Granted, the gift came after some vague threatening (i.e., 'if you get me a Shuffle, so help me ... I'll shove it up your ass!' etc.) but much to the joy of the lord and the angels on baby Jesus' birthday, it was a NANO. hurray! gigabytes!
so, my younger cousins are all hip to the scene, and already know about "syncing."
i am a very old woman, and I do not need another excuse to be on the computer.
but i am "syncing" and i likely will be all night long.
there was a lot that happened on 'vacation,' much of it -- surprisingly -- outside of the internets.
my sister-in-law officially announced her pregnancy today. you heard it on theteet.blogspot.com first.
We heard seth's mother shriek, and she came out crying, holding a soon-to-be two-year-old Jacob who donned an "I'm a big ... BROTHER!" T-shirt. Very cute, although I suspect howtotellthefamilyyourepreggers.com.
I can't wait to hit the road with this little MP3 player. No more 8 lbs. Walkman in tow, although I will miss the concept of the "mixed tape."
Maybe I'll tell you more about it when I've calmed down a little bit.
There were about seven hours with a screwdriver, $46 in new ink cartridges, and 45 minutes with an unpleasant customer service rep, but alas, there will be no christmas photo with the Teter family christmas card this year.
Damn Epson Stylus CX5400!!!!!
I heart you, Internets. At least the most technologically-savvy family members will get to share in our not-at-all-digitally-altered holiday photo.
Also, does anyone need 4X6 Post-It Brand sticky photo paper? I have 50.
is it troublesome to wake up around 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the library? I'm in the right municipality at least. A copy of a weeks-long old ALIVE was strewn across my chest. and the Honda was running, to keep us warm. You know, the usual Tuesday thaaang.
Plus, I think I got a haircut along the way. I'll have to check the bank statement to see what else happened.
PPPPFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTT.
There are T-Minus three and a half work days remaining until "vacation."
This means three days to do about three week's worth of work, but take heart! I can see the light at the end of a long, dark, one-and-a-half year tunnel. I took a couple days off to move, but other than that, it's been pretty much a solid show since August of 2005, with "solid show" meaning "no more than three days off at a time, and that only happened, like, twice."
I'm so excited .... I'm so excited.... I'm so ... scared. (you know, from the oft-referenced Saved by the Bell episode with the caffeine pills and the Hot Sundaes? I hate when people talk about that episode.)
But seriously. I am totally mental-headed.
There is paint in my hair.
Seth and I spent a great deal of time weeping this weekend, as we just about put the finishing touches on our "quick" four-month closet project. We painted the room, which means ... we have walls! and insulation! everything's comin' up Teter!
This was a message left on Seth's machine RE: The Chestnuts.
The caller ID revealed Henry got pretty close to his actual phone number toward the end. The address remains a mystery to all involved.
Seth has received (as usual) lots of "feedback" from all over the state about his piece in "The Ohia" magazine. He often shares these with me (thank you, lord) especially the ones where the old people place orders for fudge, shrimp or chestnuts, as indicated above. One of my favorite calls cannot be posted due to technical difficulties, but can be transcribed as follows:
"Hello. This is Erbert. I'm calling in relation to the story about the chestnuts... I remember the chestnut trees of the olden days ... and I thought somebody might want to talk about that."
so for the about the twelfth time since December of 2004, I got into the passenger seat last night and was greeted by a beaming boy who suggested we eat "someplace nicer" when I said "Pasta Petite!!"
Seth has announced a pay increase so many times that I can now recognize his "Raise Face."
How much was it? I asked.
This time it was about a quarter of my salary. Damn farmers.
Although I'm totally pleased for Family Financial Security, I'm simultaneously bitter about my old man's wages, benefits, iPods, Blackberries, Laptops, Cars, Champagne and Chocolates Rooms, etc.
"You should get into non-profits, where the real money is," he said.
That announcement paired with a recent two-hour meeting with my city's HR rep sent me further into a shame spiral. "You guys are getting screwed," she says. I don't think I had ever heard an HR department head urge unionization. Oops.
I know my husband's raise is hardly grounds for bitching, but seriously. Why can't I have a piece of that sweet, sweet pie? I love pie. Wait. I"m sorry. Please forgive me. I momentarily forgot what profession I chose to pursue. Sour grapes pie, it is. Plus I'm a girl, so you can just box up three-quarters of it. I'll eat it over a late-night rerun of Starting Over.
Too bad I pretty much love my job. Community journalism is as important as teaching, even if it does pay half of what a part-time parks maintenance employee rakes in during a summer. As national newspapers crumble around us, the local papers will survive. Endorsements in local city council races will continue. The classifieds will prosper.
I've heard the public golf course market is pretty hot, too.
I am sooo fired.
Anyway, it's fun to complain about how little we make. And the schedule is flexible enough to allow for an afternoon pedicure or a trip to the bookstore or the dentist, regardless of whether or not we can afford to go there.
But who am I to complain with a SugerFarm Daddy at my side? Granted, we're not rich, by any means, but two meager starting salaries paired together make for one comfortable couple. Plus, I'm pretty sure it's a hellava lot more than the single-income salary my parents used to raise two bratty little Washington Court House girls, which makes me appreciate their sacrifices all the more.
(Don't worry mom, I'm sure that last braces and/or clarinet payment is scheduled any day now.)
Honestly, the Wifi here at Sips Coffeehouse is sub-par.
Nestled here in the town square of our county seat, however, there is good news, and strep throat is not yet part of it.
After months of late-night guilt-ridden grocery shopping in Columbus, I finally made the switch. Yesterday evening, after a work-related bout of depression (see: my benefit package compared to that of, say, a barista) I sat at the traffic light at Morse and Sinclair with two clear options. I could go left and head north toward the (gulp) Mount Vernon Kroger, or I could go right and head south -- back into the sweet, familiar arms of Clintonville's Giant Eagle.
In one bold move, I diverted hard-earned tax dollars to Knox County.(Although sales taxes likely go to State of Ohio?) But either way I'm never going back.
I ran into Doug, (or 'Dug,' as he had cleverly removed the 'o' from his nametag)at the check-out line, and as he scanned the bottle of Riesling, he looked up and said "we've been here before, haven't we?"
This was only my second encounter with Dug, and already he had remembered both my name and the fact that contrary to common sense, I am well beyond the legal drinking age.
"I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now," Dug said, waving off my driver's license as he raced around the counter to grab a heavy bag of dog food from my cart.
After a friendly exchange with the Salvation Army bell-ringer, I had not one, but two polite teenage boys ask if I needed help loading my groceries into the car. Can't get this kind of chivalry in Columbus, ladies and gentleman. And the produce? Top notch.
God bless this place. Every one.
The behavior is certainly strange coupled with the blatant racism and the hating of the queers. If only we could overcome the gay-minority hurdle, I would be perfectly happy never entering Franklin County again.
We all know that statement is only partially true.
Name: Seth
Alias: Teth Seter or Steter.
In Brief: The Steter in his natural habitat. Married to theteet.blogspot.com since August 2004. Often the victim of serious hyperbole. Handy.
Hates: Noise, Dominion Homes, above-the-nipple touching, when people get 'handsy.'
Loves: pies (of any kind), dirt, smoking a pipe after eating pie. also, cows.
Name: Maybel
Alias: The Pig or Boobles.
In Brief: Kentucky-born English Bulldog since February 2006.
Hates: Watermelon. All other kinds of melon. The sound of a new trash bag being opened and sitting in the back seat.
Loves: Treats, walks, Charlie, 'humping it out' and barfing.
Name: Amanda
Alias: The Sister.
In Brief: theteet's younger (but larger) sister. Survived a brain bleed in February 2007.
Hates: minor inconveniences that make her blurt out uncontrollably, brain bleeds.
Loves: UFC, cornhole, texting, fast food and her dog Charlie.
Name: mom and dad.
Alias: the 'rents.
In Brief: Ashland natives and frequent visitors. They taught me how to swear.
Hates: hospitals.
Loves: squirrels and lattes.
Name: Mae
Alias: Klingler or Maddog.
In Brief: Cincinnati resident and former college/Old Towne East roommate. Once wrote a song that made theteet cry.
Hates: Hate.
Loves: Jesus, family, puns, guitars and gardening.
Name: Colleen
Alias: Crankin and Rankin.
In Brief: Akron resident and former college roomie. Arguably more handy than Seth. Nice bosom for hugging.
Hates: all drivers.
Loves: beer, coffee, cigarettes and boys we all find strange.
Name: Talya
Alias: Strader and Sweet T.
In Brief: Chicago resident and former college roomie. served brief stint at theteet's 'accountability partner.' collects monthly fee for keeping quiet.
Hates: people who do not comment on her blog.
Loves: social justice, eggs, her boyfriend monsterbeard and the occupation of barista.
Name: Chris
Alias: Christopher, Monsterbeard and Nadine.
In Brief: Chicago resident and college buddy. Maker of 'We once waited up in the dark with a gun,' and other misadventures.
Hates: people who are looking the other way.
Loves: history, film, his girlfriend Strader and acronyms.
Name: pdawg.
Alias: none needed.
In Brief: Former co-worker who is willing to eat waffles with theteet at 4 in the morning regardless of level of snow emergency.
Hates: anyone under the age of 35.
Loves: Hostess pies, old man rants and golf.
Name: Linsly.
Alias: MERLIN, lin or newbie.
In Brief: Former co-worker who lived with us for a week. I can tell this kid anything. He's like a brother.
Hates: sexual predators.
Loves: zombies, guns, porch chats and movie quotes.
Name: jaydubs.
Alias: jwray and 10bagspacking.
In Brief: Co-worker who taught me everything I know about the world.
Hates: mean jokes, mushrooms, clipping fingernails in the office.
Loves: crafts, her gay-together but also betrothed person Kyle, Columbus Bride Magazine, veggie-friendliness and basil.
Name: jessica.
Alias: jessm.
In Brief: College buddy with the amazing handshake. I believe she might be back from Alaska and living in Hudson now.
Hates: poverty.
Loves: Jesus, jazz, geography and hilarious t-shirts.
Name: brittiny.
Alias: Brit-Brat, experimental dater or The Dunlap.
In Brief: Former co-worker (notice a theme here?) who started with me at SNP on the same day. Former Sorority president taught me the ropes of being a lady. her wisdom did not take.
Hates: visible pany line.
Loves: cocktails, shoes, 'the blue box' and her boyfriend the Lizard.
Name: garth and jen.
Alias: not safe around house plants and the real spider-man and/or HSnothingswronghere.
In Brief: Co-worker couple who proved themselves fun at work and on the farm. Periodically forced to kiss in gas station parking lots.
Hates: local broadcast news reporters.
Loves: zombies, movie quotes, Indianapolis and lin rice.
Name: Angie.
Alias: captain cool.
In Brief: Former co-worker who stole my heart. She is the only thing I've ever lost to the Youngstown Vindicator.
Hates: joe and misogynists.
Loves: celebrity gossip, hilarious captions, biking/hiking, her boyfriend Jef, her mom and Columbus.
Name: Melville.
Alias: welcome to earf or bad town.
In Brief: Former co-worker who let me inherit his seat at SNP. For a while, he was the only one who would talk Reynoldsburg politics with me.
Hates: fleas, eminent domain and people who flip the bird.
Loves: his evil cat, running, opinions, beer and Tom Waits.
Name: The Gerish.
Alias: The Gerish.
In Brief: Co-worker and rare, elusive creature. If you're lucky, you'll see a tousle of black hair breeze by over the cubicle wall.
Hates: Things that aren't crackers.
Loves: crackers.
Name: Dennis.
Alias: secret reading.
In Brief: Co-worker and rare, elusive creature. If you're lucky, he'll walk over and talk to you. But he probably won't. Once took my sister-in-law to Homecoming.
Hates: The damn kids who walk in his yard.
Loves: Corgis, Cedar Point and Rachael. But not the one you're thinking of.
.jpg)
