm for year. I'd even go so far as to say that I used to emulate his writing when I had my own column in high school. He's that good. Just when I think I know what he's going to say, he surprises me. (Fair warning: if you haven't visited MLive before, you'll have to enter some survey data before you can read the article.)

Posted by criminal at 05:25 PM | Comments (0)

A Week is a Month

I think that I know what I haven't known yet
'Cause a week is a month
and an hour a day
When your reaching just pushes it further away
With your past and your future precisely divided
Am I at that moment?
I haven't decided
[Phish, Julius]

Posted by criminal at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)

Interview with a Criminal

1. Why vanilla ice cream? Is there a particular brand of vanilla ice cream that you like above all others? Vanilla is just so pure, at least in the sense that it doesn't need anything but a few simple ingredients. Its also the most versatile. As far as brands go, I'm quite fond of Breyer's All Natural.

2. Imagine Jon has asked you to marry him and you of course have accepted. Where and when (what month don't need a year)does the wedding take place? Is there any significance to this location/time of year? Well, I'd obviously have to consult with him. I have suggested doing it at the Super Bowl. He countered with something during the baseball all-star break. I like the idea of something in the fall or winter, but I could be persuaded to get hitched in the summer if the location were right.

3. Since your birthday happens only once every 4 years, do you have anything wild and crazy planned for this year? Name one wild thing that you would like to do on your birthday that you probably won't do. Nope. My last real birthday was a real flop because it was the night before C Term finals. My friends made me a cake a couple days later, but it wasn't anything too elaborate. I think a big trip to Vegas with friends would be a great way to celebrate. I don't think that will happen anytime soon.

4. Tell us a little bit about what you know about your Native American Heritage. Tribe? How you're related? How if in anyway your family celebrates it? Anything to that effect. I am affiliated with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, but not a recognized member because of a strange and unfair enrollment requirement that my family is trying to correct. The "tribe" is really a congolomeration of five different tribes (and many smaller tribes and individuals) that were made to share a reservation in Oregon about 150 years ago. My great grandmother was born on the reservation. For years, we knew very little about our tribal roots, thanks to estrangement and the termination (losing federal recognition as a sovereign nation). A few years ago, we reconnected with long lost family members and fully realized our heritage. Despite the estrangement, I feel like I was raised with a lot of native insight and culture. Since then, we've attended pow wows and taken an active role in tribal governance. I make frybread and occasionally burn sage. I've also added the Native American flute to my musical repertoire. If I lived in the northwest, I would love to take lessons in Chinook Wawa.

5. Money and time aren't limiting factors, what do you do tonight? I'd go to a nearly empty gym for a long workout then get a full spa treatment: massage, facial, waxing, and a hair cut. And then I'd have to refuel on tasty finger foods that I'm too lazy to make, like dim sum or my great grandmother's nut rolls.

Ok, here's how it works if you want to play:

1 - Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 - I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 - You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 - You'll include this explanation.
5 - You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

Posted by criminal at 09:14 AM | Comments (2)

February 18, 2004

RSS Goodness

Since I was having trouble with my feed, I decided to run it through a validator. This is what I got:

Posted by criminal at 10:15 AM | Comments (1)

Oil Slick

I had voicemail from Peterson Oil when I got to work this morning. From last night, just before 6. I also had a missed call on my cell phone from about the same time. At that time, I was in my basement, flashlight in hand, checking to see if oil had been delivered. No oil. But it was warmer there than in my apartment. So I called Peterson to try to get oil. Their deliveryman apparently called me back a few minutes later while I was on a chair in the kitchen replacing a couple lightbulbs. Needless to say, I didn't hear that call either. It really started to bother me about two hours later when I hadn't heard anything from them. So I got my phone, found the messages and made a few calls to get the oil delivered. Harry, the serviceman, showed up at 9 with 10 wonderful gallons of oil. He primed everything, so we'll be ready for a real delivery (hopefully today, before we run out again). This heating oil thing is so much more of a hassel than I ever expected. I don't think I'll be agreeing to do it again.

Posted by criminal at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

February 17, 2004

More Apts

BERLIN 5 min. to Solomon Pond Mall. 1BR., deck $725 all util. inc. 1st/sec. Cats ok 978-838-0448

BOYLSTON 3 rm Country apt. Carpets, appl’s, laundry, mins to I-290. No pets. $585/mo (508)366-0896

CLINTON 1BR. Good loc. Off St. prkng. Waterviews. No pets. $500/+util, 1st/last/sec. 508-395-0369.

CLINTON NEAR 495. Modern studio, 1 & 2 br. Air, laundry, parking. Start at $595 w/utils 978-365-2561

LANCASTER 1st flr., 1 br., $600/mo + utils. No pets, no smoking. 1st/last/sec. 978-840-4097 9AM-7PM.

LEOMINSTER 3 rms., 2nd fl. Heat, HW, stove, refrig., prkng, no pets. $650 mo. 1st/last/sec. Refs. 978-537-5153 lv. mssg.

LEOMINSTER Starting at $525; studio, 1 br/2b, incl, heat/HW, W/D, parking, plowing, garbage pickup. Call (978)534-6349

WEST BOYLSTON Cozy 1BR + office. Country setting nr hwys $600. Guardian Select (508)754-8081

WORCESTER Greendale. Studio. Great local; close to 190/290. Lndry, prkng, H/HW incl. Great price $595. Call today! MICOZZI 508-798-6450

WORCESTER Arena Studio. $550 Greendale 1br. From. $575 Burncoat, Roycroft 1BR. $695 W.Boylston Dr. 1br, ht/hw . $725 Burncoat Off. 1br, ht/hw . $750 Lincoln St. off, 2 BR. $750 Webster Sq. 2br, gar, TH . $950 Massasoit off. 2 br, Townhouse, garage. $1050 W.Mountain Off New 2 br, Townhouse, garage. $1350 1 month free rent on 12 mo lease! No pets/smoking No Fees! 508-852-6001

WORCESTER Greendale, 1BR basement, $500+util, 508-898-1232.

WORCESTER Walk to UMass - Alvarado, mdrn 2rm lg. studio, pkg, lndry $600. HAJEC 508-797-1100

Goldsmith: 508-799-6076

LEOMINSTER- Taking applications 1st floor, 1 bedroom. Dishwasher, washer & dryer hook-up, off street parking. No dogs. No utilities. 1st/last/security & credit check. $550 month. (978)582-7229 before 7PM.

LEOMINSTER Let PRESIDENTIAL PARK APARTMENTS keep you warm this winter Rents from $650 Heat and Hot Water included Call 978-537-2400 for availability

Posted by criminal at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)

Cold Night

Its 50 degrees in my apartment. Sometime yesterday we ran out of oil, but didn't notice right away. I took a lukewarm shower this morning. Jeremy took a cold shower and Liz avoided it altogether. Liz called the oil company from work, so we figured it would all be taken care of. When I got home, there was still no heat. Sinced the back/basement door was locked, the service people couldn't get in to prime the furnace. The real kicker is that Liz told the oil company that she was at work -- they didn't mention that we'd need to let someone in or leave the door open. So now I'm freezing my ass off because of a miscommunication.

[On a related note, I'm now certain that my room in the old apartment regularly reached 50 degrees. It feels just like days when my roommates would lock Tia in and the heat out while I was out. I'm also fairly certain that it didn't often go above 60 degrees, unless the day's forecast was above 60. Kinda makes this situation more livable, no matter how inconvenient it is.]

UPDATE: I have heat, thanks to the 10 gallons of oil that got delivered at 9 p.m.

Posted by criminal at 08:01 PM | Comments (0)

Bandwagon

I'm not usually big on trends. But you probably already know that. Today I'm jumping on the meme bandwagon to see just how much you know about me.

Posted by criminal at 05:18 PM | Comments (1)

February 13, 2004

Teething

Damnit. I'm teething again. The front halves of my lower wisdom teeth are fully exposed. The back halves are still embedded in the gums at the back of my jaw. They've moved slowly over the last three years, causing mild pain and infection along the way. This week, a small flap of my gum that was on top of the right wisdom tooth decided to loosen itself, making the whole area swell up. When I hit it with the stream from my water-pick last night, I doubled over from the pain. Or maybe from the shock. I wasn't expecting anything but that swollen, throbbing sort of pain. Then came the bleeding... The worst part is realizing that there is little I can do about it, except deal with it. And I think I'd handle it better if I weren't still fighting the cold that started last Friday. Maybe I'll get some Orajel after work...

Posted by criminal at 12:31 PM | Comments (1)

nascar

"Why does corporate America spend so much money ... supporting things that don't have moral values?" Shepherd asked. "And here we are, trying to serve the Lord. There's nothing bad in the Bible. Even if you don't believe in God, if everyone would just live by the Bible and the Ten Commandments, see how much better the world would be." [Morgan Shepherd in a Sports Illustrated article about the relationship between NASCAR and Christianity]

Posted by criminal at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)

Friday Five for February 13, 2004

1. Are you superstitious? No.

2. What extremes have you heard of someone going to in the name of superstition? Eating smarties/sweethearts in certain color patterns to ensure baseball victories...

3. Believer or not, what's your favorite superstition? See #1.

4. Do you believe in luck? If yes, do you have a lucky number/article of clothing/ritual? No, not in the sense that it can be influenced or changed.

5. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not? No. I don't believe that destiny is predetermined by anything, be it a higher being or the position of stars.

Posted by criminal at 09:56 AM | Comments (1)

Valentine's Clue V

A picnic, a lighthouse, champagne, and the stars.
Strawberries, chocolate, and candles (of course).
Last but not least, one important thing left.
Not flowers or baubles.
Not perfume or jewel-ry.
Not sexy lingerie or a new cell phone batte-ry.
In fact, there is no riddle to answer.
Just a thought from my heart...

Happy Valentines, sweetie. I love you alot. *k*

[PS I am Jon Jay and I endorse this ad. Paid for by the Committee to Tell Sarah I Love Her]

Posted by criminal at 09:23 AM | Comments (1)

February 12, 2004

Valentine's Clue IV

No need to worry about the Jellystone Park native or his sidekick stealing this next clue. (I don't think the rangers going to like this...)

Posted by criminal at 09:52 AM | Comments (0)

February 11, 2004

Valentine's Clue III

The use of Newton's finest invention will help you peer through the clouds of my obscure riddles.

Posted by criminal at 08:49 PM | Comments (1)

Valentine's Clue II

In success you deserve it, and in defeat you need it.

Posted by criminal at 09:49 AM | Comments (2)

February 10, 2004

Valentine's Clue I

Just like last year, Jon is leaving me clues about my Valentine's surprize.
Today's clue: That star of life’s tremulous ocean

Posted by criminal at 09:12 PM | Comments (2)

Orange Sky

WXRV keeps playing a song that stops me dead in my tracks. Today I looked it up: Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch. From Alexi's site you can listen to lengthy samples of Orange Sky and a few other songs from his debut album. He sounds more than a bit like Nick Drake, with a hint of a Scottish brogue. I like it.

When I am alone
When I’ve thrown off the weight of this crazy stone
When I've lost all care for the things I own
That's when I miss you, that's when I miss you, that's when I miss you
You who are my home
You who are my home
And here is what I know now
Here is what I know now
Goes like this..
In your love, my salvation lies
[Alexi Murdoch, Orange Sky]

Posted by criminal at 04:53 PM | Comments (1)

Stand

Stand in the place where you live
Now face North
Think about direction
Wonder why you haven't before
[REM, Stand]

Posted by criminal at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)

Too Much Phlegm

How appropos:

You are Phlegmatic - The ancient Greeks believed this was caused by too much phlegm.
Strengths: You are easy-going, steady, peaceful, and gentle.
Weaknesses: You can be indecisive, unmotivated, and uninvolved.
At your best: You are a loyal diplomat.
At your worst: You can be a self-righteous stick-in-the-mud.
You measure your own value by: Attention
For personal growth, you should focus on: Initiative
For others to relate well to you, they should be: Agreeable
Others should support your: Involvement
If someone wants you to make a decision, they should give: Assurances

What Ancient Greek Personality Type Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Posted by criminal at 03:07 PM | Comments (1)

February 09, 2004

Man's Best Friend

The Saint Bernard is a devoted and gentle giant. Her calm personality allows her to relate well to children and adults alike while satisfying her need for companionship. She is at home in nature and enjoys exercise, though she is not particularly fond of traditional forms of play. Her coat requires weekly brushing to keep it neat and can be left long or cut short for versatility. She's relaxed in most situations, and her hassle-free nature can't be beat.
What kind of dog would you be?

Posted by criminal at 08:39 PM | Comments (0)

Happy Anniversary

Jon and I celebrated the first anniversary of our first date on Saturday. Depending on how you quantify and qualify life events, it may not be a real anniversary, but it's still nice to acknowledge it. I guess a year isn't very long in the whole scheme of things, but it has been one of the best years of my life.

Posted by criminal at 05:36 PM | Comments (2)

Sick of Being Sick

I started feeling sick Friday morning. Just a sore throat and congestion. Given the dryness of the air in my apartment, these symptoms occur quite frequently. They quickly go away after a hot shower and a glass of cool water. This time they just got worse. By Friday afternoon I was having difficulty concentrating, feeling incredibly weak, sneezing several times an hour, and blowing my nose all the freakin' time. I even skipped yoga -- there's no good way to blow your dripping nose while everyone else is in downward dog. I crashed the moment I got home. Saturday was marginally better, even after serious meds, loads of vitamin C, and plenty of rest. Jon and I were supposed to go out to the Sole Proprietor to celebrate the anniversary of our first date, but what good is an expensive dinner if you can't taste it and keep sneezing on your date? By Sunday morning my energy levels were up. I started sneezing less frequently but coughing more. Today has been more of the same. I want this cold to end. And soon.

Posted by criminal at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)

February 06, 2004

window

Fine. I'll close the window with my umbrella of justice. [William]

Posted by criminal at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)

Friday Five for February 6, 2004

1. What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Moving away from home to go to college.

2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of? I can't think of anything that they wouldn't approve of -- they're pretty accepting people.

3. On a scale of 1-10, what's your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it's a lifestyle) 3. I'm a wimp and I know it.

4. What's the best thing that's ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky? Getting an internship at Compaq. After facing nothing but rejection at dozens of stations, I took a chance that someone at a computer company might see something useful in a writer and wound up with a great job.

5. ... and what's the worst? Getting my heart mangled and my life turned upside down. I staked my future on saving a sinking ship and paid for it.

How bold are you? Tell the folks at FridayFive.

Posted by criminal at 12:43 PM | Comments (0)

Snowy Weekend

jon: btw, you need to stop scheduling book club meetings
me: why is that?
jon: seems like it snows before everyone of them

It started snowing a couple hours ago and won't let up until later this afternoon. But wait! That's not all. We're supposed to get a few hours of freezing rain before and during the evening commute. WPI is still open for business of course. I just hope that the roads are clean enough to get to the bookclub meeting tomorrow morning. And did I mention that its supposed to snow Saturday night too? It reminds me so much of this weekend last year, when Jon drove through a minor snowstorm to meet me for the first time. I suppose its a good thing that I like snow.

Posted by criminal at 09:18 AM | Comments (1)

February 05, 2004

Willful Ignorance

It takes affirmative action on the part of the clueless user to become infected," wrote Scott Bowling, president of the World Wide Web Artists Consortium, expressing frustration on the group's discussion forum. "How to beat this into these people's heads?"

But computer sophisticates say it reflects a willful ignorance of basic computer skills that goes well beyond virus etiquette. At a time when more than two-thirds of American adults use the Internet, they say, such carelessness is no longer excusable, particularly when it messes things up for everyone else.

Excerpt from a particularly interesting New York Times article that Jeremy and Liz sent my way.

Posted by criminal at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)

February 04, 2004

Color Quiz

Posted by criminal at 06:11 PM | Comments (2)

Epiphany

Coming out of the gym today, I walked past RugbyBoy. When I first noticed him on campus several years ago, he was hot and attainable (girlfriend aside). Very much my type. More than a few times, I caught him checking me out. We had several mutual friends (including Sam, who refused to hook me up with him because he wasn't done screwing with me yet), but somehow were never introduced. When I recognized him today, I didn't feel a thing. No spark. No flutter. Not even any admiration of his manly form. I found myself wondering why I ever thought he was so attractive; he can't hold a candle to Jon. In the year I've known Jon, I have been nothing but faithful. I took down all of my personals, stopped considering other men, and declared myself taken. I just never realized how far-reaching it would be. Today I found myself on Matt Light's Web site. (For those unfamiliar, Matt is a starting tackle for the Patriots. And an extremely attractive man, at least by my estimation.) A couple years ago, I would've given my eye teeth to bear his children. Yet I couldn't even feel a fraction of that twitterpation when I looked at him today. Yes, he's still a good-looking guy and a great football player, but I don't want him. I think I have what I want already.

Posted by criminal at 06:02 PM | Comments (0)

February 03, 2004

So Tired

There's really no good reason for me to be tired, but I am. Lately, I have felt like I have no energy. I keep bringing my gym clothes to work, meaning to lift a few weights a lunch or after work, but when those hours roll around, I just don't have the energy to go. I know that working out will give me more energy, but I feel like I need energy to work out. Its a vicious cycle. I did manage to do AM yoga this morning, so that's a step in the right direction. It wasn't as energizing as I had hoped.

Posted by criminal at 04:23 PM | Comments (1)

Love Personality

Like Jami I have an affinity for quizzes, at least if they're interesting. So I took the quiz at OkCupid and as it turns out, I'm a Peach.

Posted by criminal at 10:14 AM | Comments (1)

February 01, 2004

Dare We Say Dynasty?

The Patriots pulled it out again. I wish I could say that their 15-straight wins and second championship in three years is all due to skill, but it really comes down to hard work and a little luck. No easy wins for us. Brady and his boys keep us riveted until the end of every game and the Superbowl was no different. My stomach tied itself in nervous knots as I watched the last quarter spiral out of control. Nearly an hour later, my body just starting to loosen up as the reality sets in... I still can't believe we pulled it off.

Posted by criminal at 11:45 PM | Comments (0)