ordinary extraordinary

Hiatus

It's hard to believe that I've been blogging for five years, and keeping a personal website for more than twelve. I am a true geek and in internet years, I am Older Than Dirt.

This has been an interesting spring for me. A season that is usually the restful and restorative calm following winter's madness has instead been charged with vigorous (and invigorating) change. I've moved. I've had an epiphany. I've started dating a great guy. I've stepped up my training. I've been doing a lot of thinking about where I've been, and where I want to go and today, my brain feels as though it's bursting with realizations, inspirations, and untapped ideas.

There are those who would argue that blogging is an exercise in discipline and dedication, and most of the time I would agree with them, but right now it just feels like a creative siphon. All of my spare time and energy is devoted to turning the ideas crashing around my head into legitimate project outlines and I just don't have an ounce left over for ordinary extraordinary.

So, rather than feeling guilty about neglecting my blog or posting endless memes and tidbits, I'm taking the month of May off.

I'm attempting to make some extraordinary changes in my life and it's time to narrow my focus for a little while. I owe myself my undivided attention.

Never fear my darlings, I will be back, but in the meantime there are plenty of gems in the archives to keep you entertained. Take a spin through them, won't you?

See you in June!

We're Even

The comment that made my Carpool Buddy snort coffee, uttered during an alternate merge when the female driver of a white Escalade tried to gun her engine and close a gap thereby depriving my of my rightful place in front of her:

How about you try not being a douchebag? 'Cause I will happily run your ass into the shoulder. Eat guardrail, bitch.

I'm such a delicate flower.

Later, as we're driving past a large Jewish temple where one service is clearly letting out and another is about to begin, he pipes up:

Wow, it's like the changing of the Jews or something!

Good thing I was driving rather than drinking. We're even now.

Finally Friday

Did anyone get the name of the week that hit me? 'Cause damn.

It's been an exceptionally long week for a variety of reasons and I am really, really glad that it's Friday. Three more hours until I can leave the office, woo! I'm facing an icky southbound drive in rush hour traffic, but at least there will be a Shy Guy waiting at the end of it. (Yes, this will be three dates in one week for those of you playing the home game.) Also, some beverages of the adult variety.

I haven't the brain power to put together a coherent post, so I'm just going to toss out some links that I've been collecting and meaning to share:

• It's Sizzle's birthday! You should go and tell her how awesome she is.


• Buffalo Exchange is having their annual Dollar Day Sale tomorrow to support the Galapagos Conservancy.


• After you're finished shopping, you can stop by the Grilled Cheese Invitational.


• Captain Snarky is blogging for RAINN and she's currently serving up some delicious tales from the dungeon. For hers is the power, the temptation, the prayer, and the fetish, Amen. (Not safe for work, or for the future of your eternal soul for that matter.)


• This is an awesome video depicting the reunion between an adolescent lion and the two men who were forced to part with him after raising him from a cub.


• And speaking of felines: engineers are delving deep into the mysteries of the common housecat...


• ...which is good, since we have no idea how much a kilo weighs anymore. That could be a bit problematic for the Engineering community at large.


• My friends at The Do Lab are putting on their awesome Lightning in a Bottle event again this year. You should go! (Burners, I think you'll find this event of particular interest...)


• Irony, thy name is Kelly L. Barber.

And there you have it! Happy Friday, everyone.

In Short, Part II

I survived red carpet season, I've had to re-schedule a first date three times because of work drama (both his & mine), my car needs work that I now can't afford because I have to move in the next 60 days*, I'm still training in any time that is not devoted to working or sleeping, the deadline for an agreement that I made with Keith is still looming over my head (though he graciously offered me an extension in light of circumstances), and my hard-won raise pushed me into a new tax bracket so I actually owe the IRS money this year.

And yes Mr Anonymous Email Man, I know that my blog header says 2007. Neither I nor the fantastic artist designing its replacement have had much time to think about it yet. You can stop emailing me now.

(Is it just me, or do people get hung up on the WEIRDEST THINGS?)

Phew, March looks a lot like February so far. I'd be completley lost without my wonderful friends; they are keeping me sane.

And now, back to the trenches.

-----
*My property is under new ownership and though the new owner isn't exactly evicting us, she is raising the rent by $500 a month. We're welcome to stay and pay it, of course. Um, no.

In Short

The Writer's Strike is over, red carpet season rolls brazenly onward, Valentine's Day approaches menacingly, I'm fighting a losing battle with the neighborhood ants over ownership of the kitchen counters, I'm training in any time that is not devoted to working or sleeping, the deadline for an agreement that I made with Keith is looming over my head, and I just applied for a completely fantastic job.

It's February for certain.

And now, back to the trenches.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Sunday afternoon, February 3rd.

It's cold outside (for Los Angeles, anyway) and pouring rain. My new Crock Pot is full of delicious smelling chili ingredients, which are slowly but surely becoming chili. The cats are snoozing peacefully on my bed. The Super Bowl is on in a little while, and after the game I'll head down to Costa Mesa to see Demz, my favorite Road Dog. The Bossman is snowboarding until Tuesday, so the work week promises to start comparatively peacefully.

Today, life is pretty good.

Dear Andrew

The Mighty Jimbo is the passerby mentioned in this article and he has written that young man a beautiful letter.

I don't know if you saw the sunrise that morning. I really hope you did. Maybe it would have given you hope. Or maybe it let your last sight be one of beauty. But if I had to find you, I only wish I could have found you a few hours earlier. Maybe we could have talked of dolphins. Maybe you would have let Josh lick your face. Maybe we could have seen the sunrise.

At twenty years old, there are just so many sunrises left to see.

Holiday Preparation

In the office behind me, an Associate Producer is on the phone:

He: Oh man, you're talking about a lot of people huh? We're totally going to have to invest in some hookers & livestock! Wow, Julie's coming?! I haven't seen her since our Chester the Molestor days. Sweet!

Blue

How is it possible that an entire week has gone by since last I posted anything? Similarly, how is it possible that Thanksgiving is next week? Who put 2007 on fast forward all of a sudden?

I've been in a bit of a funk for the last week for a variety of reasons. We've been busy at work and my raise is still under negotiation, as it has been for the last 6 months. Money remains a constant source of stress, especially since my Treo committed ritual suicide during a meeting yesterday and I had to scramble to get a replacement. My knee is healing well, but I'm frustrated that I can't train as hard as I'd like to until I've built up more strength in my legs. The Fireman and I have been talking a lot lately, which is both wonderful and heartbreaking since it's very clear that we both want to be together but it's just not in the cards right now. Two of my friends are going through some icky health stuff and I'm worried about them. And, my friend James was killed on the 5 last week. Though we weren't terribly close, he was a shining spirit and the world is a bit darker for his loss.

Thanksgiving (my absolute favorite holiday) is only a week away and once again I find myself unable to treat a houseful of friends and family to food, drinks, and football. I love hosting Thanksgiving, but I haven't been able to do it for the past couple of years because of money & work issues. While I know that's not the end of the world, it still sucks and I'm bummed.

So, yeah. I've been a bit blue lately. There's a lot going on in my head and I've retreated while I struggle to sort through it all. There's a lot to sort.

I am so grateful that I found Muay Thai when I did - it allows me to shut off my brain for a couple of hours each night and that has been invaluable in keeping my sanity.

Sam-een

For those who are celebrating Samhain this evening, brightest blessings for the New Year.

For those who are celebrating Halloween, I wish you more treats than tricks and a hangover-free Thursday morning.