Ninjababe's Ramble

My Brother

Today is my brother's 25th birthday.

I feel old now. I never feel old when I think about how old I am. I feel old when I think about how old my baby brother is.

And, he'll probably never see this, since he doesn't use the internet. It's bizarre. Of the two of us, I'm not that into computers. Yeah, I can work my way around a program, I know hotkeys, I can do basic troubleshooting, I can type 110+ words a minute when I get going...

My brother... He could write programs. He could build computers from scratch (Well, technically, I could too... but I'm very rusty). He could actually have hour long conversations with my father (who does build computers from scratch and writes programs for doctors and pharmacies for a living) and understand the conversation.

Unlike I, who nods and looks slightly glassy-eyed.

Yet, I spend time on the net and I'm the unofficial computer troubleshooter at work.

Last I heard, my brother was an assistant manager in a restaurant setting...

[sigh] I keep saying I'm going to slap him for letting his talents go to waste. And a kick or two. But, hey, that's a big sister's prerogative!

Anyway... So, bro, Happy 25th!

And, on a side note, I don't care if he's an 'adult' and 25... I don't care that he prefers to be called Joe.

He's my younger brother. He'll always be Joey to me.

So, :PPPP Joey! Joey! Joey!

Hah!

(I feel so much better now! Taunting siblings is so much fun! Especially when they can't taunt back!)

My Drug Nemesis

Before today, morphine was my nemesis. One day, I had to make morphine capsules in the lab.

First time I tried to do it (Yes, it was multiple times), I accidently hit the side of the weighing device and morphine powder went flying everywhere.

Second time I tried to do it, the capsules were in the holder too far down and the powder went everywhere.

That's two sets of morphine powder down the tubes.

Third time! Third time, finally, I got it to work.

Of course, the capsules didn't want to close after I was done. I made the suckers.

Today, my nemesis became Doxycycline.

The compound I was making was taking Doxycycline 100mg capsules, mixing it with filler (usually, lactose powder is used) so that the new capsules will be 20mg.

I go downstairs, pick up 20 Doxycycline 100mg capsules, and go upstairs. But, I
misread the ingredient listing and though it was 20 capsules. No, it's 20 grams.

So, I take the capsules apart and weigh the powder. I have about 10 grams.

I go downstairs and get 20 more capsules.

I go upstairs, pour the powder out of the capsules, and weigh it.

18.60 grams! Argh!

I go downstairs for a third time, get two more capsules, thinking that, logically, there is about 2 grams per capsule and it will be plenty.

I go back upstairs, pour the powder.

It was 19.12 grams.

19.12!!!!!

I stomp downstairs, look at my coworkers who have a look of 'uh oh' on their face, and I growl out, "19.12! 19! point! 12! ARGH!"

I get three more capsules, stomp upstairs (muttering 19.12 the whole time) and
finally... Finally! I have 20 grams.

It ended up taking 44 and 1/2 capsules.

'20 capsules equals about 10 grams' my ass!

ARGH!

This Weekend

What I am doing this weekend:

I'm going to be sleeping.

Sleeping.

Seeing Van Helsing

Playing games.

Working on my plans for world domination. Oh, alright. Really, I'll probably end
up cackling in glee as I watch the SIMs characters struggle to free themselves
from my diabolical plots.

[shrug] The usual.

Quote

Something said just now during the Country Music Awards, by someone who will remain nameless ([cough]Ith[cough])

"They can't sing live worth a fuc... Oh, sorry... that slipped out."

Japanese Phrase of the Moment

From K at work, a phrase you may need if you go to Japan:

Card ga kiki-ni tsumari mashita

My ATM card is stuck in the machine.

Or, how about:

Ichi nichi de oikura desu ka?

How much is it for a day?

This is fun!

(She showed me the webpage, it's here

A Sign...

A sign you need help:

You shoplift Preperation H.

No joke. Someone just tried doing that in the pharmacy here...

Bam!

From Tickle.com via Ith.

Your celebrity chef match is Emeril Lagasse

Bam! When it comes to whipping up something in the kitchen, you're rarely afraid to kick it up a notch. That's why your celebrity chef match is Emeril Lagasse, the king of notch-kicking. While some may be a little intimidated by cooking and recipes, you tend to have fun in the kitchen (and in life), throwing caution (and sometimes even recipes) to the wind. After all, it's only food.

To you, the most important thing is to have a good time, which is why you probably enjoy sharing your culinary enthusiasm with friends and family. When you do entertain, you have a knack for throwing a little heart into everything you prepare - and there's no better ingredient in the world.

=====

Cool!

Funny LotR Moment

We were watching the new digital camera commercial where Steven Tyler goes walking through a restaurant.

I said, "Cool! The guy from Aerosmith." (My brain was fried at that moment and I couldn't remember his name.)

Ith asked who that was. A few seconds later, she added, "Oh! Liv Tyler's father!"

Most people would've said "Liv Tyler? Oh! Steven Tyler's daughter!"

I just found it funny...

What I did

What Ith, her brother, me, and our friend Roberta did today:

Click Here!

Arrrrr!

Take the Cicada Test!

Ummm... ok...

At least I'm a pirate!

Squeeeeee!

Joey McIntyre is going to be a the local shopping center tomorrow!

I was a big New Kids on the Block fan. I owned two of their tapes and played them to death.

Yes, that shows how long ago it was... Late eighties.

In fact, I think that's where my not-so-secret love of boy bands started.

[sigh]

I call it... home... Well, sort of!

When I met new people, and they hear what’s left of my accent (Ah don’ave an accent. Ah nevah ‘ave, an’ Ah nevah will!) they ask where I’m from.

Well, as I am an Air Force Brat, I don’t really have a ‘hometown’, per se. I usually tell people I’m from the South. Because, even when I was living in England, I was living in the south of England.

Then, if they want more, I tell them my parents live in Tullahoma, TN, and that’s where I went to high school and the year plus of college I went through. (BTW: There is only one Tullahoma in the world, in case you cared [g]).

Of course, who out there has heard of Tullahoma?

And, since I believed the landmark I could’ve used was closed permanently, I told them that the next town over (Maybe 10 minutes away) was Lynchburg, where Jack Daniel's is made.

Most people reply, “Oh! I know where that is!”

Riiiiiiiiiiiggghhht…. They just know the liquor!

The landmark I can use again? The George Dickel Distillery. George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey is distilled in Tullahoma.

(And, just a useless piece of trivia... the county Jack Daniel's is distilled in is a dry county! You can make it, but you can't drink it. When I lived in Tennessee, the company store for Jack Daniel's was in Tullahoma, in the next county.)

Now, I'm off to pour me some Jack and watch Emeril make cornbread.

Quote!

The most recent set of quotes from work:

You can just suck it and it goes away.

I want to know what love is. I want you to show me. So, buy me a hooker.

That woman is one of our local locas.

"You know how I have conversations in my head? I just had one now with you."
"Perfectly understandable."

"This is stupid?"
"Yes"
"How do you know?"
"How do I know all the things I know? I make them up."

She's like a cat. If you feed her, she'll just keep coming back.

I'm an equal opportunity lover. ...Except for freaky foot lovers.

Don't you hate it when it suctions up to the roof of your mouth and you can't swallow because your mouth is full of spit?

You thought you were bringing light to a dim bulb. That light is still dim, babe.

"It's limp!"
"That's where the sucking comes in."

Technically, we're pharmacy technicians. Realistically? We're gods.

Umm... ok...

Listening to the radio, the song Jesse James comes on and the lyrics just don't sit right with me:

Tonight you're gonna go down in flames Just like Jesse James

So... the singer is going to shoot someone in the back?

Inconceivable!

Ugh

Cramps bad.

Single Malt good.

Gilmore Girls

I just adore Gilmore Girls. The fast pace of the one liners, the great balance between drama and comedy, the wonderful characters. It's just a wonderful show. And, the semi-obscure cultural references that are just slipped in. It's all quite hilarious. (Tonight, in the season finale, Rory told Lorelai that she was being very Hayley Mills and kept going. Quite a few people probably didn't get that.)

And then... there's Kirk. ROTFLMAO!

Kirk is one of my favorite character. The things the man does. The stuff he goes through. The things he said. He's just a walking comedy routine in action. And, it's usually believable, in a Kirk sort of way...

I love pretty much all the characters, but Kirk is just fantastic.

What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla

BLUE:

At work or in school: I like to be with people, sharing with them,
inspiring them, and helping them. I work and learn best when I can take into
consideration people and the human element. I flourish in an atmosphere of
cooperation.

With friends: I always look for perfect love. I am very romantic, and I
enjoy doing thoughtful things for others. I am affectionate, supportive and a
good listener.

With family: I like to be happy and loving. I am very sensitive to
rejection from my family and to family conflicts. I really like to be well
thought of and need frequent reassurance. I love intimate talks and warm
feelings.

Eternal Question

What is it with men, breasts, and fruit analogies?

Sunflowers = Chick Flick?

We just started to watch Calender Girls and I've noticed something with this and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. They both feature Sunflowers.

Is there something about a sunflower that just screams mature chick flick?

UPDATE Oh... Nevermind... I just got to the part of the movie that explains why the sunflower is in Calender Girls. And, I have no idea what role the sunflower plays at Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

Troy!

I don't know why, but I find the writing credits on this just hilarous!

From IMDb:

"Mr. Homer, how do you feel about the film based on your poem being nominated for the best adapted screenplay Oscar?"

"I am shocked. Who knew that something I just rushed out could've become so great? The movie just made my life. To see my work transformed to the big screen and portrayed by such greats as Brad Pitt and Sean Bean. Wonderful."

"And, is there any talk between you and the studio about doing the Odyssey?"

"How did you find out about that bit of work? I didn't think anyone read that! But, yes, there is a bit of talk. However, I'm putting my foot down. I will only allow them to make the movie if Sean Bean plays Odysseus."

"Thank you for talking with us, Mr. Homer."

"My pleasure."

[/hilarity mode off]

And, just a btw, I haven't seen Troy as of yet...

Laudanum, Arsenic, and Tuberculosis

Darn it, I can't find the article now...

Anyway. A few weeks ago, Ith and I were watching From Hell (Which is a good movie, btw... Part of the reason I like it (other than Johnny Depp. Woof!), is the fact that the violence kept getting kicked up a notch (BAM!) with every murder. The first murder, it was barely visable. By the end, they were burning human hearts on screen! Mmmm... yummy.)... I've gotten off course. Vrrrrrrmmm... OK, back on course.

So, we're watching From Hell and I decided to do a websearch on laudanum (First time we saw the movie, I did a websearch on Jack the Ripper).

I found an article (Ha! Found it again! Helps if you actually search for laudanum and not absinthe!) about how laudanum was given to everyone including infants!

It also went into how because of the outbreak of Tuberculosis, the TB look became 'in', and a bunch of women took arsenic to duplicate the look.

Did you know that there is speculation that Napolean died of arsenic poisoning from his wallpaper?

Anyway, to make a long story short (Too late!) (Shut up), I just find the above mind boggling... Yes, I know they didn't probably know any better, but I still find it mind boggling.

Just from reading this post, I've decided this guy is someone to watch...

One post goes from Japanese Love Hotels, to mirrored ceilings, to ninjas!

That mirrored ceiling put me off: I was worried that it would fall off the ceiling and kill me.

I too wouldn't be able to relax under that either, I think... especially with the threat of a possible Earthquake over your head...

As soon as I hit the money I'm going to buy a ROTATING round bed. I'll get my servants to lay out trays of snacks around the edge. Then, instead of having to stand up to get food, I can lie on my bed and take snaps at it as I rotate past.

Ith took that bit of his post and ran... She wants to combine a rotating bed with a sushi bar! You lay on the bed and the little sushi boats float past as you rotate the opposite way. Armed with a small plate and a pair of chopsticks, you can eat to your hearts content from the food that bob past...

Oh, and she just reminded me that she also mentioned little boats that have sake to replenish your stock.

Reminds me of my best sake experience. It was at a Teppan Steak House in Tallahassee, Florida. Yes, Tallahassee.

They filled a cast iron tea pot with sake.

Then, they put them on the edge of the grill. It stayed hot the whole night. We were there for at least 2 hours. We would've stayed longer, but we wanted to catch West Wing.

That was the day the car broke down, and Ith and I drank our way through the afternoon. Spend the afternoon at TGI Friday's drinking mudslides and margaritas (I had the mudslides). The early evening at the hotel (They had a free cocktail hour). Then, the dinner hour with sake.

I am tangent girl, hear me roar!

Yay! Pepto Bismol

Oh yeah, I want to learn the Pepto Bismol dance!

[/sarcasm mode off]

I want to try this...

Cherry Bomb, Traditional Ingredients:

* 1 fifth Everclear
* 6 x 8oz cans Cherries

Mixing instructions:

Place all 6 8oz jars of cherries (drained), mixed with EVERCLEAR into sealable
cannister for approx. 2 and half months, serve by the shot. To drown out flavor
of everclear, put one cherry in shot glass, and fill with sprite or 7up. Take
cherry and soda into mouth at same time, chew cherry, and swallow all together.
Enjoy!!

Even though, Everclear is illegal in this state. But, according to webtender.com
(Where I got the recipe) you can substitute vodka for everclear...

Yes!

I could kiss the store manager.

He just kicked out the woman who is indirectly responsible for the scar I now have under my lip... She's the one we were 99% sure was stealing product from our storeroom.

Finally, we had enough and told her to go someplace else. No longer do I have to deal with this woman.

I am happy! Happy!

My throat hurts!

Owwww!

I hurt my throat!

I just finished watching the last Survivor All Star special.

Rupert won the million dollars!

Wooo!

When I found out, I screamed 'YES!' so much, I now need alcohol to soothe my throat...

Woof!

Ith and I were wandering through the pharmacy I work at the other day. She pointed out the issue of People magazine with the 50 sexiest people in it. It had Johnny Depp on the cover.

I grabbed it so fast, the wind caused the other magazines to rustle.

Well, when I went through the pictures, I saw this:

Woof!

I mean, the Johnny Depp picture wasn't bad (Neither was Orlando Bloom's), but that's just... Yummy!

I have decided...

Based on Ith's suggestion, I am going to name my next cat Scapa.

And, she's decided to name her next dog Talisker.

Hmmm... maybe a parrot named Casadorres?

Kingly Moment

Currently, the computer I'm at, I have to turn my head to the right to see the TV.

I'm playing on the net, being totally happy.

Then, I hear a commercial. It's a normal commercial, normal announcer voice. That's the first line.

The second line?

"For Frodo" - Aragorn

I almost gave myself whiplash turning to the screen so quick.

Yay! I can finally have a full trilogy marathon.

It won't be a true trilogy marathon though until the extended version of Return of the King comes out, however.

Windows XP SNAFU

I use Ith's computer a lot, and she now has Windows XP.

[Growl]

I miss being able to use Ctrl+F4

I live for shortcuts, and it seems that the Ctrl+F4 was taken out or something.

One day, I'll have to root around and see if there's a button or switch to turn it back on.

Gotta... Have... A... Shortcut!!!

Wow!

I've had 10,000 visitors!

Booya!

Go me!

[beam]

[growl]

Some idiot is out front trying to tell us that it he would be able to get a better deal at Cost-Co for his 15 pills. He insists that it should be less than the $35 the insurance told us to charge.

That's your copay.

No, he insists. It was $35 for 30 pills at Costco. That means 15 pills has to be less.

We won't give it to him for less than $35. So, he stormed out saying he won't be back and he'll be sure to tell his doctor.

Ooooooooo! We're shaking in our boots.

Go! Be free! Dance and frolick all you want!

Just, don't do it here.

It doesn't matter where this asshat goes, he's going to be charged $35. That is the copay for brand name his insurance set. It doesn't matter if he picked up 15 or 200 (as long as it was a month supply) that's his copay!

Of course, we could've charged him the cash price, which is $66 for 15 Ambien.

Wish we had...

Wow! [plug mode on]

Ith's brother is a photographer here in central California.

Here's one of the pictures he's taken. Of one of my favorite places on Earth:

It's the gates into the California Park at Disneyland.

Since the picture is so big (500K or so), I made a thumbnail. To see it properly, just click on the picture above.

He also has a screensaver that has at least 100 pictures of the Monterey Coast and the area surrounding it. If you'd like a copy, it's $14, and he can be reached at gutech2K3 AT yahoo DOT com .

Doggy!

Mickey is doing Carnival of the Dogs... So, I just have to add my puppy, Lager of Lamont.

Yes, he was named after a beer.

My mother was in the Air Force, and we were stationed in England in the mid-80s (Which is why I'm not allowed to give blood, but that's a different story). My dad finally wore my mom down and we were allowed to get a dog.

But, only if we got a cat at the same time. (The cat was named Cider to go with Lager for the dog. We used to joke that if we ever got a goldfish, we would name it Bitter...)

So, my dad found a guy who had breed some spaniels and couldn't sell the puppies. So, he was going to put them down. Bad man! Bad!

My dad got one for free. Only because he told my mom that it was a cocker spaniel.

The puppy arrived. Damn, he was cute.

My mom took one look at the paws and said, "That is not a cocker spaniel."

And, so it wasn't.

My Lager was a English Springer Spaniel.

Full grown, his head went to my waist. And, I'm 5 foot 3.

The people across the street had a cocker spaniel that looked exactly like Lager. We would let them play with each other in our backyard. Within the hour, Lager would be on the ground, panting in exhaustion and the cocker spaniel, Rosie, would be tugging on his ear, as if to say "Play! Play! Damn, it! Come on! Play!"

He loved to slide on the slide at the playground down the street. The winter of the Chernobyl accident, the snow was so bad, they closed the base. It was almost above Lager's head. So, he had great fun hopping around like a rabbit in the snow.

When we took him for his walks, Cider would tail behind him to make sure he stayed out of trouble.

And, every time we walked past this one house, he would go insane! The people there had rabbits in an enclosure in their backyard, and he loved tracking stuff.

When we moved to Tennessee, we had to get the back yard fenced in. No matter what we did, he would get out and into the fields and brush behind the house and would track deer for hours, my brother and I running after him, not quite close enough to grab him (Usually, we would be inches from his tail, which would wag a mile a minute he was so happy to be hunting deer).

[sniff] I love my Lager. He died a few years ago. Had a stroke in his sleep. He was about 12 or so years old.

Here's the only picture I personally have of my first dog. My dad scanned it in for me and I put a frame on it for the website I built for him years ago:

And, if you have a pet, go out right now and take some pictures of him or her. Trust me, years later, you'll be glad!

Mmmmmmmmm...

We decided to have a sit down breakfast (Well, brunch now, since it's almost 2pm) today.

Homemade biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon from a semi-local farm, scrambled eggs, and mushrooms sauteed with garlic. That, and mimosas...

Mmmm...

That's some damn fine eatin'. (As my daddy would say)

Where It All Began

This is where my love for roller coasters began.

The Black Hole at Alton Towers in England.

It's an indoors roller coaster, pitch black. And, the first ever 'real' roller coaster I ever went on.

And, after getting off it, I wanted to go right back on.

An adrenaline junkie was born that day.

After that, going on the "Tempest" at Pleasurewood Hills 21 times in a row was child's play. (It's basically a Pirate Ship ride that goes upside down and holds you upside down for a few seconds.) The day I did my 21 time record, a friend and I would get on the ride, ride it, get off the ride, get on the ride, ride it, get off the ride, get on the ride, etc. etc. Finally, the operator just told us to stay where we were.

Why 21? Well, we were going for 25, but someone threw up and they had to shut the ride down. Wanker.

There my friend and I were, hanging upside down, saying things like "Wow! Look at the color of that bus!" "Is that our car?" That, and we were grabbing the change out of people's pockets as we hung upside down.

(The 'Tempest' doesn't seem to be there anymore...)

(And, yes, both are in England. I lived there for about 5 years as a teenager. I'm an Air Force Brat.)

Ah... Roller Coasters... How I love thee...

Work Quotes du Jour

Here's the current batch of quotable things people at work have said. Again, names are withheld to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent.

You see how they vibrate. You see how the shaft vibrates.

I've never dated a black woman, but I'm ready to.

I love you with a burning love that a cream can't cure.

"You better hope this isn't someone I don't already dislike, because I'll snap their neck like a chicken bone."
"God. I love working with you."

"Hello? Can I order a big mac, large fry, and a coke?"
"This is Jack in the Box. Sorry."

"You like making genital rash?!"

"Oh! I was expecting a recorder!"
"Sorry to disappoint you. I was expecting John Wayne. I, too, was disappointed."

Huh! Don't stick your bootie in front of my face!

I'm not Michael Jackson. Get off my lap.

I refuse to stick my hand up an animal's ass to preserve it for future viewings.

I look like a transvestite's penis.

Cinco!

I'm celebrating Cinco de Mayo at home tonight.

By having a single malt.

Cheers!

Hi!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight, Peter got Ith and I drunk. Woo hoo!

In the process, we closed Monterey down (Not that it's very hard to close Monterey down. Most restaurants close at 10pm, even on a Friday night).

It was quite fun! We had great conversations, going all over the board from politics to Disneyland (naturally) to God knows what. Denise and I even told a few of our Science Fiction convention stories (Including the time I was Larry Niven's date!).

My total tally of drinks: 3 shots of single malt, 2 rusty nails. That means, I had a total of 5 shots of scotch and 2/3rds a shot of Drambuie. Not bad. Not bad at all.

I go sleep now.