She Likes It

at six and a half weeks

what rain?
Westport, WA, March 2009

When I was younger, say early twenties and prior, I was a type-A personality. You know, clenched up diamond producing ass, anxious about everything. I freted about any and all things: grades, following the rules, does anyone like me, blah blah blah. So much so that when I finally broke some rules, I went a little overboard. And yet, living with the mistakes I made back then taught me that although there are always consequences, ones life doesn't have to be over if things don't work out as you'd always planned/hoped. I suppose this is something that most people learn. It's called growing up and also being in your mid-twenties.

Late Monday morning, I boarded the southbound train for a quick little trip to visit a friend in Olympia. It was a marvelous little escape. I stocked up on puppy love and chats and wonderful food and coffee. It was also very nice to catch up with my friend.  Cheryl is such an amazingly beautiful woman, in all senses of that word: physically, she's wicked smart, and so caring and loving. When I am with her, I feel centered and happy. Not only is she a great friend, she is, quite frankly, the woman I aspire to be.

As she was driving me back to the train station, she asked me, "When the revolution comes, what will you do?" Meaning, what skills can I bring to the post-apocalyptic world? As she pointed out, copy editing is moot if there is no printed word. The funny thing is, this is something I had been thinking about seriously already, what with all the zombie reading I've been doing and also the not having a job thing. I can shoot a shotgun fairly accurately, that is pretty valuable until the ammunition runs out. I can also make cheese. Will these abilities be enough to barter for food and shelter?

I am very glad I am not the girl I used to be. I am so very grateful for the perspective that I have learned so far. With that, though, comes the knowledge that I have so much more to do.

Am I a strong, independent woman?

Mostly. I still have a lot to do to even come close to my aspirations.

Do I have marketable skills?

I think so, but clearly I need to focus on some practical fall backs, just in case.

Do I settle?

Maybe. For instance, in the last job I had, yes, I loved the people I worked with and, yes, it paid well for the job I was doing. I mean, it did support two people and a cat for a while. But often it wasn't that intellectually stimulating and it didn't satisfy that old vestige from my early days to be "of use." I am unsure if the fact that I stayed there for close to four years is settling though. I mean, I don't expect one person to satisfy all my relationship needs, why would I expect one perfect job to be out there to fulfill every job related need I have?

If I had a puppy, would I have less time to navel gaze?

Oh my, yes.

First Round, Day 2

young bikes in love
Port of Seattle, March 2009

Was just talking to Em and she pointed out that this is the first year that the both of us have been home to watch the tip off of the first game of the NCAA tournament.  Too bad we're living in different Washingtons, because this tournament could have been crazy. It's pretty awesome though. At one point yesterday, I was watching one game on the TV and another on Delores. As my cousin pointed out, I'm effectively being paid to watch basketball this week.

In other news, I went out with a friend of mine last night.  After some music, a full court press, lots of talk, and a little beer, I got on the hour long bus home. I grabbed the back seat, as I do, and put on my headphones. Something with the way the bus was moving made me feel a little queasy, so I spent a lot of time focusing on the word "Poop" that was graffittied on the seat in front of me.  At some point in our way through downtown, a fellow drunk person got on the bus and sat in the back seat on the other side. We made it a few blocks before dude started puking(!). SO GROSS. I didn't see anything, but I could totally hear him despite my noise blocking headphones.  Of course he stayed on the bus the whole time (mine is the last stop) and continued to heave every couple of stops.  A girl got on and sat in between us for a minute, but then of course promptly moved as soon as she heard. I can't believe I didn't hurl as well. I am a champion.

Tonight is the series finale of BSG. If I don't watch it, does that mean it'll never be over?

Happy St. Amateur's Day Eve

Sailing Away
Elliott Bay, September 2007

Not that I'm not totally turning back into an amateur these days. Seriously, the past several times I've gone out for cocktails, I've totally gotten out of control with the talking and making people feel uncomfortable. It's like turning back the clock to high school! So awesome (yes, I'm being sarcastic). Not that I haven't had fun, I totally have. We've been out to see some great bands lately with some seriously fun people that have forgiven me for saying weird and inappropriate things to them. Read what you will into that one.

If we're looking at good news though, I do have some of that too: I can say that I haven't fallen down in a while. In fact, I'm sure it's been way past the two year mark so I have clearance from my sister and brother-in-law to get a motorcycle. Except now I don't want one. Dang it! I bet that was part of their masterplan, evil geniuses that they are.

I also have a phone interview today at noon. I'm not sure it's for a job I want, but I will know better after the interview. Good thing too, since the severence has taken a dive in the past week and I have to wait until sometime this week to get my first unemployment check. Oh money, how I hate you.

So, we started this yoga class on Sundays. It is slowly getting ridiculously hard. Yesterday, there were two positions I could not do at all and the instructor looked at me at one point and said, "Yoga is humbling." Thanks, thanks a lot. That said, I am enjoying it and can totally see me doing this regularly even after our initial 6 week class is over. But, now that I think about it, anyone who really knows me could have predicted that I would love any exercise regimine that encorporates laying down for 5 minutes and focusing on breathing. Yep, definitely my speed.

If you're keeping score at home, the book total has increased to 4 finished, 2 in process. Added a new video game to the repertoire: Gears of War 2. Number of spa visits/massages is now at 2. Bands seen is at 3 (well, more but I'm not including bands seen while there to specifically see another band): The Duhks, Pack A.D. (fav. so far), and Thee Emergency. It's been a busy 5 weeks.

I could get used to this

window flare
Paris, France - March 1991

So, week four is here and rather than getting antsy about being home a lot, I find that I have really begun to enjoy my time at home. I have read three books and am in the middle of two more. I have started to play xbox online. I bought a new bike. I started (with the companion cube) yoga. I go to the grocery store and make dinner and am generally content with not really asserting myself when it comes to finding a job.  There, I said it. I suppose my severance is going to dwindle down to nothing and I'll be struggling to go on drinking benders on just my unemployment check, but for right now things are good.

Tomorrow I will apply for jobs. I promise.

A friend of mine lent me the book Eat, Pray, and Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  I have been thoroughly enjoying it.  Even so much as to be laughing out loud while the Companion Cube cursed at the computer in frustration - probably didn't help with whatever his problem was at the time - but I couldn't help myself. Besides being funny and thoughtful, it reminds me why and how much I love to travel. I told the Companion Cube (albeit prior to my non-work situation) that I wanted to go to India this year. I still do and this book is only making that desire deeper. I especially want to go with him. Taking someone who hasn't traveled out of the country hardly at all to a place so foreign is probably not the romantic fantasy (not that kind of romantic fantasy!) that I've built up in my mind. However, I do feel like it would be utterly reminiscent of the first time I went to Paris.

I was so utterly excited and happy (and probably being 15 didn't help with the intensity of feeling). In fact, I didn't even make it to the actual city of light before I was overwhelmed with how incredible the trip was. I remember the rush of emotion when we alit the bus in Brussels and wandered around outside the Atomium. I couldn't believe that I was actually there. Which is silly because I had been living in Norway and England for almost a year at that point, but I do think I've already mentioned my age at the time and I don't think that age is known precisely for logic. Everything about that first trip - up to and including getting left behind by the bus and making everyone else hate me because they had to spend the evening at the police station while my companions and I made it back to the hotel just fine on our own - was magical.

Maybe I should have applied for that tour guide job, because how satisfying is it to bring that level of excitement to people? Or maybe I should just move to Aix like I wanted to before I moved to Ohio. Total aside: a friend of ours here in Seattle is from Aix and even though he's happily married and I'm happily with the Companion Cube, some days I imagine kidnapping him and forcing him to take me to his hometown and I will live there happily ever after. Did I type that? Let's pretend I didn't. Ahem.

Moral of the story: I could get very used to this life...as long as we can schedule in some international flights.

Day 3

Olympics at Night
January 08, from Alki Beach

So, day 3 of unemployment. I've given myself this week to sleep in and play xBox and not be concerned about looking for new work. I figure a week will give me time to reset so that next week when the job hunt commences that I'll have a clean slate to think about what it is I really want to do and what I need to do to set the plan in motion. Although, it'll be hard to not sleep in and play games all day after this week.  It is really nice not to have to do anything. As one can imagine.  Maybe I'll spend my severence on lottery tickets.  Heh. I'm kidding. No really, I am.

Today was a great day. Rose at 8ish - you know since Companion Cube still needs to get up and his alarm is freakishly loud - checked the Internets, worked out, played Guitar Hero til my arm gave out, then went to the grocery store. Came home, played some more Guitar Hero until it was time for the Companion Cube to get home.  I've made it a piont to make sure cocktail hour was ready when he alit from the bus. That's my goal for the week as I always wanted to have cocktail hour be a set thing.  We're running out of booze though; drinking vodka tonics right now instead of gin. I'll live, I'm sure.

What else is going on? Went to the range on Sunday. I killed the shit out of some clay pigeons. Okay, only 9 of 25, but still, I tied for the highest clay pigeon kill ratio of the four of us. I am beginning to think that I missed my calling since I really have no training on what I should do, but can still instinctively pick flying objects out of the air with sport shot. At least I know that I'm prepared if the zomb-pocalypse should arrive. We'll have to purchase our own shotgun though before that happens, since we don't have ready access to Kraig-O's.

We also went to the annual Sci-Fi short film festival on Sunday and out to see the Gourds on Sunday night at the Tractor. Those things plus getting a little too drunk on Friday night via Keith at Barrio made for a packed weekend.

So, yeah. That's that. Time to stir fry up some dinner.

Oof

JoJo at the Triple Door
Seattle, December 2008

It's Tuesday and already it's been a week. Among other things, yesterday, as I began this the final week of employment, my office computer broke. I have a lot of transitioning to do and obviously can't do it if my stupid computer won't stay on.  Grrr.

All I can say is be careful what you wish for.

Speaking of, I did wish to see JoJo again and lo and behold he traveled through Seattle. Sure this was in December, but I'm making an effort to remind myself of the awesomeness of living here.

Yeah, I probably shouldn't be posting anything since I am in such a bad mood. I am not looking forward to going back to the office today just to sit around and wait for the IT person to show up and not help. Well, at least I'll have Delores with me to help me surf and cope. Yay Delores.

In other news, I applied for a job with the city last night. If I get it, it'll be a significant amount of more money. The bad news is the disclaimer after the application said the review process could take up to 3 months! Holy Popcorn, Batman!

UPDATE:  I'm better now, since the IT person showed up and DID help. Yay, I can do something besides sitting at my desk and getting frustrated.

News?

Office view, Slightly left
Seattle, January 2009

So, yeah, I came down with the Black Plague and have been suffering the symptoms for a couple of weeks now.  It's annoying. The Companion Cube tried to put me on the cart, even though I was not dead yet.  In the meantime, stuff has been happening - despite my need for the world to be on hold until I got better.  Damn the world!

The good news is that I will not be spending a lot more time alone in my office.  The bad news is that I will not be spending a lot more alone time in my office.  I'm trying to decide if I should use this opportunity to go to China - as I had been wanting, but I think it is in the middle of the semester, so it might not work out anyhow.  I've also started my Foreign Service Exam application.  The next test is in June, so I have plenty of time to get studying.  That would be killer. 

Delores is here, in fact, I'm typing on her now. She's great. We love her.

We went to a Burns Night dinner (invited by a friend who is learning the bag pipes - so cool) and won a couple of door prizes. Isn't that awesome? I'm such an ungrateful girl though, because even after winning two prizes, I still wanted us to win the raffle for the Scotch. Sadly we didn't win the booze - however - one of the prizes was four tickets to see Kodo, which we went to see last night. It was, in a word, amazing.

What else?  I suppose that's all that's fit to print on the interwebs.  If you want to know more, call me we'll go out for drinks and I'll babble like I do when I have a bit o the booze in me. If you don't want to know more, FINE, I didn't want to tell YOU anyway.

Happy Birthday, Elvis!

cloud cover
Mt. Rainier from Seattle (specifically, my office), December 2008

2009. Holy cow. It seems like 2008 just blew on past, doesn't it? I keep hearing that that's how it goes when one gets OLD, but then I show those people what I think of that and continue to marvel at the speed at which the last year went by.

I'd say that I didn't DO anything, but that wouldn't be completely true.  I did stay at the Overlook, go to Austin & Vancouver, I also moved the apartment around and got faux-married. Oh don't get the vapours, remember the computer-merge thing?  Yes, that's what I'm talking about. I also worked a ton at my day job.  Which is just silly because my blogging has suffered.  In fact, Planeteye and I just had a mutual break-up. Sigh. Oh well. I should tell them what I tell all my exes: you'll never find anyone better than me.  Heh.  KIDDING. I only say that in my head.

Looking forward, no, I didn't make any resolutions for the new year, but I do have several goals in mind. This month, I am planning on writing an article to shop to Imbibe (aka my favoritest magazine) and to get back in the saddle at Metblogs - that is if they haven't lost hope on me yet.  I want to write a post there about Keith's new spot, Barrio.  We spent NYE happy hour there and went home very happy. I just remembered that we stopped at the liquor store on the way home that night and I bought a homeless man a pint of Canadian whisky. Also that night, the companion cube farted under the umbrella while I was trying to take a picture of the fireworks. So not right. I probably shouldn't have typed that because its embarrassing, but there has to be some sort of punishment for ruining the fireworks show.

Oh and before I forget. Muppet Mondays returns this month. Be on the lookout for an invite.

2008 Holiday Season

the unusual is becoming usual
Alki Beach, December 2007

It has certainly been an interesting couple of weeks around here: XBox red-ring, snow, unexpected visits, ice, cabin fever, and more snow. Through it all, I have been to work maybe a total of 1 day in the past 10. And yet, I have probably driven more than in the past year or two put together. Luckily, I managed to stay accident-free, despite a couple of dicey moments including the white-knuckle exit ramp experience I had going to the airport last Saturday to rescue my sister and her family. The three of them squished into our little apartment and spent a few nights with us before escaping into a rental car to try to salvage their planned vacation to Montana. I was nervous about their drive, but they made it safely and are, I'm sure, enjoying snowboarding and a full sized bed much more than being trapped with us and Cassie-Passie.

Thus, compared to the days leading up to it, the Companion Cube's and my Christmas was incredibly low-key. Games were played, food was et, calls were made, and presents were opened. While we were snug in our little apartment, the snow outside has been steadily disappearing. I never thought I'd be so happy to see rain and the dirty, sludgy mess of melting ice-snow mix. But I am. Life can get back to normal: meaning I think I'm trudging up the hill to see my favorite purveyor of cocktails this evening.

Except, I just looked out the window and it is indeed snowing again. Bah!

Winter 08

It is cold this winter. Cold. Cold. Cold. There is only one way to combat this cold: Booze. Specifically, the Companion Cube's family's recipe for winter warmth with the silly-silly name of Boilo. It's a kind of wassail, you know, warm spiced whiskey. Yummm.

Last year, while my parents were here, we went to Waji and they purchased me these lovely tea cups that have been perfect boilo conveyances.

It's nice to be prepared. We were so prepared that I insisted on the Boilo making about 1 hour before it started to snow here. Yes, I'm that good.

I wish I was good enough to know to stay home today.  The clouds are sailing past the window and I'm wondering if this conference call I'm on will end before the snow starts falling again. 30 minutes to go, then pack, bus, home and Boilo.