Cheapskate

I have been advised that I was the only person who could see the photos in some of my recent posts; this is probably because AT&T finally figured out that I hadn't paid for Flickr Pro for some time and cut me off. I, in turn, was in denial of this situation.

It should be rectified by tomorrow at the latest. Apologies, gentle readers.

Yes, I gave in and paid. I feel sort of defeated. Oh well.

The State of California gets Veteran's Day off. They also (by and large) get furloughs and pay cuts. So I guess I'm happy to work tomorrow given the circumstances.

Other mood-dampeners:
I have boatloads of clean laundry to be put away and I just remembered I stripped the bed before leaving on Saturday morning, so it has to be made before I go to bed tonight.
There have been no groceries procured, either.

Probably I should have managed all this Right After Work.

On the upside, I had a lovely weekend at home hanging out with the fam. I should also mention that the better part of two bottles of wine were consumed this evening in a good cause. Huzzah! Huzzah!

This qualifies as a post Written Too Late In The Evening, I fear. Sorry readers. I'll try and be more insightful later in the week.

a different Monday

This photo was taken on a Monday a couple of weeks ago; I was in Monterey for a conference. I should restate that.

A couple of weeks ago there was a conference in Monterey, a place I really like to visit. Ergo, I registered and travelled there, and even went obediently to sessions. On Monday night, I took this photo.

We were walking from our hotel along the pedestrian path toward Cannery Row ... I wish this was a better representation of what we saw. Truly, truly stunning.

A few observations:

• Conferences in beautiful or interesting places. I'm for it. I believe the medical professionals are all over this idea, I feel like I am always reading about doctors gathering in Hawaii or on some beachside resort with a golf course in winter.

• It might not be for everyone, but I am finding it quite convenient that my boyfriend and I share the same profession. Conferences - much more enjoyable. We don't do this a lot, but occasional shop talk, rather helpful. Advice given is always within the context. Networking sucks so much less; and if you want to get technical about it, we are ALWAYS networking. So there.

• Sunsets involving the ocean are approximately 4000% more beautiful than those that don't. This is the result of a very scientific study on my part.

Nature

So my boyfriend went out to a state park this weekend to commune with nature and apparently froze his ass off in a 'cold wood shack.' That's a direct quote. All this in Southern California, just a few miles from Mexico.

(Now my bulleted list from yesterday makes more sense, eh?)

In related news, I've been hanging out with my parents in Southern Indiana where it got up to nearly 70 today. They live in the country on about 100 wooded acres; their house is situated a good deal back from the road so once you're here, you hear nothing, you see nobody else, and at night it's really freaking dark so the stars shine extra bright.

We also have HVAC, insulation, many blankets, running water (ie hot showers), and electricity (for which I am extra thankful this morning). I'd just like to go on record and say that this is my preferred way to interact with nature. Don't get me wrong: I love a good hike, and I love the woods, and I'm not even opposed to the idea of a tent and a day hike in the warmer seasons. However now having had the experience of a real house in the woods ...

Evidence. Here's a couple views from our back deck.

I'll finish with an autumn scene. No, this wasn't taken from the deck; actually along the ridge, maybe a 10 minute walk. But it's the same idea.

Hello?

Yeah, sorry. Phoning this one in.

Note to self (and all readers): don't wait to post until right before you go to bed, cg. At least on days where you spend a full working day's worth of hours in a car... not unpleasant, but not exactly the perfect cocktail for Fascinating Posts.

Random facts:

• I like Chinese food.
• You can get a lot more laundry done if you split it between two houses, but the logistics are challenging.
• I really love being out in the country. I also really love plumbing and warm beds and no bugs. I think that implies an emphasis on day trips.
• Fireplaces are awesome.
• I need to know what this weird, freaky thing is and I'm not sure where to find out. Found on a beach in central CA. Help?

This is a post

I get a couple technicalities, I figure.

As it happens my desk is so buried in articles (you guessed it, TDB) that I covered up my wallet with them and didn't notice until I was an hour into the suburbs, ordering a beer. Cue sad trombone.

The good news is the wallet has been recovered from the office. I guess anyone who is so tired and not aware as to leave their wallet on their desk and not notice until two hours and 50 miles later probably didn't need a beer anyway.

That's all I got for today folks.

Books and such

This afternoon we had a brown bag lunch to talk about our favorite books. I know, I know, librarians talking about reading. Whatever.

Anyway, a group of people got together and collected a list of people's favorite books, then did an exhibit on it in the first floor lobby, together with quotes and such from people about 'why your favorite' and 'importance of reading in your life' and such. I must say, one of our better exhibits, and very interesting.

By now you're wondering, what book did I list? It was hard, I'll admit. Picking "My Favorite Book" ... it's like what I imagine it's like to say, 'Choose your favorite child.' How is that possible? You love them all for different reasons, because they're, well, them. Here was my rationale. List my most loved books, then eliminate. They were:

• Pride & Prejudice (too obvious. most listed favorite at last yr's holiday party)
• Jane Eyre (more Victorian literature. too obvious)
• Gaudy Night (literary mystery, a little unexpected)
• Ex Libris (delightful essays, but too bookish?)
• Lord of the Rings (nerd alert)

OK, so there are more than that, but I eliminated them even from the preliminary list for various reasons (Narnia - a whole series? um, no).

I went with Gaudy Night. There. Now you know.

It was really interesting listening to my colleagues talk about their favorite books, and why they like them; and even more so, how books are part of their inner life.

So it was nice. Yeah, that's all I got today.

Lazy lazy lazy

I have come to the conclusion that I am inherently lazy when it comes to physical activity. In July of 2008 I started working with a personal trainer, the idea being, I'll feel better (desk job, too much sitting, blergh) and also if I pay for something, it means I am assigning it value, a priority, if that makes sense. Somewhere around last November I got Wii Fit and somewhere around January I decided to get serious about the whole business - not via the Fit, actually; I mostly just use that as a reliable scale. So far, so good. Positive forward movement. Feeling better, more physically fit, increased energy, all new pants, blah blah blah. I even started running (well jogging, but - SERIOUSLY). This is a shocking development.

Having more or less made it to the place I want to stay, I find my motivation has disappeared. Pfft. Why is this? I enjoy going once I get there. I feel better. In related news, my excellent vitamin taking habits from over the summer - also bit the dust. I started feeling like I had to do it, sort of like the laundry. And I have nothing more loathsome to avoid on a regular basis (school was really handy for making the gym seem awesome.)

Rather than delve any deeper psychologically, I'm going to blame it all on TDB, which is sapping my will to live right now; and also on an extremely irregular schedule lately. I'm finding it hard to get into a rhythm, distracted by all these pesky trips to lovely California to see my awesome boyfriend. I know, man. What am I thinking?! Although if I want to keep drinking fancy beers in these same new pants I better find some solution, I think.

So I'm going to the gym now and think about why I don't go.