I'm not on fire

Have you ever heard what the novelists call a blood-curdling scream? I tell you ... it really does curdleize the blood. Or at least, it sends a shot of adrenaline SHOOTING through you, and you can perform great feats of ingenuity, such as extracting a cat who's hiding under the bed.

A couple nights ago, at a time when most are asleep but we are not, the fire alarm went off. This happens about once a year. Once it was a cooking fire in someone's home, but the other times it was a prank or malfunction, we don't know which. So when it goes off, we don't freak out too much, but our #1 priority it to get the cats (now made easier.) Fernando goes out to see if it's Real Cause for Alarm, while I pack up the cat. (And if it seems fake, I toss my purse and laptop into my backpack.)

Tonight it went off again and we were debating whether to leave when we heard a woman scream. Oh. My. God. I guess she screamed "fire" but all I heard was



but without the giggling at the end, and a bit longer.

There was no fire as far as we can tell. Maybe she saw the fire trucks which Fernando had called (which he automatically does.) Or it was mischief. There is a form of socio-whatever-thingy that calls in fires and then watches people. Maybe the scream was added as an effect, because everyone was so blasé last time. But they were blasé this time too.

We have new neighbors upstairs (the boys have sadly moved out) and when they saw me in the staircase with my cat carrier the woman said: You're taking your cat?! So the boyfriend went back. But he didn't manage to corral them.

Thees will not happen to me. I will die trying to get my One Remaining Cat (and more if I get more) out of the apartment. If she hid behind a bookcase where I couldn't reach her, I'd pull the frikking thing down. I don't know all this for a fact, but the day they tried taking Sherry away to give him a needle without me being present I saw a side of me I've never seen. The Mommy Feelings seem to be alive and kicking, they've just transferred themselves to felines.

As it was, the night ended more pleasantly. Turns out the new neighbors were delivered my mail by accident, and it was my two remaining etsy packages (plus I got the other one in my box today.) So I'm sitting here enjoying them. Because I'm too bloody wired to sleep, though I start work in 5 hours and only slept 3 hours last night.

Oh my lord.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! <--Hey! Stop screaming in my head!! #%$^@%

Look at the cute packaging. I ordered two bracelets and they came wrapped like little prezzies, and she tossed in a third smaller bracelet for free, wrapped in a little bag with her bunny symbol.
Interestingly, that scream makes me realize what it would be like to be caught in a real fire. And I begin to think that Bruce Springsteen's song "I'm On Fire" is a poor metaphor. "I'm On a Slow Intense Heat" maybe, but that man is not on fire.

Muncheroo

[The Nom Nom Experiment: Eating without doing anything else at the same time, for one week.]

What day am I on??

Anyway. Stuck to my guns today.

50 Questions

Q: Who's your favorite TV attorney?

A: Hrm. I have a favourite TV judge! (Amy) But otherwise I haven't watched a lot of legal shows.

fuego! something about fire or something...

Spin magazine had a free album of songs from bands that were at the Bonnaroo festival, so this found its way onto my mp3 player. I love eeet! Though I don't understand eet!

Scenes from an office - The Potty Mouthed VP

I wasn't present for this scene. A friend recollected it.

Scene: Many many years ago, in a company that no longer exists. Friend in office and overhears the following. Regional manager on speaker-phone conference call with many managers and a VP. Manager X is describing a problem, and it comes to light that his store is receiving the warehouse shipments improperly.

VP - You're receiving the warehouse shipments by scanning?
X - Errrr yes?
VP - You're supposed to receive them in techy-tech mode!! Who else is scanning warehouse shipments?? If I catch anyone scanning warehouse shipments I'll cut off their heads and shit down their throats!!


...True story, my dear reader. True story.

shoes for the masses! (or at least 4 me)

I had a good shopping experience when I bought my rain boots and sandals online from zappos. They both fit great, the rain boots resist the rain, and the sandals are comfy. But, while shipping was $10 flat rate, I paid $33 in duties. Ouch!

I need to find a Canadian source. Cause I'm mildly addicted to the selection available online. More choices in my size, as well as more styles in general. Did I add that I'm too lazy to go out shopping, especially further afield where there might be more selection?

I'd like a pair of slippers, because Fernando is making me wear slippers/sandals around the house, which I am Very Unhappy about. Trying to console myself with imaginary shopping.

Here's what I've found so far: (though none of these places have the great and v. useful customer reviews, re. sizing, comfort etc. OK for slippers, but I'm not sure I'd order regular shoes.)

[I think you allz should be real appreciative that I enjoy researching online products as a past time. If I was a shopping addict then I could start a review site! But I really don't shop enough, or at least not widely. Music and books.]




Quark: free over $50

- they carry comfort brands, including my fave Danskos, so that's worth knowing (since i already know which size I take)
- boring slippers, except these



Aldo: Standard shipping: $5 (3-6 business days)
- free shipping over $75
- but we're talking cheap cutesie shoes, not slippers, and not quality-don't-ruin-your-feet shoes
american apparel: $8- free over 75
- but they sell, like, 8 shoes


sears: starts at 4.95, and maybe free to your local Sears if not too remote
- I might get ballet slippers in the end. I like slip-ons, but they slips-offs when you put your feet up on the couch, and then they creep under the couch so I can't find them when I stand up!



softmoc: Free over 75, and on some items, but I can't find the shipping price otherwise.

- usual blah selection


browns: $5

- but no slippers, and the shoes are probably cheap


feetfirst: $5

- brand name shoes, but no slippers


shoe company: free after 75, otherwise 9.99
- some of these places have free shipping on in-store pickup, but there are a lot of chains that don't operate in Quebec because of the language laws.
- they have a big selection so I'm surprised -> no slippers


fluevog: best discovery of all!
Not that I can afford such shoes, cause this is the Real Deal when it comes to fashion shoes. (The customer reviews say they're comfortable, though.) These shoes totally rockit. So of course these folk are in Montreal--definitely our market. Much of their stuff is eco-friendly, and I would guess well made etc. ...I may need to own a pair one day.

Do go browse around. The shoes below are just a drop in the bucket of beautiousness. It's like a shoe candy shop!


I should mention that I haven't really explored my etsy options yet. If I decide to get ballet slippers, this might be the way to go -- something cute and creative, and I haven't experienced the same Duty Issues yet. Just don't remind Fernando that knitted or crocheted slippers may not keep me from getting slivers (he got a glass sliver embedded in his foot this week). Shhhh!

50 Questions

Q: What's your favorite school supply?

A: Hm, that's a hard one. In elementary school, it would have been smelly markers. My friend M. eventually owned the biggest set, and I had much envy.

In high school, it was the agenda. I would cut out a picture from a magazine to paste over the front, and maybe some pictures inside. I would then dig out favourite quotations and pepper them throughout. And buy coloured paper clips to divide and decorate it. It was very fun.

Fresh spiral notebooks are cool too, though. They bespeak of the endless possibilities (outside of schoolwork.)

And today at work we got in pencils shaped like drumsticks.

Now then--what your favourite school supply?