Hey, I've been in a firefight before! Well, I was in a fire. Actually, I was fired from a fry-cook opportunity. I can handle myself.

Wash ,'War Stories'


Natter 63: Life after PuppyCam  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Kathy A - Apr 15, 2009 8:09:51 am PDT #15338 of 30000
We're very stretchy. - Connie Neil

Good luck to Allyson!!

Sophia, I know what you mean. I just keep telling myself "At least you have a job...at least you have a job..."

Even though last year, I had a third job for six weeks and worked at the bookstore a full year vs. the six months I worked there in 2007, I only made $2400 more than in 2007. Stagnating wages, here I am!


Sue - Apr 15, 2009 8:17:24 am PDT #15339 of 30000
hip deep in pie

I just got an incremental raise (meaning another step up on the pay scale) and as of April 1st, we get an annual cost of living increase. Both of these are pretty small increases in actual pay after the deductions are taken out. However, it's just been announced that the pension is underfunded, so they are increasing our deductions to the pension plan. I'm still waiting to see how much of the raises are negated.


Gudanov - Apr 15, 2009 8:24:28 am PDT #15340 of 30000
Coding and Sleeping

I finally got to replacing the timing belt on my 15 year old Honda with 175,000 miles. Total cost for the timing belt replacement and all the other little things one does to save future labor costs came in at a cool $900. Yikes. It's supposed to last 90,000 miles though, so that is probably the last one.


Theodosia - Apr 15, 2009 8:31:06 am PDT #15341 of 30000
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

Yeah, but that's maybe 3 (or even 4) payments on a newer car, so you just have to drive it for another couple months to theoretically "make back" your investment.


megan walker - Apr 15, 2009 8:44:02 am PDT #15342 of 30000
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

Good luck Allyson, Sophia, and billytea!


Cashmere - Apr 15, 2009 8:44:20 am PDT #15343 of 30000
Now tagless for your comfort.

Good luck, Allyson!


tommyrot - Apr 15, 2009 8:44:36 am PDT #15344 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

The last sentence of this report from HuffPost cracked me up: 'Million Tea Bag' Protest In DC Is Blocked

The Tea Parties here in Washington DC are off to a roaring start, right? Ha, ha: No. Right now, the Tea Parties are contending with a number of terrible struggles, which this report from Fox News documents.

In the first place, the big event of the day was to be the dumping of one million teabags. The Washington Post notes that this was originally supposed to happen at the Potomac River but was shifted to Lafayette Park because of issues of legality. And seriously, why anyone thought it would be legal to further pollute to Potomac is beyond me.

But! As it turns out, the alternate plan - 1. Take a million teabags to Lafayette Park, 2. Dump them on a tarp, 3. Yell at them, 4. Clean up the teabags - also isn't happening, because of permit issues.

According to reports, the truck filled with teabags pulled up to Lafayette Park, but didn't have a permit, and so they were loaded back on to the truck and driven off to an undisclosed location.

Also, the plan to have a second rally in front of the Treasury Department was scotched after the Secret Service said, "Uhm, no."

So, this epochal day is off to an amazing start. And somewhere out there, a truck full of teabags rolls on, destination unknown, into an uncertain future.


Gudanov - Apr 15, 2009 8:49:46 am PDT #15345 of 30000
Coding and Sleeping

Teabagging is never as easy as it sounds.


§ ita § - Apr 15, 2009 8:56:14 am PDT #15346 of 30000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

The laid-off style thing isn't all that it's cracked up to be. This sucks.

Just saw Bobby Flay make burgers with potato chips as the last layer, and this wonderful looking chipotle/mayo dip for sweet potato fries. Mmmnummy,


tommyrot - Apr 15, 2009 8:57:52 am PDT #15347 of 30000
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Cute/Ridiculous Animal Thing Of The Day: Kitten On A Turntable (VIDEO)

This video starts out kind of slow, but trust me it gets awesome. This kitten can't quite figure out whether it likes the turntable or hates it, but it definitely likes chasing its tail without running. The little one is mesmerized by the spinning motion, but is kinda clumsy at the same time. That combination makes for a great distraction from the fact that you just gave the government all your money.