sorcyress | The Queen Idiot of the Northern Boston First Idiot Regiment

So.

I am the queen idiot.

Which is all just to say, I was distracted last night, and forgot to lock up Elanor, my darling, my baby, my fine little hybrid bicycle.

Needless to say, she is pretty thoroughly fucking gone now. By all accounts, it is unlikely I ever see her again. Yes, I have been to the police¹, yes I've given her info to Ace Wheelworks (and will give her info to whatever other bike/pawn shops I can find in the area), yes I will keep looking forlornly at Craigslist, no I really don't think I'm getting her back.

Really really expensive mistake. I do not use the phrase "queen idiot" lightly.

So the plus side for today is that Brenton is moving² and has a somewhat beaten up hybridish bike that he doesn't really want to fix or move. Cue me frantically throwing money at him and dragging it down to Ace to get the tires filled, and once I get the seat post down to a level where I can actually reach the pedals (hahaha, Sorcy is short), I have the important part of a bicycle, which is to say a device that lets me get from point A to point B faster than walking. With a little work, maybe I'll even be able to move cargo on it.

And the other plus side is that I mostly haven't burst into tears³, and I feel completely drained and empty and utterly cynical about humanity in a way I despise, but then again, I have been Evil lately, and so maybe this is my due. That's not really a plus side, is it. 'msorry, I am not currently good at "optimism", check back later.

So, I feel horrendous and cannot wait to be out of this fuckall sinkhole that is my life and into something that actually lets me catch a break once in a while. But hey, stress is a brilliant motivator, it makes it even easier to get things done than my meds do. So I'll work on cleaning my room and getting some job stuff done and maybe check the three weeks of backlogged e-mails I haven't responded to or something.

Or maybe I'll lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling and try to figure out how to stop being a dumbass, not that I expect to make any more progress on that then I have on anything else this summer.

Hope your day sucks less than mine.

~Sor
MOOP!

1: Who were impressed with how organized I was --I was able to hand them a picture, with serial number, bike information, and my contact info written on it.

2: I mean, the fact that he is moving is not a plus side. That bit makes me sad, although I am going to help him drive cross country, which is going to rock, and he is going to be with people who will make sure he is happy and fed, which double-rocks. But still!

3: Instead, I spent a little bit of time lying on the floor staring at the ceiling until Sparr (god bless knowing real adults who are able to come over and give me talkdowns and drive me to the police station) chided me into getting moving, and then after I'd done most of what there is for me to do, I spent like an hour fucking around on my phone playing minesweeper. I'm not sure this is really better than bursting into tears, but at least it doesn't result in me looking hideous or having a brutal headache.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

Insofar that having a bike that fits Kat and is in good shape is important, since it is her primary mode of transportation, and given that coming together to help victims of crime is one thing a community of friends is good for, with Kat's permission I would like to use her post to propose an "It's a Wonderful Bike" fundraiser.

Replacing Elanor would cost about $450; Kat says she could afford about $150 of that. I'd like to invite y'all to pledge to donate $10-$20, in hopes of raising the remaining $300. Rules like Kickstarter (Katstarter?):

1) If we don't get close, nobody pays anything. (If we get to within $50 or so, I will up my pledge, and make this my birthday present to her.)
2) If we exceed $300, everybody's pledge gets reduced proportionally. (I.e., every pledge will be multiplied by $300/$total. If we raise $400, everyone will pay their pledge x 300/400 = 75% of their pledge.)
3) Everyone who pledges gets an authentic drawing from Kat, possibly of Kat on a bike, or a dinosaur, or a dinosaur on a bike.
4) Comment here with your pledge, or email me (my username at gmail). I will post the total on Wednesday night. (If you want to be anonymous for any reason, let me know.)

I have no idea if this will work or not, but getting a bike stolen really sucks, especially when you can't afford to replace it. If you're so inclined, feel free to pass this on to other friends of Kat's. Thanks!

$20 (or more if there's a need) (and fuck this reducing the pledges thing. A better bike is better than a not-better bike.
And don't forget a new lock, new lights, (new panniers?), etc.)

(no subject)

jere7my.livejournal.com - 2012-08-13 05:44 (UTC) - Expand

I pledge $15 and Loki in a bag of cats.

$33.70

Sure, I'll pledge $20.

I'll kick in $20, and I echo jbsegal's comments about reducing pledges. That's not how Kickstarter works.

I'm in for $10.

I can do $10. Better than ice cream!

I just sold some soap a bit ago, so I have some yarn money lying about just waiting for me to throw at DarlySor! Count me (and invisibly, Woozle) in for $20 ^_^

(And as I said on her DW, you are the best. Here, have some poinghgugles all for you!)

(And ditto on the reducing pledge nonsense; I have physically set aside my/our $20 and so twenty it shall remain, dangit! *shakes ferocious ferret fist*)

I'm in for $20.

I'm in for $20, though we'll have to work out how to get the money to you--I suspect relying on in-person social networking would take a bit.

$50

In for $18 dollars.

$20.

Thank you for thinking to and organizing this.

Put me in for $20. Fuck the reducing pledges thing -- if we raise $450, Kat doesn't pay for her bike. If we raise more, consider a better bike or put it into a rainy day fund.

$25. And I absolutely agree any overage goes to better bike/more accessories/EXTRA LOCK!!! And I absolutely demand a picture of a dinosaur on a bicycle even though she says she sucks at drawing bicycles. I want her to try hard, study a few bikes, and draw the best bike she can, because that's her penance for leaving Elanor unlocked. Call me a curmudgeon.

Changed my mind

whimmydiddle.livejournal.com - 2012-08-13 15:14 (UTC) - Expand

Oh, excellent; thank you for organizing this! I'm happy to chip in $20. (And I mean that literally, not just as a turn of phrase.) Also totally on-board with not reducing pledges in case of overage.

I'm in for $10, with a strong preference that that amount not be reduced proportionally.

Thank you, everyone, for all your pledges so far. For those who have expressed a desire to not have their pledges reduced: because I'm a stickler and don't want to change the rules after things get going, I am still going to calculate reduced pledges when I post the tally, but I will also post actual bids and leave it up to individuals which they want to pay. No social stigma will attach either way, I garontee! Money between $300 and $450 will go to the bike; money above that will go to bike goodies, like a portable pump.

whimmydiddle.livejournal.com - 2012-08-13 16:23 (UTC) - Expand

In for $18 in my grandmother tradition. :)

I'm in for $15 because cats are awesome and Kat is awesome.

I'm in for $15. Paypal work?

I've got $20 - how is the money being delivered?

Okay, $50

keshwyn - 2012-08-14 07:44 (UTC) - Expand

majordomo.livejournal.com - 2012-08-14 23:32 (UTC) - Expand

harrison salzman - 2012-08-15 21:16 (UTC) - Expand