Mara

I posted this elsewhere: Jared's fortune both started and ended with a quest to get into smaller and smaller pants.

Let me help you catch up... - Some people think Neil is supposed to tell us exactly what he's going to do from here on out - Some people are excited about the upcoming R40 DVD, some are complaining about it - There have been polls posted where you can choose your favourite song! - There have been insults tossed about concerning members here - Rush may or may not go back into the studio in the future ;) So in other words....status quo!

Being back here and knowing that somehow, someday soon, everything will be OK, even though it sort of sucks now. And "sort of sucking" is an improvement over "completely, totally, seriously sucking". I've missed it here. :)

Nearly married one. He's still a very dear friend.

At one time I knew the reason, but why did Ken & Julie hand over the CEO reins? Just weary of the headache?

Office mate constantly complains and fusses that he has nothing to do, no projects to bill all of his time to, we're all going to get laid off because work is so slow (it always is this time of year). . . . Then someone gives him something to help out on so he has billable work and he DOESN'T FREAKING DO IT!!!! Or he does it wrong. And he never shuts up, so those of us who ARE busy with important stuff, like posting on TRF, can't focus. He surfs the web and tries to start conversations about random crap off of Facebook or MSN, then is puzzled why no one will engage - "what's wrong? Oh, you must have taken your Adderall - you're so intent that you can't hold a conversation." Um, no, I am actually getting shit DONE. What I suspect he really wants is for us to be so busy that his screwing around goes unnoticed. He wants to have JUST enough work to stay under the radar. He's a genuinely nice guy - I have worked with him for 8 years and I do like him. But god, sometimes I still want to shoot him!

Likewise. I had a handful of posts, and everyone was always nice to me, but I just never quite found my groove there. A lot of very funny, quick-witted people there, though. But I have a somewhat raunchy sense of humor anyway,

Be careful what you ask for! Feels good to be back.

I have much Rush-y stuff to catch up on!

Wow, so many responses! I have missed everyone, even the people I haven't met! Some of you know or suspect why I vanished. I won't bore everyone with details (and quite frankly I am trying to put distance there, so no point rehashing). But to those of you who don't, and are wondering - - No, I haven't been in jail - I haven't been in drug/alcohol rehab - I wasn't abducted and probed by aliens - I didn't get knocked up (otherwise I WOULD be in jail for beating the stuffing out of the doctor who tied my tubes 15 years ago)!

You've been warned! Lots of personal drama, hence the withdrawal. It isn't resolved completely - that's going to take time - but I've taken decisive steps recently to make that happen! It will be nice to be back....

because I'm deaf as a post.

Two new ones: Recently I was in the self-checkout line at Kroger. I've been going to this store for a while, and they have the nicest, friendliest staff. I enjoy talking to them. Anyway, Karla was the attendant at the self checkout that day. The woman across from me clearly had no clue how to use the self-checkout registers - she couldn't scan her stuff, kept piling stuff right on top of the scale (which you can't do, obviously). Karla went to try to help her and the woman proceeded to chew her head off, screaming, "I'm not stupid! I know how to buy groceries!" Karla said quietly, "It's okay, ma'am. I can see you're getting a little frustrated and it's my job to help you. I want to help you!" She then offered to scan in some produce (produce can be a pain in the ass even if you know what you're doing). The woman responded by setting the produce on an empty stand and yelling, "I'm just not going to buy it! So there! Does that make you happy?" I caught Karla's eye and mouthed, "WTF?" Finished my transaction. I then walked over to the nasty piece of work and said, "You know, you really ought to make a doctor's appointment and see about getting that broom taken out of your ass. It's obviously causing you problems." Then turned to Karla, who was stifling giggles, and said, "You have a great day. Don't let one screwed up bitch wreck it for you. I'll see you later this week." She mouthed, "Thank you." So, I was piling groceries in my car and Karla came running out. She apologized and asked if I would mind talking to her manager. Yes, the rude bitch was over at customer service complaining about Karla. I was more than happy to, explained that Karla is always sweet and personable and never anything but professional and that the customer had behaved abominably. The manager wasn't too concerned - she said she knew Karla well enough to trust that she had been courteous and professional. I hate seeing people abused like that. She works hard; because she's a checkout attendant in a grocery store doesn't mean she is somehow less of a human being. Other story: American Airlines sucks ass. Big time. They lost my return flight reservation on Friday morning (merger with US Airways has screwed up a lot of stuff). And I would have been OK with that - stuff happens - except that they were rude about it to ME! I was shuffling a little and getting anxious, saying I was worried about missing my flight. The ticketing clerk snapped back, "Well, you're going to miss it anyway, because you don't have a reservation!" I had the e-ticket, which proved I DID have a reservation. So they kept looking - they'd booked me on the same flight a month later!!!! Their dates didn't match the one I had on my e-ticket, which saved my ass. Three different agents later - I was booked on another flight, finally. Only one of them was at all pleasant. I'd never been in the Philly airport before and to get anywhere you have to go around your ass to get to your elbow. The guy who typed up my voucher for the new flight couldn't finish processing it (because he didn't have a phone - wtf?), so had to send me to another counter. He gave me wrong directions, and when I returned to ask again, he just stared at me and said, "You got lost? It's not that hard." A sympathetic passenger overheard and walked me to where I needed to go. Never, ever flying AA again. The have attained a new level of suck.

f***ing car accident. My fault completely - I thought I had enough room to squeeze past and change lanes. Impatience and exhaustion = poor judgment. Tore the running board off of the passenger side. Crap. Other guy was nice; I felt bad, and am still so angry at myself. Plus side of dating a lawyer: I called him immediately after and he gave me great advice on what NOT to say; i.e.: "do not tell the cop you're exhausted and running on fumes. Do not tell him that you've just flown home from going to a rock concert. Do not volunteer anything." He did calm me down, too. Sucks. I have the cleanest f***ing driving record up to now - haven't had a wreck in decades. I am so pissed at myself.

Probably my last show and I am glad they were so "on". Alex was definitely feeling better than he was during the Atl. show - he was his usual goofy self, clowning around and interacting with the crowd.

F.ucking Guilford County planner who doesn't know what the f*uck he's looking at. He's held up our site for THREE FREAKING MONTHS asking for stupid information that isn't necessary, causing us to do innumerable revisions to the construction plans and Every. Damn. Time he comes back with something new he wants to see (when he bothers to respond to my efforts to communicate). NO, WE ARE NOT ADDING A GRADING AND STORMWATER CONTROL PLAN FOR A 120 Sq.Ft, CONCRETE PAD. NO!!! That requirement is for a MAJOR plan review only. Says so in your stupid little pamphlet. We are doing a MINOR plan review. Unfortunately the other planner there is also dumber than a bag of hammers. So we are stuck. I am so angry right now that I don't dare call him.

Happy birthday to one of the sweetest and smartest people I've ever had the privilege of meeting. And I mean every word.

But Neil IS an Android. Ergo....

Man, you ain't lying. I was in Shallotte on Thursday and I almost got sick because it wa so hot unloading in the trailer. I just cut the grass a little while ago. Good grief the humidity is thick. How the hell I worked in that sh*t for 7 years is beyond me at this point. 130 degree attics every day and step outside in 95 degree heat to "cool off". Crazy sh*t. I was good at it too but never again... And here I am in Palm Springs, where it's been between 110 and 118 every day. I love the heat, lazing in the pool and having a cocktail or two. Nothing one can do but relax and take it in. :sundog: Yeah, but how much longer are you going to have the water to fill that pool?

Summer was cool up until I graduated university and thus no longer got a 3-month break (though I did work part-time every summer starting at age 17. Still). Having "summer vacation" and getting to sleep in and spend chunks of free time having fun or just lazing around the pool almost made up for the horrendous heat and 6854% humidity. Once I became an adult the concept of "summer break" vanished along with any other redeeming qualities the season might have to offer. Now it's all about dashing from one air-conditioned environment to another. And the bugs. Dear god, the f*ucking bugs....

Ugh, I HATE summer. Sorry to harsh everyone's mellow.

Kissing. Lots and lots of kissing. So much kissing that it's left me with chapped lips. But I am not complaining. :D

I also like to have my hair stroked/gently pulled during a long kiss. Some ear play is nice and can be exciting, but don't overdo! I've had an experience or two where it felt like the guy was trying to get down in there and lick my brain. Not sexy at all. As with just about everything, there is a line that, once crossed, can derail the whole train.

I didn't get to work out today with the SO - schedules conflicted. He left me a protein shake in the fridge, as he usually does when we know we might not see each other. Today he left a little note underneath it - "Take me only if you're blonde and cute". I called later, all flattered and stuff, to thank him. He said expect a new note with each shake, even on days we're both there. :)

I stole their souls. :fury: Muah-hah-hah-hah-hah....