Extremely well said.
Fred linked to this this morning, and I don’t know how many of you read his blog, but I’m linking it as well, because it’s very much worth the read: Here’s What Gets Me.
Two paramedics stranded in New Orleans in the wake of hurricane Katrina give their account of self-organisation and abandonment in the disaster zone.
* * *
I went to the dentist yesterday, I don’t think I mentioned that, for my three-month checkup. Because, you’ll remember, I have the mouth of a meth addict and a crack whore combined (how come no one ever calls anyone a meth whore, what with the epidemic meth problems?) and my gums are rotting away from my teeth.
Or I have a touch of periodontal disease just slightly worse than gingivitis. Whatever.
My god, my god, MY GOD, how I hate going to the dentist. Because I always go in there thinking, “Oh, this won’t be bad. A little poking, a little cleaning, I’ll be out in less than half an hour”, and then I get in the chair and she starts with the fucking scraping fucking shit out from my teeth and DIGGING at my gums FOREVER, and at one point she was taking “measurements” of my “gums”, which consisted of taking an extremely sharp dental instrument and jabbing it into the gums along EVERY GODDAMN SINGLE ONE OF MY TEETH.
Now. I don’t know about you, but when someone is jabbing their extremely sharp dental instrument into my gums, my immediate response is anger. Red-hot anger. Grab that fucking instrument and jab it through your eye into your brain, laughing maniacally as I do so anger. But, of course, you can’t kill the dental hygienist because it would be far too obvious who had done it (“She called her 10:30 appointment back, and we never saw her again… Hmmm. I wonder who could have possibly killed her. You think it was a serial killer?”) and I have no intention of spending any more of my life behind bars.
(I shot a man in Texas, just to watch him die.)
So I grabbed the armrests on either side of the chair, and every time she jabbed me with the fucking thing – and the worst part of my mouth is the back of the middle bottom row of my teeth, because there’s a slight overlap there, and apparently crap hides there, and she spends 63 hours scraping the fuck out of the back of those very sensitive teeth and by hour 5 I want her DEAD – I just grabbed the armrests as hard as I could, and when the pain was especially bad, I wiggled my feet and it made me think of the way Mister Boogers wiggles his tail when he’s feeling nervous, and for a brief moment I was amused at myself. Which the hygienist must have seen, because that was right about the time she started jabbing at the most painful, puffy, sensitive gums I have, which are located by the very back teeth on the bottom of my mouth.
I hate her. I really, really hate her. Is it wrong that I wish her a painful death?
* * *
I talked to my brother for a while yesterday morning (before the painful dentist trip. Oh. Did I mention I had a trip to the dentist and that I HATE THAT FUCKING HYGIENIST WITH MY ENTIRE HEART?) and at one point he said the word “noodledoc”, and it made me laugh like the goon I am.
A funny man, that brother o’ mine.
* * *
I know. I know, I know. I know y’all want us to keep Rambo and Jodie, and my god, the little fuckers have got me wrapped around their little paws, and I’m sorry to disappoint, but we cannot keep them. Which is not to say that I’m going to give them up one moment before I absolutely have to, but they really are going to be put up for adoption, and let me tell you why.
Right now, in our situation, we can totally afford the vet bills. But the thing is that at some point in the future, Fred’s job may possibly disappear – he does contract work for a government agency, and that’s a somewhat iffy position to be in – and at that point, we’ll have at least two cats who are on the elderly side, and we just flat-out won’t be able to afford to pay the thousands we currently pay most years when they need emergency surgery or trips to the emergency vet or whatever pops up.
However, I’ll continue playing the lottery in hopes that we strike it rich and at that point, with millions of dollars in our pockets? The sky is the limit, baby! We’ll not only adopt two hundred cute little squeaking kittens, we’ll also hire someone to clean up after them. Whoo!
* * *
Someone – or multiple someones – did multiple site searches on “Giveaway page” over the last few days. It’s
here, and you can always find it in the sidebar, under the “other” heading.
As an FYI regarding the Giveaway page, I changed the notify list… last week? The week before? I sent out an email to the old notify list letting everyone know and where to join the new list(s), but from the email I’m getting, not everyone got that email. So if you’re interested, you can join the Google Groups notify
here, or the Yahoogroups notify
here.
* * *
Email sent at 10:30 last night:
From: Me
To: Fred (at work)
Subject: YES! YES! YES!
I almost had an orgasm when I saw this:
http://www.arantius.com/article/arantius/gmail+delete+button/
MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE!
(Censored dirty talk)
And you think YOUR life is exciting.
I can’t help it, I think the fact that someone wrote code to put a “delete” button in Gmail, when I’ve been bitching about wanting one for as long as I’ve had a Gmail account is just SO FUCKING COOL.
I feel faint from the thrill. And I’m almost not kidding.
(Thanks to
Wil Wheaton for the link in his blog. I never would have stumbled across it on my own.)
* * *
I got tagged by
Jolene for this meme. I’ve never been tagged before, so I guess I’m honor-bound to do it, huh? I’m doing it here instead of at my LiveJournal, ’cause I don’t use my LiveJournal at all.
id·i·o·syn·cra·sy
1. A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
2. A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
3. An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.
List five of your own idiosyncrasies and then tag five friends to do the same.
1. My feet are the temperature gauge for the rest of my body. As long as my feet are warm, I’m okay. If my feet are cold, the rest of me is cold. If my feet are hot, the rest of me is hot. At night, if I’m under the covers and hot, I stick a foot out into the cool room, and the rest of me cools down with my foot. If I’m cold, I put my feet under Mister Boogers, and when my feet warm up the rest of me warms up. The first time we went to Gatlinburg and stayed in a hotel room suite, Fred and I slept in the bedroom, which had a balcony overlooking the river. It was (I think) Fall, and the night-time temperature was around 40ºF. We liked to sleep with the door open so we could hear the rushing water I always sleep completely naked, and every night I slept with all of me uncovered except my feet, and I was just fine.
2. I’m a zit-popper. I spend a couple of minutes every morning before I step in the shower, checking my body for zits. If I find one, I pop it. If I don’t, I’m disappointed. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that I didn’t have a zit problem in high school and thus didn’t get my quota of popping done during my youth.
3. I am a copious list-maker, and I never ever cross anything off. A list of who I think should fall off the face of the earth? Yeah, I’ve got that list. A list of what needs to be done, WordPress-wise, to my journal? Yeah, right here. Somewhere. I think I’ve still got a list of sites I want to link to on my “recommended” page around here somewhere. A list I made at least six months ago, and which will continue to float around until such a day comes that I need to clean off my desk and I decide it’s just cluttering up the joint. Need a list made? I’m your gal. Need a list of stuff accomplished? You’d be better off looking elsewhere.
4. If given the chance, I’d communicate with everyone via email and never talk on the phone. Okay, that’s kind of a lie. I have no problem talking on the phone to people I’m related to – I’ve really enjoyed talking to my brother over the past few weeks, and I always enjoy talking to my sister and don’t usually have any problems talking to my parents – but for the most part, I always feel goofy and awkward talking to people I don’t know. I’m getting better, though. Why, yesterday I picked up the phone without even checking Caller ID first! ::gasp!::
5. When I sit and read, I wiggle my feet and move my bottom lip from side to side. That is, I move my feet in unison, pointing them one way and then the other and then the other and back again. At the same time I move my bottom lip to one side and then to the other. Usually in unison with my feet. I imagine that it’s quite strange-looking, but it’s not a conscious thing, and I only ever realize I’m doing it when someone points it out, or a cat attacks my feet.
Let’s see. Who shall I tag to do this? Let me think…
Bonnie,
Jules,
Say,
Rachelle, and
Yvonne. Coming up with people to tag was the hardest part of this whole thing, damnit.
* * *
Nothing new going on with the kittens, though I haven’t let them out of their room yet this morning because I wanted to eat breakfast first without a little kittenhead popping up in the way and scarfing down my scrambled eggs.
You know what Rambo ate the other day? A popcorn kernel. He spotted it and scarfed it up before I could stop him. I was worried it might mess up his digestive system, but I can report that I saw it in the litter box. Ugh.
It’s rough work being a kitten, but someone’s gotta do it.
Mister Boogers’ reaction to giving Rambo a bath.
Jodie, in a high state of dudgeon.
“Brian Harper isn’t quite the highbrow literature I’m accustomed to. Got anything by Sneaky Pie Brown and that woman who’s riding his coattails?”
I love this picture.
Jodie keeps a wary eye on her brudder.
* * *
Previously
2004: No entry.
2003: So basically I paid twice as much for a keyboard as I would have on my own for no good reason, all thanks to that Staples employee, may he rot in hell.
2002: I hope that leaf doesn’t give me a damn yeast infection.
2001: No entry.
2000: I’m not sure what happened next. I believe I blacked out. ]]>
Oooo, I totally do the same thing with my feet! I usually go in circles though. My friends give me so much shit about it, but I never even really notice I’m doing it. Good to know I’m not the only freak around…
OK, Robyn, just for you, a meme! I never do those things, but that was a pretty good one.
Where I love reading you guys and usually agree with what you guys think most of the time….I have to say that I’m getting really sick and tired of everyone blaming Bush for this problem….the Governor and the Mayor are the main ones to be blamed for not having any kind of disaster plan ready to go…they could have stepped in earlier and gotten more of those people out or ordered more national guardsmen in, but they didn’t…I blame them first and formost for not being prepared…sorry, had to voice my opinion on this. I read a great article regarding the welfare state mentality of the people down there and learned that instead of moving most of the prisoners to another area they let them out into the general population and that’s where a lot of this raping and shooting is coming from….
Thank you for that fabulous link. I feel like my life has been enriched since I started reading your site. Thank you for that!
I know I know, I really need to get a life!
“I have to say that I’m getting really sick and tired of everyone blaming Bush for this problem….the Governor and the Mayor are the main ones to be blamed for not having any kind of disaster plan ready to go…they could have stepped in earlier and gotten more of those people out or ordered more national guardsmen in, but they didn’t…I blame them first and formost for not being prepared…sorry, had to voice my opinion on this.”
Thanks Donna, that’s exactly what I wanted to say! 🙂
Donna: Where I love reading you guys and usually agree with what you guys think most of the time….I have to say that I’m getting really sick and tired of everyone blaming Bush for this problem.
Perhaps I misread, but I fail to see where anything Robyn (or I) linked to blames anything on Bush.
I’m all for giving the kittens away. I know that sounds bad, but I just think of the many kittens you could continue to foster. I’m so glad you do this work. It makes the world a better place. I’m hoping a lot of your readers take up fostering or save a kitten of their own because of the good example you are providing. Oooh, listen to me sounding all mommyish. Thanks, Robyn and Fred!
Fred, the here’s what gets me piece that you linked to blames him for the most part….
Donna, perhaps we’re reading the linked article differently. It appears to me that it’s about how Bush acted (ie, cracking jokes and whatnot), not about blaming him.
Yeah, Bush might have some blame in this disaster – putting a former horse-trainer in charge of FEMA, for example. But the REAL ball-droppers are the Mayor of New Orleans and the Gov’r of Louisiana. That Mayor…he sure does like to blame EVERYONE else for this nightmare. And he wasn’t even going to evacuate N.O. at all till Bush made him do it.
Whoa… new comment format! I guess I’ve been absent for a few days…
I personally, don’t want someone with his finger on the button who “freaks the fuck out” in a crisis. That’s what you get from fighter pilots – ice cold, baby.
And if Bush is anything like me, once the veneer cracks I’m a total blubbering mess.
Hey Robyn, I have a question maybe you or your readers can help me with. I’ve been struggling with this for awhile now and not sure what to do.
My neighbor is a police officer. Him and his wife just got divored a few months ago and the kids went with her. The oldest kid had a cat. When she left, she didn’t take the cat with her. It is an outdoor cat only. I’m not a huge fan of cats, but this one is especially cute and effectionate. So here is the problem. The cat is basically being neglected. Even before the kids moved out, no one seemed to pay much attention to it. It has been spending more and more time on my porch, probably because I pet the crap out of it every time I see it. Anyway, it has long hair and it is terribly matted and full of stickers. I would almost go as far as saying it would need to be shaved in order to fix it.
Recently, I started putting out some cat food and a bowl of water for it. The neighbor has a couple bowls out for it, but they are always empty and the cat is very very skinny.
I guess the neighbor seen our bowl of water and can of food out, and probably noticed that cat has been spending more and more time at our house. I’m not trying to “steal” his cat. I just really feel sorry for it. After he noticed the bowls, he became angry at us. He even went so far as to call the cat over and took it inside his house, when he seen us pull up into our driveway. Never in the two years since we’ve lived here, have I seen him or anyone take that kitty inside, except this one time.
I’ve been wondering if I should call animal control and report neglect. I don’t want to cause problems between us and the neighbor, but I am really worried about this kitty. What would you do? Should I just keep feeding it and petting it and not worry about the neighbor or do you think I should report it?
Sorry to turn this into a book. I figure if anyone knows the answer, it would be you.
Thanks!
“I read a great article regarding the welfare state mentality of the people down there…”
This is exactly the kind of insensitivity that’s making people crazy. I don’t know if Bush personally is looking at the situation this way, but it sure is the first line of defense for his supporters. Who is putting out these absurd excuses? The “people down there” (I have two cousins in Metairie and an uncle in Slidell, so I feel the need to defend them) are Americans, most of them have (or had) jobs, homes, kids in school, and insurance policies. They never expected or wanted to need help from the government or charity from their family and friends. Now they do, and they really don’t need your “great article” about their “welfare state mentality.” Sheesh.
Ginny-try talking to him first. Then turn the asshole in….there is NO excuse for not taking care of an animal.
Hodgepodge…
I love your journal. Because of you I adopted 3 cats. I spent my whole life thinking I couldn’t like cats because I was a ‘dog person.’ Turns out you can be both…I love cats!
I just saw in your bio that one of your favorite books is ‘Swan Song.’ That’s exciting because that’s MY favorite book and I can never find ANYONE who’s heard of it, not even book store owners. And I can’t find any copies anywhere. It’s a shame McCammon retired from writing. He’s so talented. I’ll shut up now. 🙂
Hey Robyn, something I thought you might find interesting. How cool would that be? http://cgi.ebay.com/Let-Stephen-King-kill-you-in-his-upcoming-book-CELL_W0QQitemZ6559998991QQcategoryZ16071QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Speaking of the cats…have you ever thought about getting pet insurance? I know most people scoff, but it seems like somthing that would be just up your alley.
Just a thought…
Ginny: Honestly, I’d call animal control and tell them you suspect there’s some neglect; they’ll at least send someone out to investigate and decide whether there’s a problem.
Rhys: I’m so sad he’s retired, too – Boy’s Life was really good, too. In fact, everything of his that I’ve read, I’ve really liked. Maybe he’ll get bored and come out of retirement. 🙂
Ginny: That would be AWESOME, wouldn’t it? Too rich for my blood, though! 🙂
Anelie: We’ve considered it, but decided against it because of the cost. Or so I’m told by Fred. 🙂
I was starting to worry about you, Robyn, after my RSS feed for your journal had been silent for several days. Should have figured that the move over to WP would result in that. (Can you put the link to your feed – http://bitchypoo.com/?feed=rss2 – in the sidebar somewhere for others who may not be able to guess it? I don’t want anyone else to be in a mad panic like I was!)
(Okay, so I wasn’t in a mad panic, but I did miss reading about y’all. Whenever I think about the kind of life I’d love to have with my boyfriend – the kind of life I WILL have when I’m finished with London and the business world – I always think of two couples: my dad and his wife, and you and Fred. I have big time And3r50n envy going on here.)
Robyn I feel so sorry for you having your teeth done. Do you know that I have the same cleaning done and they always freeze my mouth. I don’t feel a thing. Did she forget to freeze your mouth? Why are they torturing you?
I am TERRIBLY jealous of your spiffy WP here. Just gleaming with jealousy, you know.
Despite years and thousands of dollars in dental work, I also have the mouth of a crackwhore. The next time you have to go to the torture chamber and have them scrap around your gums ask for a valium ahead of time. My dentist will not go near my gumline without it because he says it bothers him to see me so tense. He also thinks it interferes with the healing process.
Someone might have to drive you there but I still think it’s worth it. There’s no reason to feel that way even if they are just cleaning or checking your teeth. I am not one for drugs in general but I do take the dentist up on his offer of antianxiety meds for trips to his office.