Gaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhh MK IV!

[Captain Marcus Stahlsturm]

I went to my grandma's to pick up a raygun that my grandad made years ago from old light fittings and whatnot. I found that it was broken so I decided to have some tinker time in his old workshop only to find that he hadn't left anything that I could use to restore it.  I can't be annoyed at him, after all, its not like he has any opportunity to get old light fittings anymore it was just a little frustrating is all. Also, by this time all of the shops were shut because its Sunday. Fuh!

All I have is a perfectly good brass barrel and Im thinking of using one of the ends of a brass curtain rail for the body and a piece of wood for the handle.

[Flightless Phoenix]

My own gah is the fact I`ll (probably) be graduating in a few months` time, and I don`t have the money to continue studying, don`t have the money to go travelling, and I`m kind of afraid that once I start work (which will be hard enough to find in the first place, in the current economic climate and with my study of choice) I`ll be stuck in it and forget about studying or not be able to get back into that rhythm if I ever do manage to get myself out of that working life and back into college.

Can you not apply for funding to continue studying? My university has scholarships for all subjects. Could you look into that? There are also research councils and other organisations.

[Banfili]

citizen-erased, don't any of your colleges/university's have distance ed programmes?? I completed a couple of my post grad degrees while working full time, because some of our unis are set up for distance learning. Comes, I suppose, of having a big country with a small population. We do all the same work as on-campus students, but we do it at home!

[ForestB]

Sudden unexpected allergy attack after dinner.. I can't stop coughing, my eyes have swollen up, and my lungs have tightened up on me... I don't know what is causing this..

[GarethG]

Had a rather minor Gaahhh I was going to post, but after reading the last dozen pages, I'm just gonna call mine a First World Problem Plenty of real problems on here I'd feel like I was whinging.

The job situation, however... I don't currently own a car, I do own a bicycle but I'm not that confident about riding in traffic (the average motor vehicle driver in this country tends not to appreciate sharing the highway with bicycles.), so I'm limited to the town that I live in or towns/cities that are served by public transport. I happen to live only a few hundred yards (meters) from the local train station, which takes me to Cardiff/Newport or Hereford. Even so, most jobs are either part-time cleaning jobs, which wont pay enough or will clash with my current job, or are qualified jobs or ones I don't have experience for. Will look more when I'm more awake.

Gareth

[Professor Phineas Brownsm]

its only tuesday and i have not seen my son for nearly two weeks!!

[DrArclight]

Well, it's always something isn't it???  I have been dealing with what should have been a rather simple infection but the doctor didn't prescribe enough antibiotics the first round, so it came back.  Because it came back, the other doctors wanted to run a bunch of tests that would otherwise have been unnecessary.  One of those was an abdominal CT scan.  The CT scan came back showing nothing related to the infection, as expected, BUT.... It was a wide scan of my entire abdomen.  The scan showed "several" nodules in my lungs, and an enlarged spleen.  Now I've got another appointment Thursday to discuss the new problems, but as usual I'm trying to educate myself in the meantime.  The Mayo Clinic website has this to say:

If you're under 35 and you have only one nodule in your lung then you have a less than 1% chance of it being cancer, HOWEVER, if you have more than one nodule in your lungs then, unfortunately, the chance that they are caused by a Stage 3 cancer that has spread from another organ are greater than 80%.  Add in an enlarged spleen to the lung nodules and the two most common diagnoses are leukemia and lymphoma.

*sigh*  I guess this is what I get for constantly being preoccupied with my own death.

Of course my cynical side is saying "Don't worry, whatever it is isn't going to kill you, it'll just make you suffer."

Either way I guess I'll maybe know more Thursday.

[Ulysses Reynolds]

Well the what I am assuming to be muscle spasms are back. Woohoo, I'm not in pain or anything there just f-ing annoying. Still it can't be anything to bad can it?

[Maxwell B. Cooper]

My patience with work is wearing thin, I've never got on with the foreman (who only became the foreman recently because the rest of us turned down the position) and we were nearly in each other's faces again today. I'm trying to do my job, while he's trying to impress the boss. I wouldn't mind, except that if the boss wants some 'little thing' doing the foreman gives it to me because apparently he thinks I have so much spare time during the day anbd whatever I'm supposed to be doing gets pushed aside. I'll end it there otherwise I'll be here all night.

[helios]

I've a cold. Bad enough that I missed university yesterday and today. I thought I'd be well enough to go today when I went to bed last night, but noooooo. The cold had to move down into my chest, and now I have to talk in a low rumble, otherwise I hack and cough horribly.

[Xenos]

Speaking with lawyers.

Might lose one of my jobs because of my injury.

Have virtually NO free time anymore.

I *had* thought that when this injury started winding down, and the case coming to a close, I'd be better off...

I now realize nothing could be further from the truth.

[Arceye]

My patience with work is wearing thin, I've never got on with the foreman (who only became the foreman recently because the rest of us turned down the position) and we were nearly in each other's faces again today. I'm trying to do my job, while he's trying to impress the boss. I wouldn't mind, except that if the boss wants some 'little thing' doing the foreman gives it to me because apparently he thinks I have so much spare time during the day anbd whatever I'm supposed to be doing gets pushed aside. I'll end it there otherwise I'll be here all night.

My sympathies with your Foreman Gaaah.....I left my last job because of a useless and bullying Foreman....classic case of Peter Principal, the man had been a top forklift driver, but promotion went to his head....the company owner had asked his warehouse staff- me included to serve at the trade counter during our lunch break and just take a few minutes extra afterwards...we agreed.....the new foreman started hounding me back to work after lunch even when I told him I'd been serving at the counter. This and other things reached an unnaceptable peak, and I left.

[kungfooey]

My Grandmother, & her ridiculous need to have two cars at her disposal at all times. So she doesn't have to share her car. Needless to say I get to go car shopping this weekend.

Second Gargh this week; The project I'm working on needs to be finished & sent to the printers so we can have it by next week. My Suporvisor called me in for a meeting yesterday & decided that we needed to change the whole layout of the design & go over it with a fine tooth comb. Now honestly I wouldn't mind doing this but my issue is that I have the printers breathing down my neck for the finished product & I'm literally having to redo everything! Excuse me I have a project to go redo.

[Secundinius]

Went to the Apple store yesterday to purchase a new power cord for my MacBook. Didn't realize till we pulled in that it was iPad release day. *yay* We get inside and there's a line of people behind a blue nylon rope. I figure it's all the people waiting for their iPads and the store itself it pretty empty. I have no questions to be answered and I know the exact location and roughly how many paces it is from the door (I've broken one or two in the past). I walk to the entrance and the 'genius' asks me if he can help me. I say, I just need to buy a power cord for my MacBook. Nice and easy, right? Wrong!

Here's his response: okay sir I just have to ask you to stand on that line (pointing to the line clearly marked 'iPad pick up').

Um, excuse me? I'll be out in all of three minutes without needing anymore than one minute of someone ringing me up and I have to wait because people don't know how to preorder or insist on spending 25 minutes deciding if they want wifi or 3G? Are you serious? To make it worse, as I walked away a cute girl walked up behind us and asked for an iPhone charger. Same 'genius' says: sure, right this way miss.

There is no combination of letters to express my anger.

[Flightless Phoenix]

GARRRRRHHHHHHH. My inability to sleep. I react to stress by becoming an insomniac. This was very useful in my second year of uni; it's amazing how much you can get done if you only waste 2 hours a night on sleep. I looked terrible and was emotionally a wreck though (especially one memorable week which started with 4 coursework deadlines, then a presentation and ended with a flight to spain for a fieldtrip...) I think I'm heading back to that place. It's 3am so I reckon it must be time to make some notes for my thesis...

[citizen_erased]

Banfili and Flightless Phoenix: I`ve looked into scholarships, funding, things like that. But the Dutch system has been changing for the worst, I`m not even eligible for most scholarships, hell, most scholarships and fundings nowadays seem to think you and your parents have enough money that you only need a little nudge, which is nonsense considering I get more money each month than my parents, and I`m on a student budget. The government has been cutting back on education as well, causing certain scholarships to disappear and new rules to be enforced, making everything even more difficult than before.

I`ve been looking into going to a different country to continue there, but it would help if I`d know what it is exactly that I want. In the meantime, time is ticking, deadlines for applications are passing, and I`m just more stuck than before.

Today`s gah however, is entirely different: me and some colleagues arrived at the station this morning, only to find that the special employee busses that we were promised would be there, weren`t there. Other colleagues we usually carpool with, were either already at work or didn`t have a car today. There wasn`t a taxi in sight, and when we called we were told it would take at least 25 minutes for a taxi to arrive. And then other colleagues actually got mad at us for being late, even though we were running around and waiting at the station for almost 1,5 hours in the end, asking around and calling people and looking up options, and none of it worked out. Eventually we got picked up by another colleague, so we finally arrived at work. Then at work, at the employee uniform distribution part, there were literally NO customers all day.

Finally, when we went home, driving along with a colleague, I got called by another colleague asking us where we were. I told her, and she just suddenly starts shouting at me. Turned out, she did actually get my message from HOURS EARLIER, which she hadn`t responded to, and had shown up at 5 pm to pick us up, but we already had other transport and forgot to tell her. Sure, it was wrong of us to forget calling her, but I already apologised extensively, and she was still shouting at me and then hung up. 15 minutes later, the colleague who`s car we were in, manages to get this girl on the phone, and suddenly nothing`s wrong and she`s really sweet and understanding, even though 15 minutes earlier she was still shouting at me.

I`ll blame the fact it`s monday.

[Aleister Crow]

Got really busy with work around the holidays, and next thing I know- BOOM! I have five months of threads to catch up on.

Hello, everyone, I'm back.

*insert chorus of "Oh, lord... it's him again..."*

[walkthebassline]

Aside from my computer problems, which will be resolved on Friday, I've been discovering issues with the staff and volunteers at my workplace, issues that I'll need to resolve very soon before things get out of hand. Furthermore, we have a dead rat somewhere in the building and probably more live ones as well.

[TVC15]

Welcome back Mr. Crow. (Echoed from another thread)

Aside from my computer problems, which will be resolved on Friday, I've been discovering issues with the staff and volunteers at my workplace, issues that I'll need to resolve very soon before things get out of hand. Furthermore, we have a dead rat somewhere in the building and probably more live ones as well.

I hope the the issues are not related.

My GAH...Bought a used Rossi lever action .45 rifle today and tested it out on the firing range. Whilst loading the the thing through the side gate, I stuck my little finger in there to shove the cartridge in a bit further. The spring loaded gate caught my finger and would not let go. Considering the sharp edge and the strength of the spring, I had to rotate my finger while pulling it out. I left my DNA on the floor, the door handle, the carpet leading to the bathroom, the sink and the trash can where paper towels soaked in DNA were tossed. I was told that this wasn't the first time similar thing have happened but was definitely a first for me. Finger bandaged, most DNA cleaned up and rifle sighted in. Pride left in the bathroom.

[walkthebassline]

Welcome back Mr. Crow. (Echoed from another thread)

Aside from my computer problems, which will be resolved on Friday, I've been discovering issues with the staff and volunteers at my workplace, issues that I'll need to resolve very soon before things get out of hand. Furthermore, we have a dead rat somewhere in the building and probably more live ones as well.

I hope the the issues are not related.

My GAH...Bought a used Rossi lever action .45 rifle today and tested it out on the firing range. Whilst loading the the thing through the side gate, I stuck my little finger in there to shove the cartridge in a bit further. The spring loaded gate caught my finger and would not let go. Considering the sharp edge and the strength of the spring, I had to rotate my finger while pulling it out. I left my DNA on the floor, the door handle, the carpet leading to the bathroom, the sink and the trash can where paper towels soaked in DNA were tossed. I was told that this wasn't the first time similar thing have happened but was definitely a first for me. Finger bandaged, most DNA cleaned up and rifle sighted in. Pride left in the bathroom.

The issues are not related, more's the pity.

Sorry to hear about your fresh trail of DNA. I can only imagine how painful that would be.

[Flightless Phoenix]

I'm annoyed today because I'm turning out not to be quite the strong person I thought I was and instead I've discovered I'm a selfish bitch.

My boyfriend is ill. He seems to be suffering from clinical depression and doesn't want to see anyone.

I'll not seen him for exactly 2 weeks now, that's the longest we've ever been apart. He hasn't even let me call for a week, because that's too hard for him.

I am going out of my mind with worry. I'm not eating or sleeping properly.

I must be really selfish because all I want to do is go over and hug him, talk to him, do something, anything at all to make him feel better. Except what he wants is me to stay away, and I can't seem to cope with that.

I just sent him an email. I asked if I could see him, for 5 minutes because I want a hug.

If I was really the strong person I like to think I am I wouldn't be hassling him, making things worse.

I just hate feeling helpless.

Might have to go down to the park and stand under the railway bridge. Then when I scream my lungs out in frustration no one will hear me and worry. GGGGAAARRRRHHHHHH.

[DrArclight]

I'm annoyed today because I'm turning out not to be quite the strong person I thought I was and instead I've discovered I'm a selfish bitch.

My boyfriend is ill. He seems to be suffering from clinical depression and doesn't want to see anyone.

I'll not seen him for exactly 2 weeks now, that's the longest we've ever been apart. He hasn't even let me call for a week, because that's too hard for him.

I am going out of my mind with worry. I'm not eating or sleeping properly.

I must be really selfish because all I want to do is go over and hug him, talk to him, do something, anything at all to make him feel better. Except what he wants is me to stay away, and I can't seem to cope with that.

I just sent him an email. I asked if I could see him, for 5 minutes because I want a hug.

If I was really the strong person I like to think I am I wouldn't be hassling him, making things worse.

I just hate feeling helpless.

Might have to go down to the park and stand under the railway bridge. Then when I scream my lungs out in frustration no one will hear me and worry. GGGGAAARRRRHHHHHH.

Speaking as someone who also suffers from clinical depression, I think I understand the mood your boyfriend is in.  I get in the same mood.  So down that nothing can pull me out.  I feel like I want to be alone, like I don't want to see anybody, and I'm generally extremely grumpy when I do have to deal with people when I'm in one of those moods.  I get so bad that that friends eventually reach a point of frustration where they just give up and stop talking to me or trying to cheer me up until I come out of it.

The catch 22 is that, in truth, I really need the company.  Most of my friends live far enough away that we have to talk online or over the phone.  That kind of communication is stressful enough that is does tend to make things worse, but when a friend that really understands me stops by for a visit it really does help.  The key is that they realize I don't really need to talk, all I need is the company.  A long quiet hug goes a long way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're boyfriend is suffering from depression, stopping by to see him might do him a world of good, as long as you don't push him too hard to express himself.  Just let him know that you're there for him and make him feel needed.  I'm believer in the exchange of energy between people that share an emotional connection.  Your anxiety and desire to see him may, in fact, be a reflection of what he is feeling.  Trust your instincts.

[The Bullet]

After weeks of tinkering and days of waiting for the right weather and some spare time I took my 0-4-0 steamer out yesterday.
Steaming up went fine....almost. Suddenly TWEEEEEEEEEEEE... the whistle went off. The valve looked as if it was closed properly. After "convincing" it by a few blows with the shovel, the whistle went silent.
OK.
Raised steam. Valve gear in forward, opened up regulator and off I went. The machine was running pretty well. The exhaust beats were precise and the run was smooth. After half a lap I opened up a bit further as I was approaching the uphill part. Suddenly the loco lost speed and the valve timing was completely gone.
Something must have come loose (AGAIN). First inspection revealed that all the accessible parts of the valve gear were still in place so it means:
-take off the cab
-take off side tanks
-open steamchests
.....

It took days of preparation to seal the steamchests properly.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[Professor Phineas Brownsm]

had to phone up another helpdesk not based at the centre of the empire, had a pretty thick person on the other end of the phone... eneded up being cut off, had to phone same helpdesk for a 2nd time..... (thats the GAAAAAH bit) but managed to get things sorted out!!

[Flightless Phoenix]

I'm annoyed today because I'm turning out not to be quite the strong person I thought I was and instead I've discovered I'm a selfish bitch.

My boyfriend is ill. He seems to be suffering from clinical depression and doesn't want to see anyone.

I'll not seen him for exactly 2 weeks now, that's the longest we've ever been apart. He hasn't even let me call for a week, because that's too hard for him.

I am going out of my mind with worry. I'm not eating or sleeping properly.

I must be really selfish because all I want to do is go over and hug him, talk to him, do something, anything at all to make him feel better. Except what he wants is me to stay away, and I can't seem to cope with that.

I just sent him an email. I asked if I could see him, for 5 minutes because I want a hug.

If I was really the strong person I like to think I am I wouldn't be hassling him, making things worse.

I just hate feeling helpless.

Might have to go down to the park and stand under the railway bridge. Then when I scream my lungs out in frustration no one will hear me and worry. GGGGAAARRRRHHHHHH.

Speaking as someone who also suffers from clinical depression, I think I understand the mood your boyfriend is in.  I get in the same mood.  So down that nothing can pull me out.  I feel like I want to be alone, like I don't want to see anybody, and I'm generally extremely grumpy when I do have to deal with people when I'm in one of those moods.  I get so bad that that friends eventually reach a point of frustration where they just give up and stop talking to me or trying to cheer me up until I come out of it.

The catch 22 is that, in truth, I really need the company.  Most of my friends live far enough away that we have to talk online or over the phone.  That kind of communication is stressful enough that is does tend to make things worse, but when a friend that really understands me stops by for a visit it really does help.  The key is that they realize I don't really need to talk, all I need is the company.  A long quiet hug goes a long way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you're boyfriend is suffering from depression, stopping by to see him might do him a world of good, as long as you don't push him too hard to express himself.  Just let him know that you're there for him and make him feel needed.  I'm believer in the exchange of energy between people that share an emotional connection.  Your anxiety and desire to see him may, in fact, be a reflection of what he is feeling.  Trust your instincts.

When I emailed I asked if I could visit him, just for a few minutes so I could give him a hug. I even explained that I didn't want him to talk, just hug. He's refused so I'm not entirely sure what to do. I think I'll leave it a couple more days because I don't want to force my company on him, but I'm sure by Sunday I'll have snapped and walked 2 miles to his house in the hope he'll open the door. Thanks for your help anyway.