The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

I have GOT to stop...
02:56 Jan 30 2010
Times Read: 770

Quote: As long as something is devil, i'm up for it !





* I'm thinking eggs, crab, etc....*

'Poltergeist' actor dies at age of 76
03:35 Jan 29 2010
Times Read: 774




by Mike Ryan · January 27, 2010

Zelda Rubinstein -- best known for her role as Tangina Barrons in the three "Poltergeist" films -- has died at the age of 76 from complications after suffering a heart attack two months ago.



Rubinstein's first role -- not counting her voice work as Atrocia Frankenstone on "The Flintstone Comedy Show" -- was as Iris in the Chevy Chase box-office bomb "Under the Rainbow." The first role came at the relatively late age of 47, in a film she personally despised for its depiction of little people. The 4-foot, 3-inch Rubinstein's fortunes changed dramatically when she was cast as the now-iconic medium, Tangina Barrons, in "Poltergeist." She would have continued success on television, most notably as Ginny Weedon in the David E. Kelley drama "Picket Fences," plus other small but memorable roles in films like "Sixteen Candles."



Rubinstein avoided what is known as the "Poltergeist" curse. Four of the cast members who starred in the series of three films died during the six years (1982-1988) between the first and third film. Dominique Dunne -- who was murdered by her boyfriend in 1982 at the age of 22 -- and Heather O'Rourke -- dying from septic shock in 1988 at the age of 12 -- were shocking tragedies. Will Sampson already had health problems before accepting a role in the second film and died from kidney failure in 1987 at the age of 53. Julien Beck was aware of his terminal stomach cancer before accepting the role of Kane in the second film -- he died in 1985. Louis Byron "Lou" Perryman -- who had a small role in the first film -- was murdered in 2009.



It's arguable if two unexpected deaths from a film constitute a curse, but that perception remains quite popular among fans of the film series. The alive-and-well star of the first two films, Craig T. Nelson, starred on the hit comedy "Coach" and can soon be seen in the new series "Parenthood."



As the first "Poltergeist" film still remains quite popular, many generations will remember Rubinstein's performance as Tangina, her calming presence explaining to a terrorized family, "There is no death. There is only a transition to a different sphere of consciousness."



Steven Spielberg summed her up best when he said, "Good things can come in small packages, and that's certainly true of Zelda."

huhn.....go figure...
04:48 Jan 27 2010
Times Read: 782

Paranormal State - Tuesday, January 26



"Haunted Sex Dungeon"



A mansion near Detroit is investigated when the owner claims to hear voices and "banging noises"

I thought it was gone....
21:04 Jan 23 2010
Times Read: 795

or at least "in remission" if that phrase can be used about something as chimerical as that thing I do around some people.



For those of you who have not read my journal all the way back to the beginning, I sometimes "feel" things when I touch certain people. Usually, and most often, it is with complete strangers. Being the kind of woman I am, I can sense when some people are having a bad day, for wont of a better word. And as a bartender, I have often used whatever it is I do to try and help, and that usually involves me touching them in some way. That has usually given me insights into people that either made me sick, scared me shitless, or left me shaken and upset. By the same token, it has often given me a great deal of satisfaction to be able to at least mitigate some of what I feel from people, and hopefully help them feel a little better.



Ever since I moved to Canada, since the bulk of the people I come into physical contact with are usually my new family, who have shown me nothing but love, or the people I work with, who also have good hearts, I haven't had a chance to experience that "thing" alot. And at times I have been immensely grateful to not have that blast come at me. Right now is about healing and getting on with my life, not trying to mitigate the lives of others.



The other day I was running around, shopping and what not, and I decided to treat myself to lunch at a local chinese resturaunt. I sat down with my book and ordered (yummmm, lemon chicken) and then looked around at my surroundings, having never been in this resturaunt before. As I was doing so, a Chinese couple came in and sat down a few tables away from me. The man had a long chain with alot of keys on it, which he slung down on the chair next to him. He then barked out an order to the waitress, barked something else at the woman with him, and as soon as the food came, he hunched over the table and started cramming food into his mouth.



He might as well have been chewing on broken glass and nuts and bolts. All I got from him was a veritable wave of hate, anger, disapproval, and disgust. Problem is, I'm not sure just exactly who he was aiming it at, but he could do just that.



Aim it.



And he focused his attention on the waitress, his companion, and some kids that were being noisy at the next table. None of them seemed to feel it.



Then he turned around and looked at me, as I was reading my book and eating yummy chicken. Suffice it to say, as soon as he focused all that emnity at me, it was like standing at ground zero of a very explosive detonation. I felt WAVES of disapproval, as if I had just walked into HIS house, sat down, and demanded he feed me. Like I didn't belong there. It was extremely upsetting, especially since I never laid a HAND on this guy, and I was still feeling all this from him. So I got the rest of my food boxed up, and I walked to the door. Before I got there, I looked back, and he was looking at me, and the sensation was of something extremely slimy sliding up my back. If I had been home, I would have vomited....



Then, on Thursday, I had a function to work, a retirement party for a local company. There was another one going on downstairs, and one of the servers told me that Eddy Wong was there. Now Eddy is the great guy who hired me when I first started applying for jobs almost two years ago. He taught me, talked to me, was there for me when I had to go back to Georgia for the trial against the stepmonster, etc. We are about the same age, and we both share a dedication to our jobs that is rare in this day an age, especially for the hospitality industry.



So of course, I galloped downstairs to say hi and give him a huge hug. I mean I really missed this guy, and the way he echoed my passion for this place.



I found him at the bar, and I rushed over to give him a hug.



And there it was again. That thing that apparently I can't get away from, no matter WHERE I move...lol



And once again, I got seriously bad vibes from Eddy. He said he didn't miss the place AT ALL, which I can certainly understand. His dedication to this place gave him 2 heartattacks (kinda makes me wonder what's in store for me at this point if I don't level out ). He said he did miss some of the people. including me, but the whole time he was talking, all I got was this pulling back feeling. It was almost as if he was afraid to touch me or anyone else who still worked there for fear of being sucked back into some dark hole, and he just didn't want to be contaminated with the place. So I shook his hand, told him he was definitely missed, and I went back upstairs to my bar. Tristan came up later, looking like I had when I came up, and I asked him if he had had a chance ot atalk to Eddy. He said yes, but that Eddy kept looking at his nametag as if he needed to remind himself of who Tristan was.



I was hoping this thing had died down a bit. I can only hope that these kinds of incidents don't happen as frequently at least.



Only time will tell.

REALLY?
19:45 Jan 20 2010
Times Read: 812

On 19:43:04 Jan 20 2010 (-0 GMT) ***** wrote:





I'd love the chance to banter with you more (because you seem so...well...adult...and...don't take this wrong way...but UNCRAZY :) )



I have to go pick my 17 yr old up from school and off to Big Lots for the $8 twin sheet sale!



I'll keep looking for you on line though :)





*okay, I thought I was being my normal self, and I is UNCRAZY???



puppy fail on a MASSIVE scale...LMAO



This kid and I are going to have fun in the messages to come...

Well, well.....
03:02 Jan 19 2010
Times Read: 839

Last month I was reading through my fav journals, and I was cruising through Lady Chordewa's, when this entry of hers caught my eye...



***********



Well just like they say, a bad penny always turns up. Please help me welcome back:



Confirmed VR Aliases





Dragonkeeper39 - Suspended/Deleted



Dragonmaster399 - Suspended/Deleted



LordKratos - Suspended/Deleted



LordKratos2 - Suspended/Deleted



XMasterOrinX - Suspended/Deleted



dardarknightshade - Suspended/Deleted



shadowmancer - Suspended/Deleted



erickthecrow - Suspended/Deleted



Drakus - Suspended



gatekeeper - Suspended



satenhimself - Suspended



Snake666 - Suspended/Deleted



spellbinder - Suspended



LordofWar - Deleted



Shadowdemonchaos - Deleted





And his most current profile:



Woulfhound - Current





As you can see, he has been here before and has either been suspended or deleted himself, when he was found out. This is person is extremely friendly to teens, to the point of making them uncomfortable. Please keep an eye on your teens and let the administration know if he is inappropriate with anyone. (logs must be included).



If you want more info on the man, just ask me.



**********************



Today I was on, just rating and what not, trying to boost my levels a bit. And lo and behold, what should I have to deal with but this...





On 02:41:33 Jan 19 2010 (-0 GMT) woulfhound wrote:



do you still not want to talk to me



On 02:44:42 Jan 19 2010 (-0 GMT) RedQueen wrote:



Dude, you are crass, crude, offensive and vulgar.



I would say the answer to that is obvious.





On 02:46:52 Jan 19 2010 (-0 GMT) woulfhound wrote:



only when i am pissed but as you wish bye





On 02:47:18 Jan 19 2010 (-0 GMT) RedQueen wrote:



then you must stay pissed ALOT



On 02:48:32 Jan 19 2010 (-0 GMT) woulfhound wrote:



no i am just easy to git pisssed i have pipolor and so many trigers it is not funny i am sorry if i ofened you





On 02:51:10 Jan 19 2010 (-0 GMT) RedQueen wrote:



No. You're just trash, and you try to treat others like trash. That is why most of us have nothing to do with you.



Get it? No one wants you here. You upset people who are just here to have a good time, you frighten girls, and you offend those of us with any sense of intelligence, decency and morality.



On 02:55:45 Jan 19 2010 (-0 GMT) woulfhound wrote:



iam not going to fight with you or lesan to you you think you know but you dont you made it clear you dont want to talk so as you wish





You would think that if a guy is going to try and make a statement he should be able to spell at least the SMALL words.



twit.

*grump*
09:37 Jan 18 2010
Times Read: 847

Okay, now I'm getting irritated. I have begun to see a growing trend around here, and quite frankly, it's not one I am particularly happy with.



"I have rated you and your portfolio, if you have one. If you would like to add me to your friends and my journal to your favorites that would be great. Let me know so I can add you to mine."



" I rated you, please come rate me and add me to your friends list, and let me know so I can add you to mine"



I have been getting alot of these in my message box here lately. It was ok when it was just in the comment section when they rated. Not great, but ok.



But I am none to thrilled with someone I have never met messaging me with this. You rated me? Thanks, but that don't make us instant buddies. I only add people to my friends list that are my "friends". I will rate when "I" want to, not when you want me to.



Am I being overly sensitive? I don't think so. I have met alot of people who have just popped up, some of them I count as my closest friends. But this just irritates me for some reason, and I doubt very seriously that I am alone in feeling this way. I'm sure I could count on growls from a few of the zoo to back me up on this one. And I happen to know that rat, cat, birdie, otter, and a few others have the bite to back even that up....lol.



I was always a little peeved that people could add me to their friends list, clutter up my shit, and I didn't have a thing to say or do about it. I recently went through and shaved alot of deadwood off my friends list, and my fav journals list, because I see no point in having someone on there that I never talk to or who never talks to me. But there ain't thing one I can do about some crass bitch who thinks I'm trying to steal her boyfriend having me on her friends list just to irritate me.



I understand that there are points, levels and bonuses to be earned around here. I play the game just like everybody else does, albeit not as frequently as I used to. But that kind of blatant crap is just as bad as the crap on Facebook. People I haven't talked to in years, people I went to high school with for crying out loud, and who NEVER talked to me then, suddenly want to be my BFF.



Ain't. Gonna. Happen.



So when can you legitimately send back a thanks but no thanks fuck off note?



/end rant



*note to self: I think it is high time some of us zoo people reinstated the soap box in all it's velvet glory*

KEErist almighty.....
09:21 Jan 18 2010
Times Read: 849

One night.



I only had to work ONE. EFFING. NIGHT this week.



You would think this would be a damn no brainer.....



But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.



Not me. I have to have the Murphy's law night of all time...



I got there early, as I am prone to do. Because in the 1 year, 9 months, 2 weeks, and 6 days have been working at Westwood, I have learned that NOTHING is ever going to be easy at this joint. Besides, it's a wedding. Bridezilla ain't got nothing on some of these gals, let me tell you. So it ain't going to be easy.



Not no how



Not no way.



And I, for one, detest being rushed, especially when I have so much heavy lifting to do on an average basis.



So, off I went.



I got there, and checked in at the office. Not a soul in sight.



Main kitchen? Nada.



Pan room kitchen? My favorite chef, Diane was there, plying her trade as usual, and SHE didn't know where anyone was either.



So back to the basement, finish dressing, and then back to the office.



Again, not a soul.



So I went back up to Pan room, got the function sheet, and determined that:



There was no dinner wine needed (WOOT)

there were tickets, but only for NON-alcoholic drinks. (here's where the grumbling started-I never make money on those), but the rest of the bar, everything as usual, was cash only (we're back to WOOT)



So I tapdanced down to the basement, loaded up the cart, and hauled it all upstairs, via the elevator. "IT" consisted of 6 cases of red wine (to be divided between the two bars) and the back (premium) bars.



I get upstairs, only to see that only one bar is set up in the room, the other one having been pushed out in the hall.



I'm working a wedding of 100 people, WITH alcohol, and I's it.



*grumbling gets louder^



So, I start setting up my bar. That's when I discovered that the extension cord that connects the liquor gun mechanics to the plug in the wall is gone. Not just disconnected, but GONE. So I go get another one.



I plug everything in, and flip the switch for the liquor gun.



Nothing. Nada. Zip, zilch, zero.



So I try another extension cord.



Again, repeat above.



So idjit me, I decide to unlock the beer cooler, and check inside.



Again. Repeat above. No lights, no cold air, nuttin....



*insert raised eyebrow------->*



I had to get ANOTHER cord, and run it under the cooler, under the glassware table, and over to the socket by the POS computer.



um hummmm.....



Finally, everything is glowing in all the right spots, so I'm set, right?



yeah, sure. This is me we are talking about, right?



So I get everything set up, counted, and ready:



Ice? check



garnishes? check



caesar stuff? check



wine display? check



bar towels? check



Everything is ready to go in record time, and so I step into the kitchen to get water, and when I return, there's a guy in front of the bar, and a guy standing BEHIND my bar.



Where the liquor, cash, etc. is.



"Excuse me, can I HELP you?"



No, that's okay, I just needed to clean my glasses (he's using my bar rag for this, I might add)



"I would appreciate it if you would step out from behind the bar, please. That's for employees only."



Then his buddy in front of the bar, starts up.





"You are not supposed to be open."



I'm not sir. I had to set up now, so that when you are having the ceremony in here (yunh hunh) I won't disturb it by making noise setting up then.



"No, you don't understand, you can't have wine bottles out on the bar."



*I am now getting a sinking feeling in my gut area*



The bar is set up now, so that I can take care of your guests as soon as the ceremony is over. I can't set up during the ceremony, because it would make too much noise.



"No, No, NO. You don't understand. We are devout Muslims. You can't have this out here, it isn't permitted."



*right here was where he lost me as any kind of ally. I'm not PERMITTED to do my job? Puhleaze...*



So I politely told him to wait right there. I would go discuss this with the supervisor. So down to the office I go, where the manager is sitting.



"Jessica?"



yes dear.



"This guy upstairs who claims to be the bride's brother is telling me there isn't supposed to be any alcohol at this function, but the sheet clearly states a full bar"



I'll give her credit.....she has been hanging around me just long enough that "aw HELL no" actually comes out of her mouth in the right tone now...lol



So off WE go to the bar, where this guy is insisting that there isn't supposed to be any alcohol, and Jessica is steadfastly showing him the contract that the BRIDE HERSELF signed off on, indicating that alcohol would be available for cash. And also, that if any changes were going to be made this late in the game, the BRIDE was going to have to tell us so herself. So out comes the cell phone, and off they go to the hall to talk.



Five minutes later, I am having to snatch every OUNCE of liquor and wine off that bar, because it would insult the father of the bride and everybody else to see it. Now I know epiphanies can come on in a hurry, but somehow I doubt VERY seriously that in the four DAYS since that lady signed off on her contract, her entire family became devout Muslims.



I.E. pay attention when the sales people are talking to you honey. They're not just there to hear themselves talk.



And while it was a colorful wedding, and they all had a great deal of fun, and the mother of the bride was very thankdul to me for getting everything gone so fast, I did have to fend off the odd guy who was pissed because there was no alcohol.



AND. yes, there is always an AND when I get going on these things, isn't there....



The tickets they were using were also good for Rock Star and Redbull.



And the kids that were running around were going to be doing it well into the next day, considering the amount of energy drinks they put away.....



Serves 'em right for pissing me off.......

I just couldn't resist...LMAO
21:45 Jan 15 2010
Times Read: 864

E-MO Restaurant needs Cook



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 2010-01-15, 12:25PM PST

Reply to: job-2r3un-1554331438@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





E-MO Restaurant in Vancouver Requires Cook



Must have min 3 years experience.



-Manage kitchen & staff



-Plan, direct preperation & cooking



-Create new manu



-Cook training or skill transfer speak Korean & English



-F/T, 40hrs/week

Vampire movies miss their 'John Wayne' moment
07:50 Jan 14 2010
Times Read: 867

24 Frames

Movies: Past, present and future

In their heyday, Hollywood westerns were famous for their ability to attract moviegoers even when they weren't t trying very hard. During the fertile period of the 1950's, the genre extracted hits not only from acclaimed, enduring material such as "High Noon" and "The Searchers" but more degradable cultural monuments like "The Cowboy and the Prizefighter, "Moonlighter" and the classic of every self-respecting DVD collection, "Trigger Jr.", a Roy Rogers concoction about a killer horse.



There are plenty of creative similarities between the mid-20th century western and the modern-day vampire film, with their shared focus on a lone outlier's fight for justice, the culture-clash between a seemingly enlightened majority and primitive natives and other ideas that are the stuff of graduate-school theses. Like the western, the modern-day vampire movie of course also both attracts and creates some of the era's biggest stars (though we'll stop short of calling Taylor Lautner this generation's John Wayne).



But even as the vampire film, like all genres that go through a renaissance, continues to flower and fracture into variants (the latest is Ethan Hawke's "Daybreakers," which gives the category a refreshing survivalist spin by turning the vampires into everyday Americans in search of sustenance), it's falling short in that key respect -- getting people to notice more than just the A-list titles. It's now fair to ask if, outside the very particular case of the "Twilight" franchise, any other vampire movie will become a hit, let alone a phenomenon.



The modestly blood-drawing performance of "Daybreakers" at the box office this weekend gives further voice to the claim — the Lionsgate movie was the biggest wide-opener of the weekend and did well enough given its costs, but had a fourth-place finish, a weak Cinema Score rating and earned a not-overwhelming $15 million on 2500 screens.



Since the supposed vampire revival began several years ago, no non-Twilight film (and there have been plenty) has come close to breaking out. "Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" was an unabashed failure. "30 Days of Night" had one decent weekend and faded faster than a bloodsucker at sunrise. A more auteur-driven attempt, "Thirst," couldn't even muster $500,000 at the domestic box office this summer.



All failed to register the resonance or receipts that similar vampire movies did in other periods friendly to the form — not only the salad days of the "Blades" and "Underworlds" earlier this decade but even the campy films of previous generations, such as the 1979 George Hamilton spoof "Love at First Bite," which earned more than any of the current non-Twilight films.



In fact, other than "Twilight," no vampire movie in the current revival has even earned $40 million. (Unless it enjoys a miraculous surge, "Daybreakers" won't change that.)



We suppose it's OK for the trend to thrive mainly on television and elsewhere in pop-culture. And when it finally and mercifully wraps up, the "Twilight" films alone will have made practically as much money as entire standalone genres.



But resurgences are supposed to lift derivative and spin-off properties too, and in such a way that we even forget a little why we like the conventions and just accept them as cinematic fact. To be considered a thriving category, you need not only John Wayne and Gary Cooper but Roy Rogers and his horses too.



— Steven Zeitchik

......yeah......
22:23 Jan 13 2010
Times Read: 875

I called Sunday to talk to Connor, just like I do every two weeks. When I was there last March, I got everything set up so that Jim could apply for Connor's passport, up to an including paying for it, so that he could come up on spring break and visit me for a change, and I could introduce him to my wonderful family up here, and he could meet the people that make me so happy, and who want to meet him. I'm a firm believer that a child can never have too many people who love him.



So after months of him flat out lying to me about yes, he sent in the app, yes, he had called and checked where it was, yadda yadda yadda, I finally backed him into a corner on the phone and asked him outright if he had the passport yet, because it only takes NINETY DAYS to get it and I got him all the paperwork and what not in MARCH of last year.



No, he didn't send in the app.



"Are you going to let him come up to visit for spring break?"



No.



"Why not?"



Because I don't trust you- you lie.



"Feeling's mutual, Jim, but we're going to have to talk about this when I come down."



click.



That's right, the bastard hung up on me.

It is the only way for him to exert control, since I took away his control over me by LEAVING his ass. And he does it all the time, in numerous nit noid, shitty little ways that just makes things hard for Connor and I.



ya gotta love irony.



So now I'm going back to Florida, which I hate doing, because my ex-husband is a lying, condescending, egotistical bastard who can't think for himself, he has to listen to his mommy. And when I do, my EX husband and I are going to have a DEFINITE Come to JESUS.



I have tried to be nice and civil to him, though he ill deserves it, for Connor's sake, so that he isn't upset anymore than he has to be over this appalling situation.



Enough is enough.

For the unemployed, new job often means a pay cut
19:45 Jan 10 2010
Times Read: 889

Am I the only one who sees the incongruity in this statement?



Thank you yahoo.

heeheeheehee.....
18:43 Jan 08 2010
Times Read: 906

Plus-size models buck thin trend in V magazine

‘Big’ news as avant-garde fashion publication releases February ‘Size’ issue

By Michael Inbar

TODAYshow.com contributor

updated 7:46 a.m. PT, Fri., Jan. 8, 2010

The stick-skinny, celery-and-cigarettes crowd of female models will likely never go out of fashion — but now their more substantial sisterhood is giving them a run for their money.



Glamour magazine fired the first shot last year when it featured a photo of plus-size model Lizzie Miller flashing a broad smile while letting her belly show. Now V magazine has upped the ante with the release of its “Size” issue this week — featuring models whose dress sizes hit double digits sporting skimpy bathing suits, hip-hugging jeans and, in some cases, nothing at all.



“I loved the opportunity to show that you can be beautiful and sexy outside the narrow interpretations that normally define us,” said photographer Solve Sundsbo, who snapped the models for V.



Big and small

V magazine is known for pushing the envelope on fashion journalism; it famously pictured pop star Lady Gaga topless in a photo spread last year. And now it has moved the debate of size-equals-beauty even more to the forefront with two competing covers of its new issue. One cover features 250-pound “Precious” film star Gabourey Sidibe, while the other cover features 100-pound, size-0 actress Dakota Fanning.



In addition, the current issue features a pictorial of traditionally svelte model Jacquelyn Jablonski posing in exactly the same fashions as plus-size model Crystal Renn.



Renn, of course, has become an icon to bigger women everywhere. The curvy size-12 model recounted her tale of trying to fit in with the size-0 modeling crowd in her memoir “Hungry,” released last year.



And while V seemingly sets up big-versus-small as some kind of competition, Renn has said she’s not out to topple the thin models from their traditional throne of dominance in the fashion industry.



“I’d like to see everyone take on the attitude that there are women of all different shapes and sizes as ‘the beauty ideal,’ and that it’s not one type or another,” Renn told The Associated Press.



“There are women who are naturally a size 2 — you can’t forget them, and that’s discrimination the other way,” Renn added. “All women bring something different to the table, and we have to appreciate them all.”



Eye of the beholder?

Still, V’s creative director Stephen Gan says he’s more in tune than ever to what bigger models can offer. He admits he was caught up in the smaller-is-better thinking until he met with Renn during New York City’s Fashion Week last fall.



“When someone as gorgeous as she is was talking about how her agent would keep telling her to lose weight … and she ended up nearly dying,” Gan was moved to re-examine his own mind-set, he told the New York Post.



But what sealed the deal for Ren was seeing the movie trailer for “Precious” last year and its zaftig star Sidibe. “I don’t want to sound like a fashion person … but for the last three months I have been obsessed with bigger girls!” he told the Post.



The average U.S. woman is considered to be a size 14, and some 41 percent of them are a larger size. While some critics have panned V’s plus-size model shoot, claiming it is in bad taste and promotes unhealthy living, Gan says he is of a mind to say, “Can’t we all just get along?”



“In this world, when a girl’s called ‘beautiful,’ sometimes my reaction to that is: In what terms? In fashion terms? Beauty pageant terms? Real people terms? I wish I could just say, ‘She’s beautiful,’ and leave it at that,” Gan told the Post.







© 2010 MSNBC Interactive. Reprints

URL: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34766041/ns/today-today_fashion_and_beauty?GT1=43001

And yet ANOTHER good start to the year
18:19 Jan 08 2010
Times Read: 911

In November, on the 5th I believe, I had what is affectionately called a fender bender. Although I reassure the public that no actual fenders were hurt in this exercise at the time.



I was sitting at a stop sign, I decided in the interest of not holding up traffic in rush hour, I would turn right, only to scrape down the left hand front corner of the lady who was too damned impatient to wait her turn, and instead tried to scoot past me. I broke her left turn signal light cover.



SHE left a long scrap down one side of my car, and knocked loose the right rear wheel rim cover.



First, I asked her to call me, and I would take care of it. Instead, she called ICBC (insurance monopoly for BC) who promptly sent me a letter telling me so.



Then, they called, wanted my explanation for what happened. I told them the truth up to and including that I had told the woman I was sorry, and that I wasn't signalling at the time.



THEN they wanted a diagram of where I was when the accident happened. They also requested one from her.



Then I waited



and waited



and waited MORE.



When I called just before Christmas, and Ms. LeeAnn (yes, how ironic-close in name, miles apart in accent...lol) told me they were still waiting on her to send in her diagram. LeeAnn said the lady was having some personal difficulties, that she couldn't be more specific than that, and that she was unable to get the diagram in at the time.



A week later they were STILL waiting. LeeAnn said she was going on vacation, would be back on January 4th, and if they hadn't received anything from her by then, they would rule on the existing evidence.



i.e:



Her original complaint

her description of the accident

MY description of the accident

My diagram.



Ms. LeeAnn called at 9 am this morning ( I have since given up on sleeping late right now- EVERYBODY seems convinced that they have to call and wake me up early just for giggles; why fight it?)



They assessed the laibility of the accident as follows:



75% to HER for trying to scoot past me



25% to me for not moving as far over to the right side as I should have to make the right turn.



None of this is going to affect my insurance. I did, however, ask LeeAnn if I could ask a question. She hesitated, but said sure. I asked if the lady was ok, that I knew she hadn't been able to return the diagram (she never did by the way) and that it was due in large part to personal problems, and I knew LeeAnn couldn't go into it, but was she ok?



LeeAnn hesitated again, then in a strange sounding voice said that was the sweetest thing she had ever heard, and that yes, the woman was fine, and while she couldn't go into it as I stated, she had it on good authority that the lady was doing much better now.



Saints be praised, and all the important deities have been properly notified.



All good wishes from you guys were greatly appreciated, and bearing with me while I ranted about it in the first place was also graciously appreciated.



I guess even after 4 years, I am still shocking and unnerving Canadians still.



Who knew?



Now let's PARTY!

A habit is a habit, no matter how big...lol
06:27 Jan 05 2010
Times Read: 921

Warcraft helps catch a crook

by Ben Silverman





Buzz up!





January 4 1:26 P.M.





Warcraft helps extend the reach of law enforcement.

Criminals can run, but they can't hide. Especially if they play World of Warcraft.



Just ask Alfred Hightower. Having successfully left the country to avoid being nabbed for dealing drugs, the fugitive figured he was home free. But thanks to his insistence on keeping up with his World of Warcraft habit, Hightower was tracked down by authorities and is now in custody, reports The Kokomo Perspective.



The saga begins in 2007, when Indiana's Howard County Sheriff's Department issued a warrant for Hightower's arrest on charges of dealing in multiple controlled substances. U.S. Marshals were unable to locate the suspect, although a tip placed him in Canada.



According to Howard County deputy Matt Roberson, authorities came upon the Warcraft connection during their investigation into Hightower's background.



“We received information that this guy was a regular player of an online game, which was referred to as ‘some warlock and witches’ game,” he told The Perspective. “None of that information was sound enough to pursue on its own, but putting everything we had together gave me enough evidence to send a subpoena to Blizzard Entertainment. I knew exactly what he was playing — World of Warcraft. I used to play it. It’s one of the largest online games in the world.”



Blizzard played ball, giving up Hightower's account history, IP address, screen name, billing address and preferred game server. One Google Earth search later, and Canadian authorities had apprehended Hightower in Ottowa, Ontario.



“You hear stories about you can’t get someone through the Internet,” said Roberson. “Guess what??You can. I just did. Here you are, playing World of Warcraft, and you never know who you’re playing with.”



Warcraft is just the latest ally in gaming's war against crime. Several weeks ago, police tracked down a New York thief by tracing his online gaming on a stolen Xbox. Federal officials have even begun using Sony's Playstation 3 to crack passwords used by child pornographers.



Via Kotaku

Happy New Year, albeit it a little late.
23:36 Jan 04 2010
Times Read: 928

I love New Year’s. It gives everybody with any sense a chance to look back, re-evaluate, and decide where you want your life to go. And for that reason, this year far outweighed all the rest for the past few years.

This marked the first time in almost 10 years that I had actually had to work on New Year’s. At the Hilton, we closed the bar for Christmas and New Year’s because there was never enough business to have me work. And that was fine, because it gave me more time with my family over the holidays. But over the years, that time had become worse and worse, and more and more strained.

Then, after I moved up here, it was over 2 years before I could even START work, much less worry about working the holidays. And while I was sloshing through snow last year to cover all the Christmas parties, we didn’t have to work New Year’s because the people who had booked their function cancelled at the last minute, due to the lousy economy in 2008.

This year? Oh. My. LORD.

I came in early, because I had NO idea what I was going to be dealing with, and I didn’t want to be rushed. And damn good thing I did, because once again, one of the other bartenders who shall remain nameless had left a disastrous mess in the wine cage, which of course I had to straighten out before I could EVEN start pulling the stuff for that night. So I am already thinking to myself that all the promises I had made to myself to be less bitchy and gripey and complaining were already fixing to go out the window…..

As I was coming up the elevator with the supplies to set up the bars, I could hear the band from the BASEMENT. Loudly. With ACCORDIANS.



Ahhhh, gawd.



I walked into the room, and there is a speaker right next to my bar that is the size of most of the servers.



It was plugged in.

There was another one next to the OTHER bar.

There were 4 more around the room.

And the band had it cranked to the stratosphere.



My ears are starting to bleed.



The I got the function sheet for this party.



The Azerbaijan Cultural Event.



*insert appropriately raised eyebrow here*



I had to stop and close my eyes and imagine just what I was getting myself in for.



And this is why I love New Year’s. What you think is going to turn out to be a great night turns on a dime into shitty.



And what you think is going to be the death of you?



Turns out to be the best night of your life, filled with unexpected surprises, and confirmation that you are right where you need to be.



Granted, not many of these people were drinking (not that there were that many to start with - maybe 125). But the ones that were, were very generous with tips and effusive with their praise of our services and their wishes for prosperity to us in the new year. This of course was in between bursts of clarinet/accordion/drums/keyboards at regular intervals, prompting me to have to yell to be heard when telling people what the cost of their drinks were.



You got the picture? A southern woman yelling at the top of her heavily accented voice to a bunch or Iranian guys.



Yup. Life can be just FULL of fun.



Then, I realized that at the table in front of my bar, is a couple who have brought their toddler with them, and said boy child has been staring at me since they walked in. So of course, I wave at him.



He just looks at me.



His dad brought him over to the bar, once he realized where the kid had planted his undivided attention.



I smile at the kid before I could help myself (thank you, Bri. lol)



He just looks at me.



I tickle at him.



He just looks at me.



After his dad brings him over to the bar for the umpteenth time (YES it is a word. Deal with it), I asked him if I could hold his son. He breaks into this huge grin, shouting (over the band) Of course, it’s NEW Year’s, is good luck, etc.



So I took the kid, cradled him in the crook of my left arm, and told him he was just such a sweet cutie, but that if he kept staring at girls, he was going to get a rep.



Of course, I was talking loudly. The BAND was playing, for cryin’ out loud.



But, of course, as soon as I started talking, the BAND. QUIT. PLAYING.



EVERYONE heard me talking to this kid, complete with accent, including the kid.



Suddenly, the kid reaches up, grabs me by the nose, and erupts in PEALS of laughter. As did the rest of the guests at the function.



Once again, I was a hit because I talk funny. That’s me, converting OTHER nationalities one ethnicity at a time. We no longer contain that conversion STRICTLY to Canadians. The kid laughed himself into hiccups, his dad gave me a huge hug, and he and the kid went back to the table.



Oh, but wait.



There’s MORE.



When I was getting ready to leave to go to work, I told Scott the only thing I regretted was that this year, unlike the past three, I wouldn’t be able to kiss him at midnight, and that was what I wanted to be doing at midnight. He commiserated, but said he didn’t think it would be proper for him to come to my work and do that, but that he would make up for it as soon as I got home.



At 10 minutes to midnight, Natasha, one of the servers, comes walking to my bar, tells me she will keep an eye on the bar, that there is someone in the hall who wants to see me. So I look at her funny, but walk out from the bar.



There stands Scott, in FULL gothic regalia. Black NuRock boots, complete with spikes, black leather pants that make his ass look absolutely munch able, black/red shirt, malachite necklace, and black brocade duster length coat, and his hair spiked to the nth degree (yes, so is that one, smartass).

I just melted. It had been a LONG time since anyone had gone to this much trouble to make me happy before I got here. A LONG time. And Scott does it every single day. This particular night he just made it very obvious to me just how lucky I was to have this man and his family in my life at this stage of my life. As Tristan counted down the seconds to midnight, I introduced Scott to the other people that hadn’t already met him, and at midnight, my baby kissed me very well, held me close, and laughed with me as the entire room erupted at midnight from all the people at the function.



These people had already gotten a charge out of me and my accent, and then we compounded it by stacking Scott in his outfit right next to me. Suffice it to say, it made for a really interesting collection of reactions from these people. But it was HYSTERICAL. And the kid who had given me a hard time about not serving him because he didn’t have his ID? Suddenly, he didn’t like my side of the room anymore…lol



But the guy with the toddler? He pushes his friend with the camera up to the bar, hands me the kid, pulls Scott in close, and insists we have to take a picture for the kid's baby book. Years from now, this guy is going to be looking at his baby pictures, and wonder why the HELL he is being held by a bartender with a goofy grin on her face, and a guy gothed out to the extreme....god help him...lol



After Scott left, I went back to work. All night, I had been giving these two girls (aged 4 and 6) glasses of water. When they came back over for the fourth time, I asked if they wanted to share a glass since they weren’t drinking all of the water. The four year old informed me that she was sick, she was going to the doctor the next day, and she couldn’t share glasses till she was all better, so I promptly gave her her own glass. As I bent down to hand it to her, I told her she could have her own glass, and I would leave it on the table behind me so she could get to it anytime she wanted. She broke into this huge grin, looked up at me and said, hand to god:



“You sound just like a cowgirl.. That is so COOL!”



This New Year’s is one I will not forget anytime too soon.



And yes, I have bragged about Scott showing up to anyone who would stand still long enough to listen.



Including you guys.



Thanks for listening.

Thanks for always putting up with my constant complaining about work and life in general.

Thanks for thinking that I am such a riot.

And thanks to all of you who read my journal over the years, and not only let me consider you my friend, but consider me one of yours as well.



Happy New Year everybody. May this new one be better than the last.