(no subject)

[cblj_backup]

So, I've been stockpiling books at work, bringing them in one or two at a time -- books I've read, books I want to get rid of, books I don't like -- in anticipation of taking them to the second-hand bookstore on my way home. I decided today would be the day.

I went around about this with myself a few times, while I was packing them into my messenger bag. Has today been successful? No. Has it been lucky? No. Aren't you tired, don't you just want to go home? Well, yes. But won't it feel good to get rid of all these books? Oh yes.

I kept talking myself out of it and back into it until it was time to go, and then I did the virtuous thing and walked out the door with about thirty pounds of books in my bag. I walked up Michigan, through Northbridge mall, and down Wabash. Wabash, which had an awful lot of trailers parked along it, with stars on the doors. And there was a sign on the stairway down to the bookstore off Wabash saying, "Keep left for set #1."

Sure enough, the bookstore was set #1. Big sign on the door: "We will be closed from the 15th through the 17th for filming."

So I could haul those books all the way back to work and leave them in my desk and then walk back again to the El, or I could just say fuck it and go home and pray that when I got hit by a car or something, which at that point I felt was inevitable, the books would cushion my fall.

I did not get hit by a car, but that's about the only good thing you can say about today.

It's not that I enjoy being negative, you know. It's just that today has been complete bullshit from start to finish, starting at 3am. So tomorrow someone had better bring me cookies or something.

Comments

[caffienekitty]

*makes you tea and non-allergenic virtual cookies*

[tree00faery.livejournal.com]

Aww. *tucks you into bed with soup and home-made bread.*

I am glad you were not hit by a car!

[butterbuns.livejournal.com]

Chicago Code again?

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I'm honestly not sure what I could do to Chicago that would be worse than what it did to me yesterday.

[megdalina.livejournal.com]

Aw Sam, I always feel so bad for you when the world gets you down. I hope tomorrow is just filled with sunshine and rainbows! (if that sort of thing is possible in Chicago)

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

No sunshine so far, but at least nothing has tried to kill me!

[adina-atl.livejournal.com]

I'll go halfies with you on putting a hit on the day. I discovered today that my annoying Thursday morning meeting has been canceled--in favor of an even earlier Tuesday morning meeting. Starting today. About an hour before I got the message.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

AUGH. I hate that. Early meetings in general suck, it's just as well you missed it IMO :D

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Man, it's just one thing after another for you today! *sends internet cookies*

I suppose you could try to find out what was filming so you could have your revenge by not watching it.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I thought it was Ride Along, but it could also be finish shots for Transformers III, I suppose.

[aunty_marion]

Technically it's no longer 'today' where I am (oh, you know what I mean. It's after midnight...), and Wednesday has started out BADLY. My computer crashed. All I was doing was playing a game before bedtime!

(Obviously it's up and running again now. Sort of. Noisily. *crosses fingers*)

unsolicited IT advice

[minkrose]

Computers crashing and then making noises on start up can be a sign of a serious issue. If it's making grindy or clicky noises, that is BAD - the hard drive might be dying. Seriously dying. Back up your data ASAP.

If you have the means to get it checked out, I'd recommend it. Good luck!

Re: unsolicited IT advice

[aunty_marion]

Most data is already backed up anyway, but it sounds more like grindy-fan noises. I've dusted it well, and it sounds a bit better today...

Unfortunately, having been unemployed for 4 years, with only minimal income, I can't afford to have it in a repair place (if they'd do it - it's more than a few years old!) for long, as it's the source of my income (online proofreading)! And also can't really afford a new one without blowing the very last of my savings...

Re: unsolicited IT advice

[minkrose]

Grindy fan noises are annoying but hopefully should not be a death knell. Being married to an IT guy means I hear all the bad stories - and I can't resist giving advice if I think it will help.

I hear you on the unemployment! I'm coming up on a couple years, though I hopefully have some leads (and I've been in school again, so I have some excuse). Sadly, you are far away from any fellow IT people I know who might do you a good turn for free. The only friend I have in the UK does website design.

Do you have a good library in the area that you could use for internet? I know you can't get much time on those kinds of computers, but it may be a way to give your computer a break from time to time.

Good luck!

Re: unsolicited IT advice

[minkrose]

Oh, and check out refurbished computers, if you have to get a new computer. I've been reading up on them lately and studies have been done that show most of the time, people can't tell the difference. It's much less drain on the environment and far cheaper than a new computer. Plus, that kind of place might repair even your older computer (though obviously, it would still cost). Sometimes they'll take trade-ins, I've done that myself before.

[kelspots.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can totally relate. Today has indeed been absolute crap! At one point I even quoted your icon and told my co-worker I was putting a hit out on this day.

[sophie-spence.livejournal.com]

It's not that I enjoy being negative, you know. It's just that today has been complete bullshit from start to finish, starting at 3am. So tomorrow someone had better bring me cookies or something.

You bring the crank, dear Sam, more charmingly than anyone I know.

Re: Chicks Dig Guys That Cook, I must say I'm oddly creeped out by his description of the kitty-lovin, big-haired, perfect-shouldered, great-walkin, right-brained hippy-chick who digs his cooking, to whom he dedicates the book.

[hdluff4eva.livejournal.com]

I'd bring you cookies if I lived in Chicago. :D

I make a mean cookie...

[midgetgems.livejournal.com]

Well, thanks for sending your crap Tuesday to be my crap Wednesday. Is it Wednesday? I think it is. ANYWAY! Dishwasher at work broke, I had to don the rubber gloves. Then we had a surprise audit, whilst understaffed and me who is not trained. I got thrown on bar making drinks, OH HI DON'T KNOW HOW! Then we ran out of lids for the cups. THEN I got stuck in traffic on the commute from work to school and was late to pick Sam up. I will be glad at sleeping time!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

ugh that's annoying. I started selling my books online at powells.com and cash4books.net. They don't take everything and the books have to be in good condition but then I can just box them, print out the pre-paid shipping label, and drop them off at the post office. For me, lugging them to a second-hand bookstore usually meant lugging a smaller portion of the books back home.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, nice. I may have to try that.

Generally when I take books to be sold, any they don't take I just leave in the charity box.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I hadn't noticed any charity bins at the secondhand bookstores I went to because that would've been my choice too. The ones that I can't sell online, I've then donated. I think BetterWorldBooks has an option to send in extra books to donate. If you're also selling other books, then I think they'll pay for the shipping though I'm unsure about that since I haven't donated books to BWB.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Most of the time if you ask, they'll point you at a sad box in the corner :D At least, most of the secondhand places I've been, they do. I'll look into mailing though, I like that.