Domestic Geek

I had a really weird moment of Zen last Thursday, I think it was. My old place of employment called Marcus because the designers are being allowed to work from home 3 days a week instead of having to make the drive to Larkspur every day and needed their computers set up to access the network from home. At first I was so incredibly angry when I heard about that, because I asked for that exact work situation before I was let go. Since one of my main problems was the amount of gas I was wasting driving there, I wanted the ability to work from home and I was flat out told no.

Then I took a deep breathe and felt totally at peace — a real moment of zen. I realized if I had gotten what I had wanted, I wouldn't be where I am now. I wouldn't be working at an established company only 17 miles from home, working with Marcus, working with a really nice set of people for the most part, getting some recognition for the good work I do, getting paid hourly so I actually get overtime pay for those extra hours I work and getting company-paid benefits. Instead I'd still be working at a floundering start-up where the personalities clash, people are mean and rude to each other, driving 100 miles a day round trip, no benefits whatsoever, having to deal with stupid clients and franchisees and generally feeling too much stress.

It was a sucky road getting here, but I am truly grateful for the position I have now. I'm grateful for the experiences I've had at all the different places I've worked because they have given me such a broad knowledge base of the various types of design skills needed and so far all have come into play in one way or another where I currently work. Even my technology skills have been useful.

I'm so glad I was so quickly able to look for the good and let go of those angry, ugly feelings I was having. It's a real breakthrough for me.

So, it was a little warm driving home from work today. I face was just throbbing and I was sick of being in traffic. I pulled off into a convenience store to get a beverage and decided I'd get an ice cream instead. Well, I set it on the table when I got home and used the restroom, got a drink and plumb forgot all about the poor ice cream. D'oh! I found it before it became a total puddle, so I threw it in the freezer and just now got to eat it. I wanted one last little treat since I don't know how long it will take the old mouth to heal after the surgery. Some days, I wonder where the old brain is hiding!

This test was posted in a forum to which I belong and wanted to share the result here. I just love Katherine Hepburn and I can only hope to be as classy as she.

Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Because for the most part, they're freaking crooks. I had my consultation today. I knew things were going to go downhill when they said they needed an x-ray. Um, hello? I just had x-rays done last week by the dentist that referred me to you. Noooooo, you need your very own x-rays. Then, the dentist doesn't even look at my mouth and asks me the same dumb questions that were on the freaking form he had me fill out. You can't be bothered to take a second to look over the form? He also asked if the other dentist had prescribed something for the pain. I told him Vicodin and that it wasn't working. Would he prescribe something else? No, I guess not.

I was actually in his presence all of 5 minutes maybe and they had the gall to charge me $88. Then they can't fit me in until Friday afternoon and proceed to tell me that this little surgery is going to cost me $500 with my insurance. Holy shit, they had to be kidding me! When I heard the one chick at the reception desk giving numbers to the other, I thought they were procedure codes, not prices. I think I paid about that to have my wisdom teeth out without insurance.

I was so angry I cried the whole way home. I feel violated in a way. This isn't the first time I've been jacked over by a dentist and why I have such a huge mistrust of them in the first place. I can't go anyplace else because I have to go to the surgeon my dentist referred me to in order for any of it to be covered by insurance. I'm this close to learning to live with the pain rather than line some crook's pockets. Not rational, I know. I'm just so freaking pissed.

So, not sure how I'm going to come up with that much money in just a few short days. Marcus said he'd help, but I'm sure he wasn't counting on it being that much. Geez, this sucks.

Man, after working all day yesterday and getting very little sleep thanks to the vicodin the previous two nights, I was out like a light the minute my head hit the pillow about 4:30 pm yesterday. I think I got up for about an hour to eat some of the pizza that Marcus brought home, took a swig of NyQuil and then I was out again. Even his talking to his friends online while playing Call of Duty didn't phase me. I slept straight through until 8:30 this morning. My back hurt something fierce when I got up, though.

I did manage to get the thermostat changed on my car today (with Marcus' much appreciated help). I hope that took care of the overheating problem. We'll find out for sure when I try to go to work tomorrow. Then I just need to make it through the next few days until I can get these bad teeth out. Until I can afford dentures or implants, I'm going to be eating a lot of soft food.

I hope I can get a shift of OT every week. That would sure help out my money situation. It would sure be better than trying to schedule a 2nd job. It'll suck only having one day off a week, but if I found a 2nd part time job, I might not get any days off.