See, I didn't want to be an asshole.  I wasn't planning to be an asshole today.
But you have just pushed my asshole button.

Can you explain why I got an email, literally 30 minutes after this one,
(which told me my account was coming due and the auto payment had
failed, which, if you'd asked, was because I changed credit cards thanks
to Sony being total dorks ... but since you didn't ask)
and BEFORE 12/21, telling me that the extra userpics, which were supposed
to expire on 12/21 according to you, had already expired - before I had a
chance to fix the account?  And weeks before the account subsciption
actually expires?  Because that's mid-January.

Seriously, the fact that you still HAVE subscribed users who haven't
abandoned livejournal for facebook or myspace - you'd think you'd be
NICER to them.  Or at least slightly considerate of a customer who's had
an account as long as I have and has actually PAID for it.

Like, maybe some warning about the bill being due?  And a grace period before things are cancelled?

Frankly, I have no idea why I'd WANT to renew my subscription if this is how
much it means to you and how I'm going to get treated.  Facebook's free,
and I can post as many pictures as I want.  Your marketing department
think about THAT?  You're not as cool as deviant art and not as much fun as
facebook and not as useful as myspace - so what exactly am I giving you
money for?

Very annoyed potentially former customer.

Help me get in the game! Time's almost up and I need (at least) 3 more sponsors!
I'm raising money and awareness for my local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. On Oct. 15, 2011, I'll attempt to play video games for 24 hours straight in hopes you'll support me by giving just $1 per hour ($24 total). Your donation is tax-deductible and 100 percent of your gift goes to help kids. My fellow Extra Life gamers and I are going to make miracles happen for kids. I can't reach my goal without your support. Any contribution will help, and all donations are tax deductible. Donating online is safe and easy! To make an online donation please visit my fundraising page. Thank you for your time, support and participation.

Visit my page to donate: http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&eventID=501&participantID=6117



What's this about? Where does the sponsorship money go? Meet the kids!



PASS THIS ALONG!

Thanks so much MICCA - Here's why Dami's concert at Boston Symphony Hall got canceled

.by Jet Cultir on Friday, 22 April 2011 at 13:51.I am home for the weekend and really mad about it. Dami's band was supposed to play Boston Symphony Hall tomorrow - they won a gold award in their competition. This is a big deal and the kids were really psyched for this. It's a statewide competition, and every band that gets a gold level award gets to play in a concert in a real concert Hall.

A lot of MA bands got the gold award this year, so the organizers held a lottery for which of 2 concert halls each band would play. Not a bad idea, since far too many bands selected Boston Symphony Hall as their choice.

Dami's band got the 2nd hall in the lottery, which would be fine, but the stage there holds about 60 people max, and the band is around 130. More than half of the kids would simply not FIT in the second concert hall.

So, the band told the organizers, "But now we can't play - it's too small". What did the organizers say?, "Sorry, It was a fair lottery". The 130 person band should not even have been eligible for the lottery process because getting the smaller hall automatically eliminated them from the concert. So ... they lose their award to play in a real concert hall because 'everyone wanted to play there' - which means they don't get to for the first time in 4 or 5 years.

This is so totally unfair to the kids who worked so hard to win that award, totally unfair to the parents who planned their holiday weekend around a concert that isn't happening and it makes a mockery of the entire competition. What exactly are we teaching kids? Work hard, do your honest best, and some committee will screw you over 9 out of 10?

Thanks MICCA - nice job there - well done.

Feel free to visit the MICCA site and let them know what a rotten thing they did to 130 kids: http://www.miccamusic.org/stars.htm

My good friend Shadowflyer, who has recently made my luck look good, is having
a very bad, no good, really awful day.
He has just gone from struggling with renal failure and having to go to dialysis
several times a week while trying to hold a job and be a good dad - to doing all
that without a car he can't afford to fix while every other bill he can't pay piles
up ...

Please, take two minutes out of your day and visit his journal

http://shadowflyer.livejournal.com/250805.html

If you can find the heart and resources to help, great; if not, a few words of
support would be greatly appreciated, I'm sure.

And in the fury of this darkest hour, we will be the light
Without denying, a faith in God that I have never known
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am Winter Born

Happy Birthday.

Last day for the kids: SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, Rome, Italy
Continue with a City Quest including Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Join an educational meeting with a priest who will speak generally about Catholicism in Italy and the organization of the Vatican or with a nun who will explai...n what life as a nun in Rome is like.

was the first day of the nightmare that is still as clear as yesterday. Have two years really passed?
It was good to spend tonight with a good friend.

I think its going to rain...

RAIN BEFORE DAWN
F. Scott Fitzgerald

The dull, faint patter in the drooping hours
Drifts in upon my sleep and fills my hair
With damp; the burden of the heavy air
Is strewn upon me where my tired soul cowers,
Shrinking like some lone queen in empty towers
Dying. Blind with unrest I grow aware:
The pounding of broad wings drifts down the stair
And sates me like the heavy scent of flowers.

I lie upon my heart. My eyes like hands
Grip at the soggy pillow. Now the dawn
Tears from her wetted breast the splattered blouse
Of night; lead-eyed and moist she straggles o'er the lawn,
Between the curtains brooding stares and stands
Like some drenched swimmer -- Death's within the house!

Where's my kid today?
FRIDAY, JULY 30
Rome, Italy
Get to know Pisa, while your Delegation Manager shows you around. Use the free time for visiting the Duomo and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Just. Doesn't. Suck.

( Dami's latest picsCollapse )

Dami's itinerary today: Vicenza, Italy - Enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures and take a ride in a gondola. While passing "Canale Grande" and narrow channels you will see the famous Guggenheim Museum, the "Fenice Theater," and Mozart's Venice Residence. During a guided orientation you will explore the bustling alleys, quaint bridges and narrow canals of Venice. See the Basilica San Marco and the Bridge of Sigh. Take part in an informative presentation about glassmaking in Murano. You will learn about each step - from the composition to the polish...ing of the glass. You'll be fascinated by the demonstration of the production process.

( See Dami's latest pictures - click hereCollapse )

In other news, I'm recovering from a bout of food poisoning, and feeilng much better - it was mild, but not a fun night.

The kids are in Vicenza, Italy today!

Together with the locals of the little town of Friesach you will be part of an outstanding project. You will get the unique chance help to reconstruct a medieval castle. Receive an official welcome from the residents and town officials in Sirnitz who proudly call their village the “Official People to People Town of Carinthia. Enjoy a unique cultural experience and discover the impressive life of the Austrian mountain farmers. Learn about their everyday life, their work and how they spend their leisure time, e.g. how to milk a cow! Afterwards enjoy a traditional meal.

No pics today yet. Dami says they slept in tents in the castle last night, and it was nice and warm although the kids from Texas were freezing. He's having a great time :-)

Busy kid day! MONDAY, JULY 26, Friesach, Austria: Explore Vienna's famous sights as you take part in a guided Riddle Rally. Enjoy the historic Prater Amusement Park where James Bond took an adventurous ride on the giant Riesenrad (the second largest Ferris wheel in the world) in the 1987 film "The Living Daylights." If you like, take a ride on the famous Ferris wheel! Following your medieval banquet you'll get the chance to try your hand at some authentic medieval games, then sleep in the shadows of the castle walls as knights once did in a medieval encampment of pavilions.

Here are Dami's pics of Vienna:








































Wow! Huh?

SUNDAY, JULY 25

Vienna, Austria

Experience a darker aspect of European History when you visit the infamous Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Learn about the true nature of these camps as you delve into Mauthausen's terrible past.

You will meet and take part in a discussion with a survivor of a concentration camp (Theresienstadt). This is a unique opportunity and a true honor for student ambassadors.


I thought they were going to Auchwitz, but any such visit should be a powerful experience.

I do wish he'd call me though, haven't heard from him in a few days :-(

I am truly envious of the kid's itinerary for today! How awesome is this?
SATURDAY, JULY 24, Salzburg, Austria

Undercover Salzburg's many treasures as you explore this beautiful and historic city
with your local guide. Tonight enjoy a classical concert at the famous Schloss Mirabell.

Birthplace of Mozart and home of the Sound of Music. Ah, Austria. Lucky kid :-)

No pics, but he says:

"Got to see my homestay family today. They are a very kind German family , with one girl and her mother. They live with their grandmother, who speaks no English whatsoever. Should be fun, ja? ... Going on facebook in germany is slightly.... difficult. The y key is in a different place than normal, as well as the z key. So typos come easier. Saying HI from Germany in Munich!!!! Loving my homestay family so far, but i'll keep you posted. Bye, y'all!"

Here's the itinerary for the rest of the week in Munich!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21
Home Stay, Germany
In Innsbruck you will have lunch at the “Villa Blanka.” At this tourism school you will
learn about the Austrian Tourism School system and have the opportunity to test your
skills at baking your own dessert - the famous Austrian Apfelstrudel!

THURSDAY, JULY 22
Home Stay, Germany
Today will be spent with your home stay family experiencing European home life.

FRIDAY, JULY 23
Home Stay, Germany
Today will be the last day you spend with your home stay family. Be sure to let them
know how much you appreciate their hospitality! Write a thank you note to leave with
them or to mail the next day!


(at least he's not in Montmartre anymore.... oy!)

I just got home from a 12+ hour day at work, and my to do list didn't shrink, it grew ... omg. So bloody tired....

OH! I lied, here's a pic from Austria!

Didn't talk to him today, but he posted more pictures on facebook:

Hello from Switzerland:


look, the Alps:



OH and the itinerary is:

MONDAY, JULY 19
Strasbourg, France
Visit the Council of Europe, which was formed to protect human rights and encourage
Europe's cultural identity and diversity.
Discover the old town of Strasbourg, the charm of its typical timbered houses and its
famous cathedral.

TUESDAY, JULY 20
Heidiland, Switzerland
Discover Lucerne, a city in the heart of Switzerland situated on a lake and surrounded
by high mountains!
Board the ship to cross the lake at romantic Heidiland and enjoy the beautiful
landscape!

Jet Cultir No update from Dami ... but here's the kid's itinerary for today :-)

SUNDAY, JULY 18
Paris, France

- Admire a dazzling view of Paris! There's only one place to go: take the elevator up to the top of the Eiffel Tower (899 feet) which was built for the 1889 World's Fair to commemorate the French Revolution

‎-Attend an educational meeting in the famous Musée du Parfum Fragonard, where you will discover the fabulous world of perfume!

- Visit the historic Montmartre area, a haven for artists and writers before WWI. Marvel at the white Basilique du Sacre Coeur, which is the second highest point in Paris. Take
some time to discover this area's treasures in small groups.

This morning Dami called again at 5:30 cause he's such a good kid :-)

He called me from Notre Dame and I could hear the bells ringing (oh how I loved that when I was there), of course that was behind his friends yelling "Hi Damien's Mom!" :-)
They went to the Eiffel Tower this morning before Notre Dame, and he said they were on their way to lunch before they go to the Louvre this afternoon. So thrilling!

And he's sent more pictures!

The Eiffel Tower





He says this picture has a gold gilt hospital in the background.

Notre Dame

Here's the kids at Logan Airport, minutes before they went through security and left semi-tearful, waving parents behind.

Today's itinerary said:

Friday, July 16
Paris, France
Welcome to Europe! After arrival at the airport your Delegation Manager and coach driver will greet you!
Explore the magnificent Chateau de Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on your own. Built during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, it was the seat of the royal court from 1682 to 1789, when the French Revolution put an end to the monarchy.

Tomorrow says:

Saturday July 17
Paris, France
Voila Paris! A French guide will now join you for an orientation of the city Ernest Hemingway called "a moveable feast".
Enjoy a guided exploration of one of the most important art collections in the world, the famouse Musee du Louvre. You will visit the principal parts of the museum - including a look at Leonardo's masterpiece, Mona Lisa.

And here's the first picture Dami sent back ... french food! LOL I miss him already <3

From my facebook:

Jet Cultir I definitely don't mind getting woken up by the phone at 4:00 in the morning when it's my kid calling from Paris!!! They have arrived and are safe. Dami says he sat next to a nice older French couple that had no idea he didn't speak French LOL. And airport food sucks. :-) He sounds very excited and VERY awake - ah teenagers. So thrilled for him ♥ :-)

driving home in the rain, heard this dumb song on the radio.
i remember the first time i heard it, it was a lazy summer morning,
we were laying in bed, i loved the lyrics, wanted to sing it to her.

i cried all the way home, and i'm still crying. i miss her so much.

i wish it would stop raining.

i argued with a good friend tonight for no reason. i wish i hadn't.

today is so depressing.

So, this weekend I took my son to see Beatlemania at the Colonial Theatre in Boston.
What a great show - he completely loved it - he's turned into a huge Beatles fan.
This is cool for me, cause I saw Beatlemania in high school with my bestest bestest friend Linda.
We were total fan-girls :-)
The kidling and I had a fantastic time, sang along to the entire show, and then had a nice dinner
at a little Cambridge restaurant that my very great friend Roaming introduced me to - Christophers.
What a fantastic night :-)

And so, to immortalize our exciting Beatles experience, I've quipped a Beatles song to describe
our not so exciting day today that started out iffy and ended bleh.

And so I give you ... Another Day In The Life .... sort of.... feel free to sing along. You know the tune.

=====================

My son got sick today, oh boy
An upset stomach and congestion too
And though he missed all day at school
The doc said it's not baaaad
Think what he could have haaaad
The nurse said lets look at you too
You didn't notice but you're also ill
Turned out that mine was worse then his
By the time they were through
I was on a week of drugs so I don't come down with the flu
I'd love to noooot beeee sick

I'm late to work today, oh boy
Good thing my boss is easy going too
Then I stayed late to make up time
But I forgot to plan to eat
Hypoglycemic is no treat
So driving home I stopped for food
The Wendy's drivethru's always open late
But they weren't happy I was there
They said we closed the door
And that they were out of nearly everything I asked them for
But I would looove tooo eat

Drove up
Gave them some cash
Got the last of the burger stash
Then the lights went out
As I drove away
It was cold but I ate it anyway (yuck yuck yuck yuck)
Made me ill
And I threw up
Drove to Dunks to get a cup
Got back to my car to drive on home
Saw I had a flat and a dead cell phone

Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Arrrg Ahhh Ahhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhh Arg!
Ahhhhhhh Ahhhhhhh Ahhh Ahhh Argggg Ahhh Ahhh Arggg

I fixed a flat today, oh boy
I hope it holds till I can get it fixed
I'll have to drive real slow to work
I just can't miss a day
Cause I really like my job and I have all these bills to pay
I'd love a quiiieeett daaaay

(with apologies to the late Mr. Lennon)

Good night (well good morning) and have a pleasant tomorrow gentle readers.

Intolerance is an ugly word.

Cruelness will haunt your soul.
Hate is self-reflective.
Overindulgence cheapens value.
Obloquy demeans its originator.
Selfishness is lonely.
Elitism limits opportunity.

Loathing takes too much energy.
Obsession is destructive.
Violence is never the answer.
Envy will only make your heart bitter.

I choose love.

Getting back into things post holiday madness, and realized I haven't even
looked at LJ in a long while.
The house is utter chaos, the holidays were good, looking forward to going
back to work (can't believe I get to say that), have a new kitten, and
things are just ... ok.

Though I've had a lot of thoughts lately that ...well not quite ready to share.

Watched the BBC Doctor Who marathon, cried my eyes out at Tennant's goodbye,
and have unkind and unfuzzy feelings for his replacement. Geranimo? Please...

I think I'm going to venture out today to visit my very bestest friend... wish me luck.

My contact has been extended into the new year at "The Job I Really Love" (tm).
I am told this is good news.

I am working all kinds of crazy overtime hours.
If you don't hear from me, you're NOT alone. Nobody hears from me. I'm at work
more then I'm at home. In fact, I just got home from working all weekend.

SF people - I'm running sessions online - sign up.

Driving home tonight I stopped at a convenience store, bought a $2 scratch ticket
on a whim and won $50. Maybe the luck of the Irish isn't a total myth.

All's good in my world. Well, now that my car's back on the road and no longer in
an impound yard because my insurance company was STUPID and didn't change
over to my new credit card when I told them to and got my registration suspended.
and then got my car pulled over, towed and impounded. But, this is fixed
(thank you roaming for letting me use your car for a week, wow!) and now
I am insured with the Gecko. Very quick, very easy, and very online and user friendly.
It's good to be employed, whew!

But, other then that, no news really IS good news.

shadowflyer - get in touch. REmember, I don't actually twitter.

I wrote this last night, or more accurately, yesterday morning ...Now it's 2 AM the next morning and I'm too tired to sleep - isn't that fun?
Anyway .... here's what I MEANT to say yesterday.

It's 5:00 in the morning and there is NO good reason to be awake, but here I sit, doing the long long long overdue journal update and watching Cruel Intentions, and some of you out there know WHY, just like you know why, when it's over, I'm trying to decide between Blood Diamond and Requiem for a Dream ...  but that's not the point of this morning, just the side effect.

I've been asked several times now why I'm not dancing in the streets and shouting off the rooftops at everything that's going right.  The truth is I am, on the inside.  But it's balanced against a bone numbing terror that if I shout off the rooftops about everything that is going right, it will suddenly and dramatically go wrong again and everything will just fall apart - and I'm fairly sure that I'm not up to handling that.

So what is going so right?

Let's start with the boy.  Over the past few months, he was nominated to the People to People Student Ambassador program, an organization that offers kids in grades 5 through 12 unique and life-changing opportunities to learn, travel and experience world culture.  In order to participate, you must be nominated to the program and receive an invitation to attend a meeting.  Then you have to go through an application process that involves getting three letters of recommendation from teachers or coaches or other adults in positions of responsibility in your life, then you have to schedule an interview with the selection committee that chooses a limited number of students each year to join the program based off their applications, interviews and recommendation letters.  We are so VERY proud that D's been accepted into the program and will be traveling next summer to Rome, Paris, Switzerland and Austria! 
Today, People to People Ambassador Programs travels to every continent on the globe and offers programs for students, educators, and professionals.  Our delegates gain unparalleled access to extraordinary people and places with People to People Ambassador Programs.  The People to People movement dates back more than half a century to its founding by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Eisenhower was acting on his firm belief that direct interaction between ordinary citizens around the world can promote cultural understanding and world peace. That proud legacy of hope lives on in People to People Ambassador Programs on seven continents.
You can even watch numerous videos of the kids and the trips and about the program on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/group/people2people#p/a
This is just such a fantastic opportunity, and we're so proud that he passed the application process and was accepted! 

Now we move on to me.  I can has job.  In fact, although the current status is temp with a good possibility of perm, everyone tells me that tons of people there started as temps and that's a fairly typical way to get in and lots of temps get kept, so I can be hopeful.  What am I doing?  Well, basically, working at what is pretty much my ideal job, in my ideal environment with ideal people and I love it, and I'm happy, and frankly I'd rather be at work then anywhere else except *maybe* a larp or gaming weekend, but it would depend on the weather!  No, really, I LOVE it.  Pretty much everything up to and possibly including homicide would be on the table for what I would be willing to do to stay there, cause nobody should have that much fun at a job, it should be illegal or something.  I'm still trying to believe that I'm getting paid for it, cause its pretty much what I'd choose to be doing if I WASN'T working.
OMG Jet, what's the gorram job already?  QA testing for online games, specifically mmorpgs.  If I were to write an editorial on my ideal job, it wouldn't have been as cool as what I'm doing, which I'm just really enjoying.  And there's about a dozen of you out there I get to see every day - which is certainly not hurting.  Oh, and tressum ?  I LUVS you!!!!!  Thanks you so very much!

(by the way, Requiem for a Dream won the lottery .. what a fucked up movie)

I've finally gotten most of the house organized and cleaned up, I've only one bastion of disaster left - going through the rest of the excess clothes in my room that no longer fit, weeding them out and getting rid of them.  Then I'll finally feel like I have my life in order.

This coming weekend I'm running the Star Wars game - getting started up again for real.  Nearly 1 year since she's been gone, and I think she would have been very sad if w did otherwise.  I'm excited, but have some real trepidations about doing this justice.   Also, in the middle of the busy wind down of the larp season, it makes things a little frenetic - not to mention I'm joining at least one other tabletop this month too.  Busy busy gaming time and I love it.

So ... Requiem for a Dream.  Then back to work.  How cool is that, huh?  End. Of. Radio. Silence.