It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here so I hope “someone” might be listening:)
I’ve had some internet issues over the last two months. I think there was something wrong with my network adapter which prevented me from connecting properly. Most times I had to restart the computer about ten times in a row before it found a connection, and that became really tedious so I tended to avoid even trying. I had a lot of other stuff going on anyway that kept me away. But, I have a wireless setup as of yesterday and so far it’s working beautifully. Unfortunately for BT, I can’t say the same for his computer; he can’t seem to connect via the wireless as yet. I have no idea why.
I’ll say it again…anymore major computer troubles and I’m going to give it up for a bit. This just feels like a huge money-sucking black hole.
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Caution: Lady-speak ahead!
So, I was really, really, really, really down and out for a good long while, probably extending all the way back to late 2006 with the worst of it occurring over the past 6 or 7 months. I tried to ignore it all, shove it way back down inside, exorcise it, deny it, just all sorts of things… but nothing worked and it all only got worse. Then, about three months ago I started having hot flashes again (I mean intense, sweat-dripping, skin-flushing, sleep-depriving, every-half-an-hour-like-clockwork hot flashes) and I decided that I had to do something. It’s funny to me that the depression or whatever didn’t prompt me to seek relief (though I didn’t truly connect that it may have been caused by menopause or premenopause) but the physical effects did. I finally bought a giant box of Maximum Strength Estroven one day, and I chose that product only because that was all that was available in Sam’s Club that particular day.
Anyway, I feel so much better now. I read that it usually takes 30 to 60 days to feel any results, but I felt better after probably two and a half weeks. The hot flashes decreased in both frequency and intensity (thank you, powers that be!) and I guess the balancing ingredients worked as well because I feel like a normal, reasonably content human being again. I hope it continues and isn’t just a fluke. Fingers crossed.
On a related side note: 40 below zero in Alaska is absolutely the finest place to experience hot flashes. I actually stick my head out the window when a hot flash hits while on the road (don’t fret, I’m not driving when I do this) and at home, I open the bedroom window and let the cold air wash over me. Also, a cold, wet washcloth is my new best friend; I keep one in a dish beside my bed at night.
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Our holiday season was mostly pretty good. Thanksgiving is excluded from that description because my “wonderful” upstairs neighbors threw a hootenanny that lasted till the wee dawn hours. They drank, they blasted the stereo, they hooted and hollered, and they demolished several Queen songs by singing along at the top of their lungs. It was terrible and I hated every second of it. Plus, both BT and LT had to work the next day and they got almost no sleep.
Christmas was basically the same story except that the Estroven had kicked in by then so I dealt with it a bit better, and they wound down their festivities a lot earlier and it was quiet by 11pm or so. We had a nice meal, exchanged nice gifts that weren’t overly expensive, and enjoyed a ton of treats that I’d made all that week. I made extra yummies because I warned the guys that our eating habits would be changing drastically once the holidays were over and done. All three of us are overweight and gaining steadily and it’s time to put a stop to the madness so we had one final treat binge.
New Year’s Eve was freakin’ awesome because it was quiet and peaceful. The upstairs folks went to the annual Exotic, Erotic Masquerade Ball at The Blue Loon (do NOT ask me about their costumes but let me just state that women that age and in that shape shouldn’t even think about wearing what they wore) so they weren’t home to party. LT was with friends all night, which just left me and BT. We tried, but were only barely able to stay awake until midnight. Just my kind of holiday and I’m still thanking the gods that the neighbors had plans away from home.
I’m glad the holidays are done because traffic and shopping sucks during that time, but I do love Christmas and miss it already. I just refuse to let life circumstances take my joy away.
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It’s cold here. For a solid week now we’ve hovered somewhere between -35 and -55. I gotta be honest, it’s rough when you have to be out and about for a long chunk of time, but otherwise I kinda love it. It’s like living on another planet. In fact, when the sun is low and shining through thick ice-fog, everything turns sort of orange and I can totally imagine that I live on a newly-terraformed but still cold Mars. Yeah, I know I’m a bit silly.
However, such temperatures are rough on moving parts so I hope it warms up soon so our old minivan doesn’t up and die on us. That thing is iffy even in the best weather.
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Not much to talk about regarding entertainment. My shows are gone for now during this mid-season break and I miss them more than I can say, but they should be back soon.
On February 13th, Whedon’s much-anticipated Dollhouse premieres in what is considered to be a deadly time slot: 9pm on Friday night. It will be paired with Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, which has been moved from it’s sweet Monday night time slot to 8pm on Fridays. The fan communities for both shows are a bit up in arms about the changes (Dollhouse was originally paired with “24″ on Monday nights) considering what has happened to other awesome programs that occupied those Friday night death slots. I prefer to adopt the “wait and see” approach before I worry too much.
I hadn’t spoken about it before, but I’m going to miss the newly canceled My Own Worst Enemy. I’m not much of a Christian Slater fan but I thought he did a really good job with his “two” characters on the program. The stories were pretty good and there was a lot of action, mystery, and suspense. I know the networks are all about the ratings (READ: MONEY) but I honestly think they cut their own throats sometime by canceling too soon. Nine episodes isn’t enough time to establish a firm fan base, in my ever so humble opinion.
Movies…quickly: I loved “The Dark Knight”, and yeah, Ledger was amazing as was the somewhat more understated Christian Bale (I love Christian Bale!). “X-Files: I Want to Believe” was just okay for me. There was a bit too much “file” and not nearly enough “X” and the Scully/Mulder love affair was maybe not the way to go with that. “Tropic Thunder”…well, I wanted to hate it but I found myself being highly entertained. Tom Cruise was the movie’s high point and I think he should snatch the Golden Globe for that piece of work. “Hellboy 2″ was good but it would have been better with a bit less Hellboy/Liz drama. It was a gorgeous film, too. “Traitor” with Don Cheadle was really good to me, though I don’t think it did fantastic at the box office. Cheadle always delivers a great performance and he didn’t let me down.
There are more but I can’t think of them right now. Oh….this isn’t a newish DVD release but I recently saw Sunshine and was completely swept away. Visually, the movie is nothing less than spectacular and sensual with awesome special effects. As a bonus, the story/writing is wonderful and the acting exceptional. It was directed by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later, The Beach, Trainspotting) and stars Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Cold Mountain). Probably the best Sci-Fi film since Serenity.
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As for me, I’m doing very, very well as stated before and have a few projects up my sleeve. I did some photo retouching for someone BT knows and have a couple of logo/biz card projects to complete as well as a new web design job coming up over the next few months. I’m also going to finally finish my new website and get that launched this month. I’m going to try and stay busy while hopefully earning a few bucks so I can move out of this place when our lease is up in June. I only hope I can stand it here till then.
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For those of you to whom I owe an email…expect it soon and remember that no matter what, life is good.
Posted by disinfestation 
