northpolejo

Could There Be Salvation??

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 23:36:14 GMT

Possibly. Just possibly. If we can tie the fire to the leach field failure, the insurance will have to pay. Halleluia. Cuz they drove those trucks over our backyard alll night long looking for (and finding) hot spots. Naturally, our insurance people aren't calling us back.

Shifting Priorities

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:22:10 GMT

Suddenly my decant circle debacle took a back seat. Today's disaster was a guy standing in my yard telling me I need to drop a ton of money on a new leach field. Like $5,000 to $8,000. Within DAYS. As in Emergency.

And since he was only there to pump and doesn't do that kind of work, I'm pretty sure he was telling the truth. Especially since it's 40 years old and hasn't been maintained, if the rest of the property is anything to go by. We knew there were problems with the leach field but we were really hoping there was SOMETHING that the next buyer could get stick with fixing instead of us. Of course not. Effing money pit.

###%$&#9!!

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:40:03 GMT

I know it's not politic to get ticked at the lab (BPAL). They're a small company. Do their best and all that. But I just set up a decant circle, was selling slots, and hadn't yet ordered bottles for it (hadn't sold enough and no paypal balance to fund it). I just found out they pulled the scents off the Dark Delicacies web site. Which were just added Friday. Word is they're going to (who knows when) add them to the lab's web site for sale there. Worse yet, I can't access the lab site at home. I have a computer glitch, so I have to go to the library (15 mi. one way) to see it.

Unfortunately, DD ships in a day or two. The lab takes a couple of weeks. My circle people were kind of counting on quick delivery, since the scents were at Dark Del. Ever so briefly. WTH??

Convergence Rambles

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:52:00 GMT

What can I say? Well, a lot as my friends all know :D But I've already digressed. Convergence was a blast. My roomie was a sweetheart. *waves to Sam* She did NOT snore, like she claimed she would, although it's entirely possible I drowned her out. I only did a few incredibly stupid things, starting with forgetting my cell phone in my car before I even left, and finishing with leaving my folder full of my itinerary, roomie's phone # etc., at the Enterprise counter. Oh yeah, and totally forgot there were even B Movie scents at Dark Del, so I never even went looking for them. *pretends to shoot self in head with finger*

But other than those TEENY snags, a perfect trip!! We went to In-N-Out Burger, a first for me, and definitely as good as Sam said. Also went to a great Pizza place in Long Beach with Sam and Ryan (honeycat on LJ, who stayed next door to us on the ship), can't recall the name, but I was surprised that they didn't have any seafood toppings since they were right on the beach, LOL. Great veggie special, though.

Convergence! The Queen Mary was beyond spectacular. What a grand old lady. I walked onto the ship and said, 'well, obviously it's the original carpeting.' Yeesh. The wood paneling just glowed down the long hallways and it had what looked like all original electrical fittings. Really big bathroom too - bigger than mine at home! And nice size bedroom, bigger than I expected really, with a double porthole, very cool. I kept getting turned around on the ship (no sense of direction at all). There weren't an awful lot of vendors this year, but they were selling some really gorgeous things. Sadly I waited to browse, planning to go back closer to closing time, and when I went back, they'd already closed. They'd changed the closing time from 6:00 to 5:00 and we didn't know, so I never got a chance to buy a Convergence souvenir. There were lots of QM giftshops but I wanted to support the vendors. :(

More later (my DH just got home from Alabama) ~

Convergence Tickets

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:38:17 GMT

I bought a pair of these from a lovely person but I've got multiple conflicts, so I can't go to the events for which they were bought. These will give you entry to the party on the beach (including free liquor til it runs out), the goth fashion show, the bands, and I'm not sure what else.

Is anyone looking for some? (I can't afford to donate these, BTW, as I paid full price for them.)

Insult to Injury

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:12:49 GMT

Not only do I not have a definite roomie for Convergence, but this I can't believe. A friend of my brother's put him on his D3 list just today. Flying privileges on American. Because they're friends on a ball team. Lucky SOB!!!!!

Convergence n Stuff

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:25 GMT

Here's my annual post, LOL.

I've waffled about going to Convergence for, wow, 3 months now? My airfare was originally about $199. Now it's nearly $400. Teach me to not make up my mind. But it didn't sound like any forumites were planning to go, except for daytrippers. Us Texas people, we can't exactly do that, I checked. Um, 1350 miles. That's a helluva day trip. So now that the lab FINALLY announced some plans about what they're doing, I''m definitely going. I've bought laminates, and I have a room on the Queen Mary lined up from someone who can't go. All I need now is a roommate. (My DH will go but he's not thrilled about it. He kind of liked C13, but this isn't really his kind of deal.)

Also, I'll have to hide the trip from my family because they're all pressuring me to attend a wedding reception. I don't want to go because:

a) The wedding was sometime in January. My nephew got married and didn't even have the decency to tell my sister. The bride let it slip on the phone.
b) It's dumb. Why a reception 6 months later? Presents, that's why. And to gather the fam to meet the other family I suppose. I don't care.
c) If it's about the gift I sent one. They had a 'mail shower.' The happy couple will open them when they get there I guess. For the record, I think the shower was dumb, too.
d) I did all this last summer for my son's graduation party. It was stressful even without as many of my extended relatives. Don't want to repeat the experience that soon.

Job Hunting

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:05:25 GMT

So I had the job at Whozit & A$$holesrus for two whole days last month and got canned, for I have no idea what reason. Ostensibly because their 'overhead was killing them.' Uh huh. I almost bought that, except their ad came right back out again, tweaked to request someone versed in TX law. Well, can't lie about that (nor did I). Ennyway.

Moving on, my husband comes home a couple days ago and tells me there's a part time job at the base post office I could probably have if I want it. I chat with George, who works there, whenever I pick up a BPAL package (that is to say, often), and they're great, laidback folks there. It's a teeny place. It'd be kinda mindless. This I already know, having worked at a base po before, over the holidays just for the hell of it. But I'm almost tempted, just for something to do. Gawd, I'm bored. It's just that, well, it is mindless, and I wonder how long it'd take me to get bored. Sighhhhh.

Selling @ Lab Prices or Less

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:40:23 GMT

Time to clear off my shelves! If bottle/decant level is unlisted, it's full. Levels are my best estimate. Everything is at lab price or below.

Payment: I take all flavors of paypal (timnjo4 at hotmail dot com) and money orders; please include your forum ID on paypal payments. Since prices are lab cost, you must use www.ppcalc.com for total (I get charged for ALL payments).

Shipping: $2.50 US/Canada. $3.00 rest of world. I use new padded mailers. Possible adjustment for major purchases (I have a scale and will be fair.) If you include 'last 4' for your zip code, it can speed delivery by 1 day. I don't use delivery confirmation except by request.

LE Bottles:
13 (April '07, purple label) 90%+ $15.75
13 (July '07, pink label) $17.50
(20% off for the pair)
Cancer '07 90% $18
Chaos Theory IV (DCXCV) [see reviews: lemon sugar, other citrus/fruits on drydown] 95%+ $14.25
Crimson Christmas w/velveteen bag $20
Frau Holle 90% $15.75
Fruit of Paradise, The (picture label, untested) $18
Head of Holofernes 80-85% $15
Hexennacht '08 $17.50
House, The 55% $11
Ides of March '05 75% $9.50
Knecht Ruprecht 75% $13.25
Madeline 80% $16
Marae 45-50% $8.75
Metal Phoenix 60%+ $12
Midnight Kiss (untested) $20
Misk. Valley Jr. Baseball Assn. (cracker jack scent) $19
Moai 40-45% $8
On Darkness 90-95% $16.75
Ostara $10
SGA (set only) $50
Sea of Tranquility $10
Sir Hugh's Winding Sheet 80% $16
Snow White '05 40-45% $7.25
Sportive Sun, The $10
Sticky Pillowcase $17.50
Sugar Cookie '08 80% $14
Sugar Moon '08 $17.50
There's a Certain Slant 60% $10.50
Thunder Moon $17.50
Tupapau 30% $5.25

GC Bottles: GCs need too!
Black Lotus $15
Lady of Shallot, The 90% $13.50
Robotic Scarab, The (untested) $15
Scherezade (untested) $15

LE Imps:
13 June '08 3.50
Beaver'versary 4.00
Earth Phoenix 4.00
El Amor y La Muerte 5.00
Famine $5
Haunted Palace 4.00
Herr Dosselmeyer 3.50
Hexennacht '08 3.50
Huesos de Santo 3.50
Ides of March '07 3.50
Jacob's Ladder '08 3.50
Jasmine Cottage $5
Jolasveinar 3.50
Judith & Holofernes $5
Nuclear Winter '08 3.50
Phantom Calliope $4.00
Pirate Moon 95% 3.25
Pollution $5
Proshitapathika 60-70% 2.75
Pumpkin Patch II '07 3.50
Pumpkin Patch III '07 60% 2.00
Pumpkin Patch IV '07 3.50
Pumpkin Patch V '07 x2 100%/50% $3.50/1.75
(20% off for the set of PPs)
Samhain '07 $3.50
Shadwell $5
Sugar Cookie '05 80%+ 2.50
Sugar Skull '08 3.50
War $5

BPTP:
Yuletide Past atmosphere spray $22.50 [$3 US shipping]

This sale is cross-posted to the forum. Thanks for looking ;)

Yeesh!

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:31:37 GMT

Not that I've neglected my LJ lately or anything.... But hey, at least I'm caught up on my friending!

Life has been pretty boring, so there's been no reason to post. Just the usual holiday prep, and trying to get ready to head to Alaska for Christmas. It's been a bit of a juggling act, trying to figure out what to leave at my brother's for his Christmas (he didn't know when he was going to do the gift thing), which gifts to take to Alaska with us, and I'm still making decisions on some of that. Damn the airlines for having luggage restrictions!!!!!

I'm extremely anxious to go back. The posted temp of -6 in Fairbanks this morning (and North Pole is always colder) deterred me not one bit. Can't wait to hear snow crunching under my feet, to see it glittering on the trees. To see my breath hanging in the air. And I lovelovelove Christmas shopping when it's all dusky outside, hardly any daylight this time of year and of course no bright daylight at all. Mostly filtered twilight. Makes me homesick just thinking about it.

I am 'Zausted

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:57:08 GMT

What I wouldn't give for a whole night's sleep. *says she with crossed eyes* Every time I roll over, the pain wakes me up, so my nights are ending very very early. I see the surgeon next week. Frankly, I'm afraid of what he's going to say. After they f***ed up my surgery at BAMC in April (gotta love the military), I don't want any more surgery. But I don't know what alternatives I'm going to get offered.

I think it would be nice if they at least tried to figure out why first one, then the other shoulder went to hell for no apparent reason in the space of 9 months. Too logical?

I'm just really really tiiired.

Another 2 Cents

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:58:31 GMT

I'm not a gung ho Sarah Palin fan. I'm not even sure who I'm gonna vote for yet. I'm still in the info-gathering stage (I never vote straight party). But. I'm getting more annoyed by the day by the smear campaign. Especially on the internet. I don't see anything positive, it seems like. Apparently she never did anything worthwhile for the the City of Wasilla or the State of Alaska, musta just got voted in by sheer good luck? I'm not seeing this stuff against the others - are they not as much fun? Maybe it's the novelty?

Anyway, I checked snopes just to see what there was: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/sarahpalin.asp

My 2 Cents on Palin

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:42:20 GMT

Wow, there's so much rhetoric flying around about her. Amazing. BTW, I'm an Alaska resident ;)

She's definitely shaken up the campaign. If she hadn't, all this EMOTION wouldn't be swarming. This is the most interesting election in decades.

She does have leadership experience. More than another candidate ;)

I think she's been doing a good job for Alaska in the time she's had. Just my opinion, natch. In fact, that's one reason I'm not sure I'd vote for her & McCain. I'm not sure "the country" needs her more than Alaska. What'll happen with the natural gas pipeline talks? And extending the Canadian rail line into Alaska? And logging the Tongass and and...

Frustration (LJ)

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:35:27 GMT

I thought I was getting around here reasonably well. Not great, but not bad. Today I found out that a bunch of things I replied to never got to the people I expected them to. It might have had something to do with the screening feature I was using. I never did find a clear explanation for that, so I used it hoping I understood the use of it correctly. Possibly not.

There are a lot of features on here I just don't "get." Today I had to do a bit of research on how to send a message to someone directly. It should be self-explanatory. I mean, really. It's not that it was difficult, it's really easy (but what isn't when you know how?). Simple functions should be simple to determine from the layout. I don't find LJ to be all that user friendly. I suppose that doesn't make sense to anyone who's been bouncing around on here for years.

A Bottle Sale!

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:04:22 GMT

Simply put, I need fundage for upcoming acts, a new software labeling program, and I promised I'd start destashing. So this is the beginning, with more to come, no doubt :D

Bottles:

13 (April 07) $20 18

13 (July 07) $20 18

Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht ~½ imp $2.00

Ashlultum ~1 imp $4.00

Auguste Dupin 50%+ (res.) $12

Bat’s Blood (orig.) 40% best offer

Blasphemare Reliquary +/- 1/3 $7.50
Cancer '07 $22.50

Daiyu +/- 1 imp $4.50

Glitter (res.) just under label $25

House (res.) 80% $18
Jupiter above label $10

Kill-Devil (aged 1+ yr) $15

Knecht Ruprecht 70-75% $16

L’Heure Verte +/- 1 imp $4.50

Madeline (res.) 80% $18
Mag Mell 10ml 40-45% $12
Mars above label $10

Oval Portrait (res.) ½ best offer

Pit & the Pendulum (res.) 45% $10.50

Samhainophobia '06 $20

Selkie best offer

Shill best offer

Smut 06 best offer

Tokyo Stomp at label $20

Rare Imps:

Ah’Duno best offer

Othah BPAL:

Aeris bath oil 1 oz. sample $4.50 each (what I pd)

Terrae bath oil 1 oz. sample

Cobalt:

Sunstone $10

Midsummer Muse:
Phantom Carousel at label $8

Mythos Mixtures:
Amor Vincit Omnia $10

Possets:
Pneumatic Lover $6

Cocoa Pink:

Hydration Hair Mask grapefruit sugar ¾ (used 1x) $3.50

Postage: $2.50 US/Canada, $3.50 elsewhere. I use new envelopes for international mailings.

I have lots of feedback as schackjj on the bpal forum. My wishlist is over there too.

Sold:

Grandmother’s Sold Purplelise
Prospero Sold 2sistersreviews
CTIII, Hand of Glory Sold Pookstrell
Lenore ula_27
Clemence, Sathanel lamb_child\

Fae edenssixthday

Destashing

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:43:47 GMT

My perfume collection is out of control. I try to keep it under 100 bottles. It's setting at 180. *cringe* Don't throw anything at me, 'kay? I firmly believe there's no sense in keeping so much of it that you can't use it in several lifetimes. Particularly as I was only given the one lifetime.

This belief was reinforced when I tested out a partial bottle of June Gloom I swapped for last week. June Gloom! *swoon* One of my Holy Grails!! Okay, back to earth. Tried it out aaand...disappointing, really. Not the fact that it didn't live up to the hype, although it couldn't. It was the fact that the oil I got disappeared in an hour, and other than the initial hit, it was pretty faint. I suspect it was just deteriorating with age.

This stuff isn't made to last forever. It's meant to be used. It's not even made of collectible components. And so, it's time to get a lot more ruthless about weeding out that collection. Maybe I'll even stop calling it a collection. Nah. One thing at a time ;)

Selling Off Schtuff

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:06:31 GMT

The time has come, the walrus said, to speak of many things. Of ?? and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. Well, I almost remembered it! Anyone?? I've been mulling over selling a few of my rare decants. I never think about 'em. They're stashed away in a little box, ignored, because I can't wear any of 'em (*$*(^!! skin chemistry).

What got me thinking about this was wrestling with my labeling program - yet again - this morning. It's a free download, and it's full of glitches. Some computers come preloaded with a decent program. Mine didn't. And I can't download anything very big (i.e., good) because I have satellite internet. Le sigh. So. Today I thought 'Aha! I have all these impie dust collectors around. I should sell a few. Then I'd have $ for shiny new label-making software (without bugging DH for $) and all would be well in Decant Circle Land!' *cue bugles* I've got Storyville, Heartache & Loss, Ah'Dunno, Delousing Powder, all kinds of junk.

Only problem is, I know a few decants were gifts, but I'm not sure which ones. When they come to my house, they just become part of my BPAL family ;) For some reason, I remember givers of bottles. Decants, not always. I kinda think I shouldn't sell gifted decants.

Change

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:37:48 GMT

I was musing about this today. Some people on the BPAL forum were talking about whether they were going to sign up for the next gift swap or not. One of the Yea/Nay factors was the big shakeup initiated by the board moderators. People don't like change. We're funny little creatures of habit. We don't like to be bored but don't change things up on us either, LOL. The swap changes may end up being for the best, but it's hard to tell from up close right now.

I've had more changes in my life than most people, and I've had to get used to it but I don't recommend it. We move every 4 to 6 years. My kids don't know what to say when people ask them where they're from. I barely remember myself. I do remember what it's like to grow up in one place, though. People don't realize how lucky they are if they did that. Try to provide it for your kids. "Seeing the world" is vastly inferior to that.

It's Raining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:21:25 GMT

And it's all nice and gloomy gray outside. This is me doing a little blissful happy dance ----------------------------->

OK, maybe you have to visualize a little...

Finally, finally, finally a break from the damn heat. I'll bet the temp has dropped 20 degrees. Bliss, I tell you!! Life is good.

That is all.

OMFG Hot

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:02:07 GMT

Tim is in Philly this week for a convention. I wanted to go with him and he claimed we never had the conversation so he went and I didn't. It's 98 degrees in the shade. In the garage where I had the bright idea to crush cans, it was probably 110. Don't do that, BTW. Makes ya dizzy.

I went to a paralegals' group luncheon today. Good me. Was going to try to do some networking for jobhunting purposes. I am not good at this. It involves pretending to be interested in people I don't know in hopes they can/will help me out. Repeat, I am NOT good at this. Got lost only twice on the way over, so it only took me 40 minutes instead of the estimated 30. *shrug* Anyway, I chatted halfheartedly with 5 women I didn't care about (over an overpriced plate of not-very-good Mexican food) and listened to a chubby speaker talk about her pet charity, which I also didn't care about. Sorry, but I didn't. Never heard of it. Made no useful contacts. Go, me. I still, however, smell divine (Old Morocco). They soo did not deserve that.

And how was your day?

Crap

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:07:12 GMT

Got stopped by the base police today while I was out getting stuff for my SW package. Was having fun - until then. As soon as the guy with the drug dog waved me over to the curb, I knew I was screwed. My license expired last week, and my new insurance card was at home. No one ever bothered to put it in the car, because we'd all been on vacation. And because. . .no one bothered. F***.

So I dig out the paperwork, the cop looks through it (me resigned to my fate, after all, whatcha gonna do?), then we start the drill. Open all the doors, pop the hood (which I'd never done), and open the trunk. Couldn't open the trunk. Never did it before. I never GO anywhere. Whenever I do, something bad happens. Like today. I dig out the damn manual to read where the damn trunk release is, the cop stands there awhile and finally notices a button on the door. On the door? Who the hell puts it on the door? Whatever. So he and his buddy go through the car, takes all of 2.5 minutes. THEN I get the $5 lecture on how he could give me a $70 fine for no insurance (don't think this is true because I HAVE insurance, but never argue with cops) and if I get caught by the locals it's $200. This part catches my attention. The cops around here are nasty and nitpicky, as everyone in the family has learned (very expensively).

So instead of picking up the rest of my stuff, I cried and went home. All I could think about on the way was how easy it would be to just drive out to the airport and leave this godforsaken state behind me. I miss Alaska. But my life there is gone.

Present Day!

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:06:43 GMT

Today is my Present Day. I resolved not to have any more birthdays, oh, years ago when I decided I don't want any more birthdays, but I'm all about the presents, LOL. My fam understands. They oblige. I get a first-thing-in-the-morning Happy Present Day greeting. It's all good. Husband and child both working all day today, so the computer is mine all mine (mwahahaha). Not sure what the plan is for the eve, perhaps grill something, perhaps go out. Would just as happily stay home and eat food that is guaranteed to be good ;)

In other news, the dust is more or less settling over the Switch Witch debacle (look this one up if you don't know it, such a great word). One interesting thing came out of it. I've been doing a population/post count since the auto-archiving started. A few days ago, 92 posted over the week of the current thread. Today it was 84. Not great participation, but still better (I think?) than when the thread was so ungodly huge. Too bad those who bailed because of the Super-Size may not even know it just went permanently low fat.

Update

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:37:10 GMT

I promised to keep you all in the loop on this kerfuffle as much as possible so here's what we got at the mo'. The 3 Musketeers have been offered the choice to monitor the thread for off-topic violations ourselves or they'll do it. We aren't very interested in reporting swap participants for going off-topic. For one thing, we consider most of you friends and it can create bad feelings. For another, they've made it clear that we aren't "real mods" but this is one of the unpleasant things real mods do. We see no benefit in reporting you. We didn't want any of this to go down in the first place. Personally, I think they'll be monitoring the thread from now on regardless of how it shakes out. Sorry, my opinion.

Not sure whether there'll be reminders for the off-topic thing or not. Latest pm says yes, but the posting in the new thread said no. Stay tuned.

We've been "requested" to bring any further complaints to the mods so they can be handled before things get to this point in the future. I won't comment on this. I could. I'd love to. But I won't.

Everything so far has been "suggested," but if you've dealt with forum mods before, you know how it works. Cooperate or suffer the consequences. You never ever win. We have no choice. We either go along with the suggestions or the three of us will probably be removed. Again, our opinion.

The new FAQs should go up any time.

A SW 4th of July ;)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:38:33 GMT

Just a quick update: Shannon has tweaked the FAQs (credit where credit is due!), we're going to tweak just a bit more (getting a bit of pressure from "upstairs"), and then submit them. No idea how they'll feel about what we give 'em. Y'all know already the old chat thread as we once knew it is gone, gone, gone. No sense mourning what you can't have. But. We've done our best to preserve a few things for the group.

Yeah, it's been a painful paradigm shift, not executed with great grace. But all things change eventually, and in the grand scheme of things, this isn't the Twin Towers tragedy. With luck, the swap will be left alone again, to create new friendships between Witches for a long time to come. That sounds very lofty and grand for a gift swap, doesn't it? LOL

Hope everyone has a happy 4th & be careful with those sparklers!!!!

Still Stuck on Switch Witchery

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:34:58 GMT

Who knew? I take a few days vacation and things go to hell. Ah well, it isn't like we didn't know there were problems. We've been getting complaints this round, and they snowballed. Odd. One person complains, and pretty soon you've got dozens of comments attached to LJ entries, bashing SW. Are we frustrated? Yeah. Do we like getting anonymous emails? Not really. Makes it a little difficult when you don't know who you're responding to.

A lot of people didn't know we (meaning the swap moderators) have been working on ways to fix things, make them better, more fun. It's a challenge. We wanted to split the thread, thought that would help immensely with both length and subject matter; we suggested it to the mods a while ago. Shot down. We are planning to post an exit poll, so watch for that.

I don't think the problem is that the swap is too big. It isn't that big. Really. These are just my musings here, so feel free to disagree ;) Partly, it's that it has evolved - enormously - from what it once was. (It was originally a very small swap, gifts were small, and I'm not sure there was a chat thread at all.) We get three complaints over and over about the swap itself: the thread is too big, there's too much sad stuff posted, and people don't feel noticed. Actually, people don't tell me the 3rd one much, but I see it posted a lot.

When people started "complaining" on-thread, the mods noticed. We were already working on solutions, but. . .well, ya see what happened. Not that I disagree with a lot of things they said.

BPAL is still my favorite forum, SW is a fun swap (my ever-so-humble opinion), and we can troubleshoot the problems. Once again, suggestions please?