Monday, December 01, 2008
Quote of the Day: Ask not for whom the bells tolls. Let the machine get it.
Countdown to Getting Caught Up: Never gonna happen.
Okai, first let it be said - London was freakin' fantastic. Photos to come (eventually), but for now I've got a lot of work to do. Have to find room in my bedroom closet and bureau drawers for all my new clothes. I left my house with a light, fairly empty suitcase, and an equally light, equally empty carry-on bag.
I returned home with my suitcase filled to the point I was concerned about zipper stability, a jam-packed carry-on bag I could barely close, and a huge wheeled duffle bag I'd bought while in the UK, also pretty darn full.
Yep. Add in the fact that I only got a few gifts for Christmyass, and you've guessed correctly - I am MasterCard's 13itch for the next several months.
But this morning I've got my work cut out for me before I start work. I've got to code the calendar and archives for December.. I need to restock my fridge.. Finish laundry, decide what clothes are going to my donation pile and where to put all the rest of my new stuff.. upload all the photos from England.. stop at the bank to deposit Cisco Villain's rent (which, thankfully, will be going straight to my MasterCard)... figure out the next set of priorities for things like, say, Christmyass shopping.. grab a long, hot shower (oh, how I've missed hot showers).. set up my workspace again, go through a week's worth of emails, and start my shift for work..
<headdesk>
I wish jetlag and a To Do list longer than my arm qualified as a reason to take a sick day..
posted by Kolyndia 8:14 AM
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Quote of the Day: Two wrongs don't make a right, but two Wrights made an airplane.
Departure for Europe: A matter of hours! Dear sweet merciful crap!
Unless I hop on The Aussie's laptop, this could be the last post until December.. However, it's much more likely that I'll be hopping on his lap, not his laptop. <cackle>
So many people I know are telling me have a good time. Those who know me really well are telling me to have a fantastic time. Those who sometimes know me better than I know myself are telling me that it's about damned time I took an actual vacation.
I've always taken time off work to work. Renovations, projects, catching up on various things I hadn't gotten around to for weeks.. Twice I've taken vacation to cross the country to visit Lithium's family, which was lovely.. I miss those days.. the people, the camaraderie, the view, the lake, the langourous hours in the hammock.. But they aren't my family, and never were. Never would be. I was there both to partake of the surroundings, socialize with the people, and to help out, too.. co-babysitting, another pair of eyes.. Another swimmer in the water in case of emergencies.. As much as those two trips meant to me, and as much fun and enjoyment as I had, they weren't vacations for me. I was escorting someone to their own vacation. Sort of like being someone's date for an office Christmyass party. Sure, you might have a great time, but it's not your party.
So this is actually the first real vacation I've ever had. Sad, given my age, but.. This one is not only the golden opportunity provided by someone else's generousity.. (a semi-selfless act which I will be expressing thanks for in a very unmistakable way!) but.. it will hopefully be the first of many forays into the world.
Without cell phone, without landline, and without my facebook and hotmail. Hardly roughing it, but.. I digress. Still going to feel a bit disconnected, but I honestly think that'll be a good thing. More freedom to enjoy my surroundings..
Thanks to my beloved Mama Bear for the airport transportation.. and for everyone's well-wishes and offers of being my airport taxi.. Props to Cisco Villain for holding down the fort in my absence..
And wicked-good kudos will be descending for The Aussie around 3 am MST...
See you all when I get back!!
posted by Kolyndia 9:40 AM
Friday, November 21, 2008
Quote of the Day: No problem is so big and complicated that it can't be run away from.
Except a cold.. <kicks cough>
Departure for Europe: OMFG! 1 day!
Today I'll be pulling an allnighter. I rested up as much as possible yesterday to try and break this cough.. I'm still coughing today, but we'll see how I progress as the day unfolds. Luckily, I'm not extensively worried about being able to stay up all night.. I have plenty to do to keep me occupied..
First, I've got to head out of town for a few hours to drop off some stuff to a friend.. Then once I get back home, I'll be giving the house a thorough cleaning.. I haven't had the time to really clean since after the Samhain Superbash, so the killer dust bunnies have recruited all the shed hairs from CiscoVillain and myself, and built an army. I can't just leave CiscoVillain home alone, all defenseless against such evil. Plus, when I get back from Europe, I'll have one evening to unpack, sort out everything from my trip, do all my emails from the week, get groceries and all that rot.. The last thing I want to come home to is a filthy house in dire need of cleaning..
Then after everything is all neat and tidy, I get to create a big mess of clothes and things as I pack for my trip. Woohoo! Then I get to weigh it over and over to make sure it's under the maximum weight allowed. Huzzah!
Load up the MP3 players, clear off the digital camera Lithium kindly loaned me, to make room for all the pictures I'll be taking.. Hopefully get in a Pilates workout, because it's been far too long! Gah!! And after drinking plenty of fluids, I feel like I've got some sheepskin canteens under my shirt. I think I even hear that sloshing noise when I move around. No good!
Not to mention the excitement at seeing The Aussie.. London.. everything.. That'll probably keep me up for hours too!! Woohoo!!
Off I go to start conquering this massive To Do list..
posted by Kolyndia 10:20 AM
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Quote of the Day: Drugs may lead to nowhere, but at least it's the scenic route.
Departure for Europe: 2 days!!
And I am coughing so hard my abs are rock hard - underneath the layer of water retention from drinking plenty of fluids. Bloody perfect.
Bring on the cold meds.. And the funky colors they bring.
Called in sick today.. My boss is awesome. I told her that I know it looks bad to call in sick the day before going on holidays for a week, but she wasn't just understanding, she was insisting I made the right call.. "Take it really easy today, try and get better so you can have fun on your trip!" she says.. <sigh of relief>
Well, now that I have a minute and some inspiration.. time for a blog. Besides, lying down makes me cough more, and I have to pop on the Crappy Lappy anyways to take care of some work stuff before I'm gone for a week..
I should have waxed poetic (and my legs) yesterday when I raved about the joy that is Rori Sennis, bailing out a friend in a time of need.. I didn't have a lot of time to really do his kindness justice.. It was such a simple thing to him.. such a huge blessing to me.
The same applies for something I'm trying to do for another friend.. Times are tough, money is lean, groceries for 4.9 children while you're renovating your home to move into something more size-accomodating is a calculator's nightmare. Add to that lovely 8-months-pregnant lady's plight the pending need to infant clothing, and you've got yourself a fairly upset young mother. Since I know a few people with not-so-newborn baby girls - including a niece I am finally getting to meet today, since we're both sick - I put the word out on baby clothes. Bring out your onesies! If the wee lasses have already outgrown them, there's someone in dire need right now.. and I like to help people. Especially when it can mean the difference between making a young mother of almost-five relax in her final trimester, and it only costs me a couple emails, a few phone calls, and a little gas money.
Consideration. Tiny efforts to one person can mean the world to someone else. I wanted to ease someone's suffering, it was within my potential grasp to do so.. I lunged!!
I most certainly did not expect some of the results I received. Within minutes I got a phone call from Tigersclaw, offering up assistance. Upon confirming when we could arrange an exchange (or a me-taking-of-her-cast-offs) she was laundering the garments. She had afterthoughts too, that prompted other conversations.. Other ways to lend a hand to someone who would really appreciate it.. A virtual stranger to her.. but Tigersclaw has known me for years.. She knows there's very little I won't do for people.
The other response was rather stunning. At first it was a request for more information.. what were the needs, on top of any infant clothes? Anything else? I was warmed and touched that people can be so generous upon hearing about the plight of another mommy..
But while making plans to get further information.. the conversation took a rather abrupt turn. Instead of simply feeling empathy for a stranger's rough patch, it turned almost hostile. Then it was downright judgmental.
(As Nscafe put it.. "Says you!")
Well, yes. I put it that way. I don't see how such a simple situation can become all about my personal drawbacks in not kicking someone arse, and for even being friends with this evil, selfish and just plain bad kind of person (not the young mother, but the father who is understandably strapped for cash, but.. all couples fight about money, and fights are not needed in the 8th month of pregnancy).
I was floored. I couldn't believe it. Even I don't know all the details about their situation, finances and arguments, because I'm friends with both of them. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I'm always available to be an ear.. but I'm not willing to drive myself in the middle of two people and end up being the fall guy. Bugger that. So in this scenario, I didn't really ask a lot of Oprah questions. I had a young lady crying on my shoulder about one of the problems in her world. I determined it was a problem I could help with, and took action.
Didn't realize that was grounds for me to be put in the hot seat about the company I choose to keep.
And who says altruism is dead?
posted by Kolyndia 8:37 AM
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Quote of the Day: Moderation is good, but boring.
Departure for Europe: 3 days
Holy crap, 3 days?!
First.. before I wig out any more with excitement, I have other excitement that warrants some wicked-huge kudos. Rori Sennis is The Man. Seriously. The guy's on vacation right now.. he read my blog and facebook status lamenting the loss of half those photos from Saturday's shoot.. and offered to help. Not only did he offer.. he succeeded! He came to my house, grabbed the deleted memory card, went home, restored everything, burned me 2 copies of the files on DVD-ROM, and brought it all back to my house within a few hours.
Whadda guy. You seriously rock.
Felt pretty lousy, too.. I'm coughing like a mad demon these days, and hate to contaminate anyone.. So I couldn't even hug him with gratitude.. (yet, buddy.. yet.. There is a massively grateful hug in your future!!)
However, it's been a tough couple of days, good tidings and pending travel aside.. I dropped my cell phone and it broke - another expense I didn't want to have to spring for so close to my trip to Europe - and while I was thrilled at the chance to see Ki'Ten last night, whom I didn't get to visit with last time he was in town, getting up early so I could go snag a new cell phone today didn't exactly help with the whole concept of getting plenty of rest so I could get rid of this cough.
Also, there are some people in my life who are getting the emotional crap kicked out of them, and I feel completely powerless to help. Normally I can at least be an ear for them, but talking on the phone with a scratchy throat isn't helping me get better, and I feel like anything I say would be trite anyways.. These lovely people I adore are getting the short end of the stick, when they deserve every happiness this world has to offer. My heart goes out to them, and I wish there was more I could do.
But.. no time to write more.. I've got to motorola.. run.. (Damn, I thought that was funny, but.. I don't wanna get sued.)
Plus, as soon as I get back home, I've got a whole lot more editing to do, thanks to Rori!! (You rawk, man.)
posted by Kolyndia 9:43 AM
