melworks

I had a birthday. Yay? I guess. I dunno. I'm 56 now and feeling every bloody year sometimes. LOL.

Didn't do much for the birthday. Just went out and bought some shoes and clothes, treated myself to Chinese takeout and a slice of carrot cake and a bottle of champagne. It was a very chill birthday. The beach trip did not happen, but I can't say I'm too sad about that. I talked myself out of it.

Was surprised when I went into the Store on Saturday and Jorg gave me a little fruit tart he'd bought. "Can you guess why?" he asked, grinning like a Jack-o-Lantern. "Because I'm a little tart?" I asked. He just laughed and nodded, leaving me wondering if he meant in the sense of me being slightly bitter or sexy? Or both? Hmmm. I suppose I'll never know.

Today, the weather has done a 180 degree flip. It was almost 80 degrees yesterday and today we've got a high of 56 degrees. That wouldn't be too bad, but there's a fierce wind blowing as well. I feel sorry for anyone caught out in it for an extended period.

Sadly, when I came into the Store this afternoon, I found a homeless person set up on the side of the building with their life unfolded around them. Had to roust 'em out, as I'm not letting the building become a supposed safe haven for the chronic homeless. I did feel sort of bad for the person, even though they left their stuff here last night and called a cab to take 'em somewhere else. And my question is if you've got the money for a cab and a cellphone, why don't you get a cheapo hotel room for the night?

I don't know. I have no answers, just knee-jerk responses.

Hope y'all are having a good day.

I'm at the Store and some guy asks to look at a figure. I pull it out and show it to him and he pulls out his phone and starts checking prices online, then tries to lowball me saying it's going for $30 on this one website, blah blah blah. I told him I could go down to a certain point and he immediately countered with a diferent that's still lower than I said I could go.

I mean, the guy is just passing through. He's not a regular customer or anything, so why the hell did he think I was going to bend over backwards and let him have a figure for cost?

I hate fucking people like that.

I went to the movies tonight, by myself, and it cost me about $35.

That was the price of the ticket, a large drink and a small popcorn.

I'm sorry, but that price is just ridiculous.

Movie theaters really need to change their business model if they want to survive. Because, honestly? That price was just not worth the movie going experience.

I just ordered food from Domino's because I don't want to leave the house but I'm gagging for a soda.
Yes.
I have become THAT person.
LOLZ.

The weather today was nuts.
Almost 80 degrees.
In fucking NOVEMBER.
NO wonder everybody around here seems to be sick or is getting over being sick.
There is an everpresent cough in the air, as persistent and annoying as jingle bells.
And soon it will be Black Friday.
Ugh.
Pray for me people.
Better yet, pray for the customers who come into The Store.
They might need it more.

I have been sick all this week, which has been a bummer.

I've left the house twice, to get groceries/meds, and that's it. I've spent the entirety of the week either in the bedroom or downstairs on the couch.

Thankfully my roommate, Lance (yes that is his real name and no he is not gay), had to go out of town this week for job training, so I haven't infected him. I did however have to take care of the cats, which was nice, if a bit exhausting. Roma, the kitten, has two settings: Sleep and Zoomie! She has spent most of this week in Zoomie! mode, literally bouncing off the walls.

As I write this, I'm actually feeling a lot better than I did on Tuesday. I called in to work and am taking tomorrow off, but I think I'll be good for Saturday and Sunday. And I guess I'll go in some time next week and work an extra day or something to make up for Friday.

Now, if only my stomach will stop making sounds like a still about to explode...

Today, I went and had an eye exam at Lenscrafters in the Mall. I have to get my license renewed this January and suspected I needed glasses, so decided to get in front of it.

I have to say that the eye exam process has changed a LOT since the last time I had one. I was taken into a little room and did the traditional eye test, then sat in front of a machine that did more tests. After that, the optometrist sat me down in front of another machine and asked me to read letters and then choose between the clearer of two versions.

It was very quick. I think all the tests took less than fifteen minutes.

No surprise that I do need glasses for reading. The doctor suggested a pair of reading glasses and a pair of computer glasses, since I spend a lot of time staring at screens.

What did surprise me was the revelation that I have cataracts in both eyes.

I know that cataracts are a common development as people get older. My mom has cataracts. Her friend, Donna, had cataracts and got surgery done to replace the lens.

It never occurred to me that I would have cataracts. The doctor didn't seem too worried about them. He just advised that I wear sunglasses outside and come in for a checkup in a year so that he can check.

Ugh.

So, of course, as soon as I hear I've got cataracts I start worrying about how much the surgery is going to cost me. According to Google, it would probably be between $4000 and $6000 dollars, per eye.

Ugh. Again.

Getting older wouldn't suck so much if it wasn't so expensive or if we had free health care in this country. *sigh*

So, I'm trying not to fall down a worry-hole about the eventual cost of the surgery and everything else it will entail. It is, hopefully, years away.

Maybe by the time I need it, they'll have created some eyedrops or something that can treat it. Solution 29, I'm looking at you!

So, bit drpressed. Bit unhappy. Medicating myself with donut holes and some cherry Pepsi.

At least I got to pick out some cute frames for my glasses.

I'm not feeling so great today. I'm tired. Weary. All I want to do is lie around and eat snacks, which is making me think my SAD is kicking in earlier and harder than usual. If this keeps up, I may have to get some full spectrum bulbs to see me through the darkness.

Ugh.

I went to Michael's today to see what Halloween stuff they had and was horrified and not in a good way. Their Halloween displays were all pink and white and shiny silvery sequins.

I was apalled and just kind of walked around with this apalled expression on my face at the Return of Creepycute Halloween.

Ugh.

Thankfully, they did have more traditional Halloween decor in their seasonal section. Lots of skeletons and witches and a weird number of Edgar Allen Poe themed decor.

I found a couple of little dancing skeletons which made me think back to when I would decorate Boneparte, my big plastic skull, for Halloween and all the major witchy/pagan holidays. I actually got a little nostalgic.

Followed up with Andy via text but he never got back to me, so I'm just going to assume that everything's okay with his mom, heart-wise. IYKYK.

In other news, August has been deliciously cool and a bit damp so far in my neck of the woods. We've had overcast skies and highs in the low 70s since the beginning of the month. Sadly, I probably won't be able to see the Full Moon tomorrow, but que cera, cera.

Work has been good. The drama between John and Jorg was rectified and now we have Dayne helping out on Saturdays as well. Honestly, we've got so many people on-board right now, just working for credit and stuff, that Jorg's scrambling to find stuff fof them to do.

Finally got the last issue of The Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt the other day. The ending was a bit lackluster, to be honest. This month should see the last issue of 'I Was A Fashion School Serial Killer' come out as well. Then I'll have to find something else to add to my subscription.

Been playing around a bit with ChatGPT and Gemini over at talkai.info. Their neutral to upbeat responses are incredibly irritating and many times they fail to give correct answers to questions, but will give you related information which is irrelevant to your question. It is good, however, for generating basic bitch lists. I'll give 'em that.

Still watching a ton of anime. My favorite this season? Season 2 of 'My Dress-Up Darling.' It caught me completely by surprise and I look forward to new episodes every week. :)