Judecorp.

We got our first gas bill since we started putting the heat on, and it was $103. This is sheer craziness because last November our bill was about $55. Somehow we used more "therms" or whatever which is highly suspect because, well, I don't remember it being that cold this month (lots of warmer days) but I suppose I could be mistaken. Still, this does not bode well for the winter if the bill is already over $100. Last year, our high bills were $150 in January and February. Now I'm just scared.

I have to boogie down to RI today because someone is coming to look at my dad's truck. I have to get there early enough to make sure it still runs (haven't been down there in a couple of weeks) - wouldn't that be embarrassing?

I got into a great discussion about trans stuff on folkyboy's podcast yesterday. It was awesome and would have been the coolest thing to hit the internet, but sadly he ran out of room on his iPod and it cut us off somewhere in the middle. This shows: 1) he has way too much country music on his frickin' iPod and 2) we need to have another discussion about transphobia.

The kitten is currently laying on my chest. This is very cute. Usually the kitten is clawing my leg or trying to attack my shoes. Not nearly as cute.

I'm trying to psych myself up for a 3-day workweek but it's hard, because I haven't had much of a weekend (too many chores/obligations) and I know the three days of work will be majorly long. Tomorrow I have a full work day, my annual physical, and then I need to run to babysitting as fast as I can. Hopefully they will not decide to stay out extra late since I will get there extra late. Hopefully.

This journal seems to have little point or direction right now, much like my life. Lame.

You know, I'm almost through all of the CDs that I actually want to listen to with some regularity. After those are done (probably 30 more), I can move on to the ones that I might listen to every once in a while, which includes the seasonal stuff. Not a moment too soon for the Christmas music and the Grinch CD. I sure do loves me some Grinch.

We ended up going to IKEA anyway, and it was a total circus over there. We parked a million miles away and bushwhacked to the place and my god, it was just /packed/. Not as bad as Rockefeller Center on tree-lighting night or anything, but still. Wow.

We went with the intention of "seeing what was there" and maybe "holiday shopping for relatives" but did neither. What we /did/ do was end up with a couple of odds and ends for ourselves, including this absolutely adorable storage rack thing for the kitchen that will look so cute when it's all hung up. Other than that, nothing much - a garbage can, some 50¢ placemats, a couple of pieces of new swedish tupperware.

By the time we were in the checkout line, which looked like LaGuardia airport after 9/11 I might add, I was feeling completely exhausted and sick and run down. Yuck. Just in time for work tomorrow. But we did get the sheets washed, and the laundry is half done, and the dishwasher is empty, and the counters have been cleared of assorted junk, and the kitten has had some FREEDOM! (Now put my guts back in.) time careening through the apartment before we could put him back in The Room. My plan is to get to bed in the next 30 minutes. Thanks to the time change I can't sleep past 6am, and those last two late nights (2am or later) with a 6am wake-up are /really/ kicking my butt.

You know, I don't think this crap is interesting to anyone but me. But I guess that's okay, since it's my journal.

I managed to get through almost a full day at work, which was definitely an achievement since I am still, erm, fighting off a cold. I was achy and exhausted all freaking day but made it through play group, an assessment, and a home visit. I was actually supposed to have two home visits, but the first one cancelled on me because she was sick, too. (I was actually going to cancel on them since Mom has major health issues and I didn't want to get her sick.) I did drive over there to drop off the high chair I have for them, though, since it was already in my car.

Since my 2:30 got cancelled, I managed to move my 3:30 up and that gave me plenty of time to get to Malden before rush hour. And why did I go to Malden? BECAUSE WE GOT A NEW KITTEN, that's why! :) :)

Our friend Olex's friend Jamie had a 3-month-old kitten that she had to get rid of because of her landlord, and she was going to have to bring him to a shelter but instead we offered to take him! We're hoping that because he's so young and because he's male, Ralph will let us keep him and won't pee/poop everywhere and try to kill him like she did with Grendel. Here's hoping! We have a vet appointment for him on Saturday morning and right now he's kicking it in the guest room. We brought him out for a little meet and greet and D&R were pretty freaked, so we put him back in the guest room so they could come back to the couch. Cat politics are so complicated.

His name was Binks but I think we're going to call him Fin, a la this userpic. zuzubailey76 will be so proud.

I'm definitely calling out sick tomorrow. I have work that I can do at home and I have a feeling I'm still going to feel crappy. I have that headache/body ache thing going on, and I really want to nip it before it becomes some more serious sickness like my poor Jennifer, who had bronchitis and an ear infection and now has a major sinus infection. SAD.

I will take kitten pictures tomorrow and you will just DIE of the cuteness!