Okay. So it's been a few days. What have you missed.... Wednesday, we went out for pizza then headed home for the speeches at 9 and 10. *sigh* Gore made a really good speech. When he walked out of that room with his red-rimmed eyes and began to speak...well, I fully expected to see a tear or two. But he didn't and I think that improved his speech. :-)

Bush actually gave (I think) a pretty good speech. He didn't seem too proud of himself or too 'gloaty' which was all to the good. I figured he'd win this one anyway - even before the election. He'll have a hard time (I HOPE) appointing a so-called 'pro-life' justice to the Supreme Court what with the divided Congress. Then there's that 'every even year president dies in office' thing. Hmmm.....

Yesterday, Chris had off from work so he drove me to work, took my car in for an oil change (way to go, Puddin'!) and hung out for 5 hours at CompUSA before deciding on a particular digital camcorder. We went out for dinner (we haven't yet made it to Publix) and then watched Christmas Specials.

Cinderelmo... cute, a little sappy, but you gotta love Elmo. He's the best.

Olive, the Other Reindeer... inspired. I loved it!! Cute, but not cloying, clever but not unsuitable for small kids. It was adorable.

Today I got a half-day AND Chris's car was ready! Woo-hoo! Of course, the alignment is off and the little light that glows by the gear shift display is off-kilter. But whatever.

We went to Centro Ybor for lunch & a movie. We parked and as we walked toward the outdoor mall, we passed Alonso Architects, where my boss's husband works. A fire rescue truck and 2 police cars were outside. We watched a police officer take down yellow crime tape and an ambulance drive away slow. Hm... either it was a false alarm (my thought) or (Sweet Husband's thought) thwarted terrorist attack. (And who says I have the wildest imagination in the family?) Luckily, as I told SH, boss's husband & boss were out shopping that day and not at their respective jobs. I'll find out on Monday, I said, what happened.

We ate at Dish - yummy! We went to see The Grinch - funny! Do not miss it!! We were the only 2 in the theater, so I felt free enough to put my feet up. Okay. I usually do that anyway.

Walking back to the car, we passed the architect firm again. Another ambulance was there, more cop cars AND all the news stations plus a vague recognizable local reporter with his camera guy. As we passed, SH says, "It was probably a murder-suicide and they're still doing the investigation."

Morbid, I said! We walked past and I looked at the building's private parking lot. There was my boss and boss's husband. I stopped. I crossed the street toward them. We saw each other and waved slightly. They were talking to some cops and then an older man in a suit who obviously knew them both. Then boss & boss's husband stepped back and boss began to sob (it was an oddly sweet moment to witness, because boss's husband was immediately supportive of boss [who is a VERY strong & independent woman], hugging her fiercely until she was ready to be herself again). She caught my eye and gestured she'd come back out to talk to me. They followed the suit guy into the building. I turned and saw that the camera guy and the reporter had set up right behind me. Had they filmed our silent communication? More likely they had filmed boss & boss's husband's embrace to use as 'background filler' for their report.

While we waited for them to return (I couldn't go home now - she had seen me and was going to talk to me) we heard the reporter trying to get his brief statement wrapped up and filmed. It was 4:40 and he had to get this done before the 5 o'clock news. We heard him say over & over "[name] had been trying as late as last week to reconcile with her." When a bystander walked up and asked what was going on, the reporter clearly said "murder-suicide."

Thanks, Sweet Husband, for your accurate prediction. (Of course, it wasn't a thwarted terrorist attack...)

When boss & boss's husband returned, they confirmed the truth. A secretary - about 25 years old, very pretty, very talented, worked nights in a restaurant for extra money - had really bad taste in boyfriends. She was trying to ditch the last one when he came into the building during the lunch hour (building was fairly deserted), shot her and killed himself.

Was it a good thing that no one witnessed it? Was it a good thing no one else was there to be killed inadvertently or purposely or otherwise? Or was it worse for the secretary to die alone? Wondering if anyone else would be hurt by this maniac? Wondering if anyone cared she had been fatally injured? Her mother was in the building when boss & boss's husband were there. Would it have been better if there was a witness who could possibly have spoken with the secretary and gotten some last words? Or was it better there was no witness to feel the extraordinary guilt of watching someone being murdered and doing (or being able to do) nothing to stop it?

I don't think I'd want to die alone.

That's all I want to say about this right now.
posted by SPowers at 8:04 PM | Remember It!

Tomorrow night, I think, I'll have a bit more energy to post some more. Maybe.

Last night was good. My dad surprised me & showed up, too. He's been working as a consultant for NCR for the past year or so, and this week he's got a graveyard shift thing in town, so he came by to visit & catch dinner with us. Jeff spent a few hours yesterday afternoon kayaking on Tampa Bay. He loved it - the water was like glass, the manta rays were swarming... one actually turned to face him, stared at him for several minutes, then turned and glided through the water. Jeff followed for several yards... then the ray took off and lost him.

While driving home with Sweet Husband, I wondered if Jeff were having a good time. Sweet Husband asked me if I really thought Jeff would still be kayaking, what with the weather as drippy/rainy as it's been. I laughed. Jeff was an Army Ranger for 6 years (became a Drill Instructor) and is now a Lieutenant Firefighter. Jeff would PREFER the weather be as nasty as possible. (grin)

While at dinner, Jeff showed me his bomb technician ID card. There really is such a thing! wow - as if, when confronted with a bomb, someone's going to ask for ID before letting someone disarm it. Whatever. Then he told me that he had actually used it to order a book on demolitions from his local Barnes & Noble. The clerk didn't think it was legal to order the book, but figured if Jeff had a license to disarm bombs, then it was okay. I guess... I mean, the ID was issued by the FBI.

Today was dreary, at least in the morning. It cleared up REAL nice and is now a delightful 70º inside. There's a gentle breeze... glorious full moon... I am going to sleep good tonight!

I've caught up on the rest of y'all's blogs. Wow. Misty - I hear you. The place I worked in before this one was like that, only those people flat-out hated me. When they neglected to do the simple thing and tell me things directly, it wasn't because of hierarchy. It was because they preferred to pretend I wasn't there. I am so glad I don't work there anymore! I don't know why everyone in any given office doesn't realize that the point of being there is to get the job done in the shortest, easiest and most efficent way possible. It's not a place to get your jollies out of terrorizing, pestering, flirting, power-playing or ___ (fill in the blank with your personal experience, please!) your coworkers, employees or bosses. It's just to do what they hired you for, collect your paycheck and get on with your life. Work isn't Life. It's just Work. You get Money for it and THAT gives you some measure of freedom to discover your Life.

At least, that's how it works for me. I also get chair massages courtesy of my boss. No - he isn't the one doing it! (you filthy-minded people!) He hires a really cool massage therapist, Debbie. She's done wonders for my carpal tunnel. But I still have to deal with Last-Minute-Presentation Mike. (Shana - I've got 10 minutes to get to the airport to board my plane... wouldn't it be better if this presentation were this way instead of the way you had it before? Can't you get it done before I have to go?)

I exaggerate SLIGHTLY.

Okay. I'm tired now. Sweet Husband's car is STILL not ready. Today, the mechanic working on his car (who promised it would be ready today) took the day off. What are the chances the car'll be ready tomorrow? Anyone want to make a bet? Hm? Anyone?

I'll try to blog more tomorrow, but I make no promises.
posted by SPowers at 9:47 PM | Remember It!

Okay.... it's Monday and I'm sleepy. It's rainy here in Tampa, but is starting to clear up. My brother Jeff is supposedly driving down from Atlanta today. He'll be kayaking in the bay and then meeting me & Sweet Husband for dinner somewhere. He's never been to Tampa, so this should be interesting. Jeff & I used to be real close - when we were living in the same house, that is. Now, I'm much closer to my other brother Todd. I'm not sure why that is, but I get the strongest sense that, for some reason, Jeff just doesn't think much of me or care for me in any way. More so than Todd. I mean, I don't get the impression that Todd much cares one way or another how I'm actually doing in my life, just if he can use me for an impromptu audience or to prove a point. (Todd used to call me up, ask me a question from "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," then tell me I'd be his Lifeline if I got it right.)

Neither of my brothers particularly care much for Sweet Husband, either.

Which is not to say there's animosity! No! They just don't think about him or me. We're part of the background, not part of the forefront, of their lives. I guess I don't mind it. I mean, I like that I live in a city none of my relatives live in. I like that it's 50 minutes to visit the nearest one. It means that Chris & I can do things on a whim and as we like. We don't have to take the others into consideration for most things. I guess it's the same for Todd & Jeff. I still get that sneaking suspicion, though, that if we weren't related, they wouldn't enjoy spending any time with me. Does that make sense? We're not friends.

There was more I wanted to blog about... I got the software installed that I needed (thanks, Moms!), I got my bedroom cleaned (you would not believe me if I told you about the dust), I got my laundry done (but not fully dried by the time I left for work this morning - typical). Supposedly, Sweet Husband's car will be done today. I wonder how we're going to arrange picking it up?

Glad y'all had a super time in Texas!! Very interesting to learn that - to quote from Elton John - the bitch is back. Hasn't someone been keeping track of the emerging cycle of disappearance and reemergence, of silence and shrieking? It is not my imagination and I am not the person who first realized the cyclical nature of the vitriolic attacks. Just curious...
posted by SPowers at 9:21 AM | Remember It!

testing.
posted by SPowers at 10:33 AM | Remember It!