My so called student life

I work in planning and scheduling. BORING. Just as boring are the classes I am taking at the moment to get my APICs CPIM certification declaring knowledge of supply, demand, capacity, blah blah blah. The jelly doughnut factory is making the turn from shooting from the hip and planning however to actually using systems. In order to keep up with this transformation, it's time to learn the terms and baloney which goes along with it or 5 years or so from now there will be no job for lil' old me. For the next year, I will be taking three days every other month to learn all about Supply Chain Management and then drive to Oakland to take a test on it. Folks, there is math involved. Math and I do not have a symbiotic relationship. In fact, it keeps me awake at night in fear of failing this damn thing as well as also knowing there are 4 more exams after this one to knock off. Getting ahead of myself? Yes. Knowing how I do with math and exams, maybe not. What this means? Weekends spent studying and being a student. Guess it's good to exercise parts of the brain which haven't been touched in years but Jesus H Christ, why did I have to do this now? In summary, square roots, cycle times, and material resource planning are stuck in this head. Let me go shove my head in the oven now. Also on top of all this is the need to do my actual job which is also insanely busy. Woke up at 5am today to get there by 6:30 with a co-worker to align steps forward for production prior to going to class. I'm thinking a glass of wine tonight might be a good idea.

On a lighter note, Miss B and I went to go see a gay mortgage broker last night. Bringing all financials in tow, we all sat together to discuss neighborhoods, risk, loans, and all the other stuff which goes along with home buying. I have dabbled in this previously but never really took it seriously. Making an investment this large scares the living daylights out of me. It's SO much money! It's understood that it's investing in a different way but still, to tie it all up in one place and take on this serious adulthood purchase is mindblowing. Not sure if I am ready. Love the place we are in now and the ideal thing to do would be to purchase this flat. Highly unlikely. The landlord is one smart cookie and recently retired meaning Miss B and I are his mortgage payment seeing as he bought the place eons ago. Can't hurt to ask however it's more than likely there will be a loud guffaw followed by a "What are you, nuts?". Staying in Bernal is the ultimate goal but again, with prices the way they are, even though qualifying for a large loan was possible, not sure how comfortable it would be and if it's worth the stress at this time. Perspective = it took me 3 months to buy a vacuum. A house may take a little longer, to say the very least.

I was thinking about ex-girlfriends the other day. All of them are so different however having one common theme, that being degrees of crazy. I dealt with the scale from1 to 10 and am glad that even being associated with a scale is long gone. How in the world did I deal with that? Guess you don't really know until taking the step back but sheesh, the things ya learn.

I am going to go read my new book "The Wall" and take a bath. Must sleep soon.

And the cow jumped over the moon

So here's the results of this year's Procrastinator's New Year's Eve party hosted by one Miss Mistycans. It was a great time and the last 5 years or so it's been themed. The White Trash Fairy Tale did require some very creative thinking and work and it was fun to make it all come together. Thank god the fake butt showed up or I would have been showing everyone my real one and no one really needs to see that, except for Miss B. Mistycans was Snow White Trash and it was perfect. Biker shorts and everything. And a shout out to Kate for her boa made of peeps. Such creativity! I love PNYE. It's always so much better than the real one. Although this year, the disappointment party was fun too and of course, hosted by Mistycans! If my parents could only see Miss B in the cow costume. Seeing as they are dairy farmers and all, it would surely seal the deal, if it hasn't been already! Three cheers for Mistycans and the PNYEP.

Snow in San Francisco?

Things at the jelly doughnut factory are absolutely nuts right now and this week was spent in a three day training learning all about how to reduce "muda" (waste) and essentially streamline and cut jobs. Where will those who fill the jelly doughnuts go? That wasn't the point. It was all about cut cut cut. Interesting enough however when returning home last night, all desired was to kick my feet up on the couch and watch a film with my best gal.

The shock of the evening made itself apparent when huge chunks of hail fell from the sky for 5 minutes. It was blustery and cold for the majority of the day and then around 7pm lightening and thunder crackled and shazam, the streets, cars, and houses were covered in what looked like to be snow but in actuality was not. Miss B and I took some pictures and when it all stopped our crazy neighbor and some other folks across the street had a "snowball" fight. It was fun to watch. The best part is that it's all gone today and somehow managed to be a bright sunny day, at least for now.

Miss B and I curled up on the couch to watch "Walk the Line". Hadn't heard too much about it however it has Reese Witherspoon in it whom I adore and after seeing her acceptance speech at the O-scars knew it was time to give it a view. I was pleasantly surprised and learned a whole lot about June Carter and Johnny Cash that I didn't know before. The film was very well done and would watch it again in a minute. Oh those crazy rock and roll lifestyles. Both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese W gave tremendous performances especially knowing they did all the singing. We also watched "The Constant Gardener" this week which was good as well just not the uplifting or feel good movie of the year. And for once Ralph Feinnes didn't drive me bonkers. After "The English Patient" (more appropriately called The Boring Patient) I had lost all hope for him. The next two to cross off the list are Tsosi, a foreign film from South Africa and Crash, the one that took it all home this year. And of course, another viewing of Brokeback Mountain once it comes out on DVD. Seeing it in the theater at the noon matinee with a room full of bears was great and can never be replicated but there are just some scenes to see again.

Tonight is the 16th annual Procrastinator's New Year's Eve Party thrown by one hostess with the mostess, Mistycans. Over the past 5 years it's become a theme party and this one is White Trash Fairy Tale. The last bit of my costume arrived on Wednesday this week and this afternoon Miss B and I will make sure it all works the way it should before making out way over to the event. Pictures of that one to follow. It's always the party of the year and a late night fiesta. Only this year both Lord JEthan and the Bear in Training will be missing therefore the gay contingent count goes down by two. Sure will miss those two. The Bear in Training is off to lands far away to say Pour le vous blah blah blah and the Lord is kicking away with his blackbelt. We will perform a toast just for them.

Now I am off to go pump up my bicycle tires and head off to yogurt. Seeing as I have been up since 6am due to Little Green's obsession with an empty cat bowl, that meant I had to get up as well and fill it. That one is going to be the death of me.

I'm still here....

but merely distracted. Between a yoga conference, the Olympics, and life at the jelly doughnut factory being non-stop working on the weekends kind of thing, the last thing I have felt like doing is typing. I will try to do a better job but no promises.

What I can tell you is that Stereolab at the Fillmore with the bear in training completely rocked. We danced around like little ping pong balls. Can't wait for the second show on Saturday.

Now I have to go to a meeting and communicate how to get people to communicate more effectively about jelly doughnuts. Great.