So, my car was totaled last weekend by some moron who decided to hit me and run. I'm okay, but obviously, my car is not. So I wait and wait for the insurance monkeys to tell me what is going to happen. The police got the other car and said it was insured, but since the driver fled the scene on foot, there is no way to tell if it was stolen. I have no idea how this affects payback to me. Good times.

Anyway, I wanted to look into ZipCar since I won't be buying another car for a long while. I didn't use my own car that much to begin with since I take the T to work...but there are times when I really need wheels so I can go to Target or maybe take off to the lake for a bit. You know, access to a car every once in a while.

Anyone out there have any stories to tell about ol' Zippy? I get scared about car rentals since it seems like the whole business is rife with expensive fees and weird procedures. If you have had an experience using this service, please let me know!

First off, Scott and I are venturing out to the Pill for the first time in ages..anyone else going?

Also, Mogwai tickets are going on sale at 10am this morning. I have been waiting impatiently for them to do another show and the time has finally come! Their last show two years ago was amazing...If you love that wall-of-guitar sound, don't miss this one. Mogwai will be at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston on September 22.

Good video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1tuGrEynG68

Its my second day at Fidelity and things are going well. I'm stationed in a little room with two other consultants, which isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

The view is beautiful. I can see the city - all of the buildings look like they are made out of Legos. The best is the view right outside, though. Since we are in the World Trade Center and right on the water, I can see hundreds of jellyfish floating around.

I am digging this consultant job. Its nice to know that I can take off at the end of my project and try something else out if I want to. Being a consultant feels kind of interesting too - I'm not a full-timer, so people look at you differently. In a way, I don't feel owned like a regular employee...but I'm just kidding myself because I am still an employee regardless.

Huh? Someone is blasting Nirvana in the next room over. So far, I'm not bored yet. I'll have to email Scott and let him know.

...Scott...*sigh*...have I told you just how awesome Scott is lately? My sweet, sweet man.

Today is my last weekday of not working. Its been a fun month, although the first half wasn't very enjoyable since I was freaking out about the no job situation most of the time.

I'll be sad to leave the world of not working. However, I guess that in the end, working will be better because I will have money. Money is good.

Who is going to check out Ceremony tonight?

So after only two weeks of being unemployed, I find myself employed again. This time as a consultant. Yay!

I go in to sign the paperwork today and find out what my start date will be. I'll be working at the World Trade Center in Boston, which is okay, but not as close as I would have liked. The next challenge will be to figure out how to fit gym time in everyday.

My company laid of half of its workforce..including me! Yep, my company is failing due to the whole credit/loan mess that is going on now. So...ummm...this is weird. Well, now I guess that I can have more of a social life, although I'm going to be a bit poor.

Anyone know if their company is looking for a usability specialist? My company is going belly up and I'm thinking that I might be out of a job soon.

Currently, I am a Senior Business User Analyst and I have experience in UI design, writing business requirements, quality assurance testing, marketing, and I speak French dammit!

Anyway, if you know of anything, let me know and I'll send along my resume. :)

I'm doing a little promotion for Scott..come to River Gods tonight starting at 8 to hear some great music:

From Scott:

My friend Justin and I will be your DJs for the night. We're rocking a theme night called "Size Matters," where all the songs are under two minutes or over six minutes, or, you know, some might be exactly two minutes or six minutes. It's all going to make for a pretty quirky four hours of music. Just look at this selection of artists you'll probably hear that night:

Afghan Whigs, Akira S Et As Garotas Que Erraram, As Mercenárias, Bad Brains, Battles, the Beatings, Big Black, Brian Reitzell & Roger J. Manning Jr., Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Catherine Wheel, the Clash, Circle Jerks, CSS, the Cure, David Bowie, Depeche Mode, Dinosaur Jr., Doctor's Cat, DRI, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Enon, Gavin Friday, Grand Buffet, Hood, the Jam, Jawbreaker, Jean-Michel Bernard, Jeff Buckley, the Jesus & Mary Chain, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, Julie London, Kevin Shields, Lou Reed, MDC, Minor Threat, Modest Mouse, Neutral Milk Hotel, New York Dolls, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Of Montreal, Pavement, the Pixies, PJ Harvey, Prince, Pulp, Rocket from the Crypt, Roxy Music, Sally Shapiro, Scott Walker, Serge Gainsbourg, the Smiths, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Tindersticks, T. Rex, TV on the Radio, the Twilight Sad, U2, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Hey everyone, Scott and I are going to New Orleans at the end of March...any recommendations?

I'm psyched that I can finally check it out!

Thank you, Barbarians!

Why is it that not one year can pass without me having some awful illness? Seriously, why? Its probable that I have strep, but I'm on meds so hopefully it will clear up soon. It is getting better, so that's good. Don't worry, I'm no longer contagious but I feel like crap.

It seems like I know so many people who never, ever get sick. I get mind-blowingly sick. Every year. At least three times...even after I eat pretty well, exercise, and keep stress levels way down. What gives? I'm beginning to think that there is something wrong with me, but its been this way since I was a kid.

Lets101 - Free Online Dating

Monkey's vet visit went well, although the bill was a lot more than I expected. But, what can you do?

He was given a potent de-wormer pill to clear up the roundworm infection. So far, he's been lethargic and a little wobbly, but he's been through a lot (not only did he get medications, he also got his ears cleaned out, and all his vaccinations in one visit.)

I asked the vet how I would know when the meds would start working. She said that I would see worms in his poop. Ugh. It was bad enough with him throwing them up...but in his poop too?!

So, last night, after Monkey 'did his business', we checked out the litterbox and instantly, this came to my head (this will only make sense if you really love Dune):

"Tonya, do we have wormsign?"
"Yes Scott, we have wormsign the likes of which even God has never seen."
"Damn, ok. Why don't you scoop it up and throw it out with the others."
"I just did that a half hour ago. I'm not in the mood."
"Not in the mood?! Mood's a thing for cattle and loveplay, not cleaning!"
"Ok. Fine. I'll throw them out. I hope that they are all dead this time."

**Tonya leans over the litterbox with a plastic bag**

"Scott!...Scott!...they aren't all dead! Look! This sleeper has awakened!"

**voice inside Tonya's mind: "I must not fear. Fear is the mindkiller. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when my fear is gone I will turn and face fear's path, and only I will remain. "**

"Tonya, listen...let's just throw the whole thing out and be done with it. They aren't going to jump up at you."

**cut to next scene - worms are thrown out, new litter is laid down.**

**Tonya and Scott are lounging on the couch**

"Scott, I've thought of many pleasures with you. It is perhaps better that you clean out the worms next time. Desire clouds my reason. That is not good. That is bad."
"Um. Ok. Listen, you can get over your fear of worms. I mean, she who can destroy a thing, controls a thing"

**Tonya isn't paying attention**

"Scott, lovely Scott....."
"Tonya, are you feeling ok?"
"Why are you going to prolong the inevitable?"
"huh?"
"I will do you!...I will!...I will do you!"

**and with that, Tonya laughs maniacally..and...stuff**

Monkey was found to have fleas (thankfully before I took him into my home.) My landlady took him to the vet and got Frontline, so that cleared up the problem pretty quickly. I then took him in and bathed him, only to discover a week ago that he also has ear mites. So, two nights ago, Scott came over and held my scared little kitty-cat as I cleaned out his ears with baby oil and then applied Miticide to kill the mites. Monkey did not like this one bit (which was expected), although it seems to have helped. Tomorrow night, we'll be doing another treatment if the vet doesn't recommend something else.

Oh yeah, the vet...so I am also taking him to Porter Square Veterinary Clinic tomorrow afternoon because I came home from work - only to discover that he has been vomiting all day. And its not just regurgitated food, but worms! I saved a few and looked at them myself. Looks like roundworm to me. Ugh. Supposedly, this isn't uncommon in kittens. But its horrifying to see these three inch long worms coiled around, sitting in a puddle of bile.

I guess these are the trials and tribulations of taking in a kitten that was born to a stray. I can't wait to get him some medication though. His cries are tearing my heart out.

No, I am serious.....

Check it out, every Friday (November and December): http://improvboston.com/webcalendar/view_entry.php?id=219

1. What is going on this Saturday?

2.On November 7th, Aria on Tremont Street will be serving authentic absinthe (with wormwood and everything) between 7-10pm. I guess it is now legal in the US for the first time in 100 years. I saw this in one of those free papers that you get on the T while I was coming into work this morning...I haven't had the chance to find a website yet, but I'm sure that if you google it, you'll find more info.

This is my new kitten. He can scale almost anything (as I am finding out quite quickly.) He certainly lives up to his name.

So, anyone else going to see Interpol on Wednesday?

Anything going on tonight?