After a long break, I'm finally getting my butt back to the gym. It's around the corner from work but some days it seems so impossible to get there!

Don't expect pictures like (e:paul) posts. Generally speaking, I do not like to have my picture taken and I'm very very modest - unlike my hubby. :-)

It will be good to go to the gym and decompress and plug in and not listen to anything but music. Everyone is CRANKY lately and my office is crazy hot and while I like to be warm 80 damn degrees is too hot.

I am lucky in that I have a job where I have a private office that has a window that opens and door that closes but when the average temp is 76 degrees, it is making me crazy. The heating and A/C system is totally crazy so I will just deal with it until the weather gets cooler and then things shouldn't be so bad temp. wise.

Since I am already ranting about work, things are just so insanely frustrating here again. I want to change a system we use and the web and DB programmer has time to do the project but our boss won't put the project on the schedule. I've been hounding him for at least 3 years to go forward with the project.

He uses 1 small part of the system and he doesn't want to lose that functionality. Really, no kidding. I want to increase the functionality of it not lessen it. I understand how to do a needs requirement assessment.

Super secure state job that I may have, it's making me crazy to be here. No chance for advancement or a raise that isn't union negotiated, no chance to change in to another job in a cross functional area, no opportunity to release old responsibilities and take on new challenges, nope not here - you get new responsibility constantly while you still have to do the old and the reward - nada.

I realize LOADS of people fall in to the lazy state worker category. Do only what they are told or do nothing at all. I see it every single day here.

I'd like to think I'm NOT that person. I got an advanced degree that I am still paying for out of my own pocket. There is no education benefit here. You can take one class per semester for free and just pay the fees but that is along road to get a degree.

There isn't even maternity leave here for state employees - you have to use all your sick time and then your vacation time. Sure, we get a lot of it but I think that is a very unfair policy. You're not sick or on vacation when you have a baby and WTF happens if you do get sick while having a baby and I'll bet lots of people might need a vacation after having a baby. :-)

If a new opportunity doesn't come up for me when the re-org starts and things get shuffled, I guess that will be my tipping point and then I need to leave. It's about time to be putting that advanced to degree to work.

I should add that I don't think just cause I have an MBA, I'm entitled to advance or get a new opportunity. I feel like I have earned it. I have consistently been told by my boss and the senior management within my unit about how great of a job I do and how valuable I am.

I have been told that senior management outside of my entire organization know me and that I have an excellent reputation for being smart and knowledgeable. I have been an employee here 10+ years, i just didn't bumble in off the street. I did that 10 years ago! ;-)


I don't know how my posts goes from I'm going to work out to a full on rant but I guess it is better to get it all out here.

My husband and I voted this AM. Lines were short at about 7:30am.

We chatted with our neighbors while we waited as you have to wait to get to the ladies with the book to find your name and then they make you wait to line up to use the voting machine and they don't want to seem to let more than 5 people wait in line behind the voting machine.

I will miss those old voting booths when they're replaced. I know they're terrible for disabled voters but I hope we get something that is accurate and has a receipt of our vote.

Hope everyone gets out there and votes!

My hubby's friend called last night to say that he'll be in Buffalo in about 2 weeks. His ship is doing a Great Lakes cruise and they will be pulling in to port in Buffalo.

Hubby spent 10 years in the Navy and was just released from service about 2 years ago. I'm sure he'll be anxious to catch up with his friend, see a new ship and curse like the sailor he is.

The sailors will love the 4:00am bar closing time in Buffalo.

We had so few trick or treaters this year. I only went through one large bag of candy. The kids who awestruck by our dogs, make me laugh. We always have at least one group that really want to see the dogs. I put a gate up and block the dogs into our living room so they can see me and not howl all night long so when the kids come up the stairs they see the dogs.

One little boy said "wow everyone in your neighborhood has a dog!" and he is right, we have a lot of dogs in Parkside. I'm guessing he might live on the other side of Main Street since he said YOUR and OUR.

Friday night we went to 2 Halloween parties. We did not expect to have a lot of fun at the first one, we didn't think we'd fit in with the crowd.

The first party was hosted by the Bills backup QB. A friend of mine is friends with his GF. The party was packed and the majority of people in attendance appeared fairly young. There was a fantastic DJ there so we danced up a storm. It was good to just let loose with the added bonus that only the people who you went to the party with already know you and how kinda weird you can be.

We also stopped in to the (e:strip) party. (e:tinypliny) it was nice to meet you too. (e:metalpeter) I think I also met you. I know a bunch of you met my nutty husband! I did not stay long as I was TIRED from dancing so much and one of my friends had to be up at 5:30am to work so I left my husband along with James and Robert at the party. I have no idea what time my husband got home. I'm sorry I did not get to meet more (e:peeps)

(e:paul), (e:matthew) and (e:terry) thank you for hosting the party.

Saturday we went to the American Sign Language Expo. My husband is a full time student and is taking Sign Language as his foreign language. It was a small expo held out in Clarence at the WNY Expo Center.

I am amazed at how many businesses were NOT at the Expo. I would have thought tech companies would have been eager to explore this market. Money is money and we all buy stuff.

I also realized that deafness impacts many people. We saw families, biker guys, grandmas and grandpas, young children, teenagers (they were all texting and signing!), various ethnic backgrounds and this goes back to me being amazed at how many companies are not marketing to the deaf community.

We ran into our friends Sarah and Emily and their family. It was nice to see them as I think the last time we saw them was last year at Buffalo Pride.

We watched What Happens in Vegas on PPV on Saturday night as I felt like we were still recovering from Friday. It was a predictable by fairly funny movie.

Sunday we went to RIT to see Noises Off! performed by NTID Theater Company. They are deaf theater company. The deaf actors act and sign the play while hearing actors read the lines. The hearing actors are not on stage with deaf actors. They are seated in first row. Noises Off! is a funny play and it was adapted to the deaf community like replacing a telephone with laptop and video camera.

We also went to H&M at the Eastview Mall. WHY WHY WHY don't we have an H&M here in Buffalo? We get a crazy supersized Forever 21 but no H&M and Rochester has 2. unfair!!

well that is more than enough rambling from me today!

Candy has been purchased and much to my amazement my hubby didn't open the bags and begin eating it. I am guessing going to school has changed his focus and candy wasn't so high on that list.

I hope I can get out of work early so I can get home and get the dogs settled before the kids start coming to the door. I usually sit on the steps since most of the really little kids have trouble getting up our front steps in full costume or they get scared to come on to our enclosed porch. The dogs scare some of them too and the dogs go nuts every time the doorbell rings so intercepting them at bottom of the stairs keeps the chaos at manageable level.

Costumes have been put together. We usually don't buy pre-made costumes but put stuff together from various places like Amvets and Target. My costume requirements are simple - it must be warm if the weather is chilly so usually I'm not the one in the overly sexy costume!

We'll be stopping by the (e:strip) party at some point. I'm thinking 10:00 - 11:00pm time frame. We have friends meeting us and joining us for the (e:strip) party so coordination plans are underway. (e:paul) Bob and James said they're coming to the party too.

Random updates:

(e:tinypliny) I have not seen or even talked to Patrick who owns East End to ask him about his prices. It is that time of year when we hardly ever see our neighbors since everyone starts heading in doors.

Recently my freak magnet worked in reverse. I was drawn to the crazy instead of it coming to me. :-)

What kind of voting machines are we using now in New York?

I have only ever voted using the old leaver style booths and realized today that I might need to budget a little more time for voting this year if we have new machines. I finally got used to where everything was on the old machines.

Very early this morning I said a fond farewell to my friend who was visiting from Colorado. I really do wish she and her family could live closer to NY and it doesn't seem like 8 years has gone by since she moved out to Colorado.

It was good to see her and I hope we get to go out to see them shortly. I think this year a visit is out of the question. My husband got his MRI results back and will probably elect to have surgery on his shoulder and this will happen when he has a break from school and my job will be quiet since I work in academics and that is the best time for the surgery. The break from school is also the best time to travel and we cannot do both.

I also said goodbye to my lush garden from the summer. We took down all the remaining plants and supports. It was sad to see it all go but it makes me look forward to spring.

We composted all we could so the old plants will bring new life when it is time to plant.

I am already thinking of my plants for next year. We learned that our pepper plants must be started inside as they have a long growth time requirement until they produce. I think I'm going to start all my plants inside, my spare bedroom will become plant central.

I tried new tomato supports this year and I think I will be replacing all the rusted and broken tomato cages with the spiral vinyl coated supports I got at Urban Roots. They're more durable and easier to store. They even held up the giant and very heavy tomatoes my father grew in his garden.

His garden that we take care of! LOL He enjoys having it even if he cannot do much with it and we've made it fairly low maintenance.

I did have a crazy allergic reaction after working in his garden this year and I hope it was a one time deal. Apparently, his tomato plants caused me to have contact dermatitis and subsequently caused a visit to the walk in clinic. I just need to remember long sleeves, long pants and gloves while working in the gardens.

Speaking of plants, my Christmas cactus is blooming again. Half of the plant bloomed this spring but now it appears I'll be getting a full bloom. I don't know if the change in temp and location caused it think it was time to bloom. I move the majority of plants on to our covered front porch all summer and then back into the house when the temps drop.

I just updated my browser and flash tonight so when I reboot, I'll post a picture of it.

Last night my BFF arrived from Colorado.

After she was settled in we went down the street to a neighbors place to have some drinks with a bunch of our neighbors. We do a weekly or bi weekly roaming wine/beer party. It's all very informal and great way to catch up with and/or meet your neighbors. It keeps us all connected and I feel a real sense of community where I live.

We drank way too much wine for a weeknight but we had a blast. She even made new friends and now we're all Facebook friends. LOL I'm addicted to Facebook some days.

It's not as if she comes back here all that often so we went a little crazy last night so it was a rough morning at my house but totally worth it.

Additionally, she traveling solo which is a pretty rare event. I adore her kids and I'm friends with her husband too so I love seeing them but they're usually running all over the place trying to see all their family so our visits are shorter or we meet them to do something with everyone, still fun but different from just us getting to hang out.

The news is just not good these days on the work front, it's not crazy bad either but some middle ground would be welcomed.

The not bad news is that since I don't work in Corporate America, I have no worries about losing my job.My job is totally secure and stable, just mind numbingly boring. I'm trying hard to think of things to learn to keep myself from going crazy.


The bad news which is only bad for me is that the potential step up to a new position is not going to happen for either a few years or ever. There is now an indefinite hiring freeze and the budget cuts are coming soon too. We just keep hearing its very bad but no one seems to know exactly how bad is bad and what the impact will be.

I'm not sure I'll still be with my current employer if I have to wait years to get another promotion or opportunity to advance. It is so disappointing to work for such a large organization but not have any opportunities to advance or move in to another area to expand job skills.

The rumor mill is busy buzzing like mad about a potential reorganization impacting all IT staff.

I have a job, it pays the bills and life is good otherwise so I don't feel justified in complaining but I did anyway.

It's almost here but I'll be waiting to buy our candy otherwise a certain occupant of my household will open and eat said candy well in advance of Halloween.

It is either wait to buy it and then the selection is poor or I will hide it with our upstairs renter. She is a very sweet woman and I feel more like she is our family than just a person who rents our upper apartment.

Generally we get a ton of kids. We live down the street from the Zoo and while I don't think they have any actual activities on Halloween at the Zoo we still get a ton of kids since I think at least of the nearby churches does do a Halloween party.

I think once we're done handing out candy, we have an 8:00pm time cutoff as I feel most of the little ones have come out by that time, we plan on stopping by the (e:strip) Halloween party. (e:paul) I don't know if Bob and James are planning on attending but we're going to bug them to do so.

I hope the weather isn't too chilly, due to the setup of our home we need to either sit outside or at least keep the porch door open and sit just inside it or no one will come in and the dogs freak out if the doorbells rings and they can scare the little kids.

I need to see if an old costume still fits and hubby is planning a crazy costume for the evening well at least for the party, he can't wear the costume to give candy out to little kids! He loves Halloween and he proposed to me right around Halloween 4 years ago.