Jenn Dolari @dolari@driveinsaturday.org

Apprently we had a power outage this morning. All my clocks are blinking and my LED lights were on when I woke up. Second surprise windstorm I've slept through....

There are a number of things I ordered for delivery before the layoff. Ironically, one is a statuette I bought for myself as a "I survived one year at Tableau" that likely won't get here until months after the layoff.

Cartoon Accurate Starscream was one of those pre-orders, and I finally got it, although not in the way I expected. I made the order in October, for delivery in January, which Walmart then delayed to February. Then I noticed their website said one was at the Walmart up the street. So I put in the order, it went through, and I picked it up. Then cancelled the pre-order.

Anyways, I love how the Cartoon Accurate Starscream looks on the right, versus the Vintage G1 Starscream on the left. The no-sticker looks was something I had already done with my original Ramjet and Thrust, never putting the stickers on, and leaving their cone-heads up to look like the cartoon. I do wish, however, they'd left his face black. In the cartoon, his face is darker than the other seekers who do have white faces and black "helmets."

Cartoon Accurate Hot Rod is still on delay, and doesn't seem available anywhere just yet, so I'll wait a bit longer on it. The money was already paid, so it's not gonna hurt me cash wise. But at the same time, I may need that cash later....

I always feel wierd when I interact with a trans woman I come across "in the wild." All my old support group instincts of "Don't call them out, don't bring them any attention don't get them read" come to the forefront. Even though I really want to. And those rules are ancient.

I did say "Thank you kindly, ma'am" and the grin I got back was ear to ear.

不好了！ 我完全無辜的氣球！

Jenn works on her grocery list: Hrm...this recipe calls for milk. I have milk. I wonder is it's still good. OOOF. Febuary 2nd. Well, I'll need Half-And-Half, too. Let's check on...December 20th. Oh my.

One of the reasons I'm glad my recipe program can scale recipes, is some of my restaurant recipes are GIGANTIC. Here's Threadgill's Mashed Potatoes nutritional info if I ate the whole recipe at once:

"2001: A Space Odyssey" As Directed by George Lucas

Funniest thing I've seen all day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_suy7gARps

Dreamed I had made a new video game called "Strikers." It was supposed to be a fighting game, but somehow morphed into a game where, when you get to the VS screen, you and your opponent have to sing a duet.

Everytime you lose tempo. or waver, or go off key, a piece of the backgorund or yourself dissapears. If you completely dissapear, game over. the person with the most of themselves or the backround at the end of the round wins.

If you play tournament mode, against 12 people, you got really cool prizes like the characters costumes or recreation props from the game.

Well, now that it's February, Phase II of the job search begins.

Phase I was all of January, asking friends if they have any openings where they worked. I applied for most of them, usually days before their companies announced their own layoffs.

Phase II is still looking for work, but now seeking it out. I'm specifically looking fro full time employment, and from 60K to 80K a year. That's all this month.

Phase III is March, where we go into desperation mode and just grab onto anything that will get some money coming in. Contract, low pay, anything to just get an income.

After March, Phase III contiinues, but we're back into survival mode, too. Basically, just hunkering down, spending as little as possible, trying to run out the lease so I don't get hit with a massive penalty, and spending every minute looking for work.

During the first Dot Com bust in 2001, i spent nearly three years unemployed because there simple wasn't any work. I found work in 2003,m nd it took until 2008 to get my feet back under me.

I'm hoping that won't be the case here, but luck, hope and faith and I haven't been on speaking terms in a long time.

Well, now that it's February, Phase II of the job search begins.

Phase I was all of January, asking friends if they have any openings where they worked. I applied for most of them, usually days before their companies announced their own layoffs.

Phase II is still looking for work, but now seeking it out. I'm specifically looking fro full time employment, and from 60K to 80K a year. That's all this month.

Phase III is March, where we go into desperation mode and just grab onto anything that will get some money coming in. Contract, low pay, anything to just get an income.

After March, Phase III contiinues, but we're back into survival mode, too. Basically, just hunkering down, spending as little as possible, trying to run out the lease so I don't get hit with a massive penalty, and spending every minute looking for work.

During the first Dot Com bust in 2001, i spent nearly three years unemployed because there simple wasn't any work. I found work in 2003,m nd it took until 2008 to get my feet back under me.

I'm hoping that won't be the case here, but luck, hope and faith and I haven't been on speaking terms in a long time.

Friend: "You could always go back to Nintendo."
Jenn & Nintendo: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAH! .....no."

This Week's Meals roundup:

Koshari: Carb-o-rama (60g per Jenn-sized serving) but given that it has rice, vermicelli AND macaroni, I kinda expected it to be. BUT HOLY COW THAT'S GOOD. The tomato sauce and the hot spices make this so so so tasty. I liked it so much, I don't even mind the chickpeas. Would totally make this again.

Kuku Choma: Essentially African spicy hot wings. Needs salt, but is pretty tasty. They need to be grilled, and I ended up using my broiler and a grating to grill these. Might be better if (1) I grill them correctly and (2) get them to near blackened like the picture showed them to be.

Spaghetti "Carbonara." Eh, it's good and tasty. Absolutely Spaghetti Carbonara. But with the fusion elements of miso, sesame seeds and sea weed just not coming across in the flavor, Il'll just make regular Spaghetti Carbonara next time. It's cheaper and tastes just as good.

Spices, one year later:

Forgot to mention that after I had the asthma test, I hit Kura Revolving Sushi. Expensive, but very good sushi, lots of variety and a neat little robot guy who serves you your drinks. Ticket taking is moslty automated, as are the menus. Lots of tech. :)

A little spendy, but I'll take what I can get now that Sushiland is gone.

Heart: WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING FOR WORK?!

Brain: We are. We've dried up this week's leads, we're just waiting on responses, and we'll apply as soon as more leads pop up. In the meantime, why don't you--

Heart: WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING FOR WORK?! I DON'T WANT TO BE HOMELESS AGAIN.

Brain: We're FINE, heart. We've got until March before we even need to start worrying. Why don't we use this time to see about getting that writing career started that you--

Heart: WE'RE GOING TO SPEND YEARS UNEMPLOYED AND YOU AREN'T LOOKING FOR WORK. WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING FOR WORK?

Brain: ::sigh:: Why do I even try....

Spent all day playing with the shortwave when I should have been writing. I'll write when I wake up.