Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Samurai Zergling's LiveJournal:

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Monday, March 26th, 2012
8:16 pm	PAX is almost here! So yea, I finally have another big con on the horizon to get happy about. This Saturday is SAX, where a lot of volunteers come together and fill all of those Swag Bags everybody gets when they arrive. Then next weekend is PAX EAST 2012. So as I have mentioned in other forums and possibly here as well, I was accepted as an Enforcer this year, which means I get to attend for free. Not knowing for sure if I would be accepted, I went ahead and purchased a Three Day Pass a few months ago, which has now arrived. Before I put it up on eBay, I figured I'd ask if anyone in my circle of friends was looking to buy one. If you need it or know someone who does, let me know and we'll work out the trade. If I don't hear anything by Wednesday it's going up on eBay. I'll also update here if I sell it. Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
1:00 pm	Arisia and stuff So, I forget to be social. I realize that to some of you who know me this isn't a revelation, and for some of you it is impossible to imagine. How can you "forget" to be social? I can't explain it myself, but it's true. Somehow the fact that 'No really, I DO need other people' slips from my mind over and over again. Fortunately for me, I have good people in my life who help to remind me how much better I feel... no, not better... how much MORE I feel when I am around people. I have been emotionally dormant for the past few months. It's a kind of coping mechanism, I suppose. Sometimes emotions feel like a zero-sum game, so instead of going through highs and lows, I just flatline the whole thing. Especially during the last few months when I was feeling particularly bad about my finances. I am actually doing well considering the economy and the enormity of uprooting oneself as I did to move here, but it was a little scary there for a while. I feel a bit like one of the Scanners from the Science Fiction story "Scanners Live in Vain." Aaaanyway. Then Arisia happened. A few months ago I happened to mention in a conversation with mizarchivist that I was thinking of applying to be a PAX Enforcer. She suggested that I apply to volunteer at Arisia as well, and so I did. I had the best time, and even met someone (but more on that later.) I have been a different person this last week. I know I've been through this cycle before, but no, really, I'm going to try to stay connected to everyone this time. I think that keeping myself occupied with a succession of conventions will help with this. I'm definitely attending PAX, either as an Enforcer or a regular attendee, and there are a few others coming up that I have my eye on. (Boskone and Nauticon to start) So yea. Part of why Arisia was so fun for me was that I met someone. Or at least I think I did. I know that I got an email address and had a happy for a few days. Haven't heard back yet. NRE is a helluva drug. :) (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
7:49 pm	So, that might explain a few things. So I'm walking home from CVS tonight when suddenly, a wild memory appears! I was maybe three years old. I was with my mother shopping at the A&P. I was in the cart in the reverse-facing kid seat when my mom selected a bunch of bananas from one of those supermarket endcaps with all of the fake plastic grass lining them. (I think this was before the Dole banana trees.) I don't remember if I had said I was hungry or if my mother just decided I needed to eat something, but she then removed one of the bananas from the bunch, pealed it and gave it to me to eat while still in the store. I was in a tricky mental place where I understood the concept of commerce but not my own role in it, and thought for sure that policemen were going to get me at any moment and want to know why I was stealing a banana. I'm not sure what to do with this memory besides remember it. It seems like I should really get some kind of revelation out of it. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
10:52 am	Small setbacks Had a seizure last night. It had been a while since the last of these breakthroughs and quite frankly... I'm slightly relieved. I've been expecting one of these for quite some time now. With the combination of moving, job uncertainty, and transportation issues, I've been quite the little bundle of stress for the last several months. On top of all of this was the knowledge that higher stress leads to more breakthrough seizures. I hadn't realized this until this morning, but the WAITING for a seizure was itself a kind of stress. So Yay, got that out of the way now.* Speaking of job stress, it has been explained to me that I am now a Salaried employee. I don't think my job description qualifies as one that can be considered salaried. (My official title is Technician, and I basically do Sysadmin/breakfix duties.) I've already worked one Saturday without extra compensation, but was told that we "get really good bonuses at the end of the year to make up for those." Also, I have a set number of "Paid Time Off" hours listed on my paystub. Ummm. I'm hoping this is just some quirk of the accounting software. I guess I'll find out next week. SZ *It doesn't actually work that way (I could still have more seizures) but that's how it currently feels so I'll take that for the moment. Current Mood: tired (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, July 18th, 2011
7:53 pm	Just a quick update - I'm 50/50 for Diesel tomorrow + Because I'll probably be picking up my new (ish) car. Depending on how smoothly that goes I might show up late. (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 7th, 2011
8:04 pm	Guys, GUYS! We're living in the Effing FUTURE! Ok, so actually I may be a bit late to this one, but I don't care. Just discovered Google's Translation app for the iPhone. Seriously, weren't we just wondering when good machine translation would arrive, and when we weren't looking Google goes and just does it - for free, even. Also, I am happy to report that three years of French class did NOT go to waste, as I can successfully speak the French lyrics from Lady Marmalade, and have them translated correctly into English. (Also, I am 12 years old :) (Comment on this)
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
3:57 pm	Done for the moment. I am as moved in as I can be this holiday weekend without breaking into the storage facility, so I guess I'll be available for fun and frivolity this weekend after all. I have too much stuff, yo. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
11:21 am	Wrapping things up Called the insurance company and told them everything I know about the car theft and subsequent recovery. As I feared, not carrying comprehensive coverage means that there isn't anything they can do for me, but at least now if it turns out that bad things happened while the thieves had the car the insurance co. will know I wasn't at fault. Going to drive back out to where the car is and haggle with them over signing it over to them. As taura_g rightly pointed out, there is enough value left in the vehicle that I shouldn't be paying anything else to them. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
2:18 pm	I require council I am highly upset and not thinking clearly. I am putting out the call to any and all who can provide insight, clarity, or general advice on my problem. I attempted to retrieve my car today. The story of the trip will have to wait. Upon arriving I was allowed to examine my car to determine what shape it was in. After a bit I was able to figure out how the thieves had broken the ignition, and could get it to crank a little. It looked to be otherwise fine. I went back to the office to pay and ask for a jump. I discovered that they only take cash for towed vehicles, so they asked if I wanted to leave my keys and have them jump it while I walked to an ATM. With the ignition in the state it was I asked them to wait until I returned and kept the keys with me. This fact is important. When I got back, the man in the office informed me that while I was gone they jumped and attempted to start my car (apparently with a screwdriver) and that there was hole blown in the engine. Sure enough, after escorting me to my car, there was a fresh puddle of engine oil running out of the front. The gentleman who was there with me kept making a point of saying that my car must have been along side the road for more than a week, even after I insisted that was impossible. He even went so far as to tell me that he had Personally Seen it by the road for over a week before it was finally tagged for towing, making me suspicious that there is some legal reason they needed me to believe that. This same gentleman, who I later discovered was the one who jumped and started my car, spoke to me while walking back to the office about how he could get me an engine block very cheaply, and asked for my cell number. I gave it to him, and he called my cell so I would have his number as well. At this point I had no intention of buying anything from him, but was in evidence gathering mode. The man in the office offered to forgive the storage fees and I could just pay for the tow and sign the car over to them for nothing if I didn't want it any more. There was too much stuff in the car to bring home on the train, and having it towed home seemed financially unwise, so I am heading home again and asking the hivemind for help. I am so angry right now I want to sue everything that moves. Wat do? Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, June 26th, 2011
11:38 pm	Quick Update: Car Recovered in Providence R.I. Got a call from the Medford Police about 10:45pm telling me that my car has been recovered. It is at a Towing Company in RI. They believe it has no (new) damage, and even has items still in it, but couldn't say for sure what those items were. I am unfamiliar with how AAA Premium works, but taura_g suggests that someone with it could arrange to get the car towed back here for free, so if this sounds like you please let me know. I will be finding out more details tomorrow, and also trying to figure out how to get down there myself. Edit: Now that I think about it, I don't really know how the towing thing could work, since I need to show up with the police report to get it released, and if I am already there, I can just drive it home. They say it seems to be drive-able. Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. (5 Comments |Comment on this)
3:39 pm	Holy 1975, Batman! Saw this on Thursday while walking home from somewhere. I left it where it was, so the next person could get a smile the same way I did. I feel old. :) Current Mood: chipper (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
9:15 am	Too Fast, So Furious. My car was stolen last night from in front of the house. So far, here's what I know. I didn't leave the keys in it. The drivers door doesn't lock properly*, but I make sure to not leave anything of value out where it can be seen and tempt anyone. That said, my work laptop was (is?) in the trunk. The officer who took my report said that the State Police reportedly ran my license plate last night, but he didn't know why yet. Apparently they need to contact the actual officer who saw it. I'll save my rant about data availability and sharing in 2011 for another time. It having been seen last night could be good news (they have my car in impound), bad news (they found it burning on the side of 93), or anything in between. So far, that is all I know. * Seriously, it was on the list of things to get handled very soon after moving. UPDATE: Car recovered in Providence, RI. Will know more tomorrow and will make a proper post. Current Mood: Numb (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, June 12th, 2011
3:37 pm	"Ted" shooting in Davis Square on Tuesday. Apparently Davis Square will be encumbered most of the day on Tuesday with a Movie Shoot. “Ted” is a Seth MacFarlane movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis about a teddy bear that comes to life. I imagine this will put a serious crimp into Diesel Night. (Comment on this)
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
7:49 pm	This is why I can't have nice things. ProTip: Men, keep your glasses on until AFTER you have selected the correct guide comb for your beard trimmer. So, yea. I accidentally shaved off the beard. :P I had been keeping it rather short and tight, but one swipe with the misset trimmers and I looked like a hobo. So I finished the job and am clean-shaven once again. I had actually been thinking about taking it off, but I was far from having decided. Whoops. My chin will be making an appearance at Diesel tomorrow if anyone wants to see it. P.S. I still have hair, user icon notwithstanding. Current Mood: Tender (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, May 15th, 2011
10:05 pm	Overdue Update Things have been progressing for me on many fronts. The Job in Woburn has solidified, and I am fully employed again. Huzzah! Which means that my housing requirements have changed. I am now looking in and around Medford for convenience sake. I think this next week will be very productive, seeing as many of the local Tufts students are currently moving out. I've been responding to 3-5 good choices daily on Craigslist. Also, for those who already knew about it, the room I was looking at last week didn't work out. Current occupant got his nose out of joint when I wanted information like how much deposit I was going to be expected to put up, and whom exactly I was going to be renting from. He apparently told the Landlord that I was going to be a "problematic" tenant. (If problematic means I want detailed information about my living situation and what is expected from me then yes, I would have to agree with that assessment.) More updates as situations warrant (and I remember to post them.) (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, May 6th, 2011
6:21 pm	Yay. Just a quick update. Heard back from New Job finally. I'm starting my training next Wednesday. Employed again - Huzzah! Current Mood: happy (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, April 30th, 2011
7:22 pm	A watched auction never sells... ...but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to update the damn page every five minutes anyway. I've got plenty of things fixed, cleaned, and made presentable for the used-electronics-buying public. I've employed every trick I know on how to attract more attention to my auctions. I've priced everything as low as is reasonable. All there is left to do is wait for the e-mail that will come and say I've sold something and there is more money in the ol' Paypal account. This is maddening. At least before when I was usefully busy, I was content that everything that needed doing was being done. Now, I'm becoming neurotic. I can usually tell when this is coming on because I also get a very specific physical symptom. It's like an electric tingling/shock sensation on the right side of my head/scalp. Someone once mentioned that this sounded a lot like the zaps, and it does, except for the part where I'm not on any SSRI medications. So, earlier today I had some fun helping out asciikitty and her Yarn Shop associates load up for the Gore Place Sheepshearing Festival. It was fun hanging out with all of them, plus I got to have some Fair Food, which is always a plus. Also, my dirty secret is now out... I'm not a fan of Alpacas. Don't like 'em. Can't say that this has much affected my life before today, so I think I'll just live with it. :) So, how was YOUR day, LJ? (Comment on this)
Monday, April 25th, 2011
10:42 pm	Something's changed I realized earlier today that I'm not freaking out about the testing for Job in Woburn being pushed out indefinitely. I think I have figured out why. For the last few days, I've been keeping myself occupied with doing the things I do to support my eBay side-business. I've put in more time in the last three days than probably the last three months combined. And I've felt myself level up in both Fixing Laptops and EBay Auctioning. Things that had previously been difficult are suddenly just working. I have always wondered if I could do this as an actual living, and it seems that I may get a chance to test that out. I'll admit that the work I've done over that last few days has more of an "eating your seedcorn" feel to it than anything else. While I've made at least as much this week as I would have in my old job, it's not sustainable. I'm burning through my inventory of parts, and in another few weeks I'd run out of things to fix. But if I start buying broken laptops right now, I cut my profit in half for at least a couple of weeks. Can't afford that right now with a new month quickly approaching. But let's see how tomorrow goes. tl;dr = The eBay biz is keeping me sane and financially afloat for the moment, and potentially longer. Current Mood: optimistic (4 Comments |Comment on this)
3:43 pm	...twitch.....twitch. Called to find out about my rescheduled testing for tomorrow, for the Job in Woburn. Get transferred to the owner, who says the person who would be doing the testing isn't in today, probably won't be in Tuesday ("I think she has the same cold I do - *caff*") and they would call me to set it up just as soon as someone was available. I hate dangling. Current Mood: anxious (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 20th, 2011
11:15 am	A good update for a change. Back from my interview. They want me, but they want to see if I actually know what I know. Fair enough considering that I have no certifications. Have a "test session" set up for Friday. From the sound of it, I shouldn't have any problems with the testing. I have a good feeling that they will hire me. Current Mood: relieved (2 Comments |Comment on this)