There was a time in my life when I literally lived for the month of May and a week in the summer. During May, I lived, breathed, ate, and dreamed the Indy 500. Then during a week in the summer, everything became about the Michigan 500. I would get tickets and pit passes and I was in heaven for 5 days. Reality of being an adult took away my dreams of being the first woman to win the Indy 500 and now I live in envy of Danica Patrick. I have been so busy this May that it hadn't really even occurred to me that it was May...not just May but MAY! Until I heard an ad on my way home yesterday that Michael Andretti had returned from retirement to play at the Brickyard this year along with his son Marco, who makes me feel old because I remember the year he was born. I remember having a huge crush on his father, and a huge crush on his uncle basically I just wanted to be an Andretti. I remember being transfixed by happy hour at the brickyard. The last hour of the day during qualifying between 4 - 5 each Saturday and Sunday when the sun had gone down enough to shadow the track and it would cool and the speeds would go up.
So today I plopped myself onto the couch and watched the 500, cheering on Michael. 3rd place isn't bad for coming back out of retirement, and I am certain Marco earned himself Rookie of the Year with his second place finish.
It was a great day of memories and still wishing I could be there...driving.
28 May 2006
27 May 2006
A friends a friend forever...
Yep I pulled out and dusted off this MWS fav of mine...
So last week on Saturday, I screwed up at lunch, I had made plans with Ry on Friday, and then my group was supposed to meet and I had a chance to have lunch with Greg...And I was double booked and not thinking. Ry and Dan had lunch together elsewhere. But of course in my mania filled week, I was worried about Ry and afraid he might be upset with me. But the week was crazy and I know he has been killer busy at work recently so I didn't get him called to apologize for my forgetful mind.
I was nervous about seeing him today...How silly am I. At lunch time when he came down the stairs while I was standing next to Dan, one smile when I looked up at him erased every fear filled thought I had this week in respect to this. I'm a freak, just thought I would let you all know that. It can't possibly be normal to worry about all this small stuff. Anyway, a hug kicked the last of the thoughts out of my head and off we went to lunch.
The group of six of us decided to take out lunch and sit outside to eat it since it was simply unbelievably beautiful in Chicago today. We sat down near the river and the conversation as always had me in stitches.
Snippets of conversation...(whether they translate or not for those who were not there, they will be a source of amusement for me in the future...)
A penny picked up off the ground, "If the market was efficient, this would not be on the ground."
"I've forgotten everything I know about balance sheets." "Balance sheet, what's a balance sheet?"
"Do you think we could organize the panhandlers, give them money and insurance and have them panhandle for us?" "We would have to have some sort of box so they couldn't get the money back out that was given to them." "And GPS so we always knew where they were." "I think we are moving from entrepreneurship to pimpship." "You wouldn't be Chief Executive Officer, you would be Chief Executive Pimp."
"Imagine what we could come up with if we used this education for good!"
Story told in old geezer professor voice...."So there's this guy, and he likes to draw on women's' backs. He likes to draw with crayon so it doesn't really hurt the woman. And if he doesn't get to draw on a woman's back once a month, he becomes very violent and kills people." "That's not a real case." "Yes, it is, he told this story in class." "It was to figure out if one person's short time discomfort was worth it for the greater good of society." "And then he walked up to a girl in the class and said would you let him draw on your back?" "He did not." "he did." ...The conversation digressed from there and got more amusing and likely to most more offensive. Personally my sides hurt from laughing while I typed that.
So last week on Saturday, I screwed up at lunch, I had made plans with Ry on Friday, and then my group was supposed to meet and I had a chance to have lunch with Greg...And I was double booked and not thinking. Ry and Dan had lunch together elsewhere. But of course in my mania filled week, I was worried about Ry and afraid he might be upset with me. But the week was crazy and I know he has been killer busy at work recently so I didn't get him called to apologize for my forgetful mind.
I was nervous about seeing him today...How silly am I. At lunch time when he came down the stairs while I was standing next to Dan, one smile when I looked up at him erased every fear filled thought I had this week in respect to this. I'm a freak, just thought I would let you all know that. It can't possibly be normal to worry about all this small stuff. Anyway, a hug kicked the last of the thoughts out of my head and off we went to lunch.
The group of six of us decided to take out lunch and sit outside to eat it since it was simply unbelievably beautiful in Chicago today. We sat down near the river and the conversation as always had me in stitches.
Snippets of conversation...(whether they translate or not for those who were not there, they will be a source of amusement for me in the future...)
A penny picked up off the ground, "If the market was efficient, this would not be on the ground."
"I've forgotten everything I know about balance sheets." "Balance sheet, what's a balance sheet?"
"Do you think we could organize the panhandlers, give them money and insurance and have them panhandle for us?" "We would have to have some sort of box so they couldn't get the money back out that was given to them." "And GPS so we always knew where they were." "I think we are moving from entrepreneurship to pimpship." "You wouldn't be Chief Executive Officer, you would be Chief Executive Pimp."
"Imagine what we could come up with if we used this education for good!"
Story told in old geezer professor voice...."So there's this guy, and he likes to draw on women's' backs. He likes to draw with crayon so it doesn't really hurt the woman. And if he doesn't get to draw on a woman's back once a month, he becomes very violent and kills people." "That's not a real case." "Yes, it is, he told this story in class." "It was to figure out if one person's short time discomfort was worth it for the greater good of society." "And then he walked up to a girl in the class and said would you let him draw on your back?" "He did not." "he did." ...The conversation digressed from there and got more amusing and likely to most more offensive. Personally my sides hurt from laughing while I typed that.
Leave the Driving
Neil Young seems appropriate this morning....
"driver's license and registration,"
Said the officer with his flashlight
Searchin' around the floor of the car
Smellin' like somethin' ain't right
Ok, so I am driving into Chicago this morning. I am about 20-30 miles west of Rockford heading toward 90. There is a group of three of us driving together at about 80, (in a 55). When we see just a glimpse of something flashing at the bottom of the hill and around a corner through some trees....BRAKE LIGHTS hit all three cars. We head down and around the corner to be met by four, count 'em FOUR patrol cars. Three on one side of the road, one on my side of the road, and one what appears to be abandon car on the side with the three. All four officers were on the side of the road with the most vehicles, and standing behind one of the patrol cars in a conspiratorial little group gathered around one that must have been in charge who was looking through some book he had laying out on the truck of the car.
We went by while the four stooges stood and watched us go by, and this provided my mind entertainment for at least the next 20 miles or so....so I'll share...
Man from apparently abandoned car sits bleeding in the back of one patrol car while the four stooges look through the book on the trunk of the car... "Men, there must be something in here we can charge him with, we already slapped him around, patted him down and cuffed him, we need to find something?"
The book is actually a map book. "the line is behind the car, so it is in your jurisdiction, you take care of it." Second officer, "no it is in front of the car, so its in your jurisdiction, you take care of it."
There were more but I have probably bored you already. But seriously what manner of creature could be so fearsome that it requires four of the sheriff's men?
PS -- that last part was for the 'leeners.
Time for me to go get smarter, or fall asleep....the Italian prof is a snoozer.
ts
"driver's license and registration,"
Said the officer with his flashlight
Searchin' around the floor of the car
Smellin' like somethin' ain't right
Ok, so I am driving into Chicago this morning. I am about 20-30 miles west of Rockford heading toward 90. There is a group of three of us driving together at about 80, (in a 55). When we see just a glimpse of something flashing at the bottom of the hill and around a corner through some trees....BRAKE LIGHTS hit all three cars. We head down and around the corner to be met by four, count 'em FOUR patrol cars. Three on one side of the road, one on my side of the road, and one what appears to be abandon car on the side with the three. All four officers were on the side of the road with the most vehicles, and standing behind one of the patrol cars in a conspiratorial little group gathered around one that must have been in charge who was looking through some book he had laying out on the truck of the car.
We went by while the four stooges stood and watched us go by, and this provided my mind entertainment for at least the next 20 miles or so....so I'll share...
Man from apparently abandoned car sits bleeding in the back of one patrol car while the four stooges look through the book on the trunk of the car... "Men, there must be something in here we can charge him with, we already slapped him around, patted him down and cuffed him, we need to find something?"
The book is actually a map book. "the line is behind the car, so it is in your jurisdiction, you take care of it." Second officer, "no it is in front of the car, so its in your jurisdiction, you take care of it."
There were more but I have probably bored you already. But seriously what manner of creature could be so fearsome that it requires four of the sheriff's men?
PS -- that last part was for the 'leeners.
Time for me to go get smarter, or fall asleep....the Italian prof is a snoozer.
ts
Leave the Driving
Neil Young seems appropriate this morning....
"driver's license and registration,"
Said the officer with his flashlight
Searchin' around the floor of the car
Smellin' like somethin' ain't right
Ok, so I am driving into Chicago this morning. I am about 20-30 miles west of Rockford heading toward 90. There is a group of three of us driving together at about 80, (in a 55). When we see just a glimpse of something flashing at the bottom of the hill and around a corner through some trees....BRAKE LIGHTS hit all three cars. We head down and around the corner to be met by four, count 'em FOUR patrol cars. Three on one side of the road, one on my side of the road, and one what appears to be abandon car on the side with the three. All four officers were on the side of the road with the most vehicles, and standing behind one of the patrol cars in a conspiratorial little group gathered around one that must have been in charge who was looking through some book he had laying out on the truck of the car.
We went by while the four stooges stood and watched us go by, and this provided my mind entertainment for at least the next 20 miles or so....so I'll share...
Man from apparently abandoned car sits bleeding in the back of one patrol car while the four stooges look through the book on the trunk of the car... "Men, there must be something in here we can charge him with, we already slapped him around, patted him down and cuffed him, we need to find something?"
The book is actually a map book. "the line is behind the car, so it is in your jurisdiction, you take care of it." Second officer, "no it is in front of the car, so its in your jurisdiction, you take care of it."
There were more but I have probably bored you already. But seriously what manner of creature could be so fearsome that it requires four of the sheriff's men?
PS -- that last part was for the 'leeners.
Time for me to go get smarter, or fall asleep....the Italian prof is a snoozer.
ts
"driver's license and registration,"
Said the officer with his flashlight
Searchin' around the floor of the car
Smellin' like somethin' ain't right
Ok, so I am driving into Chicago this morning. I am about 20-30 miles west of Rockford heading toward 90. There is a group of three of us driving together at about 80, (in a 55). When we see just a glimpse of something flashing at the bottom of the hill and around a corner through some trees....BRAKE LIGHTS hit all three cars. We head down and around the corner to be met by four, count 'em FOUR patrol cars. Three on one side of the road, one on my side of the road, and one what appears to be abandon car on the side with the three. All four officers were on the side of the road with the most vehicles, and standing behind one of the patrol cars in a conspiratorial little group gathered around one that must have been in charge who was looking through some book he had laying out on the truck of the car.
We went by while the four stooges stood and watched us go by, and this provided my mind entertainment for at least the next 20 miles or so....so I'll share...
Man from apparently abandoned car sits bleeding in the back of one patrol car while the four stooges look through the book on the trunk of the car... "Men, there must be something in here we can charge him with, we already slapped him around, patted him down and cuffed him, we need to find something?"
The book is actually a map book. "the line is behind the car, so it is in your jurisdiction, you take care of it." Second officer, "no it is in front of the car, so its in your jurisdiction, you take care of it."
There were more but I have probably bored you already. But seriously what manner of creature could be so fearsome that it requires four of the sheriff's men?
PS -- that last part was for the 'leeners.
Time for me to go get smarter, or fall asleep....the Italian prof is a snoozer.
ts
Miss Independent
Miss Independent, Miss Self Sulficient, Miss Keep your Distance..........(describes me entirely too well, and for the purpose of this post....) Miss Forgetful Mind!
I posted the pics of my Europe trip about a week ago. I can't for the life of me remember how I put that flash link in the side bar of my blog. So to get to the pics use this link...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42924991@N00/sets/
And select Spain/France May 2006 set. Enjoy!
And finally, its 3 AM again, but this time, I'm heading off to Chicago...couldn't bring myself to make the drive in holiday traffic last night. So I'm off....Aileen, my plan is to hit Trader Joe's on my way home! Better tell me what to buy this morning so I will have the list this afternoon. Oh, and this is the first weekend testing out the new XM radio I installed in the Jeep otherwise known as "the Beast!"
I posted the pics of my Europe trip about a week ago. I can't for the life of me remember how I put that flash link in the side bar of my blog. So to get to the pics use this link...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42924991@N00/sets/
And select Spain/France May 2006 set. Enjoy!
And finally, its 3 AM again, but this time, I'm heading off to Chicago...couldn't bring myself to make the drive in holiday traffic last night. So I'm off....Aileen, my plan is to hit Trader Joe's on my way home! Better tell me what to buy this morning so I will have the list this afternoon. Oh, and this is the first weekend testing out the new XM radio I installed in the Jeep otherwise known as "the Beast!"
26 May 2006
Margin for Error
Indigo Girls have a song that talks about a margin for error...I can't recall which one though, it isn't the title I know that.
Anyway, this week I had the distinct honor of meeting a friend for dinner while I was in KC to see a supplier. Actually it was a friend of an ex, who I have kept in not so close contact but when I knew I was going down there I contacted her to let her know I would be in the area. I hadn't talked with her since the time I was considering taking an assignment in Brazil and I hadn't seen her in two and a half years. She has a great memory, she remembered who paid the last time, she remembered I call my employer "Uncle John", and so much more.
It is rare to find a kindred spirit I have found, at least for me. Leeners and I are...But on a different levels. Our friendship was tried by the fire of stupid immature boys and forged by heartbreak, joy, and her ability to put up with my mania and me hers. My KC friend who I will refer to as KC now, is different kind of kindred. She knows me even when I didn't know myself. She treaded a path I am on long before I did. So she was able to tell me everything I'm going through is normal. Nothing better in the world than to find out things are normal when you think you are the oddest duck in the pond. 3 hours and a bottle wine, we talked about a lot of stuff. She told me I hadn't left much margin for error in my life....That's the truth, oddly, I hadn't even considered it. She also said I'm still running and not ready for a relationship. This I have given much thought, why have I been running so hard?
We talked about marriage and the sacrifices, and the difficulty of allowing the submissive side to come out. (Aileen pick up your jaw...hehehe)
It was an intense three hours, and yet so NEEDED. So thank you KC for helping me get my arms around my own head.
During the conversation I found out that my ex's mother died, she was this amazingly strong, wonderful woman. I almost cried when I found out...Kept it together! But I thought I should contact him but that will open a can of worms that would be painful for both of us and in reality I would be doing it for me not for him.
So now after talking with her, I have been thinking a lot and someone this morning said that I'm so scared I don't trust. This is true...I just don't know how to fix it. Perhaps it goes back to that margin for error thing...
Anyway, this week I had the distinct honor of meeting a friend for dinner while I was in KC to see a supplier. Actually it was a friend of an ex, who I have kept in not so close contact but when I knew I was going down there I contacted her to let her know I would be in the area. I hadn't talked with her since the time I was considering taking an assignment in Brazil and I hadn't seen her in two and a half years. She has a great memory, she remembered who paid the last time, she remembered I call my employer "Uncle John", and so much more.
It is rare to find a kindred spirit I have found, at least for me. Leeners and I are...But on a different levels. Our friendship was tried by the fire of stupid immature boys and forged by heartbreak, joy, and her ability to put up with my mania and me hers. My KC friend who I will refer to as KC now, is different kind of kindred. She knows me even when I didn't know myself. She treaded a path I am on long before I did. So she was able to tell me everything I'm going through is normal. Nothing better in the world than to find out things are normal when you think you are the oddest duck in the pond. 3 hours and a bottle wine, we talked about a lot of stuff. She told me I hadn't left much margin for error in my life....That's the truth, oddly, I hadn't even considered it. She also said I'm still running and not ready for a relationship. This I have given much thought, why have I been running so hard?
We talked about marriage and the sacrifices, and the difficulty of allowing the submissive side to come out. (Aileen pick up your jaw...hehehe)
It was an intense three hours, and yet so NEEDED. So thank you KC for helping me get my arms around my own head.
During the conversation I found out that my ex's mother died, she was this amazingly strong, wonderful woman. I almost cried when I found out...Kept it together! But I thought I should contact him but that will open a can of worms that would be painful for both of us and in reality I would be doing it for me not for him.
So now after talking with her, I have been thinking a lot and someone this morning said that I'm so scared I don't trust. This is true...I just don't know how to fix it. Perhaps it goes back to that margin for error thing...
23 May 2006
Cause you had a bad day....
Yes it is a musical week.... small intermission for lyrics...
Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong
So where is the passion when you need it the most
Top Five clues I should have stayed in bed:
1. Arguing with someone I care about before even hitting the shower
2. It's Tuesday which means there's a staff meeting within minutes of my arrival to work
3. Within the first fifteen minutes of said staff meeting, I piss off a team mate.
4. Within the first twenty minutes of said staff meeting, not only do I piss off a team mate, but I also start a snowball effect where another team mate continues my questions of the first team mate which elicited fingerpointing and defensive reaction in first team mate.
5. After said staff meeting, I went to apologize to first team mate only to be told not to apologize to him, but to apologize to God and never to question him again. (And no I still haven't figured out how God came into play in this)
And it all happened before 10 AM - the time I normally actually wake up to the fact that I am dressed, at work, and answering email.
Yeah, I had a bad day....and the above was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I should have just stayed in bed.
Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong
So where is the passion when you need it the most
Top Five clues I should have stayed in bed:
1. Arguing with someone I care about before even hitting the shower
2. It's Tuesday which means there's a staff meeting within minutes of my arrival to work
3. Within the first fifteen minutes of said staff meeting, I piss off a team mate.
4. Within the first twenty minutes of said staff meeting, not only do I piss off a team mate, but I also start a snowball effect where another team mate continues my questions of the first team mate which elicited fingerpointing and defensive reaction in first team mate.
5. After said staff meeting, I went to apologize to first team mate only to be told not to apologize to him, but to apologize to God and never to question him again. (And no I still haven't figured out how God came into play in this)
And it all happened before 10 AM - the time I normally actually wake up to the fact that I am dressed, at work, and answering email.
Yeah, I had a bad day....and the above was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I should have just stayed in bed.
Its 3 AM
I was going to put the song lyrics in here, but they don't really apply. But I love Matchbox 20 anyway.
I can't sleep. I woke up a half hour ago and let my black feline back in the house and now I'm awake. I took a half day of vacation today. I went into work and within about 20 minutes I was annoyed with those who have cushier jobs than me complaining about how they don't want to do their work when I watch them dump everything on someone else already. Then I opened my email and within 5 minutes wanted to throw every factory tactical person off the island. By this point I was staring at my puter thinking "This job SUCKS!" I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person. I'm gonna have sheepskins galore in a few more months along with a second mortage sized payment per month to pay back the student loans. And you know what...I'm a clerk. I'm a highly paid, unappreciated clerk. You might as well put me at the check out counter at Walmart and say "Scan this."
There are benefits to my job. I have gotten to see a lot of the world that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'm spoiled when I travel. I have some very cool projects going that I know will help my company a lot! But the day to day work...the mindless, mind numbing sit in front of puter for 8 hours a day work...SUCKS! And my pay sucks, and I keep thinking about 6 months after I'm done with school and that second mortgage sized bill starts rearing its ugly head and God help me I better be in a different job then I have now by then and pays a heck of a lot more or my standard of living is going to significantly decrease. This factored into my passing on the Miata, which I wanted ...coveted. This school thing better pay off. Everyone keeps telling me, it will pay off...when I complain about the drive. Today someone said that to me. I wanted to scream. People keep saying that and yet my position stays the same. I wanted to yell, "Will it?" "Are you certain?" "You have that same smile on your face that everyone else does when they say that?" Or my boss' boss...his line is classic "You are doing the right thing by going to school." Am I? Really? Are you just saying that? While you stare at me with those blank unreadable manager eyes? When do we learn that look? The look that says "I don't give a crap what happens to you as long as my career keeps moving?" Will it happen will I become like them...one of those robots that only cares about myself? Or will I keep helping my co-workers find good mentors? Encourage them to go to decent schools and go into debt? No, I won't get that look, I'll be like D squared...I hope I'm like D squared otherwise what's the point? The money is a product of the relationships, not the other way around.
Then I look at my friends who are married or having kids, I keep thinking I missed a boat somewhere. Yes, I focused on my career - everyone always knew I would. Yes, I have focused on school. Blah blah blah....
Anyway, after my coworker told me that school would pay off in the end, I decided I needed to get out of there before I suffocated, which was a real threat today. At noon, I popped my head up and said, "unless you have objections, I'm outta here for the day." To which he said "have fun studying." my response "Who said anything about studying, I'm gonna go dig in the dirt and find a new attitude. " And dig in the dirt I did...I went and bought $130 in flowers and I potted and planted the rest of the afternoon. Good for the soul. Just not good enough...cuz its 3 AM and here I sit. I should have changed into a tank today, I'm working on a dang good farmers' tan now.
For almost two years, I have been in a speeding car racing toward graduation. The last few days have brought the realization, that I am in a speeding car racing toward a marker six months after graduation....I hope that brick wall gets knocked down before I turn into a crash dummy.
Its almost 4 AM...maybe there is another hour of sleep in me before I go back to the think tank.
I can't sleep. I woke up a half hour ago and let my black feline back in the house and now I'm awake. I took a half day of vacation today. I went into work and within about 20 minutes I was annoyed with those who have cushier jobs than me complaining about how they don't want to do their work when I watch them dump everything on someone else already. Then I opened my email and within 5 minutes wanted to throw every factory tactical person off the island. By this point I was staring at my puter thinking "This job SUCKS!" I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person. I'm gonna have sheepskins galore in a few more months along with a second mortage sized payment per month to pay back the student loans. And you know what...I'm a clerk. I'm a highly paid, unappreciated clerk. You might as well put me at the check out counter at Walmart and say "Scan this."
There are benefits to my job. I have gotten to see a lot of the world that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'm spoiled when I travel. I have some very cool projects going that I know will help my company a lot! But the day to day work...the mindless, mind numbing sit in front of puter for 8 hours a day work...SUCKS! And my pay sucks, and I keep thinking about 6 months after I'm done with school and that second mortgage sized bill starts rearing its ugly head and God help me I better be in a different job then I have now by then and pays a heck of a lot more or my standard of living is going to significantly decrease. This factored into my passing on the Miata, which I wanted ...coveted. This school thing better pay off. Everyone keeps telling me, it will pay off...when I complain about the drive. Today someone said that to me. I wanted to scream. People keep saying that and yet my position stays the same. I wanted to yell, "Will it?" "Are you certain?" "You have that same smile on your face that everyone else does when they say that?" Or my boss' boss...his line is classic "You are doing the right thing by going to school." Am I? Really? Are you just saying that? While you stare at me with those blank unreadable manager eyes? When do we learn that look? The look that says "I don't give a crap what happens to you as long as my career keeps moving?" Will it happen will I become like them...one of those robots that only cares about myself? Or will I keep helping my co-workers find good mentors? Encourage them to go to decent schools and go into debt? No, I won't get that look, I'll be like D squared...I hope I'm like D squared otherwise what's the point? The money is a product of the relationships, not the other way around.
Then I look at my friends who are married or having kids, I keep thinking I missed a boat somewhere. Yes, I focused on my career - everyone always knew I would. Yes, I have focused on school. Blah blah blah....
Anyway, after my coworker told me that school would pay off in the end, I decided I needed to get out of there before I suffocated, which was a real threat today. At noon, I popped my head up and said, "unless you have objections, I'm outta here for the day." To which he said "have fun studying." my response "Who said anything about studying, I'm gonna go dig in the dirt and find a new attitude. " And dig in the dirt I did...I went and bought $130 in flowers and I potted and planted the rest of the afternoon. Good for the soul. Just not good enough...cuz its 3 AM and here I sit. I should have changed into a tank today, I'm working on a dang good farmers' tan now.
For almost two years, I have been in a speeding car racing toward graduation. The last few days have brought the realization, that I am in a speeding car racing toward a marker six months after graduation....I hope that brick wall gets knocked down before I turn into a crash dummy.
Its almost 4 AM...maybe there is another hour of sleep in me before I go back to the think tank.
16 May 2006
The morning after
Ok, no pics yet, I know I know. I downloaded them onto my work puter I haven't gotten them on the home one yet.
Aileen, not only did I miss you last night I hated that you were two time zones away. I kept wanting to call you during the commercials of Gray's while I was either laughing or crying (stupid dog scene had me blubbering like an idiot). But I didn't want to spoil the show for you since it wasn't even on for you yet.
I'm test driving a second car tomorrow. A little Miata. Not sure what I am going to do yet. Tried to talk it over with my dad...he's got his own stuff to think about so he never really focused on talking it out with me. I love my family, but I'm awfully isoslated recently, even when they are sitting in my house.
Aileen, not only did I miss you last night I hated that you were two time zones away. I kept wanting to call you during the commercials of Gray's while I was either laughing or crying (stupid dog scene had me blubbering like an idiot). But I didn't want to spoil the show for you since it wasn't even on for you yet.
I'm test driving a second car tomorrow. A little Miata. Not sure what I am going to do yet. Tried to talk it over with my dad...he's got his own stuff to think about so he never really focused on talking it out with me. I love my family, but I'm awfully isoslated recently, even when they are sitting in my house.
13 May 2006
I broke the Cardinal Rule!
First, not bad my friend... this translation of the French below should help...
My friend, my friend... it is not as attractive as you might think, although I do not deny the benefits (of travel). The hotels age, the Eiffel Tower loses its luster, it becomes old hat. Spain never loses its luster, the men are simply astonishing, I wish that I could have remained there all week and flirted with Juan, alas Paris called my name as did Versailles and I have pictures to show. But my preferred place to visit will always be somewhere I can catch up with my partner in crime from the days of university gone by.
Last reference to the Atrebs woman herself...with whom I duel in French. I would translate your section this eve if I weren't so damn tired from breaking the cardinal rule of international travel....and unfortunately this has nothing to do with sex!
The cardinal rule of international travel - upon return from Europe do not sleep before 9 PM so that one can sleep til morning and get back on US time. I couldn't do it...I was weak this time. I was trying to do my investments homework, I had a call with Wes, one of the guys from class, I couldn't think straight, I could quite frankly barely form full sentences. So after the call, I went to bed...I think it was around 6. So it is now midnight and I am awake, good thing though I have homework to complete. I think I might need a bit more sleep first though.
Dolce Beijos!
My friend, my friend... it is not as attractive as you might think, although I do not deny the benefits (of travel). The hotels age, the Eiffel Tower loses its luster, it becomes old hat. Spain never loses its luster, the men are simply astonishing, I wish that I could have remained there all week and flirted with Juan, alas Paris called my name as did Versailles and I have pictures to show. But my preferred place to visit will always be somewhere I can catch up with my partner in crime from the days of university gone by.
Last reference to the Atrebs woman herself...with whom I duel in French. I would translate your section this eve if I weren't so damn tired from breaking the cardinal rule of international travel....and unfortunately this has nothing to do with sex!
The cardinal rule of international travel - upon return from Europe do not sleep before 9 PM so that one can sleep til morning and get back on US time. I couldn't do it...I was weak this time. I was trying to do my investments homework, I had a call with Wes, one of the guys from class, I couldn't think straight, I could quite frankly barely form full sentences. So after the call, I went to bed...I think it was around 6. So it is now midnight and I am awake, good thing though I have homework to complete. I think I might need a bit more sleep first though.
Dolce Beijos!
12 May 2006
Honey, I'm home!
I'm in Chicago, which is almost home. I was so happy to be home I nearly danced through the airport. I love the United States! I could live other places, but this will always be home!
I have a ton of homework to do because of spending too much time out at night with suppliers. It was a good time so I will not complain. I'll post pictures on Sunday.
Dolce Beijos!
I have a ton of homework to do because of spending too much time out at night with suppliers. It was a good time so I will not complain. I'll post pictures on Sunday.
Dolce Beijos!
Viva la France
Mon ami, mon ami....it n'est pas aussi fascinant que vous pouvez penser, bien que je ne nie pas les avantages. Les hôtels vieillissent, la tour d'Eiffel perd son lustre, il devient vieux chapeau. L'Espagne ne perd jamais son lustre, les hommes sont simplement étonnante, je souhaitent que je pourrais être resté là les tapas de manger de semaine et flirter avec Juan, hélas Paris appelé de même que Versailles et moi pour avoir des images à montrer. Mais mon endroit préféré à visiter sera toujours quelque part je peut se rattraper par rapport à la cohorte dans le crime des jours d'université allés près.
On the front of Versailles there is a large engravement that says (rough gist from memory) Toutes la glories de la France. HA! We had to bail these ungrateful bastards out twice! If it weren't for Americans, they would be speaking German! Half kidding aside, Versailles is breathtaking. The gardens were spectacular. I got to see a side of Paris I hadn't before and I actually liked it. Alright, I do enjoy downtown Paris too, and I do love the Tower Eiffel even if I can't spell it worth a damn, too many vowels for the dyslexic in me. Most people stayed on the main areas of the gardens, but when you got off the beaten path was when you found the really beautiful stuff such as Le Jardin De Roi. I have lots of pictures to post once I get back. My next trip back to Paris, I have one thing left that I haven't seen that I really do wish to tour and that is the Musee D'Orsay. It is where all the impressionist art is displayed lots and lots of Monet! A few less breasts than the Louvre. I'm on a plane home though in four hours...YIPPEE!!! I don't actually get home until Saturday night though after class.
I'm off to shower, get packed up and hit the tarmack! They have a very cool display at the airport of the concorde, at night it is lit up so that it looks like it is taking off, afterburners lit up -- very cool!
This trip has changed me a little, perhaps a lot. Not sure, will see when I return home, but I'm different...priorities have changed, I had a couple of nights without internet - I realized how much I missed contact with my friends from school and staying in touch with Aileen. There are some time wasters in my life that lost their priority through the week.
On the front of Versailles there is a large engravement that says (rough gist from memory) Toutes la glories de la France. HA! We had to bail these ungrateful bastards out twice! If it weren't for Americans, they would be speaking German! Half kidding aside, Versailles is breathtaking. The gardens were spectacular. I got to see a side of Paris I hadn't before and I actually liked it. Alright, I do enjoy downtown Paris too, and I do love the Tower Eiffel even if I can't spell it worth a damn, too many vowels for the dyslexic in me. Most people stayed on the main areas of the gardens, but when you got off the beaten path was when you found the really beautiful stuff such as Le Jardin De Roi. I have lots of pictures to post once I get back. My next trip back to Paris, I have one thing left that I haven't seen that I really do wish to tour and that is the Musee D'Orsay. It is where all the impressionist art is displayed lots and lots of Monet! A few less breasts than the Louvre. I'm on a plane home though in four hours...YIPPEE!!! I don't actually get home until Saturday night though after class.
I'm off to shower, get packed up and hit the tarmack! They have a very cool display at the airport of the concorde, at night it is lit up so that it looks like it is taking off, afterburners lit up -- very cool!
This trip has changed me a little, perhaps a lot. Not sure, will see when I return home, but I'm different...priorities have changed, I had a couple of nights without internet - I realized how much I missed contact with my friends from school and staying in touch with Aileen. There are some time wasters in my life that lost their priority through the week.
09 May 2006
France
I'm in Orleans, France now. It is pronounced oar-lee-on here. I don't have much time to write this morning, but I'm still kicking, just been busy. Yesterday was a very long drive while we figured out how to get here. We drove around the outskirts of Paris, only seeing the very top of the Effifel Tower. I am traveling with my boss now. We have both see all the sights in downtown Paris, so we are going to Versailles if we have extra time since neither of us has been there. Not to mention, downtown Paris is a major pain in the ass.
We have switched hotels for Thursday night, where we were supposed to stay was a dump so we switched that and I got my rental car for Friday night changed to Hertz. $4 was the difference between Thrifty and Hertz....NEVER again.
I'm not homesick this trip I think in part because Juan went so far out of his way to take care of me while I was in Spain and because now I am traveling with my boss and he is as irrevent as I am and he doesn't like France anymore than I do. So even though we got lost yesterday, we weren't really lost, we knew where we were, we just couldn't get to the plant. But we have been laughing a lot which wards off homesickness. He has a three year old at home who has given him a major guilt trip because he has been traveling most of the last three weeks. He got all teary eyed talking about it at dinner last night. It was nice to see emotion in him over it. I imagine that is how I effected my dad when he was traveling so much when I was Tim's son's age. Ok, gotta run or I'll be late.
Dolce Beijos!
ts
We have switched hotels for Thursday night, where we were supposed to stay was a dump so we switched that and I got my rental car for Friday night changed to Hertz. $4 was the difference between Thrifty and Hertz....NEVER again.
I'm not homesick this trip I think in part because Juan went so far out of his way to take care of me while I was in Spain and because now I am traveling with my boss and he is as irrevent as I am and he doesn't like France anymore than I do. So even though we got lost yesterday, we weren't really lost, we knew where we were, we just couldn't get to the plant. But we have been laughing a lot which wards off homesickness. He has a three year old at home who has given him a major guilt trip because he has been traveling most of the last three weeks. He got all teary eyed talking about it at dinner last night. It was nice to see emotion in him over it. I imagine that is how I effected my dad when he was traveling so much when I was Tim's son's age. Ok, gotta run or I'll be late.
Dolce Beijos!
ts
07 May 2006
SPAIN! The world is soooo small!
I am in Spain tonight, San Sebastian to be precise. I love it here! So I got off the plane, and came down to get my bags. I didn't know the person that was meeting me other than that his name was Juan. As I came down the stairs, I met eyes with a man, and the words that went through my head were "Please...God...let...that...be...him." God answers prayers because that was him! After we got underway, I found a sly way to find out if he was married, single! Hot damn. Living with his girlfriend. HMMPPHHH! Ok, well hot anyway, and he isn't married, so I could flirt at least and have fun. He dropped me off at the hotel so I could take a shower (majorly needed) then he would pick me up for dinner. The shower was SPLENDID! As I am waiting in the lobby for him to return, a man walks into the lobby, obviously American. I don't know how that was obvious, it wasn't any one thing, but you travel enough you pick up on certain cues. We made eye contact, he smiled, and I think I squinted (friendly, huh?). But I kept thinking I know that man. Then I reminded myself I was a quarter the way around the world and wouldn't know anyone here. Until five minutes later, it dawned on me who that was! It was the President of one of my suppliers from my former desk. And actually a company that my hot companion knew of and we had discussed on the way from the airport. I told him of the odd coincidence as we headed for dinner.
Dinner tonight consisted of going from pub to pub, having a LOT of red wine and a snack at each place. It was fun. We left one place, and we are walking down the cobblestone street when I see Mark, the President from the lobby, walking with two others, right in front of us. I asked Juan if he wanted to meet him and he said yes. So I got Mark's attention only to find him with my boss' boss! And Inigo, who works for Mark, but I love his name simply because it reminds me of the Princess Bride. The five of us spent the rest of the evening together and it was a lot of fun and probably better because I had a lot of wine and Juan is hot and Taken...Taken and hot...just Taken!!!!
My hotel room looks over the bay that goes into the ocean, I have the sound of waves to rock me to sleep. Speaking of which, it is 12:30 AM here, time to hit the hay....night all....
Dolce Beijos!
Dinner tonight consisted of going from pub to pub, having a LOT of red wine and a snack at each place. It was fun. We left one place, and we are walking down the cobblestone street when I see Mark, the President from the lobby, walking with two others, right in front of us. I asked Juan if he wanted to meet him and he said yes. So I got Mark's attention only to find him with my boss' boss! And Inigo, who works for Mark, but I love his name simply because it reminds me of the Princess Bride. The five of us spent the rest of the evening together and it was a lot of fun and probably better because I had a lot of wine and Juan is hot and Taken...Taken and hot...just Taken!!!!
My hotel room looks over the bay that goes into the ocean, I have the sound of waves to rock me to sleep. Speaking of which, it is 12:30 AM here, time to hit the hay....night all....
Dolce Beijos!
Being Present
The concept of "being present" was first introduced to me about eight years ago during a class I took called "Foundations". This class lead to a coaching class that lead me to become a coach for my company. When I first heard this concept, I knew it was something I struggled with. Recently, it has occurred to me that I don't just struggle with it, I flat out ignore it.
Yesterday, in my afternoon class one of the projects presented is about how information technology effects our productivity. The class was polled (realize that the class is rather similar, we are all highly motivated, successful yet not satisfied, professionals who are likely all work-aholics). We were asked how many of us do email while attending meetings or teleconferences, all the hands went up except the profs, who remarked, "So much for being present."
Then I got on the plane and the first movie I watch was "Rumor has it" with Jennifer Aniston. It is not the greatest movie, but Jen has a warerobe to die for in this movie. Anyway, Kevin Costner's character talks about a bad experience and how it taught him to live in the moment, to be present.... Are ya seeing the continued pattern in my day?
So it got me thinking about how often I am really present in situations, how often am I in the moment. Not very often, which may explain why I feel like I am always in fast forward. I'm always thinking about the next thing before the thing I am currently involved in is done. My boss' boss brought this up to me a few weeks ago. I'll be honest, I dismissed it at the time, but it was brought to my memory when this all came up yesterday.
When I am in meetings, I am doing email. When I am on the phone, I am driving. When I am doing homework, the TV is on in the background. When I am eating, I am watching TV or driving. When I get a new job, I am already thinking of the next one. When I start one class, I am thinking about the next one. When I am in a conversation, I am watching people. I'm never there...with you whoever you might be at the time, in the moment. And sadly, the last time I remember, truly being 100% in the moment, was being in Vegas with Aileen. I am always multi-tasking. I always have too much to do, too much to accomplish and not enough time to get it done. Basically I am like everyone else in the world these days. I don't think this makes me a bad person, I'm not down on myself about it. But I do think it leaves a LOT of room for improvement on how good a friend I am.
This made up a lot of my thoughts on the plane ride here. The other was a fitful dream that left me awake for the rest of the flight that consisted of me telling something who I have feelings for that I have feelings for him, something I have no intentions of ever coming out and saying to him because I know they are not reciprocal. The dream ended with his reaction...
So I need to continue to think about how I can be more present in my life, and not come to this realization again in eight years.
Yesterday, in my afternoon class one of the projects presented is about how information technology effects our productivity. The class was polled (realize that the class is rather similar, we are all highly motivated, successful yet not satisfied, professionals who are likely all work-aholics). We were asked how many of us do email while attending meetings or teleconferences, all the hands went up except the profs, who remarked, "So much for being present."
Then I got on the plane and the first movie I watch was "Rumor has it" with Jennifer Aniston. It is not the greatest movie, but Jen has a warerobe to die for in this movie. Anyway, Kevin Costner's character talks about a bad experience and how it taught him to live in the moment, to be present.... Are ya seeing the continued pattern in my day?
So it got me thinking about how often I am really present in situations, how often am I in the moment. Not very often, which may explain why I feel like I am always in fast forward. I'm always thinking about the next thing before the thing I am currently involved in is done. My boss' boss brought this up to me a few weeks ago. I'll be honest, I dismissed it at the time, but it was brought to my memory when this all came up yesterday.
When I am in meetings, I am doing email. When I am on the phone, I am driving. When I am doing homework, the TV is on in the background. When I am eating, I am watching TV or driving. When I get a new job, I am already thinking of the next one. When I start one class, I am thinking about the next one. When I am in a conversation, I am watching people. I'm never there...with you whoever you might be at the time, in the moment. And sadly, the last time I remember, truly being 100% in the moment, was being in Vegas with Aileen. I am always multi-tasking. I always have too much to do, too much to accomplish and not enough time to get it done. Basically I am like everyone else in the world these days. I don't think this makes me a bad person, I'm not down on myself about it. But I do think it leaves a LOT of room for improvement on how good a friend I am.
This made up a lot of my thoughts on the plane ride here. The other was a fitful dream that left me awake for the rest of the flight that consisted of me telling something who I have feelings for that I have feelings for him, something I have no intentions of ever coming out and saying to him because I know they are not reciprocal. The dream ended with his reaction...
So I need to continue to think about how I can be more present in my life, and not come to this realization again in eight years.
06 May 2006
Fast Forward
Do you ever feel your life is moving in fast forward? That describes my week. My head is pounding even as I write this. If the world would just slow down for a moment, I would like to get off for a little rest.
I just came out of my Investments midterm. I was fine with the calculations part. I had the formulas, all I had to do was plug and chug. No problem. Unfortunately the last two problems were True False or it depends and I had to write a one sentence explanation for my answer. HA!!! I can't explain this stuff to myself much less to another human being. But I guess I know what I will be working on for the final. I got to those questions and I just wanted to say, just give me my B and let me go!
Now I am in the computer lab and writing this but will be finishing my paper for my next class in a few moments, because that didn't get done because I was learning to plug and chug and not explain....stupid miscalculation there!
I am only going to the first half of my next class so that I can get to the airport in time for my flight. I have decided I need to allow for more time because the car rental place that will never get my business again is almost as inept as the airlines. I'm going back to Hertz, expensive or not. My time is worth a lot of money to me. I have to remember to call Short's on Monday and have them change my car rental reservation for next week.
O'Hare...I love O'Hare, but not last night. It took longer for my bags to get to the carousel than it did to fly from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. It was ridiculous. I think the baggage handlers stopped for coffee and drank it over a game of cards using my bag as their table!
Aileen is trying to be more positive in her blog, I probably should be too, but I think I may need to get a job that doesn't require me to fly before that will happen.
Off to Europe later today...Dolce Beijos
ts
I just came out of my Investments midterm. I was fine with the calculations part. I had the formulas, all I had to do was plug and chug. No problem. Unfortunately the last two problems were True False or it depends and I had to write a one sentence explanation for my answer. HA!!! I can't explain this stuff to myself much less to another human being. But I guess I know what I will be working on for the final. I got to those questions and I just wanted to say, just give me my B and let me go!
Now I am in the computer lab and writing this but will be finishing my paper for my next class in a few moments, because that didn't get done because I was learning to plug and chug and not explain....stupid miscalculation there!
I am only going to the first half of my next class so that I can get to the airport in time for my flight. I have decided I need to allow for more time because the car rental place that will never get my business again is almost as inept as the airlines. I'm going back to Hertz, expensive or not. My time is worth a lot of money to me. I have to remember to call Short's on Monday and have them change my car rental reservation for next week.
O'Hare...I love O'Hare, but not last night. It took longer for my bags to get to the carousel than it did to fly from Cedar Rapids to Chicago. It was ridiculous. I think the baggage handlers stopped for coffee and drank it over a game of cards using my bag as their table!
Aileen is trying to be more positive in her blog, I probably should be too, but I think I may need to get a job that doesn't require me to fly before that will happen.
Off to Europe later today...Dolce Beijos
ts
02 May 2006
WooHOO
After several days of a goggy, sleepy barely awake mode, I have weened myself, ok, cold turkeyed the generic claritin D and I will be picking up plain claritin on my way to the Quad Cities.
Today is momentus! I know when you all read this you are going to think what is the big deal, but this is HUGE in my mind. My mentor invited me to his house for dinner with him and his family. This crosses a line, this says friendship. I know it probably sounds silly, but I respect this man so much. And oddly enough one of things I respect most about him has to do with his wife, who until tonight I have never met before. But I have never heard him say one remotely negative thing about his wife, including no negative tones, no groans, no rolls of the eyes, nothing remotely publically disrespectful. This is something so rare at my company that has always impressed me. I have learned through him how I want to be as a wife someday when it comes to how I speak about my husband when he is not around. Even if I am angry with him because of some pet peeve poked that morning.
I have midterms on Saturday. I'm scared about the investments midtem. The guys are so cool about it so laid back but this is their industry. I build stuff. Technically buy stuff to be built, but blah blah blah.
I took today off work to study and will be leaving shortly. I'll be home tomorrow night, and things will have to start getting ready for the trip to Europe. Europe and midterms in one week. I need my head examined.
Oh, I'm planning a vacation...a real vacation. I'm thinking about Alaska. The land of no cell phones at least that is my home. Leeners, want to go?
Today is momentus! I know when you all read this you are going to think what is the big deal, but this is HUGE in my mind. My mentor invited me to his house for dinner with him and his family. This crosses a line, this says friendship. I know it probably sounds silly, but I respect this man so much. And oddly enough one of things I respect most about him has to do with his wife, who until tonight I have never met before. But I have never heard him say one remotely negative thing about his wife, including no negative tones, no groans, no rolls of the eyes, nothing remotely publically disrespectful. This is something so rare at my company that has always impressed me. I have learned through him how I want to be as a wife someday when it comes to how I speak about my husband when he is not around. Even if I am angry with him because of some pet peeve poked that morning.
I have midterms on Saturday. I'm scared about the investments midtem. The guys are so cool about it so laid back but this is their industry. I build stuff. Technically buy stuff to be built, but blah blah blah.
I took today off work to study and will be leaving shortly. I'll be home tomorrow night, and things will have to start getting ready for the trip to Europe. Europe and midterms in one week. I need my head examined.
Oh, I'm planning a vacation...a real vacation. I'm thinking about Alaska. The land of no cell phones at least that is my home. Leeners, want to go?
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