OK, so I let the blogging go again. You're right... get out the wet noodle. :-)
Past week or so has been relatively uneventful. After all that fretting about possibly being laid off, the company finally came to realize that they can't let me go because I'm irreplaceable. Well, not irreplaceable, exactly, but they can't eliminate my position. So that eliminates some short-term worries, but I'm still keeping up with the job hunt. Now that I've finally got some momentum going in tackling what is, admittedly, an extremely unpleasant task, I don't want to get complacent again. Besides which, even if they don't lay me off, there's still the very real possibility that the company will go broke. They've come to the brink more than once. I was telling Denise about this once: it's kind of like Russian Roulette. If you play Russian Roulette once, the chance of killing yourself is one in six (assuming you're using a six-shooter, of course). However, if you keep playing and playing and playing, eventually the gun will go off; it becomes a certainty (I saw a mathematician on the Today show explain that once in discussing nuclear weapons and the Cold War. I wish I could remember his name so I could give him credit). This company is playing permanent Russian Roulette. I think I'm the only one who knows that, though. Or at least the only one who's willing to openly admit it.
The big thing was on Friday, when a reporter from Newsweek interviewed me for an upcoming article on the autistic pride movement. I was a little hesitant about doing the interview, since I've only been involved in that movement for a little under a year, I'm still pretty much of a "newbie" to autism in general, and I'm not even formally diagnosed yet, but I did it anyway. I think it went pretty well, and I also referred to him a couple of other people, including Denise, whom I thought would be good for him to talk to (better than me, actually -- and I told him so). The issue with the article is coming out sometime in August, but I'm not sure when, or whether I'll be in it, but it's still pretty neat.
Needless to say, I was pretty excited about all this, so I sent an email to several friends and family members telling them about it. The response was very positive from everyone, with one exception. Janelle, unfortunately, decided to respond with a rip-roaring flame, basically blasting me on just about every aspect of my existence. I'm the type of person who takes that kind of thing very hard, even when (as in this instance) I'm fully aware that it's undeserved. It really ruined my weekend, or would have if Denise hadn't been there to give me some much-needed moral support. I remember reading that email from Janelle and just sitting there thinking to myself, "God... what did you have for breakfast this morning, Carnation Instant Bitch?"
The clash with Janelle continued thru Saturday evening, with her saying that I routinely "abuse my administrator privileges" in my job by randomly auditing the other employees' Internet activity. I delicately pointed out that I was under instruction from the COO to do that, that it was perfectly legal, there was nothing unethical about it, and that, in fact, it is meant to protect the company from lawsuits due to (for example) employees who use corporate Internet access inappropriately. Ultimately, she replied by saying that she refused to discuss the matter with me anymore, which I personally regard as her realizing that she's in the wrong and not wanting to admit it.
I had planned to go to a Mensa get-together on Saturday night, but the quarrel with Janelle completely ruined my mood, so I had to cancel. I didn't really think anything about cancelling -- I dropped a note to the host and apologized to her, saying only that "something very upsetting had come up". I thought that would be the end of it, but when I got to work this morning, I found that she had left me a voice mail, saying that she was sorry something had gone wrong, asking whether she could help, and even offering to just let me vent on her as a "disinterested third party". All this, in spite of the fact that I barely know her, I hadn't even spoken to her or written to her in about two years, and she has a reputation in the local Mensa chapter for being a nasty bitch. I really enjoy receiving indications that there are members of the human race that are actually worthwhile, mainly because I receive so few of them.
Anyway, I dropped her a line back thanking her for her concern and explained briefly what had happened, and it turns out that there's been some speculation that she's on the spectrum as well. Interesting... I wouldn't have suspected that of her, but then, I only started learning about the spectrum last Fall.
I'm not sure whether the clash had anything to do with it, but I ended up getting a fair amount of stuff done around the house this weekend. A lot of cleaning, organizing, straightening up, putting items on eBay and researching other items on eBay to see whether it's worth trying to sell them there. My place has always been reasonably neat and clean, but I do have various piles of bric-a-brac here and there that I want to get rid of, and it does feel good to finally be getting rid of some of it.
I think I've finally eliminated a bug with my iBook. My backup software, Retrospect Express by Dantz, kept getting to a certain point in the backup routine and then freezing (it didn't do it everytime, but it happened more often than not). After dealing with it for some time and attempting various workarounds, I finally discovered that the routine runs fine if I don't mount the backup media until the software actually asks for it. I've never heard of this problem before, so I suspect that it's actually a reflection of the fact that OS X -- or at least my iBook -- has problems with external USB mass storage devices.
And that's the news... if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take some photos of these Star Trek coffee mugs in preparation for putting them up for auction.
Posted by Zathras at July 28, 2003 08:32 PMI had a friend who had a Star Trek bowling bag. He would Chilliwack it at me whenever I bowled a strike.
Posted by: Shaw at July 28, 2003 09:21 PMHey - what the hell is it with all these email flames going around last week??? I shared one with Parrish that a certain someone sent me, and he said that it was the worst one he's seen. Although this Janelle person's flame sounds just as bad - maybe my flamer (more like ex-flame, YES, it's her again . . .) and Janelle drink out of the same Carnation Instant Bitch cup?
Posted by: Shaw at July 28, 2003 09:25 PM"maybe my flamer (more like ex-flame, YES, it's her again . . .) and Janelle drink out of the same Carnation Instant Bitch cup?"
My theory, having heard many tales about the women Parrish has known over the years, is that if he is friendly with a female, she's *got* to be some kind of sadistic psychonut. In fact, evidence being in this very post by him: woman approaches him, and among his first comments is "she has a reputation in the local Mensa chapter for being a nasty bitch." It's like he's a jerk-magnet or something.
As far as Janelle goes, she outranks almost every Vicious Bitch I've ever come across. It takes a special something to tell a kind-hearted close friend you won't miss him when he dies. Or to tell his first girlfriend to leave him the first time you get her away in private.
Posted by: Moggy at July 28, 2003 10:58 PM> My theory, having heard many tales about the women
> Parrish has known over the years, is that if he is
> friendly with a female, she's *got* to be some
> kind of sadistic psychonut.
I came to the same conclusion many years ago. My roommate back in Honolulu had the same issue. I've often wondered what's up with it.
Can't say what the deal is with Catherine, since, as I said, I barely know her... but when I told her that Denise and I are both involved in the autistic pride movement, she cheered us both on and encouraged us to persevere. :-) Judging from the other comments I've heard other folks make about her, I can understand that.
I'd add comments about Janelle, but I don't think I could really have anything more to offer than what I've already said here (and what others have added).
Posted by: Zathras at July 28, 2003 11:22 PMOutranks? Hmmm - maybe I should send you the vicious email that I showed Parrish in private to see who outranks who? I lost so much respect (what little I had left for her) when she clobbered me.
"is that if he is friendly with a female, she's *got* to be some kind of sadistic psychonut."
I kinda disagree. I think.
Man, I dunno. I think me and Parrish have both known some of the same females who aren't losers or psycho jobs.
Um, I think?
Posted by: Shaw at July 28, 2003 11:25 PMI think I can count at least 4 females me and Parrish have known that aren't psychoj...nonono wait, maybe 3...no, two...maybe one? um...er, no she wasn't too stable either....shit, I dunno.
Posted by: Shaw at July 28, 2003 11:28 PMHeh, go for it, send me the flame! Given I wasn't the recipient of either letter, I might be able to judge on which is screwier.
I keep hoping that he'll mention some woman from his life that was *not* a nasty piece of work, but haven't had that happen yet. Maybe he's only interested in psychos or something. (I'm his GF now, and I'm typically very nice, but he also thought I was a sociopath for a long time after he met me online, too.)
Posted by: Moggy at July 28, 2003 11:46 PMSent. That email hurt real bad. Real bad. Even moreso 'cuz of her saying I hurt her like I did (albeit unintentionally).
I don't think he's interested in psychos. Just like my luck when it comes to people in general, we both seem to end up attracting just some really weird, really, um, I dunno . . . just whacks. Y'know?
It's sorta like a Hope and Crosby road picture (I'm Hope, Parrish is Crosby), except it's like "The Road Through Hell", or somethin' like that.
Posted by: Shaw at July 29, 2003 01:26 AMShit - I'm postive that we both know (have known) at least one female who wasn't whacked back in college.
Posted by: Shaw at July 29, 2003 01:28 AMYikes -- just read the flames. Yeah, those do trump the ones Janelle sent, mostly because at least J was at least pretending to be kind insofar as she could. I've got a couple on my drive from my ex that are just about the equal of yours from Adrienne, though. So I have a pretty good idea of how hurtful seriously, intentionally nasty "fuck you" flames can be. *shudder*
Just out of curiosity, is she a member of Heartless Bitches? Wondering, because she almost sounds like she's "borrowing" phrases from essays at the website ...
"I don't think he's interested in psychos."
Well... I won't say who he was interested in, because I have no idea whether he prefers to keep that a secret...but I will say that almost every woman he has been friends with (let alone interested in) was described to me in terms that made her sound seriously sick.
Posted by: Moggy at July 29, 2003 02:21 AMI dunno - I just think she's in her own Private Idaho; pretensious, aarogant, self-rightious, vein, just an all-out drag. I kinda noticed it when I started to talk to her again in March. It just seemed like something is up her ass (besides her head, or poss. her new boyfriend's . . . ) I just don't need that in my life.
"Just out of curiosity, is she a member of Heartless Bitches? Wondering, because she almost sounds like she's "borrowing" phrases from essays at the website ..."
Honestly, I dunno. She DID quote from the bible in that second "make-up" e-mail. So, I dunno what that makes her a member of. Although if she wanted to be an asshole (again), she's done a good job of it. This is NOT the same person me and Parrish knew, I can tell you that. We both knew her as someone with quite a few flaws, but she was very sweet and good-hearted. Seems like her heart has (at least) kinda turned cold. A pity . . .
"Well... I won't say who he was interested in, because I have no idea whether he prefers to keep that a secret...but I will say that almost every woman he has been friends with (let alone interested in) was described to me in terms that made her sound seriously sick."
Well, me and Parrish had some of the same female friends at college. Unfortunatly, I have to agree with his assesment of a few of those.
Posted by: Shaw at July 29, 2003 11:27 AMI was just looking at that "Heartless Bitches" site, and it kinda does look like she lifted from a few things.
When I was reading her e-mails, all I could hear in the back of my mind was:
"JERRY! JERRY!! JERRY!!! JERRY!!!"
Posted by: Shaw at July 29, 2003 12:17 PMIt's just her ASSITUDE. That's her problem
Posted by: Shaw at July 29, 2003 06:18 PMO-KAY! I get the message! I'll change the subject now!
About female orgasms....
Posted by: Shaw at July 29, 2003 10:27 PMEVERYONE SING IT WITH ME!!!
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPYYY BIIIIIRTHDAAAAY TOOOOO YOOOOOOOOOOOU!
HAAAPPYY BIIIRRRTHDAAAY TOOO YOUUU!!!
Take it away, someone else...
Posted by: Shaw at July 29, 2003 11:05 PMOkay: dig this - from the "Heartless Bitches" website:
Despite the statements of some of our more Bitter Heartless Bitches, Heartless Bitches International is NOT about Man-Hating. We don't discriminate against stupidity, arrogance, irresponsibility, bloated egos, or immaturity on the basis of gender.
Has HBI got you all hot under the collar? Before you run off in a snit, ready to send email detailing the extent of your ire, look up the words "irony", "satire" and "caricature" in the dictionary....
Ok - I've posted WAAAY too much today. I'm taking a break for awhile.
Could someone else please step forward to finish the song I started to sing?
Posted by: Shaw at July 30, 2003 01:42 AM...
Great. Looks like I have a new sub-blog over here. (I already have two. One over here: http://www.mrsfezziwig.net/ and my main one over here: http://mediakit.blogspot.com/ )
Posted by: Shaw at July 30, 2003 09:03 PMSub-blog #3: Entry One:
Today I purchased this week's Time Magazine with "Meditation" on the cover. Since I am kinda (sorta) dating someone into Yoga, I figured I needed to brush up on the subject.
I honestly did not even recognize it was Heather Graham on the cover at first. Amazin'.
Posted by: Shaw at July 30, 2003 10:58 PMSub-blog #3: Entry Two:
Sometimes I seriously think about Parrish's offer of movin' down to D.C. The problem is that I grew up in the Baltimore-Washington area, and, well, "You can't go home again."
If I ever visit down there, I might take him over to 1800 Division Street in Balt. City. That's where Sodden's Liquors (the first liquor store in Balt. City AND my family's store) used to be. Of course, I think we'd both needed some bullet-proof vests if we did that.
"Yo! White-I.T.'s in da hooooooood!"
Posted by: Shaw at July 31, 2003 02:34 AM"I think we'd both needed some bullet-proof vests if we did that. "Yo! White-I.T.'s in da hooooooood!" "
Heh. I got mildly lost on foot with him in DC one night in January, and again somewhere near Silver Spring (I'm still not sure *where* we were) in July. Neither were in good neighborhoods -- and I just kept thinking, "Parrish couldn't look more like a walking target if he had a neon sign above his head."
Kinda reminds me of the first time I was wandering Berkeley with my ex. I naturally don't make eye contact with people, so I had never been approached by any of the serious oddballs or homeless folks. Chris, however, didn't know better than to smile and make eye contact with everybody. After being stopped for 10 - 20 minutes by religious/paranoid individuals twice in the same week, I finally figured out what he was doing wrong and told him to stop making eye contact with people.
Posted by: Moggy at July 31, 2003 03:14 AMIt's easy to attract weirdoes if you look like one by smiling and making eye contact. Personally, I wear sunglasses :)
Posted by: Shaw at July 31, 2003 07:56 PM