The Step-Sisters Have Arrived

Last Edit October 29, 1998

The day started with the truck low on gas and the van unreachable behind lumber. And I had cookbooks for my older son in the trunk and no time to switch. So I took the truck and got gas and headed for the packed, slow as Hades freeway. I really hate this commute.
Telecommuting is a frequent thought.
It is overcast and I froze all day at work - which did not help the runny nose bit at all.
There were multiple big-rig accidents every morning this week and then tonight. Making a bad commute worse. Small cars should not tackle 18-wheelers. They lose.
The roof and walls of the addition on the house is a shell with wires dangling and I came home in the dark to step on the path and went into the excavated hole for the new walkway. I tottered to the door in the dark. Mud to my ankles. In new shoes. My son had thrown the bolt. It took two tries to get the key in both locks and turned.
Enter screaming.
I hope I live through this.
They printed my new business cards 3 times - all wrong. This time, I should have checked the FAX number. I give up.
The fax from Make-A-Wish went to some other machine so I had to call and tell MAW to send it to the corrected number. I should get it tomorrow. They did say I would need to ride the hotel shuttle. No big deal. I could always rent a car. I know LA. I used to live in West LA. I watched Century City get built. I was working the Pacific Telephone and was the liaison to Bell Labs for the Information services - computerized - that were going in at the time. Back when the first computer voice was being set up for information services. 1960's. My first husband was in law school. UCLA.
My diet stopped working - I am still at 165. I may have to not eat for a day or two - not likely. I am trying to be good. I am sick of the cold. Bad time for a plateau.
My face is still peeling. I come home to see flakes on my nose, chin, eyebrows. But everyone says it does look better. Better than what?
My hair is a mess. I can't decide to allow anyone to cut or color it before my "date". I will color it this weekend. Burgundy. Period.
I just realized I have no time. Mere days. The sales conference is the last place I want to go beforehand. I lose a whole week. Part of a week-end. I will be away from my child. And I will be confronted with food all day long. I'll have to carry a photo in my hand to remind me why I want to stay on target.
I haven't tested my new camera. I don't have film. I want to sew, not shop. So I hit QVC this morning for a LOT of packables. They may get here before I leave for Arizona.
AT 165lbs I am a size 16 top and size 12-14 bottom. Size 1X hangs there. I can belt the tunic tops. The skirts are another story.
I now have Susan Graver pull on Totables black pants (now called Simply Susan) in a range of sizes - I just ordered size S. But the tops are still size L. The waist is too big but it is better. The chest is almost rational looking. I no longer look Matronly. Just frazzled. I spent too much. This has to stop. But I refuse to think about it right now. The phrase at work is now "after the sales conference....". Limbo land. That's where my financial planning is at the moment.
And someone at work is upset because I have "webmaster" on my job title. Just try taking that away! There is 3-4% unemployment in Silicon Valley. Cisco went from 25 to 10 people on the front desk (support) - hire one, lose 3. They give $5,000 bonuses and cars for referrals that are hired. Don't step on me!
I have a headache.
So I decided to check my e-mail.
E-mail From Nina:

My mom doesn't use her breathing machine anymore (she had sleep apnea).
You wanna borrow it?

Dress looks like it'll be great. You're gonna have more stuff. Man
doesn't know he's under siege does he. Thought crazed ferret was bad.
Focused ferret may be worse.

I laughed so hard that I lost the cursor.
The system locked up. I've been through this routine 6 times already today with the *!@*!@ NT at work. "Invalid memory" and "Insufficient resources". It only has 64Meg of RAM and a 4Gig drive. Damn Microsoft and Pentiums. Now my faithful old Mac crashes! Too much!
I rebooted FOUR TIMES until it finally loaded. It tried locking up twice and then booted from the external drive - different set of extensions and none for the Turbo601 PowerPC card. I felt my heart turn over. The web site is on that drive. I don't have time to FTP the site to a new system. I haven't even loaded the 3400C notebook.
Time for the new computer. I have a 6 Gig backup drive - still in its box. I have 1Gig on-line and 1Gig backup. Not enough. All those cover scans. All those photos. No time to load the drive. Famous last words......
My son says I am stressing out. I screamed at the cat. Then at him. I threw the vacuum cleaner.
By the time I was back on-line I really had a headache.
And a sore throat.
All that screaming.
Then, the contractor arrived.
I went screaming for my son as I ran to my room for clothes. I type in a nightgown.
He wanted to know about the kitchen cabinets. We measured.
He needed the paint color. Home Depot Pearl. I have a partially painted wall in the living room. "That color." The paint is in the garage. Been there two years. At least. Partial wall's been there that long too.
I have to order the carpet. In the midst of packing. Fremont Tile and Carpet. The WHOLE house.
I have to move the piano. The weekend I leave for Arizona. Good timing. It's so they can repair the wall that once held the airconditioner. It goes into the new room. The insulated room. The rest of the house is 45 years old. Guess where I will spend my time.
Then I have to move everything out 3 feet so they can open the windows up - there will be an archway there. But that's after the date. I was coming apart at the seams until he said "Not yet. After you get back." Good thing.
Then, as he left, he said, "Watch out for this." And he waded through the mud to the street.
They pour concrete this weekend.
I will only get worse.
Fabio better have a hug ready. I need one.
The feret is definitely crazed.