mizarchivist

Thanks, Scalzi. You hit all the points I was trying to say about this latest news of trolling on Twitter / internet. I had a draft here and killed it off. drwex pointed out Scalzi would probably make some coherent points on the topic, and lo! Not 2 hours later, that comes true. <3

Today was day 2 of a 3 day class for work. The class is geared for people using a markup language built for books/lit. I have gotten an intro into a markup language for archival description.Both are XML languages, and the whole point is how does one take content, run it through a stylesheet in XSLT and come out with a product (usually HTML). The similarities between the two types of XML is on par with Italian vs. Spanish. But they're talking technicalities within the language that they all can take for granted that is beyond-over my head. So, the fact that I'm getting even 50% of what's going on is sort of like some amazing bonus. I feel like I'm actually maybe getting closer to 70%, even. It's just the last segment of today was complex enough that by the time I was irretrievably lost, they had been talking about it for easily an hour, and no way I was coming back from that. Even so, I had the general idea of what the topic was trying to convey, it's just how it's executed was blargle-blargle-word-word-wah-wah-wahhhhh. Fun aside: while describing the first day to fubar, apparently this is a bit of tech he's not had to deal with, so maybe for the second or third time in my life, I got to explain a techie thing to him. That was an amusing and unexpected turn.

My goal for taking this class is to understand the structure and options within using style sheets so that when we start making our own from our data management software or customizing templates from other institutions, I will have the mechanics, even if I'm not going to understand all the details within elements, blah blah blah.  I will not have to turn around and immediately use this information tomorrow or even next month. We have a team with members in who're much more likely to be taking lead on whatever style sheets we go with.

With that in mind, I've been more at peace with not really getting it. Still, it's hard, and I'm grateful for the instructor who sat with me through lunch yesterday to untangle things for me, and she did a reprise this afternoon helping me at least get a few more concepts on the section that was jibberish. It's been hard not to feel like I don't deserve the extra help, because the impostor syndrome doesn't feel so much like syndrome as fact. I've been actively stopping myself from apologizing for monopolizing an instructor's time, rather I say thank you and try to believe that it's OK that I'm there. And sometimes I actually believe it. Once again, it's the internal dialog that is possibly way more valuable than the course curriculum. Those of you who have known me... ever, know or can guess that this kind of situation would not yield the relatively graceful/zen state. More like freakout.

Anyway, I hope any of that translates.  It'll have to do, I have a book to finish before bed. 

Anything you still can’t cope with is therefore your own problem.

Verizon escalated our ticket, we have internet again, praise be.
I'll see about that 4 day backlog of social media... well, OK, not really. Expurgated, yes. So, if you think I should know something, let me know.   

Well, that's frustrating. LJ didn't post what I just put up. I suspect I'll be doing a shorter version this time.

Thing 1:  My phone
I have a contract with Verizon, which I'm unlikely to break.
My current phone (LG ENV3) turns off randomly. It's out of warranty. I'm 1 month away from early upgrade. I am not keen on the expense of a smart phone. I just want my phone to work.

Options:
1. Do nothing, hope for best until at least 8/31
2.  Get SD card for phone (some reason doesn't have) get all info onto card, then wipe it to factory settings. Or use the Verizon system to backup contacts.
3. Look for refurb of this phone or one similar to it, hope it doesn't break in the next month, that it holds up long enough to dump 100+ into the fix.
4. Buy new phone right now at full price.
[ETA]: 5. Have Dad read this and remember he'd not done anything for my birthday and he points to and funds a reasonably priced clone/replacement. Happy day!

I'm struck with indecision on this for some reason. If anyone has a notion on this, I'm curious to hear suggestions. Keep in mind I am not keen on this topic at the best of times- I'm much more easily lost and/or frustrated with complexities and lots of tech talk now.

Thing 2: Haircut.
It has been a bit over 2 weeks since I got my haircut at DHR and I feel like it already needs a touch-up. They aren't open on Mondays and they're about to go on vacation for a week (can't remember exactly when other than early August).
Does anyone have a suggestion for a place that is in the 30-40 price range? Less than that and I worry about hair butchery, more and I will remind myself I just paid for a haircut 2 weeks ago, and wtf.

Thing 3: Likely going to Diesel tomorrow.

A guy has been emailing me about getting copies of some images we've scanned. They're pretty much public domain/ not unique, so no charge. He'll be using them with whatever he's putting into a Kindle version of some non-fiction/history book.

Me: "What size [for the file] do you need?"
Him: "3.6 x 4.8 inches, please."

..... Ohhh. No. No, sweetie. I knew I should have been more specific using that term "size."

I've created a basic account in Dreamwidth- It's been sort of a crap week for things here- so, just covering my bases so I don't lose too much traction if something goes horribly wrong. Also, downloaded LJ Archive and did a quick download for LJ Book for the past few months.

I don't expect to switch to DW as my default. I'm used to this interface, however, I'll start gathering connections yonder... again: just in case. I'm just glad my handle wasn't taken there :)

Work had been dealing with some serious retro-internet service. 1994 style. It was horrible. At least back then, it was normal and most of the internet was not part of one's job. So today, it's BACK. Hah!

Theoretically I'm going to Worcester tomorrow morning for a meeting. If the snow doesn't scare the decision-makers away. I'd been trying to organize a ride what with me not having a car and there's no easy way to deal with that train thing. I either show up an hour+ early or half an hour late, and there's no way to get from station to meeting. Not good! However, we have this mini van and q_e will have the plow truck. Smart! I also have plans to have other transport if we are delayed by a week.

Because of this meeting, I was a good and righteous gym-goer (for once) and got up today to make up for the loss of it tomorrow. I've been not very attentive to the gym for about 2 months now and I can feel it. Related: I did get a 10 class prepay for yoga (and paid in to use their mats as I can't be arsed to carry around one more awkward object every time I go). I really like Julia's style, so I default to Wednesday. I can't do some stuff, but it's a good thing to do.

ETA: Also, it looks like my concern re: expiring ATM card was for naught. I actually do have a few more weeks, not one. Yay!!

My weekend looks quiet. This is good. I keep needing to be in bed by 9:30.

Getting up 15 minutes earlier and taking the later bus = relaxed start. I'll ruin it by typing all this and having to rush out the door.
So, with that in mind, short bits of things:
-I got to see my Aunt Carol (Yes, I have one, too. She lives in Pittsburgh and is primary advocate to my grandmother who's in a home with Alzheimer's). We at at Sel de la Terre with her long-time boyfriend and their friend who's on the Aquarium's board of directors. Must take him up on the behind the scenes tour
-My work computer is shaping up. Goodbye XP. I'll miss you. I already have 7 at home, so not a huge shock. I smashed things into an approximately good version and un-7-ed it a lot. Now I get to find the new quirks in stuff like Power Point (...meh)
-I'm not allowed to carry over vacation time, so it behooves me to take random days off, which is what I'm doing tomorrow. Hel-lo, Canobie! I can't wait to see how it compares to my memory of Geauga Lake back home.
-quiet_elegance  is dealing with ongoing back/health stuff. We're all somewhat fed up with the whole hurry up n' wait. Hopefully after an MRI yesterday something definitive can be decided and done.
-Skating tonight!
-Happy birthday, primal_pastry  :)

... OK. catching a bus in 5, 4, 3....

with evila 's help, the bike got home. Galen wasn't exactly pleased with the bike's performance when we arrived so good thing dinner right then was the plan anyway. Turns out there's a really great Korean restaurant down the block from Bikeworx. So one Bibim Bop later, the rain had stopped and all was well. Unfortunately, Galen'd run the tank down to fumes and was running it on reserve already. I was a mile from the gas station when she gave up the ghost: yet another good reason to have evila  as backup. It was just after 8- the station in question a small one, but the office door was still unlocked- a living Kaylee and her hipster male companion were playing cards. My tale of woe swayed Kaylee's heart and she found a loaner gas can and turned the pump back on for me and refused my tip. Funny, with 2 gallons in the tank, Miss Beatrix decided that maybe after all she'd be willing to go. Can returned, compliments on bike paid and an uneventful ride home- Hurrah!

I have a very busy day tomorrow. A test run to make sure it's not a fluke before I trust myself to a full day of bike travel should happen.

The Pod. Oh, the pod. A less happy tale to tell. It was just whirring and whirring, clickety clickety click, but overall, not willing to go. I've been willing to take the long term patient path for many a week, but I miss having options on my daily 2 hour commute. Ebay + $ = solution. Hopefully this one will go.