I was all set to sleep in today, but the DH got up at 5:45, the child got up at 7:00, and the painters got here at 7:30. Gronk.

Normally I don't believe anything I read in the Washington Times. I mean, normally I don't READ anything in the Times. But they are bagging on DHS...but dude, shock collars for all passengers? It's like The Onion. [link]

Oh, I heard about that Raq! It's craziness!

In totally unrelated news, I finally got my newest quilt and fairy tale up on my website: [link]

Normally I don't believe anything I read in the Washington Times. I mean, normally I don't READ anything in the Times. But they are bagging on DHS...but dude, shock collars for all passengers? It's like The Onion. [link]

For once, I do recommend reading the comments. That's some fine wackjobbery going down in there. Microchips! Gun control! Big Brother!

can I get a gross order of those for Time Warner Cable, and once worn, activate ALL of them? Warning: Bitch Rant!

1) the service apointment is all day, 8am-8pm. No way to narrow down when they will arrive.

2) Seems the previous tenant never turned off service. So I dealt with 2 guys last week for well over an hour, close to 90 minutes combined. What did they do? Seems I have 2 addresses tied to my account. With my SS#, phone number, and name, but TWO service address. Both showing ON. Um. WTF! "is this your old address?" "No, I just moved from California". "do you know anyone at this address?" "I just moved from California, I don't know ANYONE at ANY address". "We will have to research this and find out..."

WTF! Take it off my account! STAT!

In the meantime, no idea when the service dude will arrive either. A 12 hour window? Seems a bit wanky to me.

OK, I guess I need more sleep. I'm a bit grumpy. Sorry for the tight diamond shoes and all.

o_a, that is completely ridiculous. Rant away!

Uggg. Service transfered me to Billing. I was working with the very nice lady there for about 30 minutes. Now I'm on hold with the fraud department. In total, my cell phone usage time is well over 2 hours and counting to establish service with Time Warner. Grrrr.

45 minutes, and I'm off. Andre has cleared the problem. When I stated, that in order to start service, it has eaten well over 2 hours of cell phone minutes, and that my initial reaction to my new provider is very poor, his response was "well, we are sorry, and the account notes who that initial agent was, and we will deal with them and their supervisor so it doesn't happen again". OK, that doesn't help me!

grrr. I need more sleep. But if I go to sleep, service dude will ring, and I won't be able to get outta bed fast enough, or hear it, and then lose my service appointment. grrr.

oh no! I killed the thread with my ranting. Please come back to life!

:: performs thread CPR ::

In non ranting news, the kitchen is officially unboxed. Things are waiting visits through the dishwasher before they have a home, but they are unboxed!

I just emptied 3 more boxes from my bedroom and rearranged a couple of things. Also freecycled some more of my empty boxes.

K-Bug and I are going to hop the light rail and go wander around downtown this afternoon (CJ will be with STBX). Not sure where we are headed...no real plans as yet.

Yay! I seem to be getting back into the swing of going to the gym! Because so far that's been four days in a row now of getting dressed and going down for half an hour on the treadmill (alternating 60 seconds at 10k with 90 seconds at 5k) first thing in the morning. My friend coming to visit really has kickstarted me into getting off my arse (although it's been great so far, 'cause I've managed to get up before she wakes & nip downstairs to the gym, then come upstairs, shower and start doing breakfasty things. Fabulous.)

Meanwhile - HOLIDAY!!!

in which Fay tries to tempt people to come visit her in Bangkok, by demonstrating what a good host she is. And carefully doesn't mention the bit about her cat barfing, or the ants that are attempting to move in, or the toilet getting blocked and the embarrassing call-for-a-plumber sordidness...

Tomorrow we're flying to the island of Koh Samui to stay here for 3 nights:

Then we're back to Bangkok, squeeze in a day trip to Ayutthaya.

And then up to Chiang Mai for a couple of days, staying here.

Wheeeeee!

We're doing a lot of wining and dining whilst she's here, 'cause - Thailand, baby! And much of the pleasure of visiting a place is sitting around eating yummy food and talking, imho. But the majority of my choices have been very on-plan. This evening, I confess, I strayed a bit - decided to have a glass of red wine with my meal, and also decided to have icecream. (But it's only the 2nd time I've had dessert [other than lowcarb stuff I've made myself] since January, so I'm quite sanguine about it.) This is where we were.

It's one of my favourite restaurants - gorgeous old Colonial-style house, lovely decor, wonderful service and FANTASTIC food. They greet you with a complimentary welcome drink (a shotglass of fresh exotic juice of one kind or another) and you also get a complimentary little mini taster plate before your meal - 3 bite-size morsels of examples of the dishes in the kitchen. Nom nom nom! Everything was scrumptious, but of particular note was the spicy salad of fresh tuna steak, finely chopped ginger and spring onions, lime juice, chili and cashews - you spoon some into a betel leaf, roll it up and munch gleefully.

(This would totally work with a lettuce leaf, and would be just as lovely with any different fish. Think I may have a crack at making it myself.)

Lovely.

And when you leave? They hand you a bouquet of orchids each.

...

...

...my sofabed is still at your disposal, people, should you fancy a trip to Thailand...