Gaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhh MK IV!

[Siliconous Skumins]

Just found my missing "emergency jump starter" pack for my car. I have several (used for power, often with an 240V AC inverter, when I'm working where there is no power - usually on my properties when empty etc.), However it seems that it was quiiiiite some time ago that I last used it - Last summer as it happens. I know this because I found it in the back of my old car which is currently stored in a garage, and the last time I was in that car was around June last year.

Needless to say the battery in the jump starter is dead. Really dead. They use a big sealed Lead Acid battery and it must be kept fully charged, and cycled / charged at least every 3 months to keep them alive. And mine has spent 7 months discharged in a unheated garage during all the frosty days we've had this winter. *sigh* 

It wouldn't be so bad, but I only bought it 8 months ago! And that was to replace the one THAT I DID EXACTLY THE SAME TO PREVIOUSLY!!!  GAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH! 

Another £20 wasted... will have to wait for them to go on special offer again.

SS

[D.Oakes]

Was going to go to sleep early tonight, but found out there was a car accident involving a police car a few blocks up.  I am not sure whether or not my cousin is on duty and nobody is responding to my texts so needless to say sleep isn't coming easy.  Just being worried has me missing my mom, I spent many a night waiting on her to call and text when she was running the ambulance and something was going on with gangs or the weather. 

On top of that gah found out just how evil people can be to their own children.  It kind of makes me glad I'm selling some of my gnus, I want to be there for the person who got hurt, not sitting in prison for going after the person who did it.

[Flightless Phoenix]

Having to wait in all day for a replacement side panel for my wardrobe. If the one they delivered last week had been handled/packaged properly then it wouldn't have been damaged and I could have constructed the whole thing by now! (Or at least done all the bits that don't require power tools; I can't be trusted with those).

Oh well, back to staining the unbroken pieces a nice walnut finish so that I can get it built as soon as possible...

[Lady Ava]

Can't find my STeward email for the asylum. I had best find it and make sure I'm stewarding, since money is gonna be crazy tight, too tight for tickets.

[citizen_erased]

School hasn`t yet bothered to pay me (I actually get paid for being a tutor), which leaves me with 15 euros to last me until february 24th. It`s not very problematic, I can still take off money until I`m at -3000 euros, and I also have money on my savings account, but the whole point was getting my bank account balance permanently +0 again while finally saving money.

I`ve also had a headache most of the day, I`ve been having really bad insomnia/sleeping pattern since last week (the earliest I`ve gone to sleep the last days is 4 am, the latest was 6.30 am), my homework still isn`t finished even though I`ve been working on it every day, my teachers are still not responding to e-mails, and my internship hasn`t send me back the paperworks needed for administration yet.


Whyyyyy is it so difficult for people to reply to an e-mail, seriously.

[James Harrison]

Work messing my shifts around.  Again.  For the fourth, fifth or possibly sixth time in as four weeks. 

I like my routines and I DON'T LIKE CHANGE.... 

[DrArclight]

My doorbell has quit working.

[Xenos]

Although my THEORY is sound, my METHOD is lacking.  Vinegar and baking soda DO create carbon dioxide, and it CAN be used to force carbonate liquid.  I was able to *lightly* carbonate water in a test run with a leaky reaction chamber.  The gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?  I currently have NO way to introduce the reactant SLOWLY.  That means, it's dump, and PRAY I get the cap on before the volcano erupts.

Needless to say, my kitchen is a mess right now.

Also, it's taking for FRICKIN' EVER to strain my juice from my sauce...  And when it's all said and done, I'll probably only have, oh, a quarter quart of juice?

Silver lining:  My Sodie-Pop business is WELL on it's way to starting up-I should only have to spend a few more dozen dollars-I need bottles and crowns, and a hand capper (less than $35 all said and done), and a juicer to make the process FASTER.  Also, some manner of carbonating the beverage without making a mess would be ace.  Tomorrow, I try dry ice.

[Augustus Longeye]

Xenos; have you thought of something similar to a Soda Stream? They're specifically designed to carbonate small batches of drink (for home making), maybe you could rig up something similar but a little bigger?
~Longeye~

[Xenos]

Xenos; have you thought of something similar to a Soda Stream? They're specifically designed to carbonate small batches of drink (for home making), maybe you could rig up something similar but a little bigger?
~Longeye~

The issue with the Soda Stream is, you have to use THEIR flavors, and THEIR bottle.  Plus, you have to buy THEIR CO2 carts.  Which is fine, if you're doing this for a recreational product.  Me, I'm looking for something a little more sustainable.

I have looked into modding a small paintball refill station.  Use maybe a 10lb tank to start with, and do just like they do at restaurants.  The issue with that is, start up cost. 

SO, for now, I'm working with what I've got, until I can even prove that my product is worth BUYING.  After that, I'll get into the heavy equipment.  Just a bit of a nag, having had it all worked out in my head, only to find it DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY.

Bloody reaction chamber...  WHY?!?!?

(But I do thank you-were this for a small time operation, that would work GREAT!  But, you know me-Reach for the Moon!)

[TVC15]

Just had to:

Xenos' AppleMoon Cider. "If you can reach for it, you ain't there,yet."

[Xenos]

Just had to:

Xenos' AppleMoon Cider. "If you can reach for it, you ain't there,yet."

Can I use that?  PLEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSE?  Merlin's BEARD that's brilliant!

Goes hand in hand with the motto of the sodie-pop company (Bragg's Best Bubbly, named after my great X3 or 4 uncle Braxton):  "A Family Tradition Since Prohibition!"

[walkthebassline]

Just had to:

Xenos' AppleMoon Cider. "If you can reach for it, you ain't there,yet."

Can I use that?  PLEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSE?  Merlin's BEARD that's brilliant!

Goes hand in hand with the motto of the sodie-pop company (Bragg's Best Bubbly, named after my great X3 or 4 uncle Braxton):  "A Family Tradition Since Prohibition!"

Good Lord, I didn't know you were related to THOSE Braggs! That's awesome!

Also, those are two amazing catch phrases! Go for it Xenos!

[Xenos]

Just had to:

Xenos' AppleMoon Cider. "If you can reach for it, you ain't there,yet."

Can I use that?  PLEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASSSSE?  Merlin's BEARD that's brilliant!

Goes hand in hand with the motto of the sodie-pop company (Bragg's Best Bubbly, named after my great X3 or 4 uncle Braxton):  "A Family Tradition Since Prohibition!"

Good Lord, I didn't know you were related to THOSE Braggs! That's awesome!

Also, those are two amazing catch phrases! Go for it Xenos!

Indeed I am-the man who could snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory!  Hated by Jefferson Davis!  Crazy as a loon, but an EXCELLENT leader all things considered.

Credit for the company name goes to my brother-the motto/catchphrase/whatsit I came up with.  I wanted something Deco, and for some reason, I could see Aldo (From the movie Oscar) saying something to that effect.

--------

Current Gaaaaaah is not being able to find a good font for the labels!  I want deco.  I want deco BAD.

No GOOD ones to be had (not for free/cheap, anyway).  And the pay for ones, well, they're not much better than the free ones!  Maybe tomorrow will shed better light thereupon.

'Night y'all, I'm out.

[Augustus Longeye]

Xenos; check out Google Fonts... there are hundreds for free, and you just download/install them.
~Longeye~

[Mercury Wells]

I was going to offer my services for free (I'm not that brilliant btw), but Mr. Longeye has found a site for free fonts.

[LukeHogbin]

In regard to free fonts, may I suggest www.dafont.com as well ?



Current gah: My glasses broke. And are now held together by tape. Again. -.-;

[Gwenifer Scorpio]

Well I have a GAH and a resolving of a GAH!

My GAH is that my car, after only 4 months, has broken down to the point that I have to get a new one. It's something with the engine and the rods and crankshafts and I've spend the last two weeks driving all over town and being told that it can be fixed and then it can't, then it can, then it can't. Then my granddad (who's also my mechanic) drove it to the other side of town without my consent to get someone else's opinion after telling me he could fix it. That person said it wasn't fixable so now he's given up on it and I have a worthless car.
For the first time in my life, I'm going to have to get a loan to afford a new car. I don't have money for one.

On the other side of things, I got a second job. I can't leave the one I hate quite yet but I do have more income now! It's taken me forever to get this second job and I'm really happy about it.

[rovingjack]

going from being a at home crafter and freelance writer to working full time moving frieght and fronting merchendise (with occasional stints stand at register and counting sums of money.

so from sedentary creative life style where I set my schedule to walking or stand on concrete floors while moving materials for a full shift.

gods I'm tired, and sore.

[Siliconous Skumins]

Had a nagging feeling that I was forgetting something. Had the feeling for that last few days.

Turns out I *DID* forget something. I forgot to renew my Tax disk on my old car (UK "Road Tax" / vehicle excise duty ), which is currently £130.00 for 12 months for that car. And for those who don't know of such things, if you don't pay to keep your car tax up to date, then you can get a nice free fine by post, followed by other more fun things. Eventually your car gets crushed (last resort).

My tax disk ran out yesterday. Just found out, can't sort it until tomorrow. Hope I'm not about to get an automatic penalty of £80 sent out to me in the post. 


SS

[The Kernel]

My understanding is you are still allowed 2 weeks "grace".
Payment has to be made at the post office though, you can't do it online.
Best wishes and good luck - and I hope you don't meet the mobile crusher!

[D.Oakes]

Got to do my taxes in the next few weeks...thanks for the reminder.

My GAH is a bit darker.  I've been building a behavioral profile on somebody, largely to protect two people I care about a lot.  (figure keep one step ahead of any problems)  I received some new information tonight that once factored into the profile has me very worried at the picture I am painting.  Can't believe I shook the person's hand.   

[neon_suntan]

Got to do my taxes in the next few weeks...thanks for the reminder.

My GAH is a bit darker.  I've been building a behavioral profile on somebody, largely to protect two people I care about a lot.  (figure keep one step ahead of any problems)  I received some new information tonight that once factored into the profile has me very worried at the picture I am painting.  Can't believe I shook the person's hand.  

Yeah the number of functional psychopaths/sociopaths just walking around is quite horrifying... I've certainly worked with a few, and even had one as a housemate for 9 months.

[Herr Döktor]

Got to do my taxes in the next few weeks...thanks for the reminder.

My GAH is a bit darker.  I've been building a behavioral profile on somebody, largely to protect two people I care about a lot.  (figure keep one step ahead of any problems)  I received some new information tonight that once factored into the profile has me very worried at the picture I am painting.  Can't believe I shook the person's hand.   

Yeah the number of functional psychopaths/sociopaths just walking around is quite horrifying... I've certainly worked with a few, and even had one as a housemate for 9 months.

Oh yes, the seemingly natural charm of the psycho/sociopath- eventually you can see the skull beneath the skin, but it's a bloody steep learning curve.

My GAH!: big, boisterous boycat plays a bit to rough for the girlcat- he doesn't use claws, or bite to break skin, but it's too much for her; so, last saturday, she hissed and turned around and swiped him across the face, claws out, neatly bisecting the lens of his left eye.

He's in the vets, with his eye sewn closed, being given antibiotics after a minor operation to encourage the regeneration of tissue.

Poor kitty!

[greatestescaper]

My gah for today.  It's my mother's birthday.  Yet another reminder of our struggles.  We haven't spoken for over a month.  A year ago I began to plan to move out of the house (it was a very hostile environment and I was being treated worse than Cinderella).  I wanted to approach my folks with an actual plan, before I had one my brother's threw me under the bus to get themselves out of trouble by announcing that I was planning to move from New York City to Texas.  My folks not so politely, and with a lot of screaming and colorful phrases told me to get out.  I moved in with my grandparents and saved the money for my move.  My folks told everyone, including me, that it was my fault.  They also added that this was probably because of my new girlfriend, she was probably pregnant and we were probably having a shot gun wedding.  None of which is true.  I moved because I love it here in Texas, it's always been a dream of mine, I was born to live in the West, I was miserable in New York, my folks were making it worse, as were my friends.  Take your pick.  I had my reasons.  And, if one of them was to be with the girl I love is a crime, I'll plead guilty.  But I do not think that that is the worst thing in the world.  Especially not since I was planning this for months before the two of us even new each other existed.

Unfortunately time has not yet healed these wounds.  I moved from New York to Alpine Texas the week of October the 11th, 2011.  I visited New York for three weeks, from late December (before Christmas) until a week after the New Year.  I tried many times to see my mom and my 4 year old sister, who I love, and who, since she was born and until I was told to leave, has been like my own child. The entire three weeks my mother made it so that we couldn't see each other and then left all the blame on me.  It will probably be at least another 5 or 6 months before I get to see my sister again, if I even do.  I haven't even been able to hear her voice on the phone in well over a month.  I miss her so much, that not a day goes by where I don't cry over it.  I have no idea what to do anymore about it.

Believe me, I know that time heals all wounds.  About 6 months ago and for the first time in ten years I am speaking to my father.  For the first time in my life (I'm 22 years old) we're getting along.  My folks divorced when I was only 7.  And now I've been able to get to meet his four other children (they are 9, 7, 3, and 4 months old).  But that's not what hurts so much.  What hurts so much is sitting here each day knowing that I am missing her growing up.  That I am being robbed of time that can never be returned.  That my mother has seen what effects similar situations involving stupid family drama had had on me growing up and is having on me now and yet here I am cast in the middle of this show.  Always in the middle.

The thing is that I'll have nearly missed a year of my sister's life.  If I'm lucky and mom lets me see her this summer.  I guess to the same about mom.  My issues with my mother, and her husband, have been growing for the past nearly 7 years and finally they have erupted.  I am happy now, living where I do.  Life is so much happier.  But every day I get sick over the idea that that little girl is back in New York and I miss her so.  And more than that I know that she needs help in dealing with my folks (not that they are physically abusive, but life at best in their home is stressed.  On any given day you can cut the air with a knife).  And I can't help but fear that it wasn't right for me to run off and follow my dreams while abandoning my siblings.  I never knew that life could be so good and yet hurt so much at the same time.

GAH!

I would feel so much better if I could've seen her, my sister, over the break, given her a hug and her Christmas gifts and taken her to play at the park.  And maybe once a week or so here her little voice, which is growing so fast, on the phone.

The other piece of this, that really breaks my heart.  Is when I stop to think of the long list of people that my mother has cut out of her life because they were wrong, which includes her parents.  Despite my grandparents best efforts my folks haven't spoken to them, nor allowed them to see my sister since October.  Where and when does this end?  When we're old and decrepit and depressed about all we've wasted and lost?  It's all so trivial, and yet none of us can get along?  My question remains the same, why?  and also was it right for me to find my way and abandon the others?  Will they have the strength to find their way?  Is it my responsibility?


I'm not sure if anyone will have read this, if writing this makes any difference or not.  But somehow it feels good to get this out there.  I've written all of this as it flowed, just sort of out of me, as it felt appropriate.  Furthermore, in regards to mom, I've tried it all, it's been seven years and I've tried it all.  There is no reaching her.  She is not rational.  I only wish I could've grabbed my sister and taken her with me.  Thanks to anyone who does read this, I'm not quite sure why, but thank you all the same.