shards!

it's the time of the week to unload all the little things that aren't blog-filling on their own.  but here, the whole is definitely greater than its parts.  friday fragments, from half-past kissin' time!  (click on over there to link up and join in, if you aren't already a part of the movement.  we're taking over the world!  or at least the blogosphere...)

~ the title of this post is actually one of my favourite curse words (mild one, of course) from one of my favourite series of books-- the pern novels, by the late anne mccaffrey.  some of them are better than others, and they go on for ever and ever, but i love the characters.  and the language.  and the dragons.  obviously.

~ the iron in my hotel room doesn't work.  at least, i thought it didn't work.  turns out, the dial is just wonky.  when it's pointed to 'rayon', it's off.  when it's pointed to 'acrylic', it's on high.  and unless it's on high, any water in the steam chamber just streams out of the holes.  not very nice.  i figured it out in the end, at least.

~ why, oh why am i such a procrastinator?!  i wanted to go on an adventure today, since it's my last full day on my sorta-close-to-the-beach holiday.  but no.  i have an application due on monday, and i have to finish my cv, my personal statement, request my transcripts, and ask people to write letters of recommendation.  luckily those last two don't actually have to arrive by monday.  i don't think.

~ i don't even really want that job.  i just feel like i have to apply.  is it wrong to hope i get offered it, and get offered something i want more so i can turn it down?  i'd much prefer that to not being offered it.  i get that way too much these days as it is.

~ i gave up talking about people in negative ways for lent.  on the third day, this is already proving to be harder than i thought.  i'm not so good at keeping my mouth shut.  i'm also not sure that i'm willing to include this blog in that... what else would i talk about here?  a girl has to vent, right?

~ i know it's a security issue, and i'm not an idiot, but i wish the windows in my hotel room could be opened.  it's been absolutely gorgeous out, but i've had to sit inside and not experience it, because i'm tied to my laptop for getting all this job application stuff done.  at least i would have liked to enjoy the breeze, the smell of the storm, all that good stuff.  but nooooo.  stupid security.

~ honestly, wendy's-- if it's not chocolate, it's not a frosty.  full stop.  stop asking me what flavour i want when i order a frosty.

~ you know those thingys that you use to poke the little triangle holes in the can of hershey's syrup or sweetened condensed milk?  what are those called?  they aren't really can openers, or bottle openeres.  they're more like hole-pokers.  and they do not work very well for opening a can of tuna.  did that yesterday.  or rather, mangled that yesterday.

~ i really like doing daily pages over at 750words.  i already keep a *real* journal, but doing this first thing in the morning helps me get my brain going and stuff.  and you get badges for being awesome and writing and stuff.  you should check it out.  you might love it, too.

~ that's all i have for now, i think.  i need to get to working on my stupid application stuff.  the quicker i get some of that done, the quicker i can spend friday night at the beach!  happy friday, y'all.

hotel complaints

largely, this place is okay. but i can always complain...

the curtains, for instance, don't actually come all the way to the bottom of the window.  so the parking lot lighting, the walkway illumination, the sun--everying comes right in and makes itself at home.  especially where it bounces off the top of the shiny a/c unit.

the good room i was first given (bigger, with better stuff in it, like a full size fridge!) didn't get wi-fi.  if i stood right outside the door, i could pick up one bar.  once inside, nada.  the crappier room has good wi-fi, though, so i took it. 

having an 'efficiency' suite with a microwave so small even a tv dinner only fits in on an angle is less than helpful.  same with having a fridge that has not a single bit of freezer space.  even my dorm fridge was better than that! 

all the supplied glasses are juice size.  really?  i have to refill them constantly. 

housekeeping shortsheeted the bed.  i had to practically remake it to get the sheet and blanket to come up even to my chin.  that's just too much work when you arrive already tired and ready for sleep.

the fitness centre windows open out on to the parking lot and main road-- a major us highway.  not really very encouraging me to go and use the elliptical with all the world watching me. 

the staff and other guests apparently think it's okay to stand on the walkways outside the rooms and yell to each other across the parking lot, pool area, etc.  even early in the morning or late at night.  really?  because we all want to hear your conversation.  yeah, right. 

because the shower curtain is on one of those bowed out rails, to give the illusion of more space in the tub, it means there is actually a pretty big gap.  either i flood the floor on one side, or the other-- there is no way of covering both sides.  either get a straight rod, or buy a bigger curtain, people. 

they gave me two little bottles of washing up liquid, but no dishcloth or sponge or anything.  i'm using a spare washcloth.  similarly, there is no drying rack or tea towel-- i end up stacking the wet dishes on the edge of the counter til i have them all washed, then dry them with an extra hand towel.  *sigh*

that's all  i can thin of just now.  there might be more later. 

that's just rude pool behaviour

for instance:  taking up two seats when the rest of the seating area is full and someone is standing there looking for a seat is just rude.  you don't need to have your stuff on one that someone else's bum could be on.

why sit on the only steps in and out of the hot tub, when there are both people in it who will want out, and people out of it who want in?  then we have to just scramble around, and that's not nice.  and in my case, not pretty-- my fat rolls and other larger-ness was on way too much display, thankyouverymuch.

plus, ordering pizza for delivery at a full pool is not kind.  unless you share, which they didn't.

also, you simply should not cannonball into a small pool when you are a very large man and there are people sitting around reading in the tiny area full of chaises.  they obviously didn't want to get their bodies or their books soaked, you jerk.

ah, holidays.  gotta love 'em.  pffft. 

hot lava + cold snow =

aberdeen's weather. 

it has been largely clear and sunny skies, with even some warmth if you stay out of the shade.  but not today.  i blame the volcano.  today it's overcast.  near-freezing (actual temperature, not figure of speech). snowing and sleeting.  ridiculous.  i know aberdeen has crazy weather, but this?  no thank you. 

i also am frustrated for friends who are stuck here when they'd rather be somewhere else.  on holiday.  visiting relatives and friends.  anywhere else.  just like they'd planned.

i do not feel sorry for people who are stuck here who actually belong somewhere else.  i mean, dang.  enjoy the imposed longer holiday, people!  i would.

and i have absolutely no sympathy for people stuck places like faro, or malaga, or the canary islands.  seriously? you expect me to feel sorry for you having to stay there longer?  not happenin'.  no way, no how.  i'm actually quite jealous. 

i also feel sorry for iceland, though.  they just can't catch a break. 

the cupboards are bare

so i'm flatsitting for a friend who is gone this month.  it's great for both of us... she's home, and i get a place all to myself for a while.  win-win. 

except that i got here late on 30 december.  and the cupboards were pretty well bare.  not that i expected her to stock up for me, but what kind of person doesn't have staples in the house?!  no bread and milk i can understand.  no meat or veg or fruit, no problem. 

but no canned goods?  nothing frozen?  no canned good?!

there were:  a few sauces and condiments.  garlic.  two boxes of mostly-eaten cereal.  flour-sugar-spices-the like.  gross health food like protein bars and walnut oil.  (what the hell is walnut oil for?!)  tea. coffee. both very good things, since it's freakin' freezing here.  a few oatcakes (but nothing to put on them). 

that's it.  not even things to cobble together some random weird meal.  again, who doens't keep staples like tinned tomatos, ramen noodles, tinned tuna, even just pasta, for crying out loud?! 

luckily i had brought a very few things with me-- some tortellini, clementines, pringles, mince pies.  not the healthies of combinations, but it got me through. 

did i mention i arrived late on 30 december?  because nothing was open for days and days... but that's another post in itself. 

that's my seat, part two

i am a type a personality.  i follow the rules, because that's why they are there.  there are reasons.  i only bend or break them when i think they are dangerous or bad.  but otherwise, no.  i just do what i'm supposed to do. 

i get really annoyed when other people don't. 

for instance.  what's the point of reserving seats on my train journey when someone else is invariably going to be sitting in my seat?  i have to face forward or i get motion-sick.  so when i order my tickets, i request a forward-facing window seat.  the train people put a 'reserved' sign on my seat.  clearly marked. 

and yet, when i board, there is someone in my seat.  the one clearly marked as reserved. 

that's my seat, i politely say.  i reserved it. 

well, there are plenty of other seats.  just pick another, they say. 

i don't want another, i say.  that's why i reserved THAT one. 

well, someone was in my seat, so i sat here.  go and do likewise, they say (although not usually so articulately). 

grrrrrr.  i glare at them. 

but i always have to go off and hope to find an open seat which fits my specifications.  and always, always, always this kind of thing goes on all around me. 

what is the point, train companies, of allowing me to reserve a seat if i'm not going to actually get the seat?  your train people don't care.  even when i explain and ask for their help.  they also tell me to just pick another seat. 

seriously?!  what's the point of that?! 

i do not like people breaking rules like that.  no harm done, you say?  perhaps.  but it's damn annoying, that's for sure.