savetheearth | one. TEXT (computer) and ACTION.

[ Wow, you know what makes doing your household finances super easy? Inputting the wrong number into your calculator without thinking about it, and then managing to possibly lose the calculator the the ether or something because it's impossible to do math with something that is scrolling random stuff.

Clearly she'd managed to break it. Somehow. After about ten minutes of arguing with her calculator, Sierra ended up googling the number to see if she'd tripped some sort of - well, she's not sure what she could have tripped, but - well, then google broke too? She ends up reading through a solid chunk of things - including, luckily enough, the recently-posted FAQ - at four in the morning. She even follows the advice to write her number on a piece of paper, and once again the crazy place shows up.

...At this point she thinks to delete the last input on her calculator, and reclaims it from the network. Goggle is also saved, and she erases the number from her paper, before opening up a simple word document. ]

I don't suppose there's any way to stop myself accidentally writing down this number? I don't mind having it memorized, but having it so ever-present is just a little bit inconvenient. I nearly threw out my calculator, and I sort of need that.

I didn't see it mentioned in that FAQ, so I thought I may as well ask.

[ Sierra pauses to stare at that. She's seen other things on here, but...is this actually not just some sleep-deprived stress break from overwork or something? Granted, she hasn't been to work in a few days, given the bombing, but...

If it is real, what exactly is one supposed to say in this situation. There probably isn't a template for "how to introduce yourself to what might possibly be a figment of your imagination and try to pretend you're not crazy" online, although she's tempted for half a second to google it. ]

It wouldn't have happened if I wasn't thinking in numbers, I don't think, but I can't really avoid that just now.

[ ...Well, it also might help if she wasn't dead tired, but details. She's not going to bed until she gets this sorted out. ]

Thanks in advance.

[ She probably couldn't sound more cautious and worn-out if she tried, but oh well. It's four thirty am, she's allowed to have a headache.

For a more action oriented event, Sierra can be caught much more awake and less suspicious that afternoon after work, where she'll head to the mall/shopping district to try and shop for a present for her parents. November 11th is fast approaching - in other words, her parents' wedding anniversary. She'll be going in and out of stores, without any clear idea of what it is she's looking for other than "something nice", which means her selection of places to visit is pretty varied. Antique shops, jewelry stores, knick knack places...pretty much the only thing Sierra has down pat is her budget for the venture, after solving her calculator problems well enough to finish her financial math that morning.

She'd meant to go shopping a lot earlier, but when everything shut down, that'd become a bit impossible - it was only her first day back on the job today, after all, and there were probably a few places still shut down.

Maybe this weird twisty silver vase is the one thing to symbolize True Love and familial affection and respect? Or this - okay, Sierra's not sure what some of this stuff is. Is this a lamp? Does it light up? Or maybe a locket for her mom and a watch for her dad, at the jewelry place? And yeah, she might get sidetracked there looking at silly earrings (cupcakes? cute, and she'll hold them up and laugh at herself), but mostly she's clearly on a mission.

She's also very clearly unsure of what her mission is other than having one, so she'll probably not mind any advice or conversation at this point. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That does sound like it could get problematic, if someone else was around. I can't say I have personal experience there - I worry about it way too much.

But if you catch yourself doing that again, maybe try something to discourage the habit? Even telling yourself not to can sometimes help.

[ Well. There go her (really not very believable) hopes that this was sleep deprivation.

Unless this is still sleep deprivation. Only sleep would tell and that is not happening yet, okay. So, after a short pause of weary disbelief: ]

I'll admit the hour probably isn't helping, nor the fact I'm buried in numbers, but yeah.

Maybe I'll find a rubber band and snap it every time I start?

That can work too. Actually I used to pinch my wrist to curb a habit of mine when I was younger, so I think it'd work the same way.

Great minds think alike?

Did it work?

It did, although one day I caught myself pinching my wrist for no reason.

There was an old woman who swallowed a fly...

Fortunately it was easier to simply stop myself, in that case. But imagine how strange my behavior might've gotten if it were like that story.

That would depend entirely on what the person did to stop pinching their wrist. These things always get taken to drastic levels, you know. Nursery rhymes told me so.

Well, I can't argue with nursery rhymes. They've got seniority on their side.

And such admirable logic such as living in a shoe; I wonder what the rent on that is.

Are you up early or staying up late?

I'm still up. It's just a fit of insomnia I think, so it's nothing to worry about. Are you being a night-owl or an early-bird, yourself?

And I believe rent would depend on the size of the shoe.

Still up. I was going to go to bed nearer to midnight, but then I "broke" my calculator.

[ Shockingly enough, reading and watching this stuff in increasing disbelief was a stronger call than going to sleep. ]

And also the brand?

Coming across all this is pretty alarming at first, I have to say. There are things I'm still trying to get my mind around, after a few months.

That's a good point, brand names can get pretty expensive. Not to mention how many kids manage to fit in there.

Sleep deprivation and overwork are still contenders in "what the heck is going on", honestly.

I don't have any to put in there. Perhaps I can put in cats? Well, a cat. And a turtle. And me.

Well there's no rush to accept it at this very moment. It took me a while to even say anything on here, because I wasn't sure what it was either.

That'd probably demand less space than a gaggle of kids then. Do you suppose they have bungalow boots?

I wouldn't have said anything if it hadn't taken over something I was using, honestly.

Sandal shanties?

I'm sort of glad I don't deal with numbers that much, just reading about it.

Moccasin mansions, even.

The downside to finances. Or business math.

High heel huts.

[ It's probably a sign of how tired she is, how amusing she finds this. ]

I can imagine numbers just start dancing around after a while.

Clog condos.

[Silly distractions are the best distractions anyhow, this kid's all for it]

Almost annoyingly so!

[ This took a bit longer to come back, because the second part took her a few minutes. ]

Slipper sanctuaries.

You must have nerves of steel.

[Admittedly, he probably knows very little about shoes except his size. Google is best bro]

Flip-flip flats.

Edited 2013-11-01 18:59 (UTC)

Well, I'd like to think they're some sort of metal, at least. Doesn't everyone?

Loafer lodgings.

I think so. At least, I've never heard of nerves of rubber or glass or anything.

Boot boat-houses.

Nerves of rubber might not be so bad. That's more durable than glass. And bouncy?

Boots again? Gasp.

Athletic apartments?

That's a good way to look at it, I never would've thought of it that way.

I have to admit, I don't know a lot about footwear. Let's see...

Pump palaces?

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