I Can Die Now

I just got home from the Dolly Parton concert.

It was almost an out-of-body experience.  Worth every penny.

There is nothing, and I do mean nothing, that can compare with hearing her sing "I Will Always Love You" live.  If I were the sort to cry, I might've.

I know I won't remember everything she sang, but I do remember Two Doors Down, Jolene, Backwoods Barbie, Jesus and Gravity, Coat of Many Colors, 9 to 5, Better Get to Livin', Shattered Image, White Limozeen, Thank God I'm a Country Girl, Only Dreamin', and Eagle When She Flies (not in that order).

If you ever have an opportunity, it's worth going into debt for.

Confessions of a Male Yarn Whore

Well, This is Lame

Sordid Lives

In the movie Sordid Lives, toward the end, the character Latrelle finally shouts, "I think I might explode if any more shit. Hits. The fan!"

Let's discuss my week.

Friday, I got pickpocketed.  I was fortunate enough that I noticed within 45 minutes of the incident.  I'm also fortunate in that the only valuable things I lost were my bank card, my transit card, my drivers' license, and $12.  I called the bank right away, and filed a police report, and cancelled my transit card.  Now it's simply a waiting game for the replacement cards to arrive, as well as a copy of the police report, and getting my stuff together to replace my license.  But it was damned inconvenient.  It also marks the first Friday I didn't get my Friday Treat in about 4 years.  I want my damned mocha.  Fortunately, my boss and my boyfriend both lended me some money to get me through until I have my bank card back.

Over the weekend, I learned that my grandmother is not well.  Trouble is, she only has one symptom.  It's a major symptom, and not something that can be ignored.  But she has no other symptoms and no pain whatsoever.  The prime suspects for the symptom she does have all have multiple syndromes and pain associated with them.  She just has the one symptom.  She's having tests tomorrow to try to figure out what's wrong.  My grandmother has had her share of health scares before, but for some reason, I'm nervous this time.  I've never been nervous before...not for any of her cancers, not even for her stroke.  Concerned, yes.  Nervous, no.  Now I'm nervous, which is damned inconvenient.

I realized yesterday morning that I was out of toilet paper.  This ordinarily wouldn't be a crisis, except I'm on very limited and borrowed funds right now.  In addition, I refuse to buy any toilet paper that is endorsed by puppies, babies, or animated bears - it just grates against my sensibilities.  I had to settle for a toilet paper that funded breast cancer.  This is not so much a crisis as another grievance to add to the list (speaking of, Kleenex Cottonelle has been doing some blanket advertising on Chicago's mass transit.  I'm done with bottom-referencing plays on words, and I'm about ready to kick that damn puppy).

And today.  Today we learned that our company is at risk of losing about 1/3 of our business at the end of June.  It's entirely political.  It's nothing to do with our service, and we're fighting like hell to try to keep it.  But the fact remains that we may not succeed.  In which case there will be some reshuffling, and there will likely be some layoffs.  And although it doesn't directly impact my division, as the new kid on the block, my prospects are grim nonetheless, because people in the affected division can be reshuffled into mine.  My boss tried to assure me that I have shown extraordinary potential, and that in the month I've been there, I've far and away exceeded everyone's expectations, and that if I keep doing what I've been doing, I should be okay.  And that may be true, but I'm also quite aware that, because I've only been there a month, I have the most to prove.  I will fight, and like Hell, but it's definitely going to be an uphill battle.

There's also one more issue.  But I have some action still to take on it, and therefore I won't say anything just yet.  For the preceeding issues, I'm in a holding pattern (except the toilet paper, obviously).  This is one that needs action, just as soon as I figure out how to take said action.

So, yeah.  Uvon is definitely "Handle With Care" this week.

The Great Globe Itself

Lots of bits and pieces from around my life today.

First, color me NOT a fan of the new private page in Xanga.

The new job is a smash.  It's going terrifically well.  They seem to really like me, and I think they're not too bad either.  I'm the only person who has come from a retirement community, so my perspective in the respect is quite useful (I've even given a little advice on ways to improve the professional relationship with the communities).

Easter was good.  Ken and I had Easter dinner with another couple.  And it was wonderful.  The food was good, the company was good.  I can't really explain it properly, but there was something about the afternoon that just felt so fantastically right.  I suppose "perfect" is a good word for it - perhaps one of the most perfect Easter dinners I've experienced.

And today was the first of our Spring Concerts in the Chicago Chamber Choir.  This morning, as I was getting ready, I made a startling discovery.  The last time I picked up my tux from the cleaners, they gave me pants that were not my pants.  When I went to put them on, I noticed that they didn't look like my tux pants.  And looking at the tag confirmed that they were certainly NOT my pants.  Fortunately, they fit perfectly, and they are actually better than my tux pants, so in that respect, I guess I got an upgrade.

Last night, I was a little bit bad.  I decided a couple weeks ago that I wanted to get a new set of sheets, and maybe a new comforter, etc.  So, I went out, and I bought really nice sheets and bedding.  And paid more than a reasonable person should.  But, I had the money, and I had the inclination, and when I go to put these on the bed later tonight, I'm sure I'm going to sleep fantastically well.  The color scheme is rust and taupe, which should co-exist peacefully with the wooden furniture and hardwood floors that currently define my bedroom.

And Henry is really bugging me to play fetch right now.  Yes, Henry the Cat.  Yes, he plays fetch.  Yes, it's a little creepy at times.

Be good!