I have figured out that having an emergency appendectomy sucks ass.

Discovered a country song that made me giggle.... "Pray For You"... Can't remember the artist, something like Jaron and the Long Road to Love or something... :) I highly recommend it. Listen to it, especially if you have an ex.

Well, here we go... back into the insanity that is my life...

I'm still at the bank - 5 years next February. I'm still running the Fraud Department, and with my training and tracking we have prevented over $250,000 in losses to fraud in two years. They like me.

I was recently moved to a different, newer branch. There were a lot of issues at the location I had been at for some time, so the move came at a perfect time. Not only does it get me away from a facility that is imploding on itself, but it also allows me to expand my training programs and spend more time working in the fraud arena. I've found my niche. Scary.

In February of this year, I had my third surgery on my finger; the one that I cut with a butter knife in November 2007. For a LONG time it had been arched up where I couldn't straighten it, couldn't move it, nothing. So they went in again, tried and so far, it has not been that successful. Even with splints and a pin in the finger for a couple of weeks after surgery, it is still curling up. At least I can do a little more with it now than I could. Let's just hope it stays that way. The really fun part will be coming soon - the doctor will completely release me next month, then my attorney will want to settle the workers comp claim. This could get ugly.... but I'm optimistic. I'm far too valuable to the bank for them to get rid of me, hopefully...

Other issues have arisen since then, but I won't get into it now. Not important.

Still single. Big fucking surprise there.

Found out yesterday that my Grandmother had a spell on Saturday at the beauty shop where she said she couldn't speak. Why she waited until Sunday night to tell anyone is beyond me, but I digress.

So she got in first thing this morning to see the doctor. The explaination to him was that she was able to speak, but it was a jumbled mess of random words, no coherent thought. Which explaination is more accurate, I don't know. But after talking to her, he said beyond the shadow of a doubt that she had suffered from a mini stroke. He ordered a boat load of different tests and put her on a daily asprin regimine, but the hospital can't get her in for the tests until NEXT WEDNESDAY.... I dunno, I don't like it one bit but what can I do.

So, that's my life. Still insane and boring. How is everyone still around in LJ land?

Just dealing with some stuff.... more soon.

I absolutely love Sandra Bullock, and am tickled shitless that she won the Oscar. And I absolutely hate that she is hurt right now because of her husband's affair.

However... Jesse James, if you come across this.... can I be next???????

Went back to work for the first time after my most recent surgery. Hurt like hell. I have a feeling that, when the doctor said "light duty" he did NOT mean full shifts and full time hours on a teller line.... Just a hunch...

Talk more when I'm not drugged. Nite all!

Miss me?

Date:	2008-09-17 01:20
Subject:	We come in peace. Take me to your cornfields.
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired

I found this slightly interesting... Reported on ABC News, 5 cops from a couple of towns called Highland, Lebanon and Shiloh IL - all about 20-30 minutes from me, reported seeing a large UFO flying very quickly over town - pretty low to the ground. When 5 different cops see the same damn thing in about three towns, that makes you go hmm.....

So states across the country are throwing fits about text messaging while driving. I admit, I've done it from time to time. Or more than that. But still. I know it's dangerous, just like the wonderful politicians do. So, here's my thing. Many many radio stations who target the 18-24 or the 25-39 demographics now hold contests on the air where you have to text your answers to win. Knowing that it's young people who do the most texting, and knowing that radio stations are obviously promoting text messaging (they don't give a shit if it's while you're driving or not, but one of our stations holds these contests at 45 minutes past the hours of 7 AM, 11 AM, 2 PM, 5 PM and 7 PM which are prime after school/after work driving hours) why don't they tell the stations not to do that?

I know it's probably a silly idea, but it seems to me that the radio contest thing is one factor in DWT (driving while texting). I know we'll never stop it completely, hell, I'll probably never stop (at least I'm honest) but it might help...

I'm now off my soap box. Time to text message everyone I know. :)

I just saw a story on Yahoo where a man was ejected from a New York Yankees game during the seventh inning stretch and the singing of "God Bless America" because he got out of his seat to use the restroom.

Aparently, Yankee Stadium and the Yankees have a rule (that I've never heard of, as I'm sure most people haven't) that you cannot leave your seat during the singing of God Bless America. The man tried to go use the restroom and was stopped by a member of the NYPD - told he would have to sit back down. He said that he didn't care about the song but that he needed to use the restroom and was then ejected from the stadium.

I understand that Patriotism is important. I understand that. I understand that we have to support our country and our troops, and I do. But when you're at a sporting event which you pay (in my opinion) way too much money to go to (and eat/drink at as well as other junk) and they're telling you that you can't pee whenever you need to, that's when I have a problem.

I'm sure I've peed during God Bless America at the game - Hell, I've sung along drunk as a skunk at Busch Stadium at a Cardinals game before. Actually, if I'm that drunk then I spend quite a bit of time peeing. But maybe I'm just nuts, I think the Yankees are a little over the edge on this one...

Date:	2008-08-27 11:46
Subject:	Food. Bad.
Security:	Public
Mood:	curious

I'm finally getting over my first real bout of food poisoning... I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's bad. Thankfully, my employer is very very understanding and has not thrown a fit when I had to either go home early on Monday or changed yesterday's and today's schedules. But then again - they love me.

I found out last week officially that I'm going to be working one on one with our HR/Compliance officer very very soon. Starting November 1, the Fed is putting some new and VERY stringent/difficult Identity Theft/Red Flag regulations in all of banking. I haven't had a chance to read over the material all that much, but basically banks are now empowered to do more to fight identity theft and other forms of fraud, but we're also held accountable big time if something slips through the cracks. Federal Regulators are going to basically go over our work with a fine tooth comb - not only new accounts, but actual transactions, file maintenance to ensure that if there should be a warning in place on an account for whatever reason, it's in all appropriate places so that all staff has access to it, and I believe will actually require an override should a teller be attempting to complete a transaction with such a warning.

It's going to be a challenge. But something else I discovered - I have to create a manual for all staff within the company - by September 20. This is encompassing all areas of financial fraud, scams, elder abuse, financial exploitation, kiting, forgeries, counterfeit instruments and everything else in between. Yes, it shall be fun.

I've been having some odd dreams lately as well. Two nights ago I had a dream that my mother and aunt were stopping at a restaurant in a town called Wood River not far from here where my aunt works. On the way home, they were in a bad accident and my mother died. But a day later, she showed up at the door alive and well...

Last night, I had a follow up dream. Not to that, but to something I had years ago. I've always done this - I have a dream, usually something very strange. Then quite some time later, I pick up after it left off, continuing the story. Originally I had a dream where there was a building on our high school campus that was all but abandoned, and it had a really nice auditorium/theater in it. Well, being the nosy bastard that I am, I had to tour the place. Now, there were empty class rooms, abandoned desks, papers, everything that you would find in a place that was abandoned in a hurry. There were also major rumors that the place was haunted.

Especially the auditorium.

So I tried to get in, and here's where it gets fuzzy because it's been so long. I found a way in the auditorium on the third floor of the building, tried to get in but something or someone heard me, scared the living shit out of me and chased me out.

Well, last night I picked up later - I was still in high school, but it was probably three years later. I was a Senior. And they had completely redone that building and of course, all my classes were in it. So I go in, find a computer thing that prints out a 20 page packet of all of my information just by using a sensor to identify it's me (I don't type, speak, nothing) and I get my schedule with a friend. I have classes on ghosts, werewolves, mummies, all the strange shit. And they're scattered all throughout this building. I also had like 4 free periods in the middle of the day, so I just decided I'd skip most of the classes. I walked by the auditorium, but never went in for some reason, even though the doors were wide open. When I went in the classrooms though, I could see flashes of how they were - desks thrown all over, papers on the teacher's desk, trash all over. It was flashing in and out of reality. Strangest fucking dream I've had in a LONG time.

So with that, I've decided that I'm either nuts, I'm REALLY fucking nuts. Either way, you be the judge.

Date:	2008-08-17 13:36
Subject:	It finally happened....
Security:	Public
Mood:	anxious

In lieu of my excessive, almost binge, drinking this weekend, I have decided to clear the air.

It is Ask Me Anything Sunday

I shall answer any question pertaining to any subject. The only catch is - you must ask it! Which means put your thinking caps on, remove your hands from places that they shouldn't be and click the 'reply' button!

Date:	2008-07-27 11:28
Subject:	Last Night
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

I know it's a brief post, but I feel it is important, significant and warranted a mention.

I was at the Alton Holiday Inn for a friend's wedding reception last night and they also had karaoke in the lounge. Now, also going on last night, the classic rock band "Survivor" was performing at the casino downtown and Argosy has a group of rooms at Holiday Inn for their entertainment. I go to Holiday Inn usually every Friday for karaoke but sometimes on Saturdays. Since I was there anyway, I figured 'what the hell.'

So I'm singin a couple songs and in walks "Survivor" and late in the evening the lead singer, keyboard player and one of the roadies do a couple songs. Now, by this point, I'm drunk. So after the lead singer sings "Stay With Me" by Rod Stewart, I go up and say the usual stuff 'I wish I could have gone to your concert, you guys are awesome, blah blah blah' and he tells me "You're awesome too. I've been watching you tonight."

I almost creamed myself right there.

That is all.

Date:	2008-07-20 19:08
Subject:	My life, courtesy of Jack Daniels
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired

I've been drinking way too much lately. Yay. Unfortunately I still can't get any lol

As of two weeks ago, I've officially been given a title for my position at the bank - Fraud Prevention Coordinator. I've already recently gotten a raise so I can't complain about that. But it's nice to be recognized for the work that I have done and continue to do.

I went to see The Dark Knight yesterday afternoon and it was fucking AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If Heath Ledger doesn't win, or at the very least get nominated for an Academy Award then there is something seriously wrong. He was evil, demented but really intriguing. Then one of our branch managers from another branch invited me to a pool party last night. So I went, took a bottle of Jack Daniels and partied with him, his wife, a few family and friends in his new house/pool and it was fun. I think. At one point about four of us went down to play pool. So we're drinking, playing, and then the manager turns on the Playboy Channel. It was rather... stimulating... oddly enough. All I wanted was a circle jerk... I would have been quite happy with that but nooooo......... they all kept it in their pants. Dammit. I had way too much to drink last night and I should thank my lucky stars that I didn't end up hurt, dead or in jail. Can we say wake up call? I have to change my ways if I want to live to see 26.

I had planned on going back to Vegas on Halloween but I've come to the conclusion that it would be best if I hold off a bit - so I'm going to call the Hilton and cancel my reservation tomorrow and I'm going to use the money I had for this trip for a massive, kick ass 26th Birthday Party in Vegas in February of next year. Let me tell you, it's going to be a fucking awesome time. I'll have more $$, paid vacation time and my liver will have a chance to regenerate a little bit. lol However, working at a bank I make next to nothing I'll be sleeping on a budget when I'm there. I found a pretty good rate at Excalibur - I know it's a cheesy, kid friendly resort but they have some awesome renovated rooms and some pretty good prices. I'm trying to stay different places every time I go. I also like the old properties, so if I don't stay at Excalibur I'll be at the Sahara. Opened in 1952 - they're still going strong. Yea it's on the far north end of the Strip but it's got a monorail station right there so I can ride anywhere on the strip. And it's cheap. lol

That's my life in a nut shell. Eh. Time to chill right now - I need an easy, early night.

Date:	2008-07-08 20:19
Subject:	In case you cared...
Security:	Public
Mood:	horny

I need penis

Date:	2008-06-30 19:46
Subject:	I always had a feeling.....
Security:	Public
Mood:	amused

robbieboi's LJ stalker is leorawrs81!

leorawrs81 is stalking you because they think you are rich and they want your blingbling. They are also in jail for murder!

Date:	2008-06-18 21:59
Subject:	Where has the time gone...
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

I know, I haven't updated this thing since before my vacation to Vegas and Tahoe in April... needless to say, tonight is NOT going to be the trip report. But I am off tomorrow, so there might be some stories and pictures then, who knows.

The scary thing is: I'm working on a way I can go back for Halloween!!! YEAH!!! The Las Vegas Hilton is giving me 4 nights for $200 through 10/31... Now that's an awesome deal (Basically $50 a night) but most importantly, how much fucking fun would Vegas be on Halloween?!?!?!?

YEA!!!!

TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a CAT scan scheduled for Friday at 11 am for my headaches. The doctor has finally decided to let me take a pain killer - in a fun way. He's given me 800MG of ibuprofen and Compazine. I can only take them together. Not quite sure why the second one, but oh well. After playing phone tag with the damn doctor on Friday, his receptionist told me that my scan was scheduled for Monday, April 28.... Needless to say, I had to told them that I would be a little late as I would be in Vegas. So they rescheduled. Yay.

I've been pissing quite a few people off at work lately - but I have to. Example one:

A guy came in yesterday wanting to cash a cashier's check. Nothing unusual. So I determine he's not a customer (When he told me that he wanted to cash a check and it was from our bank so he guessed it would be good was a big clue), and I ask for his ID. I look at the check and it's issued to him and another gentleman who was not with him. Due to bank policy and Federal regulations, we HAVE to be sure of the identity of the people we're conducting transactions for. So we have a check written to two individuals (Person A & Person B) but only person A there. If the check were issued to Person A OR Person B, then I could have cashed it. So I informed him that, even though the check was signed by both him and the missing man, since I couldn't be sure that it was actually the second person who signed the check, I couldn't cash it. That pissed him off a smidge... Now I was very professional and polite about it... but he just snapped and grabbed the check back, said "Give me that.. I've heard some shit in my day but that's...." and trailed off. Then when I said that I was sorry, he said "Oh, piss on you." Needless to say, my response was a very timid "I'd rather not" which set my coworker into fits of giggles and the customer that she was waiting on just grinned.... Yeah. Go me.

Four more days..... Two more work days of hell, then time to sin in Sin City. Oh, whoever shall I do....

Date:	2008-04-20 20:51
Subject:	Seven days and counting... and not a moment too soon
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

So Friday morning was fun... at about 4:30 in the morning, we had a little 5.2 earthquake that woke my happy ass up. That was my first earthquake. Not a real big fan of it. I'm sure you cats from California are quite familiar with them. But when my bed starts shaking and there's no one but me in it I have a slight issue.... So that was a fun wake up call.

Of course the ironic part is that the wonderful doctor the day before told me (regarding my headaches) that he didn't think it was a brain tumor because they expose themselves in different ways (seizures).... so what happens? 16 hours after he tells me that the bed shakes like there's no tomorrow. Slight freak out opportunity. Now, do you see the irony and humor in that?

So I worked Saturday (my 6th or 7th in a row) and so glad I got through with that. Now not another Saturday until at least Mid May. Today, however, I spent almost all day laying in bed in the dark because my head has been throbbing all damn day, and I can't take any flippin pain killers... not even a fucking Tylenol. This is gonna be a LONG week....

BUT........ 7 days from today I'll be in Las Vegas!!!!!!!! One more fucking week!!!!

Date:	2008-04-17 19:23
Subject:	Yes, we have no bananas
Security:	Public
Mood:	pissed off

I had a rare day off today. I coordinate my work schedule, or more fittingly my days off work schedule, to the St. Louis Cardinals schedule. The Cards have a promotion which they call the "First Pitch Tickets" - the first 175 250 people at one of the ticket windows outside Busch Stadium at 9 am on the morning of any home game can buy a pair of tickets for $5.50 each - so a pair is $11. (On a side note, they picked $5.50 because the games are broadcast on 550 AM KTRS in St Louis.) These are tickets that have been returned from players, sponsors, etc or just plain not sold. After you pay your $11 you get a voucher with your name on it, and then 10 minutes before game time you line up outside Gate 5, show the person at the gate your ID and voucher and you get an envelope with your two tickets. This is the fun part - you never know where your seats are going to be when you buy them until you get in the stadium and open your envelope. On Opening Day this year, they interviewed a woman who did it and got seats RIGHT BEHIND HOME PLATE!!! I did it several times last year and didn't sit any higher than the loge level which was awesome.

For a night game, it's kinda stupid to do (especially when I have to work, it's impossible) - get the tickets at the stadium at 9 am and then be back at the stadium at 7 pm for the game.... so I have off work every home day game so that I can get over there early, get my tickets at 9 and then kill 3 hours before game time at 12:15. Today was the first day game (aside from Opening Day) so I was ready.

However, a snafu occurred.

For almost three weeks now, I've had some BAD headaches.. they started around the same time as the tooth issues so originally I thought that the two were connected and didn't think anything of it. However, the tooth issue (where I suddenly needed two root canals) has all but been resolved (I canceled the root canals, the pain is for the most part completely gone with the minor exception of a sore tooth here and there - but every time in different parts of my mouth) while the headaches have continued to get worse. So over the weekend, I started taking Excedrin Tension Headache thinking it was tension headaches (not a far stretch, I work in a bank....) and it really hasn't helped TOO much. Finally yesterday I called the doctor. He could see me - today at 11:30.

Cardinal game

I get there and the little weasel listens to what I have to say - where it hurts, what kind of pain it is, he checks my ears, nose and throat and we're all having a damn skippy time. Then the analysis.

He can't see any sign of a sinus infection.

He doesn't think it's migraines - they don't come and go.

He doesn't THINK it's a brain tumor (but he's not gonna check just to be sure)

He said it might be tension headaches.

Or it might be tied into the teeth (even though they only hurt rarely and it's a different spot each time).

So his orders - No painkillers for the headaches for a week. Call him on Wednesday. If they're not all gone bye bye by then, he'll give me something for then for my vacation and we'll go from there.

Why would a doctor tell you NOT to take any pain killers if any part of your body was throbbing at any given time? That just doesn't make any sense to me...

So in the mean time, I'm going to be doing a LOT of hurting (all day today so far) and I'm probably going to be a royal bitch at work... this could be interesting.

*GRRRRRRRRRRRR* 10 more days.......