"Funny/Terrible Story" written by Jim on estrip.org

08/03/09 01:01 - 74ºF - ID#49446

Funny/Terrible Story

So, I had something that I decided to print this weekend, to show to James. It didn't print at home, our printer is out of ink or just generally screwed up.

It was something... shall we say, sexually explicit and very detailed and personal.

Today when I went to work, my local print queue somehow sent it to the main office printer, where it sat for about 4 hours before the office manager brought it to me.

She seemed OK and reassuring about it, but I'm just sooo nervous about who else might have seen it and how much they read.

It's like one of those things you're always afraid of happening, and then it does and you can only laugh. And freak out. Freak out a lot.

dimartiste writes at 02:35:41 08/10/09 - Comment #50708: Well the silver lining is that you did not get into trouble, lose your job kind of thing!

I have to work with large groups of people and most of the time, I glance at whatever it is and put it on a pile of papers in the corner where people retrieve thier print outs.

I agree with tiny and metalpeter. Maybe you could send it to (e:Terry)'s printer too?! Ok, just joking.

I know the feeling you are talking about just because I am an artist and most of the stuff I draw can be taken in all sorts of ways.

Yet, lilho has my curiosity. I wonder what you were going to printout? hmm... (evil mini me)

Everyone has a dark side and we are all sexual beings, now they know what you are interested in!

hodown writes at 06:43:43 08/07/09 - Comment #50645: Ok:

1. So if your office manager got to read it, can we?

2. Paul- That kinda stuff? What are you guys printing out?!

metalpeter writes at 07:29:15 08/03/09 - Comment #50527: Here is what I'm guessing would have happened if anyone other then the Person who found it found it. If they read it and liked it they would have copied it and passed to others who they thought might like it and some might not like it. If someone who didn't like it or you found it, it would be plastered every where, unless they thought it would make you look good. So unless you walk into a room and everyone shuts up and the giggling stops I wouldn't worry about it. I'm guessing if people knew you would know they knew.

paul writes at 02:02:18 08/03/09 - Comment #50521: Omg - That is why I only use terry's computer for that kind of stuff.

tinypliny writes at 01:45:24 08/03/09 - Comment #50520: Or here is a rather complicated attack-attack strategy. Make a mental list of worst case scenarios. The what-if case list should assume that all the people whom you mainly don't want to see this print-out have seen it.

Then, summarize. You will find most of your "end-result-worries" are not worth worrying about because they are somewhat ridiculous.

jim writes at 01:36:03 08/03/09 - Comment #50519: Thank you, you're right. Whether or not I can manage to do that I'm not so sure of :)

tinypliny writes at 01:33:38 08/03/09 - Comment #50518: I don't think you should avoid eye-contact either. Psychologically, that intensifies feelings of internal guilt. When you don't really have anything to be guilty about, it is not a sound strategy.

I say be as you normally would be. If you perceive people acting strangely, then that will probably point out that they are the fickle ones! Ditch them. Problem solved.

jim writes at 01:27:48 08/03/09 - Comment #50517: That's what I'm telling myself. It's sorta working :)

I also think the whole thing is kinda funny, hence telling it here.

But I'm not going to be able to look anyone in the eye for a while...

tinypliny writes at 01:26:02 08/03/09 - Comment #50516: Forget about it. Whoever has read it won't really tell you they have read it. If they have read it and reading it changes their opinion of you, then you probably shouldn't worry about them anyway because they are so fickle.

In the end, you can't do anything about it. So quit thinking about it.

I don't know how many people adopt my strategies. I usually avoid looking at anything that has printed out in the print queue because it gives me a headache. I have enough worries and articles and what-nots of my own to hover over the printer reading other print-jobs. Ugh.

jim writes at 01:10:08 08/03/09 - Comment #50515: Seriously just want to crawl under a rock and die :/

Permalink: Funny_Terrible_Story.html
Words: 127
Location: Buffalo, NY

08/03/09 11:16 - 73ºF - ID#49445

Bug of the Day

Permalink: Bug_of_the_Day.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

08/02/09 07:30 - 73ºF - ID#49442

Wahoo :)

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Location: Buffalo, NY

08/02/09 06:04 - 72ºF - ID#49441

Cup Cakes! Shaped Like Puppies!

Permalink: Cup_Cakes_Shaped_Like_Puppies_.html
Words: 7
Location: Buffalo, NY

08/02/09 09:26 - 67ºF - ID#49438

Haircut

Does she have a point?

Permalink: Haircut.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

08/01/09 07:03 - 79ºF - ID#49435

Caught!

Permalink: Caught_.html
Words: 6
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/31/09 04:42 - 77ºF - ID#49428

Torn.

I could either scrape together just enough money for a down payment for my absolute dream car:

Or look for a used car and get some kinda loan to pay for it (not sure how that works - does anyone have tips?).

Or buy a clunker and then have to potentially replace it soon. I hate the thought of this option, especially as a single person w/out a boyfriend to cry to for roadside assistance.

Since I need a car like, yesterday, I'm leaning towards buying the Mini later this month. But not sure if most of the reasoning isn't just that it will make me feel deliriously happy. On the other hand, I can afford the monthly payment just fine so I don't want to be too stingy, and buying a new car will Fix The Economy -- um, right?

It's weird but all the options have the same upfront cost of $2000 dollars or so (either for down payment or full payment for the clunker) -- long term costs are a different story. So I have just enough options to confuse myself.

-- UPDATE

Tinypliny asked why I need a car, unfortunately I work by UB North Campus, so it's not a walkable sort of situation.

metalpeter writes at 11:14:20 08/01/09 - Comment #50478: I have no advice really other then to tell you to go with your gut. If you want say a new car but you don't want the loan you might want to look into a lease. Of course there are down sides to that also like what happens if someone hits your car, and then some of them have Millage restrictions. I know they used to have them for 6 months. It is just another option that works well for somepeople.

paul writes at 10:26:37 08/01/09 - Comment #50475: The mini is pretty awesome.

jenks writes at 09:55:41 08/01/09 - Comment #50470: GET THE MINI!
You want it. It will make you happy. You can afford it. There's nothing like a new car. It will be reliable and fun. And, MINIs rock.

Or... hold out for the MINI-E (the electric version, being tested in NY/CA now).

Or, a used MINI.

I think Towne has 0.9% financing now...

Or, maybe I'll buy a new car in a year or two and you can have mine. It's an '03 in pristine condition with only 30K miles. ;) Though that doesn't help you with needing a car yesterday.

But seriously...

Treat yourself. Do something that will make you happy.
You only live once.
It's only money.
You deserve it.

theecarey writes at 08:19:37 07/31/09 - Comment #50461: Tough decision with any of the options possibly resulting in headaches. If this helps at all, I've had stellar experience in buying clunkers for $1500 or less that have managed to get me through 2 plus years each time with out a lot of issue. My recent car is from another millenium, purchased for $1200 with only 60,000 miles. I've had it for over a year. If I had payments- I'd have spent much more than that easily. If figure, even if there happens to be a repair or two, I still have put less $$ into it. But I think I might just be lucky given how many people don't go this route. Anyway, if you have AAA, it is a nice safety net.
I've had new.. and it is hard to go back to making payments on something that really isn't worth it, to me...

other than the shiny happy newness of it all :) (and it is tempting..)

best of luck to you in finding an option that is perfect for you.

heidi writes at 05:43:56 07/31/09 - Comment #50456: For a new or used car loan, the car counts as collateral so you don't have the high interest rates of a personal loan. Also, you don't have to go thru the dealer to finance, you should rate-shop a little, check one or two banks.

heidi writes at 05:34:12 07/31/09 - Comment #50455: Used cars: easy to get a loan a your regular bank at a decent interest rate for something 3 years or less old. I think the last time I did that it was 10% down. My GEICO insurance includes roadside assistance. (I don't have AAA b/c I don't like their car-first political advocacy - I support mass/public transport!)

jason writes at 04:59:35 07/31/09 - Comment #50454: I've always taken the cheap route with cars. It's great to not have a payment. There also is no warranty in many circumstances, so depending on the reliability of the used car you get there may be nickel and dime charges that get very annoying.

libertad writes at 04:57:00 07/31/09 - Comment #50453: You could also finance a newer used car, one that has a warranty.

libertad writes at 04:52:17 07/31/09 - Comment #50452: I say buy the clunker and get AAA, but I guess that isn't so much fun.

Permalink: Torn_.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

07/30/09 09:48 - 73ºF - ID#49421

Lafayette Square

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Location: Buffalo, NY

07/30/09 08:07 - 73ºF - ID#49419

Thursday at the Square

Permalink: Thursday_at_the_Square.html
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Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

07/30/09 10:40 - 66ºF - ID#49413

The End is the Beginning is the End

Love is many-splendored, but loss is singular and bleak.

Thus shall you think of this fleeting world:
A star at dawn, a bubble in a stream,
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.
-- excerpt from the Diamond Sutra

This fleeting world is mine, or feels close enough most days. A sudden absence, death, denial, changes that world and then I stumble. There's that bloody gap again amongst white teeth that tongue can't help but probe. It's too hard to hold on to, and to painful to let go. I find myself living a life that's suddenly unfamiliar, dangerous, alien.

The Buddhist retort to pain and loss is, "what now is lacking?", meant to drive your awareness to the present, to the moment, to your being here and now.

Loss is singular because it comes to all, eventually. It's the invariant mate of existence in this universe. So, I am not gone or destroyed by loss -- not yet. Loss is the relief that shows where presence still is. I live, though feel a stranger to my life today. I can keep moving until the moment that even breath is lacking. Things will be all right, even then; my flickering lamp continues, until then.