fredericks | Hodgepodge

Everything all at once, since I keep meaning to update and I keep psyching myself out:

The work situation is precarious. While I'm not concerned about being pink-slipped in the near future, TPTB are shuffling the responsibilities of myself a few other folks with similar titles in an indirect response to all the Medicare cuts and audits going on. I now have more on my plate, having to manage an involving task that I'm not very comfortable with, while completing all the bureaucratic BS that the new business-oriented senior execs seem to have prioritized over patient care and employee satisfaction. Add to that the wave of anti-union sentiment coming from Republican actions in the Midwest along with the stuff wafting over from New Jersey along with our employee contract expiring in January next year and sweet God are we going to have a tough fight on our hand. Dollars to donuts TPTB will try doubly hard to take away pensions and to either cut or make us pay for our health insurance. I'm stocking up on antacids from now.
Work being the most immediate stressor in my life at the moment, I'm hoping the periodic abdominal/epigastric discomfort I've been dealing with lately is an ulcer of some sort...? Doing what I do, I tend to think the worst of persistent aches and pains. I'm already dreading my future bilateral knee replacements and possible lumbar surgery; I'm insane. And I know if I go to my doctor about this he's just going to tell me to take Prilosec or an equivalent, cut down on acidic foods, and get the eff out of his office. Let me hope things improve within the next week.
I've started a running class. "Running class." I know, sounds ridiculous. Basically it's a session held by the NY Road Runners where folks are divided into one of seven levels based on experience and skill and then taught/coached on how to improve. I'm in the basic beginner class because I've never run as a form of exercise before and I was concerned about using incorrect form due to my leg alignment issues. First class was this past Tuesday, and it was very manageable: we walked about a mile from our starting point to Central Park, then ran around the Reservoir (a *gorgeous backdrop) alternating one minute of running with two minutes of walking. The curriculum for the classes can be found here. My one difficulty will be finding time during the week to run outside of class, since I'm taking Spanish on Mondays and Pain Management on Wednesdays and they kill my evenings. But I'll try to squeeze in what I can whenever possible. Have another running session tomorrow that I'm sort of stoked about.
Bit concerned about Dad's increased memory problems. I always figured his stroke and seizure history would segue into dementia and/or Alzheimer's, but... Mom mentioned his problems remembering little tasks previously but I never noticed much impairment. However a few days ago he forgot that I was home. Completely forgot, even though we'd had a rather long discussion/quibble earlier that evening. He came to my room and woke me up to check and make sure I was actually home. That's more than a little troubling to me.
I am not excited about my sister's wedding. However, I am excited about the vacation I have the week I return from the wedding. Seeing as my next time extended length of time off from work after that April vacation won't be until the last week of September (!), I'm going to revel while I can.
Someone screwed up somewhere: I'm fat and black, yet not sassy nor do I burst into R&B/soul ballads. Perhaps a refund is in order?
My desire to see The Book of Mormon keeps increasing.

In conclusion: I need recs. Anything and everything is being solicited and will be very much appreciate. Thank you.

Book recs: Seanan McGuire's fourth Toby book just came out last week, and it made the NYT Bestseller list. For that matter, you should read her blog, where she flips out about that very fact. Her squee is amusing.

Wise Man's Fear, the sequel to Name of the Wind, just came out last week, too.

If you haven't read any Jasper Fforde, The Eyre Affair is a really funny and weird take on the idea of books as a whole new world being opened up.

And I've been hearing a lot of good stuff about N. K. Jemisin. Josh accidentally read book 2, and he really liked it.

The only movies I've seen lately are Toy Story 3, which made me bawl, and The Adjustment Bureau, which was decent, but really preachy.

And most TV shows are on hiatus already for the summer. Feh. But I've started watching DVDs of Eureka, which is on season . . . 4?

Will any of that help fill up your dance card?

Jemisin's book has been getting recs all over the place. I figure I'll suck it up and buy it real soon.

Ditto on Toy Story. I teared up like whoa at the ending. I am a sucker for Toy Story in general.

I will have to check out the rest. Thank you for the pointers! :)

Jemisin is on LJ as

nojojojo, who you may have seen around if you've followed any of the recent racefails. I didn't realize she'd written a novel until a couple of months ago.

Funny enough, back when I re-revitalized my book club she was one of the attendees. She spoke about the book she was working on and the whole trilogy deal. I've been following her success ever since. Still haven't read the book, though. Must remedy that.

Someone screwed up somewhere: I'm fat and black, yet not sassy nor do I burst into R&B/soul ballads. Perhaps a refund is in order?

I am totally disappointed! Neither sassy nor prone to bursting into song. Definitely asking for a refund!

I know! And I don't have a random gay guy with whom to shoot the shit and to coordinate snaps at periodic intervals. Obviously my card must be revoked. Or I'm being punished for violations.

Edited 2011-03-17 02:52 (UTC)

Hm, perhaps you're not sassy, but surely you cook soul food and dispense Deep Life Truths, like, totally all the time right?

I think the running class sounds awesome. I miss running in Central Park; it was one of my favorite things about living in New York.

OH! And I'm going to give you some solid advice that no one EVER tells you: sports detergent. Get it. Use it. Or your running clothes will develop a condition referred to as "perma-stink." Trust me, you do not want to experience it first hand.

Hm, perhaps you're not sassy, but surely you cook soul food and dispense Deep Life Truths, like, totally all the time right?
It's like you know the most intimate parts of me! :)

I live in Queens so I don't find myself in Central Park too often, but it really is awesome. I think I will have to start stocking up on the running detergent if I start getting hardcore. Thanks for the heads up.

I can offer fic recs. Two Kirk/McCoy stories that went up just in the last few days are both hot like burning (and kinktastic, so heed ye olde warnings):

Koru (Spiral Into You)

These Inconvenient Fireworks

*grin* omg, you rock. Tab opened x 2. I'm going to read those tomorrow while I'm trying to decompress. :)

I believe they will do the job. =D

Hello my friend -

Work sounds like it's getting stressful but hang in there. The running should actually help to relieve some of that. ;)

I'm actually part of a running group now called Run Sister Run - we meet at Prospect Park in Brooklyn on the weekends (either Sat or Sun) and run around the park. If you'd like to join in you can - I know they are trying to build and 'Queens' chapter and when it gets warmer we should be meeting up in different places. The run this week is at 11:30 on Sunday, so feel free to come on over.

Lol - I don't think you are fat m'dear, not at all.

But the rest of it - well - I am none of those things either so I guess we both need refunds huh?

Hope the week gets better for you and we def need to hang out sometime soon!

Ciao!

I'm actually part of a running group now called Run Sister Run - we meet at Prospect Park in Brooklyn on the weekends (either Sat or Sun) and run around the park. If you'd like to join in you can - I know they are trying to build and 'Queens' chapter and when it gets warmer we should be meeting up in different places. The run this week is at 11:30 on Sunday, so feel free to come on over.
That sounds very interesting. Prospect Park is quite a stretch for me travel-wise and I'm not so up to speed with the running that joining a group sounds feasible, but it's something that I might pursue as I build my endurance. Thanks for the heads up and the invite. :)

Ye gods, your work situation does not sound at all pleasant right now. I am interested to hear more about how you like your running class. I've been thinking of taking that up after my move. I wish I could rec you something but I'm currently wading through book 10 of Steven Erikson's EPIC and having trouble remembering characters he hasn't mentioned since book 2. Also, I'm busty and blonde yet I'm neither stupid nor a whore, the universe is mysterious! I for one appreciate that you do not bust out in random R&B or spiritual numbers. :)

Also, I'm busty and blonde yet I'm neither stupid nor a whore, the universe is mysterious!
I keep waiting for you to play with your hair and don cheerleader outfits. What's with your lack of cleavage, girl?

Running class is working out okay so far. Today's class was marred by drunken ranting from Irish bystanders, but that's what happens when you try to do anything productive on Pat's Day.

Books: I just discovered Diane Duane's young wizards series, and the first one (So You Want To Be A Wizard)is really good. It's imaginative, the magic is really cool, and she was doing urban fantasy like 20 years before it was a big thing.

TV: RuPaul's Drag Race. You can watch all three seasons at logotv.com.

Movies: If you haven't seen RED yet, go rent it right now.

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