Storm Songs

A meme, ganked from Belladora

( Song meme! I love these things. )

Wheeeeeeee I think I've finally fixed my 'puter!!! And this time without having to reinstall Windows!!! Holy CRAP!! So, apparently this last time I got a particularly nasty virus/trojan thing involving two processes: wintems.exe and hldrrr.exe. McAfee would show me that I had the wintems thing, but couldn't remove it, and my Task Manager would tell me that it was running, but when I tried to end it, it would say that I didn't have permission to remove it. Boo that. So I tried all of my battery of anti-spyware, anti-virus baloney, and it was just that - baloney. How can they call it anti-virus/spyware if it won't remove all of this crap?

So I went online - slogging through the horrendously slow navigation to which these stupid executables had relegated me - and read through forums and articles and posts, until I came upon one which recommended a program called ComboFix, and also mentioned that my particular virus would delete said program if I didn't rename it when downloading it. So, since things couldn't really get worse at that point, I did so, and ran the program. Up pops this simple little DOS prompt screen that proceeded to give me two or three warning screens, then close out my Internet Explorer and go about its business. About ten minutes later it restarts my computer and, hey presto, I have a computer again! That realizes it has a sound card!! OMG. The awesomeness.

So, yes, I am much pleased. Things seem to be running smoothly again, McAfee is running and not finding any viruses thus far, and I am happy. YAAAAYYY computer! Now I can get Jamie off my back about screwing up my computer again, because this time I fixed it myself. So there. Nyeh!

Hells yeah, bitches! I feel like Wonder Woman, She-Ra, whatever [insert can-do female name here]. It is nice to be a woman who can do hands-on toolsy things.

So, bike tire had been developing sad flat-ish tendencies for a few weeks, but I either kept forgetting to re-air the thing or deciding it was too nasty out to do anything by way of fixing said problem. Today I noticed again, so now my bike has fully aired tires, newly installed mounts for my spiffy new (okay, got them for Christmas) front and rear LED lights, and a very happy-sounding little bike bell. I feel very, very satisfied with myself, especially for the rear light mount, which required me to move the bike seat out of the way in order to get at the little screws. And while I was at it, I used some valve oil (yes, from my trumpet; I lacked real bike-chain oil XD) to oil the chain, which has been squeaking quite a lot lately in increasingly irritating ways.

Now all I need to do is figure out what happened to the other handlebar grip from the set I bought last year, and we'll be all set XD

Still, I feel quite accomplished. I've been meaning to take care of that since I got the light and bell for Christmas, and it is very satisfying to have it finally done, and with no help from male-type personages.

Whee, I am made of awesome!

OMFGWTFBBQ. Is it freaking summer yet?!?!

July 25th. I am so much more than excited that I haven't even got words anymore.

The Trailer to End All Trailers.

That is all. For now.

Wahey, happy. The overdraft charge that I was puzzled to have from my bank got refunded, so I am actually not in the negatives. Because (*Gasp*) I didn't overdraw. I was wondering about that... Yay for the bank actually checking things and fixing them.

First Saturday in three weeks where I haven't woken up with a headache. Well, that's certainly nice... Going to play Confrontation again, which is also nice.

Hugs all around!

Oh. Migod.

Freaking hilarious Harry Potter music video.

Self explanatory, I think...

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/487355.html

Every time you start to slip into the mindset that at least gender prejudices are fast becoming a thing of the past... something like this comes up. And morons wonder why feminism is still an active movement - because it is quite obviously still necessary.

Just the fact that their protest is against "putting women in a position of authority over boys." What the shit? What child's mother agrees to send their son to a school that teaches them values like that? Or maybe those women are so down-trodden by their husbands, since they aren't allowed to have any authority, that they don't have a say in the matter. Maybe they believe that they are dirt.

That's a scary thought.

In my opinion, a school that teaches values contrary to the human rights and overall equality laid out by the US legal system is no longer a valid educational institution. It is simply the site of cultish brainwashing that just perpetuates prejudices that are no longer legal, and I in no way see how such "schools" are recognized as valid educational options by their state and local governments. When the constitution says you're wrong, STFU and shove your baseless, neanderthal gender bias where the sun don't shine, and deal with female refs. I don't give a flying fuck that it's a private institution; they should not be able to get away with this crap.

To qualify: not all religious schools are bad, I am sure. But I am just generally against indoctrinating youth against their will, which is what will inevitably happen in at least some cases. Not to mention that mindless indoctrination backfires more often than not... oh yeah, youth like to rebel against authority! Who'da thunk?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/niu_shooting

Front page news all over, I know. You've probably seen it.

This happened at the school where my dad works.

I came home from group therapy today and, as usual, went straight to the internet. Front page Yahoo: 15 injured in shooting at Northern Illinois University. I literally think my heart stopped for a minute. I had to re-read the headline for it to sink in that, fuck, this is where my dad works. So I desperately click the link.

I feel so bad to say how relieved I was when I saw that it took place in a lecture hall in a building my dad never goes to. I still called my mom the next instant, and she'd already talked to my dad. It took quite a few minutes of stuttering and "Holy shit" hyperventilating to get off the phone again.

I just have to let this out, because it fucking scared the shit out of me. Virginia Tech was bad, I know, and it shook me. But this... this hits too, too close to home, in every literal sense of the word. If this motherfucker had gone to a different building, if my dad worked elsewhere on campus, if something had called him over to that building today... I wouldn't have a dad any more. And that is fucking terrifying. It literally makes me shake, and completely unable to swallow or un-widen my eyes when I think about what happened.

Won't even go into the "how the fuck could somebody do that?" of the whole situation. To any sane person, it's inexplicable.

I am so glad that my dad is in Champaign right now, that I get to see him tomorrow morning. Katy's doing an audition here on Saturday, and coming to some classes with me tomorrow. I am just so glad to still have him. Yes, he drives me nuts at times. Whose parents don't? But, my god, I am so, so fucking glad, I feel so absolutely lucky, that he is okay, and that I still have him.

Makes you wonder a lot, and really appreciate what you have. Bottom line: don't take the ones you love for granted. Even when they piss you off, remember that things like this happen. Love them every minute, and let them know. Every minute is precious.

~Stormy

Numbing... device... needed. Erk. My head has been hurting since last night. I have slept only minimally. And now, of all things, it has developed into an ear ache of epic proportions - just what I need when heading off to percussion methods this morning. What the eff is up with my body lately? Chalk that one in on my list of things to ask the doctor today.

Okay, so the word whinge. I've recently come across it again, which has rekindled my interest in how one pronounces such a word. Is the first part pronounced "win," which generally sounds better to my (admittedly unaccustomed) ear? Or is it "wine," as would be suggested by the addition of the E at the end?

Please don't laugh at me too hard for this one; this is the kind of thing that I randomly think about, and which will continue to vex me until I either figure it out or come up with some other unaswerable quandary to take its place.

Perhaps I should be going into linguistics instead of music. I spent an undue amount of time the other day staring at the word "shoe." Who on earth came up with that spelling? Why not make it "shu," and simplify our lives without adding letters that make absolutely no sense to the pronunciation?

My mind is full of deep questions like that :P

Yours,
~Stormy

I haz plague. It r teh yuck.

I came home after my two morning classes today and crashed into bed. This is around noon, 12:15. I've pretty much been in bed since, sleeping off and on. I get all dizzy when I get up, I've got the cough of doom, and my sinuses apparently want me to drown. And even with the heater working more or less properly, lying under the blankets, and wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt, I occasionally wake up shivering and cold. Not such a greatly fun day. Not foreseeing a good weekend if this sticks around.

So I've been laying around, drinking water every time I wake up, and requesting a sub for the basketball band game tomorrow. Thankfully someone replied this time.

Yours,
~Stormy

Grawwwr. Not fair.

How come the University-run laboratory high school gets to have a snow day and I don't? The injustice of it all... I guess I shouldn't bitch, since we had two snow days last year and that hasn't happened in years. But damn, I coulda used the extra sleep today. The developing cough that I've had since yesterday makes me sad puppy.

Boo class.

Dude.

I just realized that, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have a grand total of *drumroll* 1 class, and that isn't until 10. Do not mock me. Last semester I had to be up at 6:15 twice a week, 7:15 twice, and 8:15 once.

Now, that is not counting Basketball Band rehearsals. But, really? Those aren't even every week, and they happen to occur at 5 pm anyway.

And on Fridays I am good'n'done by 2.

Not having a 19.5 hour semester rawks.

Yours,
~Stormy

Making a filter for California posts... If you don't see another post from me by about a half hour or so from now, and would like to be in on the California info, let me know and I'll add you.

Yours,
~Stormy

OMFG HOLY SHIT, GUYS! I am going to Pasadena. With my marching band. For free. To march at the freaking Rose Bowl!!!!!

It is a for sure thing, now. We're playing USC on January 1st in Pasadena, California. It'll be aired on ABC if you want to see if you can catch a glimpse of me. And I'm pretty sure they broadcast the parade, which means that it is almost certain you'll have a chance to see me.

But. The thing that I am most excited about is the fact that at least three people on my flist are Californians, so to those of you who are (*cough*bird_mom, magicalobizuth, penster*coughcough*), do you think that, when I find out if/when I'll have free time down there, we might figger something out? Please oh pretty please? Will let you know more details as I know them...

California!!!!! OMG YAY!!!

Yours,
~Stormy

Ooh, ooh, mommy, can I go to Pasadena for the bowl game this year? Please oh pretty please? All the cool kids live in California, and I've already been to Florida.

But seriously, guys... according to that article, there's a 50% chance we're going to the Rose Bowl for our bowl trip this year. *nudges California people* Wanna come hang out if we do? :P

Ugh. This literally makes me sick. And Republicans wonder why we are fighting so hard to retain our rights to things like birth control and abortions. Hmm, maybe it's to prevent instances like this from happening in the US?

I dunno... my stance on abortion is rather complicated. But by absolutely no means should any country blanket-ban abortion, particularly for cases like that where the woman dies as a result of not having one. My god, people, this is not the dark ages anymore. Get your heads out of your asses and believe in science, not divine intervention, at the very least in cases of medicine.

Sorry, two separate health-related rants in one day. But seriously...

~Stormy

So, question. Why the fuck do jackasses have to do retarded fucking shit like have home meth labs that use Sudafed in said illegal drug's creation, thereby making it unbelievably difficult for those of us who legitimately need Sudafed to obtain it?

I went to bed last night in the process of developing a headache. No big deal; usually when I take some Aleve and go to bed, the headache goes away. Not this time, because when I woke up this morning I discovered that it had turned into a bitch of a sinus headache, for which Aleve does exactly jack shit.

I decided to go to Manfredo's class regardless, since he is such a dick about missing class for any reason not involving a doctor's visit. And sitting there, my stomach decided to join in the act. I felt like I was going to puke, but not badly enough to leave class, since there were only 5 minutes left. Made it through class, and headed directly over to McKillme.

The people at the pharmacy oh-so-kindly informed me that they can't give out Sudafed (the real stuff with pseudoephedrine) without a doctor's prescription; but they could give me the crappy Sudafed PE stuff (with phenyl-whatever), which I know does absolutely nothing by way of helping my sinus pain, since I've tried it before. Which means that today I am royally fucked, because I just checked online - the next available appointment with my doctor is Thursday. Fucking Thursday. Thanks, that really fucking helps me with ye olde sinus headache of epic proportions. It'll probably be gone by then.

My other option is to go to a real pharmacy, where I would only have to sign my name in order to obtain said drugs; but then I would have to pay for them instead of having a charge billed to my student account, which I don't have the cash to do. Ohhhhh yes, this is wonderful. I am utterly fucked in every possible way.

In the meantime, I think I am taking the rest of the day off class, as Manfredo's is the only one I'd really get in trouble for missing and I've already suffered through that one. Anyone have any brilliant ideas for helping get rid of sinus headaches without meds? I would really, really love to hear them.

Yours,
~Stormy

Is it bad that one of the first things I think of doing when I have enough money is to make my LJ a paid account again? I mean, how much does it matter, really, if I can post and use one of several dozen icons instead of one of five? But it has been irritating me.

Damn you, LJ! You've made an addict of me!