Friday, July 3, 2009

Urgency

It has been awhile since there has been an update on the spider warfare. I really can't talk about it because it is so painful. The last week has left me shaken, especially since it continues to get worse. My hope has almost disappeared, especially since we intercepted an article from Spider Times. It was posted throughout the neighborhood.

------------For Immediate Release--------------

The Spider President has released a statement that operations against the "narrow, green house" have almost succeeded. Earlier today, there was wide speculation of a victory march into the residence as early as Saturday, but the President called off any premature celebrations. "I realize that our nation and army have worked so hard over the last seven years against this human and her dog, but we cannot let our guard down. Our top defense commanders agree that the human is at her breaking point. We need a few more missions and then a month long celebration of parades and feasts will take place."

Throughout the winter and spring, field reports were coming in that a second human was the weak link in the house. As sentries were posted in the house, the human would simply remove them outside. Spider psychologists have no response to this very unusual response. They hope to interrogate the human once it is captured to better understand its motivations. One theory is that the second human is a double spy for Spider Nation. Top administrators have denied employing a human spy. Another theory is that the second human is working for another operation or simply trying to kill the other human. Spider Administration has refused theories that any of these non-killings are diplomatic gestures. "Why would we consider this an act of diplomacy? The second human has never slowed down its killing. How would it look for our President to visit those soldier's families and tell them that we were trying to reason with this murderer? These families want their sons and daughters removed from the killing fields for proper burial. That is the only conversation we will have with this monster human", says Spider Ambassador.

The Spider response was one of defiance. More assassins were sent into the battlefield. The first human tried training the orange cat and red dog.





The second human tried scaring us off with a member of Tarantula Nation. It was laughed off as a simple replica.



Concerns were eliminated when spies reported that the two animals were the laziest of all sentries. It is rumored that Spider Soldiers were disciplined after drinking Web Juice 100 and building web monuments on the animals as they slept on duty. Pictures will tell the story of the poor defense offered by "lazy cat" and "old dog".






Because the reports of successful missions were almost too good to be true, Spider President sent General Cross Legs to verify these reports. It was the first documented entry of a General or Administration member into the human's house.



This shot of General Cross Legs was taken moments before the second human relocated him outside. The gasps of Spider onlookers were heard miles away. Not only was he discovered, but he was released without any conditions. After a thorough examination by Spider doctors, he requested that Defense Secretary Cross Eyes survey the enemy territory. As Spider Bodyguards swept through the house, Secretary Cross Eyes also entered the house. Again, the second human captured and released him. "It is clear that we have entered a new stage of our campaign. My attempts at communicating with the second human failed because I was too surprised by its actions", said Secretary Cross Eyes.

Rumors spread that Spider President was not as pleased with his secretary and general as expected since they did not strike at the other human or create a web victory sign. Instead, he ordered the most daring of attacks, and it nearly succeeded.

Last night, Spider Assassin 878 entered the human's bedroom. He perched near its window and above its bed. As the human called out for assistance, 878 saw the red dog run from the room. The second human went to catch 878 for release. At this coordinated moment, a Special Forces member breached the DMZ and ran on its bed. The human screamed. The second human displayed more Spider brilliance by capturing him. It released both of them without any interrogation. A recording device has picked up signs of a very shaken human. A poor recording picks up its concerns of the breached DMZ, lack of sleep, and the appearance of senior defense leaders. No more official statements have been released to the press except a smirk and comment of "just wait for the next operation."

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Financial Times

I'm officially freaked out by the economy. I have been for awhile but it is starting to sink in more and more each day.  Everyday, I read about more layoffs.  I see local businesses shut their doors, including the place where I get my haircut (damn!).  Businesses that I have always grown up with are declaring bankruptcy or have already disappeared.  My retirement money is evaporating.  I have less money with each paycheck because my debt is just increasing.  I have no safety net.

I have cut back on groceries, going out to dinner, and going out with friends.  Living expenses and debt....that is what I am working for these days.   I think about how much I am cutting back and how many other millions of people there like me who are doing the same - how will our economy improve?  I don't know what I would do right now if I lost my job.  The economy has definitely altered many of my life plans for at least the next year.

I read somewhere that someone recommended bailing out taxpayers by helping us pay our debts.  If we had less debt, we could start buying more things.  Granted, we would probably just head down the consumer path until we started accruing debt again.  But, I know that if I had at least one debt paid off, I would be able to pour more money into the local economy.  I would also work on paying off the rest of my debts.  Wishful thinking.

I think we've all had a wake-up call about living closer to our means.  Meanwhile, I have some major bills coming up - a huge car repair bill and a looming vet bill.  I'm relieved that I have a job but I feel zero financial security.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

President Obama

Let me just write that again - President Obama.  It still doesn't seem real that we have a new president, an African-American family in the White House and that the era of Bush and Cheney are over.  We have a president who loves basketball and is a Chicagoan.  It couldn't be better.


Friday, January 2, 2009

Another year

I can't seem to find the mental space to write even simple blog posts. I should just start writing all of my pithy comments and make everyone suffer.

I am really glad that 2008 is over. 2007 was horrible. 2008 was about recovering from 2007. I am ready to move on. I won't bother making any resolutions since I never follow them after the first week or so. In my head, I have an idea of how I want to approach 2009. I've managed to sustain this idea for the last two days. We'll see how I am doing after a month.

Random section of the post: In the latter part of the year, I started to question what I want to do. Am I really settled into the librarian thing? Do I want to try something else? Do I want to stay in Portland? I can't say that I have all of the answers but I postponed making any decisions until my brain feels a little more clear. I keep thinking of a former co-worker (current place of employment) who told us at one of her last meetings before she retired (I need to paraphrase the exact quote), "Don't take things so fucking serious." Amen. I've almost become really bitter with everything that bugs me about my profession. I could write a million word rant. On the other hand, I get these moments of pure satisfaction and joy out of my career that make the annoying things seem so minor. I am always blown away by the amazing people I have met through my career. So, I guess it isn't all bad. I've been thinking a lot about all of those amazing people and how they have shaped my thoughts or inspire me to do a better job.

I want to write a post of my highlights or thoughts about the year but I need to get some sleep. I'll leave you with a photo essay of 2008 from one of my favorite blogs - 2008 part I, 2008 part II and 2008 part III.

Happy New Year everyone.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Crazy weather

This is what is going on in the Portland area. I have some photos on my picasa site.  I hope to get some more today.  I haven't left the house since Friday night except to take the dog out.  Shovel? We only have a dirt shovel.  Ice?  We removed around 2 inch slabs of ice from our cars.  Snow?  Still coming down.

I haven't received the paper in two days.  We'll see if we get mail or UPS shipments today.  Work? Closed for the second time in a week.   I've had a sore throat/head cold for the last week so my patience is starting to run out.  I would enjoy this so much more if I could breathe normally.

Mary is supposed to fly in Tuesday night.  It is hard for me to remain optimistic.  

Oh and it is still snowing.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Good Times

Ahhh...back in Oregon.  Back to really bad budget news.

I foresee a very rocky future.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Craziness at Walmart

I just caught up on newspapers (life story...I think I am usually 2-3 days behind) and was reading about the death that happened yesterday at a Walmart.  I don't have a problem with Black Friday shopping.  I don't take part in it because I don't like crowds and I really hate to get up early.  I don't have issues with people trying to get bargains.  Money is tight.  Hell, I would have probably considered getting up super early and going to Best Buy if I could get a flat screen tv for super cheap.  

Back to Walmart and the article I was reading...the people who stormed the store and trampled over Walmart employees are sick.  What makes a human try to break through the doors for a bargain?  People are blaming Walmart for not providing enough store security but why aren't they just blaming the crazy shoppers?  Are they sitting around this weekend thinking about their actions or are they just pissed off because they had to leave the store when someone died?

I don't get it.