ninsianna.com

So you’ve heard of football widows, or golf widows?  I think I may be an HD widow soon.  Phlome is very very happy with his new TV - go to notival.com, if he hasn’t blogged about it yet, he will be soon.

Ok - so I hope to be getting a 3G phone by end of Jan early Feb.  I need one. I need to be able to get by interwebs fix without fear of Big Brother keeping an eye on me.  I’m hoping with the new phone I’ll also be posting more on this blog.  I’m paying for the site, I should use it more.  When I start posting more, I’ll advertise on myspace, facebook etc and let everyone know where to find the latest about me.  Because you know, that’s what this is all about.  I’m proud of my Phlome for maintaining the activity on his site.  I’ll try and meet his standard after the first of the year.  Hey - whatdoyaknow - I just made a new years resolution - heh.

 So- yeah - this is my attempt at resurecting my blog.

So what’s new:

I’m going to an allergist next week to find out why my body constantly produces pounds of mucus every day.

My mom has something funky going on with her internal bits, we’ve ruled out gall-bladder (leaving her and I as the only women in our fam who still have ours).  Shes’ been vomiting a lot for no apparent reason.  We should know more by mid December.

My grandfather has 2 or 3 aneurisms (depending on if you count the large aortic aneurism as 1 or 2 - docs aren’t quite sure).  He’s meeting with a surgeon this Wed (before Tday) to find out if they should go ahead and find a way to operate on one of them since it’s growing faster than they’d like.

My youngest cousin is 7 months preganant, and moving in with her bf soon.

I’ve got much more to share, but need to do some actual work sometime today.

I hate politics.  I try usually to stay out of it.  But sometimes i just can’t help it.  I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am the only liberal in my family.  I had to ask one of my family members to stop sending me political-themed emails because I was starting to get seriously pissed off.  I wanted to rebut every piece of crap he sent.  Half of it was full of lies and the rest were half-truths.  I was torn, should I stay in the loop just to reply to all with corrections? Or just ignore them?  I talked to my mom about it since it was a member of her side of the family, and I had to promptly convince her that Barack Obama was not a Muslim.  So I decided to just stay out of it.  Self-rightous ignorance does not appreciate being corrected.  This year I’ve been getting very political.  Becuase I really do care.  This could be a huge year.  4 years ago I was ready to move out of country.  If my country fails me again, I may have to think about it again.  I hate to classify myself as a democrat, but I think that is actually about where I fall.  Fortunately my husband is not quite a republican.  Maybe a libertarian.  I can live with libertarians.  I agree with a lot of what they say.  As my Phlome says, I’m a bleeding heart liberal.

That’s not really why I had started this post actually.  I found an article about off-shore drilling that I like.  I sent it to some of my fam, hoping they’ll think about it.  I asked mom what she thought about Bush approving off-shore drilling.  She said she thought it was a good idea.  I guess I listen to my bleeding-heart-liberal public radio too much.  I’m sheltered by the choices I make in the sources of my information.  I think I’m getting more and more closed-minded as I get older.  Or I’m just wearing blinders.  I really didn’t think anybody outside of the oil business could actually think off-shore drilling was a good idea.

So here it is:

From here: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/06/offshore_drilling.html

The article below makes some good points, a few of which even I could make some counterpoints too, but nonetheless some good points.

There are many reasons that offshore drilling in sensitive coastal areas is a bad idea. These 10 are only the beginning:

1. We can’t drill our way out of the energy crisis.

According to a report by the House Committee on Natural Resources Majority Staff:

“Between 1999 and 2007, the number of drilling permits issued for development of public lands increased by more than 361 percent, yet gasoline prices have also risen dramatically, contradicting the argument that more drilling means lower gasoline prices. There is simply no correlation between the two.”

2. We don’t have enough oil to meet our demand.

The U.S. oil supply-demand balance is insurmountable. We have less than 2 percent of the world’s known reserves, yet use 25 percent of its oil. Even if we drilled off of every beach, and inside every national park, refuge, and forest, we could not produce enough oil to offset our growing demand.

3. Oil companies have not utilized the leases they have now.

Why open up new areas to drilling when oil companies hold over 4,000 undeveloped leases in the western Gulf of Mexico? What’s more, the government already leases 44 million acres offshore, of which only 10.5 million—or one quarter—are producing oil or gas.

4. Offshore drilling would have an “insignificant” effect on long-term prices.

Offshore drilling in sensitive areas would increase domestic oil production by 7 percent by 2030 compared to a reference case, according to the EIA. But “because oil prices are determined on the international market…any impact on average wellhead prices is expected to be insignificant.”

5. Drilling could lock us in to a future of expensive gasoline.

By committing to costly recovery, oil companies are betting that oil prices (and gas prices) will stay high enough to justify their investments. Opening the Outer Continental Shelf could never bring us back to $2-a-gallon gas, but would ensure that companies that develop the newly available oil have an interest in keeping gas prices high enough to justify their investments.

6. Production would be expensive, would not start for a long time, and would have no short-term effect on oil prices.

The average oil field size in the OCS is smaller than the average in the Gulf of Mexico, which is already being developed As a result, much of the oil in the OCS would be expensive to extract, and is only becoming attractive now as a result of high oil prices.

According the Energy Information Administration, it would take at least five years for oil production to begin. EIA predicted that there would be no significant effect on oil production or price until nearly 20 years after leasing begins.

7. There isn’t enough drilling equipment.

Due to the high price of oil, existing drilling ships are “booked solid for the next five years,” and demand for deepwater rigs has driven up the price of such ships. Oil companies just don’t have the resources to explore oil fields in the OCS.

8. We can’t refine the oil we would extract.

In his speech yesterday, President Bush noted that, “Refineries are the critical link between crude oil and the gasoline and diesel fuel that drivers put in their tanks.” Yet refineries are already so stretched that last year, the United States had to import almost 150 million barrels of gasoline. The Wall Street Journal reported oil companies are not building new refineries because it would be bad for their bottom line. “Building a new refinery from scratch, Exxon believes, would be bad for long-term business.“

9. Drilling more oil now is not the path to a future based on alternative energy.

President Bush said in his speech that “in the short run, the American economy will continue to rely largely on oil,” but “in the long run, the solution is to reduce demand for oil by promoting alternative energy technologies.” Unfortunately, President Bush opposed efforts to shift tax incentives from big oil companies to efficiency and clean energy technologies, such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. If alternatives are the future, why propose an oil-based solution to the energy crisis that will not show any results for years?

10. Debating offshore drilling in sensitive areas distracts from real solutions.

Instead of focusing on offshore drilling in sensitive areas, we should be thinking about both short- and long-term solutions to the energy crisis. To reduce oil prices, we can burst the speculative bubble by selling a half million barrels of oil per day from the full Strategic Petroleum Reserve. To help families, we should close oil company tax loopholes and recover lost royalties on oil and gas from federal waters, and return these funds to low- and middle-income households in a fuel price “relief bate” program.

Speculators have increased oil prices by up to $30 per barrel, so the administration should make trades more transparent and increase the “margin” for speculators. In the long run, we must move beyond oil by investing in clean, sustainable biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol, require and promote super fuel-efficient cars, and shift tax incentives away from fossil fuels and toward clean alternative energy and efficiency.

The real solution to the energy crisis—and to the climate crisis—is to innovate, become more efficient, and move forward. That’s why offshore drilling in sensitive areas is a bad idea. For a long-term plan, it is remarkably short-sighted.

I’ve got the Spore Creature Creator!  Here’s my Spartan Chicken.

I also made a red dragon.  I made a purple fairy dragon, but I didn’t save it, which of course I’m regretting now.

I’m quite proud of my Spartan Chicken!

Ok - so maybe I have been spending too much time at icanhascheeseburger and ihasahotdog.  But that’s not the point here.  Every now and then I go to What-A-Burger, and everytime I go, I think to myself, “why don’t I come here more often.”  They have good burgers and good fries.  Actually, one of the reasons I don’t go as often, is because I REALLY like their peppercorn ranch what-a-chicken, and they only carry it occasionally.  That just pisses me off.  I hate it when fast food resaurants cycle out their food.  Wendy’s does the same thing with their spinach chicken salad - but I haven’t seen it for a while.  Anyway, so back to what *is* good about WaB. 

They’ve got consistently great customer service. 

I cannot say this about any other fast food restaurant.  I’ve been to at least 4 different What-a-burgers in the metroplex area, and at everyone I have been greeted in a friendly and *sincere* manner - sincere is important here.  I’ve been to Arby’s where they try to encourage this, and it’s really not the same at all - they just yell at whoever walks in.  At the WaB counter *I* was greeted friendily by the cashier.  I inquired again about the peppercorn ranch, and she apologized, but said it would be back soon.   And at WaB when you place your order, they give you a number.  This gives you time to get your drink, and pick out your seat, then they bring you your meal.

I had one pseudo- negative experience at WaB up in Las Colinas.  I was waiting for my peppercorn ranch what-a-chicken (I think it was the first time I had tried it), and it was taking unusually long, so I went to the counter and inquired about the status of my lunch.  The cashier was suitibly apalled and abashed that my food was not out to me yet, got my sandwich to me toot suit, *sincerely* apologiezed and gave me a coupon for a free meal.  I came back the next week and got another what-a-chicken.

I must confess to being slightly conflicted about the ketchup, though.  I love that it comes in little plastic tubs (you know like a dipping sauce) but I think the flavor is a bit off.  Or maybe I just need to stir it a bit more with a fry before I use it.  It’s not bad ketchup, just not quite right.

I made the mistake of not being easy on my  hand yesterday. My thumb has been achey all day.  Well, mostly all day. I took 3 advil when I got to work and three more at lunch -but it seems to be wearing off again.  At first I kinda assumed, the cast woul keep me from doing anything I shouldn’t, but i really need to not use it at all.  The cast is also irritating my wrist bone-you know the little knob on the outside of your wrist-yeah that one.

Oh and I donated $35  (+$3 shipping for the KERA Tote) to KERA yesterday - and they said my name on the radio!!!! It made it all worth it.

This fall Maxis (of the sims/simcity notoriety) is releasing a game that they’ve been teasing for a couple years now: Spore.  The basic concept is you get to evolve a single celled organism all the way through to universal domination.  I need a count down clock….I also need a new PC so I can enjoy spore when it comes out.  But first I need to work on not being broke.

so here’s the story:

3.22.08 in an attempt to ensure my cousins enjoyed their weekend in Dallas I took them to cowboy’s in arlington, where low and behold they had a mechanical bull.  So of course I had to ride it!!!  again…and then just one last time.  I should’ve stopped after i heard my thumb go pop the first time…but i knew i could stay on longer!

the next morning my thumb and middle finger were bruised and swollen.  a couple days later the middle finger was fine, but i had limited range of motion w/ my thumb.  I waited another week or so then went to see the doc.  She didn’t think it was broken, probably a ligament injury, but ordered xrays just to be on the safe side.

xrays confirmed no break - and last night a hand specialist confirmed that it was a ligament issue - a strain.  So he put me in a hand cast. In a month I’ll get it off, then we’ll go from there, possibly a brace, definitely some at home therapy to regain full range of motion.

thats my story and i’m stickin’ to it

What do Joe Cocker, Bono, Eddie Izzard and Salma Hayek have in common?  They all make appearances in the recently released to DVD movie Across the Universe.  To put it a little more accurately, they all make rather trippy appearances in Across the Universe.  If you have not yet heard of the movie, go now and check out the trailer.If you’ve heard of it, and thought you might like it – go rent it (or come on over - I got it as a gift from my valentine – and we can watch it together).  If you saw the preview and were horrified, then stop reading now.  Go away, and don’t speak to me ever again.  The same goes if you did see it and didn’t like it.  Goodbye.

For the rest of you who are still here – O M G.  It is now vying with Hedwig for my #1 favorite musical movie.  Yes you heard that right – it’s that good (and not even one drag queen to speak of in the whole film…I don’t think – I should watch it again to be sure.)  I didn’t even know Eddie was in it when I saw it.  It was like a super special bonus.  The plot is a predictable love story.  Nothing special there.  The main characters are rather naïve – but loveable.  Oh yea – since we’ve lost Heath Ledger, I’ve had to replace him with a new cutie heartthrob with an accent – enter Jim Sturgess as Jude.  All the main characters names are from Beatles songs.  The entire movie is driven by the Beatles work.  I love the new twists they’ve put on the old classics.  While watching it, and then again while going through the special features on disc 2 (I <3 u Phlome) I kept wanting to call my mom.  I mean she lived through this stuff – and she’s a fan of the early Beatles stuff not sure about the latter.  I know she’d enjoy the movie.  Ok, so I’m rambling, my apologies, but I mean it’s just hard to get all my thoughts organized without revealing the movie.  I guess there’s really nothing to reveal, no funky twists in the plot, just an amazingly entertaining movie.  Many reviews have referred to it as great ear and eye candy.  I agree wholeheartedly.

During a few scenes my thought went something like this (re: the cameos):

Hey, is that Joe Cocker.  That was so Joe Cocker.

Wait a minute, was that Joe Coker too?

Hey –t hat was Joe Cocker again!

Is that Bono?  No, that can’t be Bono.

Is that EDDIE?  Oh that has got to be Eddie. EDDIE!!!!!

Heh heh – Salma Hayek as a nurse.

Wait a minute…so is that, and that, hey, they’re all Salma Hayek!

Then there’s this revelation:  “Hey the actors are actually singing!”

Turns out it’s true, they actually filmed the movie while the actors sang live.

Of course I love Eddie performing “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite.”  It’s just oh so very Eddie.  Unmistakable – I had to go look up the lyrics, he adlibbed a bit – it was good.  But I think my favorite number was “I want you (She’s so heavy).”  It’s very avant-garde.  I have to confess,  I’m rather ignorant of much of the Beatles discography.  I have no idea what “I want you” was originally supposed to be about.  Reading the lyrics I still find no insight.  But what they do with it in the movie…it just seems like it was written for it.

Also turning “I wanna hold your hand” into a sad ballad was quite insightful.  If you saw Mama Mia, you may get a bit of a déjà vu feeling about the way the songs are performed.  Mama Mia took Abba’s music, and created a play around it, using much of the music in settings the songs didn’t initially seem to be intended for, but it worked.

If you’re a die hard, “no one can do the Beatles like the Beatles” fan you’re gonna have to get over yourself for a bit to really enjoy the movie.  The movie gives the songs new meaning, and the performers perform many of them very differently than you’ve likely ever heard before.

Ok – I’ll stop now.  I’m working on trying to post more.  My next most will be about the obsession that Across the Universe temporarily replaced: SPORE

Ok - so evidently all i do now is tell you who I like and who I don’t like. 

A couple weeks ago Midas told me I needed new break pads and my roters machined.  The quoted me a big number that we didn’t like.  So we went to just breaks where they have the $99.88 special, knowing full well they’d find something else to charge me for.  Instead of the full $800 work of services they suggested, I just went with the 99.88 and the $250+ master cylinder (since it is evidently leaking) and break bleeding ~$40.  This was about 4:00 on Monday when tehy told me all this.  Of course there were no after market master cylinders (MC).  So Tuesday the MC is delivered by the dealer, and of course they bring the wrong one.  Eventually the right one shows up at the shop.  By 3:30 they needed a bit more time.  At 5:30 I called and they said it’d be ready at 7.  We got there a little after 7, and they were still working on it.  Turns out they stripped a tube connection (or something like that).  So they had to get a new one of those. 

I then asked if they could find a way to get me rental car for today.  That has to go through corporate - who I called this morning.  This is where it gets good.  I left a voicemail with “Dean” asking what the process was for requesting rental car reimbursement.  When Dean called back, this is about how the conversation went:

Me: (breif explanation of situation)  And since they cannot guarantee that my car will be done by noon today, I would like to know what the process is for requesting a rental car reimbursement in case I need to get a rental car so I can go to work.

Dean:  I’m sorry but I cannot authorizie rental car reimbursement for same day service.

Me: But it wasn’t same day service, this is going on day 3.

Dean: But they had to wait to get the part from the Dealer which was all the way across town in Dallas (btw, they got it in Grand Prairie about a mile up the road from where I live - less than 5 miles from the Just Brakes location).  And you didn’t drop the car off until 5 on Monday.

Me: I dropped the car off at 3, and they had all day yesterday to work on it.

Dean: But the dealer brought the wrong part and they had to get the right part from across town, that is not our fault, and is out of our hands.

Me: But it was their fault that they stripped the connector tube, which is why they were unable to complete the service yesterday

Dean: (talking over that last bit I was saying) Yes, but they’re doing all they can to fix that.

Me: And I need to get to work.  What do I need to do to get a rental car reimbursement.

Dean: I cannot authorize rental car reimbursement for same day service

Me: And if it had been done “same day” I wouldn’t need a rental car.  I need to get to my job.  I’m losing a day of work because they were unable to repair my car in a reasonable amount of time.

Dean: They are doing all they can to get the repair done today.

Me: And they cannot guarantee that they will be able to fix everything by noon today. 

Dean: (again cutting me off) No, we cannot offer any guarantees as to time frame.

Me: And if they cannot get the car done today, what do I need to do to request rental car reimubursement.

Dean:  We cannot guarantee when the work can be done, and I cannot authorize reimbursement for a car rental.

Me:  If you are not going to work with me, then I will never go to Just Brakes again - and neither will anyone I know.

Me: *click*

So - the point:

DON’T GO TO JUST BRAKES - AND TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW THAT JUST BRAKES SUCKS, AND HAS HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL

In the interest of full disclosure, the service desk guy at the Just Brakes on Collins in Arlington, Corey, is a really nice guy and was very apologetic, but his hands were tied.  I obviously was not impressed with the techs their either since as it turns out Ford Mustang GTs are hard for them to work on.   Something about my GT having a similar configuration to the Cobra - again - not that I car - it’s thier job to be able to fix brakes - just brakes.  I thought when you focused on just one thing and one thing only, you were supposed to do that one thing well.

/rant