bekeeblog

this could be kind of rambly, so i aplologize in advance. if you're lucky, i'll edit it down before i publish the entry.

so, the most recent incarnation of my job has only taken hold completely since near the end of last year. it's hard to describe to people... i usually tell them that it's like "making sure a cell phone or car interface makes sense to use." the blinker wand belongs to the left of the steering wheel, the 'begin call' button should be green, not red... mostly, it's observing people's "way", and making sure the design is such that doesn't interfere with the task at hand. it sounds simple, doesn't it?

well, consider how different you and your partner's opinions are about grocery shopping, wine, which route to take somewhere... i have to figure out how to make sure that both you and your partner find what you're looking for, using all the clues and facts that you expect in any path to completion. i've often said that my job is done when no one says anything, because that means everything worked as expected.

i recently realized that i thank my mom so much for, what i consider, my innate ability to surmise what someone wants and articulate the means before the person can even do it. i used to wonder why she enjoyed sitting on state street or in the food court "people-watching". now i understand. so, thanks mom. :)

this also feeds my ability to listen and provide feedback to individuals, trying to help them find a means to their end. the reason i started this entry is because someone i know attempted suicide two days ago (she's alive and in the hospital). i can't really say more about who it is, because that's the extent to what i've been entrusted; but this situation is the single one in which i have no idea how to deal; and i wish i knew...

we all feel helpless in our lives at some point; i'm just unfamiliar with the kind that lasts so long or hurts so deep that it creates the desire to just stop. so, this is one place where i don't feel like i know everything; i can't help her find a means to her end because it's not supposed to be that way.

i'm not sure why i wanted to tell you this. it's just been on my brain since yesterday...

Posted by bekee at 8:17 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so, after having missed the crack doctor on monday (he had kidney stones, i had a headache... guess who feels silly now?) and finally getting in yesterday afternoon, i feel a lot better.

the skeptic in me wonders if i would have even had any headaches had i not been dependent on adjustments over the last month?

thankfully, today it's gone.

Posted by bekee at 8:40 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

my headache just came back. boy does that make me an ornery cuss!

Posted by bekee at 3:18 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i stayed home yesterday. i was feeling a little off since sunday morning, and woke up with a headache behind both eyes. i very rarely get headaches, so when i do, i'm not fun to be around.

also, we really need to get that water softener. my scalp is hating the hard water.

Posted by bekee at 8:15 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i tried capturing this rainbow in the middle of february.

Posted by bekee at 4:20 PM | permalink

i've successfully upgraded MT... it was probably the easiest upgrade ever.

now, i'm off to check on a friend's kitty.

Posted by bekee at 2:07 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i just paid off my credit card. according to my calculations, and my previous payment history, i just saved enough in finance charges to almost cover the iphone purchase. :)

also, we had the contractor over yesterday to get final measurements and now have to find the right tiles. the restore had some nice tiles, but not nearly enough to cover three walls... and menards' selection sucked.

now to check online...

Posted by bekee at 12:07 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

the only good thing about this awful weather is that I can use the iPhone while driving. i know... naughty. but driving at 5mph, there is little that can go wrong.

anyhoo, hope you voted tonight. it may seem unimportant, but it's one of the few civil liberties we're free to exercise at such a meaningful time.

i chose obama.

Posted by bekee at 8:45 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

it took me 50 minutes to get to work. i almost turned around when a truck with a horse trailer couldn't quite make it up the first hill on hwy m after the curve... but i couldn't find a good place to do it, and this a-hole was riding my ass so i couldn't make a quick pull-over.

it's very quiet at work... i think lots of people opted to stay home. or come in late.

Posted by bekee at 8:35 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

it's terrible out!! we went to the square for breakfast and it was okay, but east wash is flooded every single block. there are a couple city guys out trying to clear the storm drains but it's probably not happening quicker than the precipitation.

the upside: woodman's was dead. i was in and out in less than 20 minutes.

kurt put in the day after tomorrow to celebrate our weather phenomenon.

Posted by bekee at 11:29 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i didn't make it as a chacha guide... who knows why, they don't tell you what you did wrong or right. they also didn't really tell me what was wrong or right beforehand, so it makes it kinda lame.

oh well.

Posted by bekee at 11:01 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

tomorrow, i'm going to the barrymore to see the vagina monologues. the only knowledge i have of it is when madtv made fun, acting it out as some of america's first ladies. mo collins as barbara bush was particularly amusing. here's the youtube link.

Posted by bekee at 9:48 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

I'm blogging from my iPhone. this is nutty.

Posted by bekee at 10:03 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so, i got to see my xrays yesterday. they sure look weird with all the metal everywhere.

only one thing seemed to really bug the dr. which was a vertebrae slightly out of place in my cervical curve. i think it was the 4th or 5th from the top. i also have a slight curve to the right when looking at the spine straight-on, but he didn't seem concerned...

so, i'll just keep going back until my policy dictates that i've reached my "medical limit" of $2,000.. which will probably be next week some time.

Posted by bekee at 2:26 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i'm having buyer's remorse... there's nothing i can do about it at this point though.

except maybe get an iphone to cheer me up. kurt suggests that "i sleep on it". i shall, for a little while.

Posted by bekee at 3:07 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

it's so cold out. nora couldn't even walk outside for more than 5 minutes before lifting a paw... which results in "no poopers". that's probably why they're not eating their breakfast... they don't want to have to go outside to go to the bathroom.

i wouldn't be surprised if the house cracks in half today from being frozen.

Posted by bekee at 8:19 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i ran into a different problem when trying to upgrade, so it set me back til today. i'm still nervous. so i think i'll wait.

Posted by bekee at 8:03 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i'm going to attempt to upgrade my blog software to the newest version. i'm always nervous about doing this... wish me luck.

Posted by bekee at 10:35 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

it's just a standard, basic car. very practical. not at all a mazda3, but i think that's okay.

Posted by bekee at 3:52 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i'm going to the bank tomorrow to sign for more money per month that chase bank will take from me.

here's some irony that i haven't shared with you. i got the release of lien for my mazda in december and mailed it in on jan 18. i need that title in order for state farm to give me the settlement. well, it just arrived today and i didn't want to wait for it (on the assumption that the dmv isn't as fast as the lady claimed they were on monday). so, i got an auto loan for the full amount, and am planning on paying off a credit card with the settlement (and a lot left over).

so i got this big idea to use the rest of the money to get the bathroom redone. and get a water softener. and get the half-assed kitchen drain plumbing redone.

a side note: the "wellness department" is asking that i please go to a chiropractor. so i'm going tomorrow.

Posted by bekee at 10:17 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

what a crazy winter wonderland it is out there! i left work... they called it at 3, but that was an hour after i had decided to leave. it took a little over an hour to get home, but the dodge caliber got me home safely.

i can't wait to get my new car on friday. there isn't a pic online though, so i can't show it to you. but it's an '06 nissan sentra.

Posted by bekee at 4:25 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so, i think i did it better this time... i checked online for 3 days, have driven 5 cars, have adjulated and calculated to the cent how much i can swing either way.

i spent only an hour at zimbrick east checking out 4 cars. one of which was the car i could drive for the next 5+ years considering the cost. it's a little white 06 nissan sentra. and they're itching to sell it. the salesman was very un-pushy; i will say.

here's what i'd like to have happen tomorrow before 10: drive car, buy car, return rental, get to work. i think that's pushing it, but it's randomly good to have high expectations.

edit 30 minutes later: the mazda3 sedan has manual locks and windows... i know it seems like a nicety that you might not bother with, but i will. i think dollar for dollar, the nissan from zimbrick east is the one.

Posted by bekee at 8:02 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

got the call today... they totaled it out. thankfully, they're giving me a fair price. much higher than the trade-in value, and it'll put a nice dent in the monthly payments. hopefully, i'll fall in love with the mazda5 i'm going to test drive tomorrow evening. maybe the boss will let me leave a little early in order to not have to see it in the dark.

meh. i just read the city mpg on the mazda5 is 19. that's awful.

i did test drive a golf yesterday that was actually the reason why i started thinking about getting a new car in december, but the miles are way high.

Posted by bekee at 2:25 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

what a funny place that would be to work. sometimes i feel like i already do. but, i digress.

i'm waiting to hear back from the total loss department about the reparability of the trusty mazda. and i have to wait until at least wednesday. they're a busy bunch.

i guess this means i should continue my search for the next gibsonmobile. i kinda want a matrix, but kurt says they don't handle well. then how about a mazda3? kurt says the gas mileage sucks. a rav4? that's too big for one person and two dogs on the weekends. okay, then a jetta! not practical, considering the cost for repairs. okay, what then? a subaru legacy. barf.

i actually googled "i need a new car madison wi" last night. i'd really like my old car back, but i don't want them to fix it because then things will just go wrong in a year and i'll have $0 to replace it.

Posted by bekee at 10:30 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i just microwaved an amy's low sodium mexican bowl. and i'm now putting salt in it because it tastes like cardboard.

Posted by bekee at 3:03 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i'd been silently boycotting using netflix's "watch now" feature because they require you to run it in internet explorer. until just now.

i'm becoming more fond of the idea that i can take my lappy upstairs and watch law and order, or just one of the boys, or amadeus from the comfort of my bed!

awesome.

Posted by bekee at 11:43 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)