my moral standing is lying down

And henceforth is my cynical Happy Atheists' Day list. Many of these are from last year.

In no particular order.

inexpensive/realistic:
License to Drive DVD
Hackers and Trainspotting DVDs
The Presige DVD (when it comes out)
La Femme Nikita TV DVDs seasons 1-5 (I'd prefer the bootlegs in order to get the whole series rather than spending more on the official releases)
Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey (it's out in paperback now)
bluetooth headset (good quality, pls) compatible with Samsung d807
Kurutta Taiyou by Buck-Tick (first press only)
any Buck-Tick stuff I don't have
Koyasu Takehito photobook
Sailor Moon (season 1) DVD set
Sailor Moon R (season 2) DVD set
Rurouni Kenshin manga, complete (scanlations are good too!)

more expensive/group gifts/unrealistic:
Sailor Stars (season 5) DVD set
black Creative Zen Vision:M (my current Zen might be on its way out is dying, so I'm serious about this one)
Kare Kano manga (complete scanlations set, or at least 1-10 of actual books)
Philips digital photo frame
USB beverage chiller
round-trip ticket to Japan for December 2007
money for a tattoo
Toyota Camry LE 2006 v6
Infiniti FX35
Mazda3 (hatchback-like model)
Sora♥

That was yesterday, because I covered for David on Saturday. It was actually very nice to be able to have a day off in the middle of the week, where I had no familial obligations -- I could sleep late, and then go out and about in the wonderful weather and shop my ass off. Which is what I did. Some of my jeans have worn out recently, so I was on a mission and ended up buying 7 pairs because I actually found stuff I liked! It was amazing.

I am a shopaholic, I admit it. But no way am I quitting, it's too much fun. =D

Anyway, it was a beautiful day yesterday and I had a fine time going to the mall and walking around. I met up with metallicapixie for lunch at the mall, then we went home and rushed off to Long Island to Jo Ann's (fabrics and crafts shop) to look for silk or satin (or similar -- something dressy) in a black-on-black polka dot (or even some-other-color-on-black). We could not find ANYTHING. I never imagined it would be so difficult to get! We found this other fabric -- a shiny cotton-polyester blend that was black-on-black stripes, which she liked... but then she wasn't sure how much to get as it was a 45" bolt instead of a 60" bolt, AND the seamstress would need extra fabric in order to match up the stripes vertically.

It was fun to take the drive out to Long Island, just me and Elizabeth since we haven't had much chance to spend time together, just the two of us, in a long time. It was really nice, and relaxing. It's too bad the fabric situation didn't work out. We may just have to go back on Thursday for it.

Today, Liz is in Minnesota, visiting McAllister (I'm sure I spelled that incorrectly). She left this morning on an 8:15 flight and will be returning on an 11:15 flight this evening. ^^

I couldn't come up with anything before now, probably because I've been really busy, and didn't really focus on the holidays coming up, but I've come up with a few things now.

In no particular order:

inexpensive/realistic:
License to Drive DVD
Hackers and Gia DVDs
a haircut
large/dangly star earrings (must be colored plastic)
a best-of Stevie Nicks CD
At All Costs by David Weber
Wizard of London by Mercedes Lackey
Soul Caliber III (for PS2)
Kurutta Taiyou by Buck-Tick (first press only)
any Buck-Tick stuff I don't have
Koyasu Takehito photobook

more expensive/group gifts/unrealistic:
Sailor Moon (season 1) DVD set
Sailor Moon R (season 2) DVD set
Sailor Moon Super S (season 4) DVD set gotten for me, by me.
I'd say Sailor Stars (season 5) DVD set, but it isn't available yet.
Nokia 6822
Creative Zen Vision:M (black)
Kare Kano manga (complete set, or at least 1-10)
round-trip ticket to Japan for December 2006
a car (4-door standard/compact import preferred)

When I paid online for the camera, I put in my CC info and pressed submit, but the session had timed out, so I had to do it over. Little did I know that they'd held the purchase amount ($279.99) twice. Fine, I can deal with that 'cause I have enough to cover it. I figured that the second hold of $279.99 would disappear when they received the payment. But I checked this morning, and although the $279.99 payment went through, there was still a hold of $279.99 on my account. So I wanted to find out when the funds would be released. I didn't really feel like calling, so I used the credit union's webchat service.

Below you will discover the reason I was barely restraining myself from attacking the screen and pulling the woman's brains out from the other side (not that she'd miss them or anything).

( My name is Annette. How may I assist you today? )

If she had just read my question to begin with, she could have just answered my question then instead of going through all that garbage. Not to mention, she kept restating things I'd told her and it would have helped a bit if she were at all able to ADD! $235 and $13.02 do not add up to $293.01. And I bet that's how she got the $235.01 because the Hotwire transaction was $235.00. Stupidstupidstupid!

I spoke with Raquel this morning and she's definitely able to come. She actually got approval for her leave request while I was on the phone with her. She doesn't have the money for the flight costs right now, so I said I could lend it to her and she could pay me back. $250 isn't that much when you know you can trust the other person to pay you back. ^^ Besides, I know where she lives. So I just booked her flight -- lucky her; she has two non-stop flights from LGA! She's going to get home earlier on Friday night than I will! =Þ

bishsticks, if you'd like to meet up for dinner or such, let me know ~ maybe there's a shopping center we can meet up in, or whatever ~ so I can take that into account for renting a car. =D

I forgot to mention that I dropped my camera late last week (that day that I took a pic of my green shoes). At first it would... stutter, for lack of a better word, whenever the optical zoom extended or retracted. Since last night, however, the LCD screen won't turn on at all and it keeps clicking like a broken record after extending most of the way. So, I've been trying to get Liz to call or visit a camera repair shop for the past several days to get an estimate on the cost of repairing it. She's going to take it somewhere today for a free estimate.

Otherwise, I've already bought a new camera on ebay. There were only three Sony cameras (I really like Sony cameras) that fit my requirements of size/comfort/gadgetry/cost. I ended up getting the W5 -- I think the only difference between the W5 and the one Angelica has (which is the W1, I think) is that it has 32mb internal memory, but you know, I don't know how much of a good thing that is -- I wouldn't be able to take that 32mb memory "card" out of the camera to put it in another one, etc. =( On the other hand, it still takes the Memory Stick™ instead of the Memory Stick Duo™ (heehee, Duo), so I can use my current memory card with it. I really like the T33, except for the size of it (a bit too tall), the fact that it has no finger rest (so I'm sure to drop it), it doesn't have selectable focus (which is really weird), and that you have to use Memory Stick PRO Duo™ in order to record with audio. (What a weird camera.) And! The T33 has a lithium-ion battery, I believe, which although very nice, cannot be replaced with emergency AA batteries! So yeah.

Now I'm worry-free for the weekend. I don't like stress. I can deal with it, but I don't like it.

I realized yesterday after going to that interview at the end of the day, that I really, really, really love these Chinese Laundry shoes. They're so freaking comfortable! You don't know how shocked I am that I like them so much. I thought my feet had forgotten how to wear heels (I'd worn some in junior high, but stopped by the time I went to high school), but I guess I was just biting off more than I could chew with 2"+ heels. Yes, I guess that seems kind of obvious, doesn't it?

Well, now I have to go and see if there are any more I can buy up before pointy-toed, low-heeled shoes go out of style.

About the lunch interview. I forgot that it was an interview with an agency. I really feel like I should have been less nervous there than at the one yesterday ('cause that one was an interview directly with the company that would be hiring me), but oddly enough that wasn't the case. It was probably because the guy from yesterday was dressed more casually, and came across more laid-back. Whatever. The process is only beginning, so I shall get somewhat used to it. (Or, maybe I'll get a job before I have to?!) =D

Oh, and dammit. I've spent $20 on cabs for the past two days. =Þ This must not continue.

I feel like I'm seriously behind -- I haven't been able to read my flist today. =( I don't know what's going on with everyone since late yesterday afternoon. OMG! (This is pretty pathetic.)

I've gotten three callbacks on my resumes and have two interviews, tomorrow and Friday, and an open house to attend on Tuesday (just think, suzume_sparrow, I could be in the Real Estate business too). And then I'll make posts of being cancelled on, etc. Won't it be fun~? LOL.

I don't know why I don't really expect anything to come of these interviews, though. I do wish that some of the more interesting ones had gotten back to me, instead of the agency-like ones.

In other news, I ordered the Brom book. Do you know that they charge shipping too? $8?! So it isn't even $110, it's $118! (Oh yeah, I got my second paycheck, which is how I can "afford" this.) Of course, you remember my thing about no shoe shopping for 6 months? But, but-- Torrid is having a 50% off of shoes already on clearance sale. I'm such a sucker for a sale.

It's really annoying me. I got this bag in "titanium" from ebags.com, thinking I could finally condense my laptop and it's accessories/my wallet and stuff into one bag. But no. I just find that the weight is off-balance for me. The straps attach at the very ends of the bag -- it's just not comfortable; because the laptop doesn't bend, the bag is stiff and unwieldy because it sticks out too horizontally.

What I use now for my laptop is the Viz anime tote bag they were giving out for free at Otakon 2004. And since I have quite a bit of other stuff to carry, I put that stuff in my PoT handbag. But I hate carrying two bags! I can put a few things in with the laptop, but there isn't enough room for the A/C adapter on the side of the laptop and I don't want it to scratch the latptop or to apply pressure to the monitor. And until the end of July (when I stop working at the UN), I need somewhere to put my wallet since I'm wearing the kind of pants that you just can't put a bulky wallet in the back pocket (if they even have a back pocket). I hate dressing up for work. Every single fucking day. Grrragaslhdglasd!

Alright. So I've come this far; it's been about a month since I've been bringing shinigami to work, so I can go another month schlepping two bags around. After that, at least I think I'll be able to put my wallet in my jeans pocket again. I know I can fit my Zen in fine, and a book or two, but I still don't know about the A/C adapter... And although I am using a cloth bag to protect the laptop, it still does nothing in the way of padding.

But in the meantime I have to try and resell this stupid bag too.

On Friday -- our usual hangout day -- Angelica went to Church with her family, so that left me with nothing to do. (Don't say anything about how this just emphasizes my last post.) In any case, I was working at the UN, so I got out at 5:30, and caught a ride home with my parents. I guess normally I'd hang out with my sister, but she was going to a sleepover that night, so I really had nothing to do and I was so NOT going to stay home stuck with my parents all night.

I caught a ride home with them so I could change into more comfortable clothes, and then when they drove my sister over to her friend's house (which is a few blocks away from the subway), I could get another ride and go back into the city. I still wasn't sure at this point what I was going to do, but I didn't feel like staying home, so back into the city it was.

I got on the E into Manhattan and was obviously more tired than I thought because I promptly fell asleep. Woke up at 23rd Street and sort of vaguely thought I'd just go on to Canal Street and walk up to Mott Street to the arcade. But I woke up again at West 4th and ran off the train just before the doors closed. Then I stood there like an idiot, thinking, Why did I DO that?.

Shrugged my shoulders resignedly, and exited onto the street. Passed by Crazy Fantasy looking in the window... Foo Fighters guy wasn't there. If he had been I might have stopped in, might have been tempted to get another piercing (I've been the space on my cartilage just below my first cartilage piercing). Therefore am I glad that he wasn't there. Whew! What a close one! Walked down to 8th Street and turned up toward the 6 train (Astor Place).

Of course, you realize this is the street with all the shoe & clothing stores, cool t-shirt & patch stores, etc.? Looked in the windows of a few shoe stores, saw one that had these kawaii shoes that I have one of the styles. The brand name is Volatile. The shoes are platform sneakers... some have velcro fastenings (like the one I have) and some have laces. The ones that I want desperately have laces, black with silver or red flames on the sides. I like the silver much more than the red, but the red is cute too. So, saw the red flame shoes in the window, went in, then saw the silver flame shoes. Asked if they had them in a 9 or a 10. Waited. Waited. Came back and said no. Damn!!! Fine.

Left and kept walking. Didn't see anything else I liked. Got to Wheels of London. They have lots of stuff I like. All the time. Boots. Platforms. Kirei. Have I mentioned my big/wide/clunky boot fetish? Sigh. Took my usual look around. This time decided to try something on. Sonax, approximately 3.5-4" heel, including about 2" platform, big, wide, clunky. Oooooh, I like. Tried them on in a size 9. Ooooh, they're wide! Have I mentioned I have a wide foot so can't get many nice styles 'cause they don't fit? Ooooh, they're roomy! Walk around the room. Ask opinions of two salesgirls. They say they like, I take it with hope, and a grain of salt. Consider. Think. Consider. Look at price again. Wince. Look at price again. Wince. Look at price again, even with the 10% discount it says. Wince. Decide to buy it anyway. I like.

I just realized I've been reduced to one- and two-word sentences. I must stop this.

So, I walked out of Wheels with my $100 purchase, with a stupid genki smile on my face. Finally continued on to Astor Place where I got on the downtown 6 and got off at Chinatown... went to the arcade where I played an uninspired game of DDR 5th mix (playing by oneself means no competition, and therefore is very boring). I hate screwing up a lot just because I'm not competing against anyone. It doesn't make sense! Well, at least it wasn't a total bust. I saw Jason, which was nice. Poofy-hair-freestyle guy wasn't there, so that was disappointing.

After, I went to eat at Wonton Garden, which I haven't been to in a while. I wasn't in the mood for Hainan chicken, if you can believe it. I got beef stew Cantonese style, instead (that's beef stew with the thin yellow noodles).

Then, started walking back to the E on Canal Street. Eventually got home around 12am. Wasn't too bad considering I was by myself and sort of bored the whole time. LOL. Except on the train 'cause then I was reading LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring. If you remember, I had left off in the middle of the Council of Elrond. Before that, it had been sometimes interesting, sometimes immensely boring. But after that it picked up quite a bit. Although there's no real way for me to picture the characters other than how they looked in the movie, I would have liked to know what images my mind would've produced without the visual aid. Then again, knowing me, I would've been completely off in my image of them.

Anyway, getting back to the topic of today's post (my dead wallet): yesterday Liz, my mom, and I ended up going to Roosevelt Field because I really wanted to go to PacSun to get some more jeans for myself. And since the one on 6th Avenue in the village closed, the only location I know of is in the Roosevelt Field mall, and not being able to drive prevents me from getting there on my own. So I asked my mom to take us, and she did. Liz and I spent about an hour in PacSun trying stuff on, and we finally ended up getting 2 bottoms and 1 top each.

I got a pair of dark blue (but not indigo, which I really like) JNCO jeans, $45, (not as wide as I usually like, but it seems that style is slowly fading away and it's much more difficult to get recently... which really sucks, 'cause I really like it!). And a pair of dark gray Dickies work pants, $30. Oooh, they're nice. I can wear them with my new big/wide/clunky/high-heeled boots and they look pretty. Then they had a navy blue with light blue stripes jacket on the $10 clearance rack in my size, which I got.

Liz got a pair of light blue Bullhead jeans (not wide leg ::sniff::) and a pair of navy blue corduroy flares (oooooh niiice!) and a navy blue with yellow stripes polo top (kawaii!). Her clothes were all on sale, total: $50. So unfair!

Oh, and did I mention that my monthly unlimited MetroCard ran out last night? So I had to fork out $63 this morning to get another one in order to get to work?! Kyaaaaaaaaa! The fates conspire against me, I swear!

So this is why my wallet is dead. I didn't have money to burn to begin with. ::smacks self upside head::

Good thing I'm working this Sunday at GCS again. Although that won't even make up half of it, at least it's something.

Let's see. The past few weeks I seemed to have let loose my penny-pinching ways and gone on an unprompted spending spree! (Please excuse all the aliterations, I have no idea where they've come from.) In any case, I spent several hundred dollars on costumes for me and my sister for Otakon 2002 which is still more than 6 months away! I spent $175 on a new Sony CD Walkman for myself (Liz gets to have my old Aiwa). I just spent another $60.00 on a Rangers jersey (Leetch when he was captain!). I also just spent another $50.00 on a Buck-Tick DVD when I don't even have a DVD player! But that's okay 'cause I'm going to get Tony to copy it onto VHS for me and then sell it on ebay; hopefully I'll get my money back. Also, I've yet to get my parents' gifts. My mom's gift is going to be about $15.00 (2 CDs, once I figure out what CDs I should get her, $15 from Liz, ordered from Columbia House). My father's gift is going to be around $30.00 (a $45 gift certificate to Macy's or something, $15 from Liz... my father likes to shop for clothes... kawaii, ne?). Then there's my sister's gift! I don't want to put anything in here that'd give it away, just in case she has the urge to read my LJ before we actually give the gift to her, but it's a bit expensive. ::sigh::

Not to mention I'm bidding on a rare B-T CD (Shapeless) that comes with a 96-page hardcover photo book! It's up to $42.00 right now and I'm high bidder, but there are 4 days left and who knows how much it'll go up to! And I think that I REALLY want that CD and photobook! Itai! Anyway, I hope I win. We'll see this Sunday.

So, if you have a heart, please go look at, and bid on! my auctions...

ladyreianan's auctions

Oh god, I just remembered... now I have to think of something to get for Angelica (#$@&*!) and something for Louie too! Although, I'm sure I'll find something rather easily for Louie, but Angelica, the bitch.... I wasn't prepared this year! Usually I have something for X-mas by September for her!

::slams head against desk::

Okay, I better go before my forehead gets all bloody.

Oh, and by the way, my ears HURT!!!