Entry tags:
Verizon vs. the Post Office
According to the USPS, I live in Mechanicsburg, PA, 17050.
According to Verizon's automated address checker, I live in Silver Spring, PA, 17055.
Now, it is true that I do live in Silver Spring township. However, the USPS has decreed that the Mechanicsburg postal area covers this area, and further, Silver Spring is not listed as an acceptable city name for this ZIP. (You can reverse-search ZIPs and find the USPS-approved locales on the USPS website.)
I absolutely do not live in 17055 (which is an adjacent ZIP code, but some distance away).
It's baffling.
According to Verizon's automated address checker, I live in Silver Spring, PA, 17055.
Now, it is true that I do live in Silver Spring township. However, the USPS has decreed that the Mechanicsburg postal area covers this area, and further, Silver Spring is not listed as an acceptable city name for this ZIP. (You can reverse-search ZIPs and find the USPS-approved locales on the USPS website.)
I absolutely do not live in 17055 (which is an adjacent ZIP code, but some distance away).
It's baffling.
Entry tags:
bizarre
I blinked today when I saw a National Grid truck (and then that the Keyspan facility is now NG).
Turns out that they bought Keyspan (the gas company here).
Turns out that they bought Keyspan (the gas company here).
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today's funny thing
Today I went to Barnet Registry Office to do my citizenship application (it's faster through the checking service, plus they photocopy your documents so you can keep your passport). This all went fine, though the current wait is 7 months :/
anyway, while I was waiting I glanced at the Notices of Marriage posted on the wall and noticed someone I know was on the list. I'd had no idea she and her partner had finally decided to make it official. (Or that she was divorced...)
anyway, while I was waiting I glanced at the Notices of Marriage posted on the wall and noticed someone I know was on the list. I'd had no idea she and her partner had finally decided to make it official. (Or that she was divorced...)
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Misanthropy
I have not had a real life, friendly conversation with anyone to whom I am not related (by blood or marriage) since January.
This should bother me, but in fact I am entirely happy with the current state of affairs.
People are overrated.
This should bother me, but in fact I am entirely happy with the current state of affairs.
People are overrated.
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I AM boring
I decided this after hearing the words "oooh! BOGOF!" emerge excitedly from my mouth.
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Bleh
Lately, I'm feeling like I'm boring, uninteresting, and not particularly likeable.
Don't all jump up to agree.
Any way to retrieve some personality?
Don't all jump up to agree.
Any way to retrieve some personality?
Entry tags:
Getting old
I needed some new foundation (as in make-up).
Sign I'm in my 30s: Foundation now makes the texture of my skin look better, as well as evening out the tone. Sigh. I don't have bad skin, far from it (though I should start taking slightly better care of it) but nonetheless, age happens.
Also: went into MAC, said I needed new foundation. Blah blah blah, I say I'm NW20. Girl looks at me and says "are you sure you don't need NW15?" Now, obviously she was trying to be helpful so I'm not bitching about her, but way to make me feel pale. (NW/NC15 are the lightest shades at MAC). I'm actually kind of between (been through this before and tested both shades) but the 20 looks better.
Other parts of today have sucked, including a dodgy stroller handle bar (reversed itself), a crown popping off, and a lost contact lens. I have no spares and a wedding tomorrow.
Sign I'm in my 30s: Foundation now makes the texture of my skin look better, as well as evening out the tone. Sigh. I don't have bad skin, far from it (though I should start taking slightly better care of it) but nonetheless, age happens.
Also: went into MAC, said I needed new foundation. Blah blah blah, I say I'm NW20. Girl looks at me and says "are you sure you don't need NW15?" Now, obviously she was trying to be helpful so I'm not bitching about her, but way to make me feel pale. (NW/NC15 are the lightest shades at MAC). I'm actually kind of between (been through this before and tested both shades) but the 20 looks better.
Other parts of today have sucked, including a dodgy stroller handle bar (reversed itself), a crown popping off, and a lost contact lens. I have no spares and a wedding tomorrow.
Entry tags:
random thing
A month or two ago, I noticed that the revamped Waitrose in Finchley Road had been officially renamed to Waitrose Finchley Road (instead of John Barnes, the store that used to be on the site). The old store didn't actually have the branch name on the front; the new one does.
Today I was going down Finchley Road and noticed that the signs in front now read "Waitrose John Barnes".
I actually decided to stop off there on the way home (instead of the Waitrose near me). Woo. Very nice. It's huge now (took over the Habitat which had been next door).
Today I was going down Finchley Road and noticed that the signs in front now read "Waitrose John Barnes".
I actually decided to stop off there on the way home (instead of the Waitrose near me). Woo. Very nice. It's huge now (took over the Habitat which had been next door).
Entry tags:
Bad parking
When we parked last night, no one was behind us. This afternoon:
The stroller was in the boot, so I had to get it out from the side. Grr. Didn't the guy realise that his rear end blocking the driveway was a sign that that was NOT ENOUGH SPACE?!
The stroller was in the boot, so I had to get it out from the side. Grr. Didn't the guy realise that his rear end blocking the driveway was a sign that that was NOT ENOUGH SPACE?!
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Spotted today
Pillar box with the logo (or whatever it's called) of Edward VII. That makes it a nearly 100 year old pillar box. Dang, those things are solid.
(Pillar box - free-standing mail box, normally painted bright red.)
(Pillar box - free-standing mail box, normally painted bright red.)
Watching Louis Theroux
I'm always gobsmacked at these plastic surgery addicts. The thing is, once you get into it like that, you're never perfect. You can always find some new flaw (the surgeon's receptionist is a prime example--and her breasts look so fake!)
The surgeon who did all of Steve Erhardt's work worries me. A responsible surgeon will actually refuse to do work on a patient like that.
And the advice of that "image consultant"... argh!! I would never, ever get plastic surgery just because someone else thought I would look better. I have to say that if I ever got thin (ha ha and ha) I would be tempted to get a tummy tuck once I was done having kids, but that's only because I've got C-section flap. Even then, I'm not sure.
The rest of it? I'll live with what G-d gave me. Nothing's so bad that I can't deal with it. (Aside from my bust, but I refuse to touch that on principle unless it's reconstructive.)
You know something funny? My sister had her nose done after she graduated from college. It really bugged her. But I don't even really notice it, maybe because I know her so well. It was a good job; the surgeon just smoothed it down a bit. I suppose if it makes her happy it was worth it, but it seems so insignificant.
The surgeon who did all of Steve Erhardt's work worries me. A responsible surgeon will actually refuse to do work on a patient like that.
And the advice of that "image consultant"... argh!! I would never, ever get plastic surgery just because someone else thought I would look better. I have to say that if I ever got thin (ha ha and ha) I would be tempted to get a tummy tuck once I was done having kids, but that's only because I've got C-section flap. Even then, I'm not sure.
The rest of it? I'll live with what G-d gave me. Nothing's so bad that I can't deal with it. (Aside from my bust, but I refuse to touch that on principle unless it's reconstructive.)
You know something funny? My sister had her nose done after she graduated from college. It really bugged her. But I don't even really notice it, maybe because I know her so well. It was a good job; the surgeon just smoothed it down a bit. I suppose if it makes her happy it was worth it, but it seems so insignificant.
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What would Cthulhu say?
Someone I know (online) says (after me talking about Giant Microbes) that she thinks her kid would love a stuffed Cthulhu, but she can't buy one because his current thing is asking what everything says and she has no idea what Cthulhu would say.
So, out of curiosity (and because getting a 2.5 year old a stuffed Cthulhu would be pretty cool) what would Cthulhu say?
So, out of curiosity (and because getting a 2.5 year old a stuffed Cthulhu would be pretty cool) what would Cthulhu say?
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aaagh!
Yes, my kid is wearing jeans... with flowers embroidered on them and a pink T-shirt. What on earth makes you think I have a boy?!
(Random person in Waitrose, warnng me that Aliza's shoe was on the verge of coming off)
I'm going to have to put a headband on her at this rate... this isn't the first time it's happened!
(Random person in Waitrose, warnng me that Aliza's shoe was on the verge of coming off)
I'm going to have to put a headband on her at this rate... this isn't the first time it's happened!
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Fall
it's definitely fall here--cool, crisp, bright blue sky (or was, until it got dark).
I love the fall, but it always makes me feel sad, nostalgic, and more than a little bit old. I think it's the new-school-year association.
It also makes me miss being in the States. OK, all the seasons do that to some extent (spring probably the least) but I think fall's the worst.
(No, I can't get used to calling it autumn, either.)
I love the fall, but it always makes me feel sad, nostalgic, and more than a little bit old. I think it's the new-school-year association.
It also makes me miss being in the States. OK, all the seasons do that to some extent (spring probably the least) but I think fall's the worst.
(No, I can't get used to calling it autumn, either.)
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Last post
I have to admit, one reason I did post that was to see who would ignore my recommendations :-)
I don't know if it's the grossest thing I've seen, actually (I don't keep a list), but it was shocking because it was unexpected.
I don't know if it's the grossest thing I've seen, actually (I don't keep a list), but it was shocking because it was unexpected.
Entry tags:
dear lord
I just googled a particular genetic disorder. I wasn't expecting anything lurid. Google image results at the top turned up something I did NOT want to see, and I'm no stranger to medical gore or rotten.com.
I won't describe it. I will tell you that what I googled was the alternate name for trisomy 13. I strongly recommend that you NOT google this (NB: trisomy 13 does not turn up the same results) unless 1) you have image results turned off or 2) your idea of a good website is rotten.com.
I won't describe it. I will tell you that what I googled was the alternate name for trisomy 13. I strongly recommend that you NOT google this (NB: trisomy 13 does not turn up the same results) unless 1) you have image results turned off or 2) your idea of a good website is rotten.com.
P&G may have lost me!
Their page on Fairy Liquid is sexism straight from 1960:
"Fairy Liquid, the brand trusted by millions of women in the UK, comes in different scents to give you a pleasurable experience while you do your washing up."
because men never do the washing up. GAH.
I'm a devotee of Fairy but that may send me into the welcoming arms of Persil.
"Fairy Liquid, the brand trusted by millions of women in the UK, comes in different scents to give you a pleasurable experience while you do your washing up."
because men never do the washing up. GAH.
I'm a devotee of Fairy but that may send me into the welcoming arms of Persil.
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Fastest FSOT ever
15:00, got a PM saying "is this still available"
16:20, handed parcel to post office clerk :)
*WHOOSH*
Love online sales sometimes...
16:20, handed parcel to post office clerk :)
*WHOOSH*
Love online sales sometimes...
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random wondering
We've got Essex, Sussex, Wessex, and Middlesex. What happened to the north Saxons? :)
(Never really did early English history...)
(Never really did early English history...)