Since last Wednesday, I have been home primarily only to sleep. Wednesday night, we had the family pictures taken and I didn't get home until about 10 pm. Having gone to get the pictures done directly from work. I went straight to bed, read for a half hour, and crashed. I was home for most of the morning on Thursday, but then my brother and parents came about 5 to help with some home chores and then we headed over for our family Christmas eve celebration. It was late again when I got home, so again I just went to bed. The next day, Christmas, we gathered again to open presents and eat good food, both brunch and dinner. We finished dinner about 9, so I got home a *little* earlier at about 9:30. After hitting a pothole on the drive home and limping the last mile home with a flat tire. So Saturday, after a night with little sleep, I called the tire place to make sure they could take care of my care, called AAA to come put the spare on so I could drive my car over there, and then headed over to the tire place - all before 11 am. I took a cab home and then ate lunch. I was home for a couple of hours while the tire place figured out what was wrong with my car - wheel or tire - and then picked up the car again and hit the gym. Got home in time for dinner and was actually home for the evening for the first time in several days. Sunday I actually had most of the day at home. Other than running several errands that I hadn't had a chance to do on Saturday. Then Monday, I went straight from work to birthday dinner for my brother-in-law. Again, I didn't get home until 9:30 or so.
For 6 days, I haven't been home much. (Not) home for the holidays.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Best Things About Christmas
It's easy to talk about the obvious things. Like presents. I must admit that I turn into a 5-year-old about my birthday and Christmas. I love getting presents. I also love to give presents, so I guess that offsets the 5-year-old mentality a little bit. I particularly enjoy when I come up with a clever present. For example, this year, my brother-in-law requested a few items, including a free trip to either Alaska or New Zealand to go fly fishing. It was meant as a joke. So what I did was get him travel books for such a trip - on fly fishing in both places. That was fun!
One of the other things about Christmas that harkens back to childhood is the good homemade sweets. My mother used to make about 15 kinds of cookies. We're down to about 8 kinds, but still all good and somehow there are always more than enough cookies for everyone to have their fill - and then some. One of our other family traditions is a great coffee cake for Christmas breakfast. Doughy dough, pecans, cinnamon, butter - good stuff. Christmas is the only time of the year we have that coffee cake. We've talked about making it other times of the year, but somehow that would dilute the excitement of having it on Christmas morning with the presents.
Beyond being a small child, I love that people tend to be just a little nicer. Perhaps it's shades of our childhoods when we might have worried about whether we were going to end up on Santa's Naughty or Nice list. But I think it's more that Christmas reminds us that we are supposed to be nice to our fellow man. That's part of the point of religion in general. But somehow, usually, around the holidays, people tend to be just a little more patient, a little more kind, a little more likely to go out of their way to do something nice for others.
But the best thing, for me, about the Christmas is a chance to spend time with the whole family. My family - all 12 of us - see each other in smaller groups throughout the year. Every once in a while, we do get the whole crew together at times other than Christmas. But really, the holidays are the time that we will most likely get the whole family together - parents, their kids, the in-laws, and Chris' kids and their significant others. This year, we had a few such days as we took a family portrait on the 23rd and then celebrated Christmas eve with Chris' kids. Two days in a row with some of my favorite people. Can't ask for much more than that. Ultimately, the best thing about Christmas.
One of the other things about Christmas that harkens back to childhood is the good homemade sweets. My mother used to make about 15 kinds of cookies. We're down to about 8 kinds, but still all good and somehow there are always more than enough cookies for everyone to have their fill - and then some. One of our other family traditions is a great coffee cake for Christmas breakfast. Doughy dough, pecans, cinnamon, butter - good stuff. Christmas is the only time of the year we have that coffee cake. We've talked about making it other times of the year, but somehow that would dilute the excitement of having it on Christmas morning with the presents.
Beyond being a small child, I love that people tend to be just a little nicer. Perhaps it's shades of our childhoods when we might have worried about whether we were going to end up on Santa's Naughty or Nice list. But I think it's more that Christmas reminds us that we are supposed to be nice to our fellow man. That's part of the point of religion in general. But somehow, usually, around the holidays, people tend to be just a little more patient, a little more kind, a little more likely to go out of their way to do something nice for others.
But the best thing, for me, about the Christmas is a chance to spend time with the whole family. My family - all 12 of us - see each other in smaller groups throughout the year. Every once in a while, we do get the whole crew together at times other than Christmas. But really, the holidays are the time that we will most likely get the whole family together - parents, their kids, the in-laws, and Chris' kids and their significant others. This year, we had a few such days as we took a family portrait on the 23rd and then celebrated Christmas eve with Chris' kids. Two days in a row with some of my favorite people. Can't ask for much more than that. Ultimately, the best thing about Christmas.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Empress
She was an empress. Queen of all she surveyed. And if you didn't believe that, all you had to do was ask.
Hers was not an easy life. When she was young, she lived with another small creature who loved nothing more than to pull on her tail. Or run her over with his rolling chair. In those days, she also had to share her home with - of all things - another cat! The indignities! Really, it was not to be borne.
Is it any wonder that she became a bit cold? That she reserved most of her affection for the one who protected her from that other cat and the active child? She didn't like being required to share. She was the empress. How dare anyone tell her to be nicer? She was ruler here. She could do whatever she chose, could she not?
Then more indignities. She had to move - bad enough - but she also had to share the bed with a man! Really? The horror. Well, an empress can stand almost anything for a little while. It's only for a little while, right, she thought. But, alas, her mistress had gotten married. And worse yet, her mistress' husband was allergic to cats. Can you imagine? Allergic to an empress? Was he a peasant? At least she still ruled the living room, perched on the couch for hours and hours, watching and ruling over her environs.
A brief sojourn to Paris. A view from the balcony. An opportunity to look down on others. And her mistress to herself again. Life was good.
Then back to the United States. Seattle may be rainy, but here was a large backyard to explore again (Paris had no such pleasures). Grass beneath her feet. Territory to claim.
But what was this? What kind of creature invaded? At least she still outweighed him, that piddling little dog. Appropriate that her mistress named him Taiwan. She was, after all, the formidable China. He was a mere annoyance. A rival for her mistress' affections, perhaps, but she had been there longer. She ruled the couch. He understood that. She knew how to teach him not to eat her food. A well-timed scratch or two would put him in his place.
Another interloper? Bigger than she was? Oh, but she was so tired. She slept more than she was awake. Was another creature really so bad? It could be ignored. She wouldn't deign to even really acknowledge this new invader. She had her couch. She knew she was still loved. Still empress. Forever empress.
Rest in peace, China.
Hers was not an easy life. When she was young, she lived with another small creature who loved nothing more than to pull on her tail. Or run her over with his rolling chair. In those days, she also had to share her home with - of all things - another cat! The indignities! Really, it was not to be borne.
Is it any wonder that she became a bit cold? That she reserved most of her affection for the one who protected her from that other cat and the active child? She didn't like being required to share. She was the empress. How dare anyone tell her to be nicer? She was ruler here. She could do whatever she chose, could she not?
Then more indignities. She had to move - bad enough - but she also had to share the bed with a man! Really? The horror. Well, an empress can stand almost anything for a little while. It's only for a little while, right, she thought. But, alas, her mistress had gotten married. And worse yet, her mistress' husband was allergic to cats. Can you imagine? Allergic to an empress? Was he a peasant? At least she still ruled the living room, perched on the couch for hours and hours, watching and ruling over her environs.
A brief sojourn to Paris. A view from the balcony. An opportunity to look down on others. And her mistress to herself again. Life was good.
Then back to the United States. Seattle may be rainy, but here was a large backyard to explore again (Paris had no such pleasures). Grass beneath her feet. Territory to claim.
But what was this? What kind of creature invaded? At least she still outweighed him, that piddling little dog. Appropriate that her mistress named him Taiwan. She was, after all, the formidable China. He was a mere annoyance. A rival for her mistress' affections, perhaps, but she had been there longer. She ruled the couch. He understood that. She knew how to teach him not to eat her food. A well-timed scratch or two would put him in his place.
Another interloper? Bigger than she was? Oh, but she was so tired. She slept more than she was awake. Was another creature really so bad? It could be ignored. She wouldn't deign to even really acknowledge this new invader. She had her couch. She knew she was still loved. Still empress. Forever empress.
Rest in peace, China.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Running In 18" Of Snow
Saturday, we got 18" of snow. Saturday, no one went anywhere or did anything - well, except a couple of my crazy friends who wanted to see how their cars would do in the deep snow. But most of us - those of us who are sane - stayed in and watched the snow fall, amazed as it continued to fall and fall. As much as 2" an hour at times. Needless to say, I didn't get a whole lot of exercise. Most Saturdays, I hit the gym for an hour or so, or I go for a 30-40 minute run. Since neither of those was an option, I bounced on my exercise ball for a while and did some ab work. It was something, but not really enough.
Sunday was the day for shoveling. It took me two hours to get my car out from under all the snow. I had already shoveled the sidewalk a couple of times, so it wasn't hard to get that cleared. The sun came out. The day was pretty nice. There was a nice sense of camaraderie in the neighborhood as all the neighbors were outside at the same time clearing off cars and moving many, many feet of snow. A couple of hours of shoveling and some time on my exercise ball was some exercise. But Sunday's exercise is usually equal to Saturday's. Shoveling was pretty good cardio, but just didn't feel like it was as much exercise as I usually get on a weekend day.
Today, the roads were still pretty covered. The Federal Government was closed. I could get out of my neighborhood and had planned to go into the office. But one of my colleagues said the roads there hadn't yet been plowed. So we all stayed in our respective homes and worked virtually. At the end of the day, I was tired of sitting around. I needed to get out. I needed real exercise.
So I strapped on my running shoes, a warm coverup, and mittens, and ventured out for a run.
There was a foot-wide path on the sidewalks. It was mostly cleared. But it only went down the main drag, not down any of the side streets or around the lake. So I ran up and down the one road. Back and forth. Up and down. Resembling nothing so much as a pendulum. For 30 minutes.
It felt good.
Sunday was the day for shoveling. It took me two hours to get my car out from under all the snow. I had already shoveled the sidewalk a couple of times, so it wasn't hard to get that cleared. The sun came out. The day was pretty nice. There was a nice sense of camaraderie in the neighborhood as all the neighbors were outside at the same time clearing off cars and moving many, many feet of snow. A couple of hours of shoveling and some time on my exercise ball was some exercise. But Sunday's exercise is usually equal to Saturday's. Shoveling was pretty good cardio, but just didn't feel like it was as much exercise as I usually get on a weekend day.
Today, the roads were still pretty covered. The Federal Government was closed. I could get out of my neighborhood and had planned to go into the office. But one of my colleagues said the roads there hadn't yet been plowed. So we all stayed in our respective homes and worked virtually. At the end of the day, I was tired of sitting around. I needed to get out. I needed real exercise.
So I strapped on my running shoes, a warm coverup, and mittens, and ventured out for a run.
There was a foot-wide path on the sidewalks. It was mostly cleared. But it only went down the main drag, not down any of the side streets or around the lake. So I ran up and down the one road. Back and forth. Up and down. Resembling nothing so much as a pendulum. For 30 minutes.
It felt good.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
#100
This is my 100th blog entry. Amazing. I haven't been as faithful as I was when I first started. I haven't written every day, and some days, my post is pretty pitiful. But I have kept it up. And that's saying something.
We're supposed to be adding a blog to my company's website. I got a note about it about a month, suggesting that we do so. With only a handful of people, several projects that require everyone's attention, not to mention a proposal or two, I wondered how that was going to happen. Blogs are really only a good thing if they are maintained. A blog that only gets new entries every once in a blue moon is more embarrassing than not having a blog at all. In theory, the blogging responsibilities will be shared among at least three people, possibly four. So you would think it would get done and updated. But in reality, each one of those people is moving at 100 mph and not having much luck keeping up with all they have to do. Which is good for our business - since most of that is paying work - but not good for our chances of having a blog that stays up to date.
When I started this blog, my goals were several. To stretch my writing skills again. To share my thoughts. To convince myself that I could/would write every day. Well, I failed on that last one, but succeeded with the other two. For the most part, I feel like my posts have been pretty well written. Some of them have been worthy, even, of being reposted on Facebook. Where I post them as Notes. One of them even got re-posted by one of my Facebook friends. A very nice compliment.
I don't have any "followers". Well, I have one, but it's me so it doesn't count. But I know there are a few people who do read my blog because I have gotten notes from them. My sister, for example, posted a comment on one of my posts. And I know she's read at least one or two other posts. I have a few friends who seem to read my blog pretty often. So that's nice. And when I posted about giving to charities this time of the year, and mentioned the animal rescue that I volunteer with, I got a note from them thanking me for the shout-out. So although technically I have no followers, I do have people who read my blog. Which is a nice thing.
When I first started blogging, I also used to use the "labels" box to index my blog. I figured it would help with my blog being "found" by the search engines. And maybe then I would get a few followers. But lately, I haven't bothered with that. Search engines, after all, use the words as much as any indexing to find items of interest. And really, I'm not all that concerned about my blog being found. I'm not trying to make money off of it or anything. Mostly it's an exercise for me. And a way to get my thoughts into the world. Whether or not anyone reads them or cares.
So here's to another 100 in 2010. At least. Presumably I'll post a few more times between now and the end of 2009, though I won't be home many evenings between now and then. Still there are some major events to come in the next 11 days. Family picture. Christmas eve. Christmas. Chris' birthday. New Years Eve. Bound to be something to say in all of that.
We're supposed to be adding a blog to my company's website. I got a note about it about a month, suggesting that we do so. With only a handful of people, several projects that require everyone's attention, not to mention a proposal or two, I wondered how that was going to happen. Blogs are really only a good thing if they are maintained. A blog that only gets new entries every once in a blue moon is more embarrassing than not having a blog at all. In theory, the blogging responsibilities will be shared among at least three people, possibly four. So you would think it would get done and updated. But in reality, each one of those people is moving at 100 mph and not having much luck keeping up with all they have to do. Which is good for our business - since most of that is paying work - but not good for our chances of having a blog that stays up to date.
When I started this blog, my goals were several. To stretch my writing skills again. To share my thoughts. To convince myself that I could/would write every day. Well, I failed on that last one, but succeeded with the other two. For the most part, I feel like my posts have been pretty well written. Some of them have been worthy, even, of being reposted on Facebook. Where I post them as Notes. One of them even got re-posted by one of my Facebook friends. A very nice compliment.
I don't have any "followers". Well, I have one, but it's me so it doesn't count. But I know there are a few people who do read my blog because I have gotten notes from them. My sister, for example, posted a comment on one of my posts. And I know she's read at least one or two other posts. I have a few friends who seem to read my blog pretty often. So that's nice. And when I posted about giving to charities this time of the year, and mentioned the animal rescue that I volunteer with, I got a note from them thanking me for the shout-out. So although technically I have no followers, I do have people who read my blog. Which is a nice thing.
When I first started blogging, I also used to use the "labels" box to index my blog. I figured it would help with my blog being "found" by the search engines. And maybe then I would get a few followers. But lately, I haven't bothered with that. Search engines, after all, use the words as much as any indexing to find items of interest. And really, I'm not all that concerned about my blog being found. I'm not trying to make money off of it or anything. Mostly it's an exercise for me. And a way to get my thoughts into the world. Whether or not anyone reads them or cares.
So here's to another 100 in 2010. At least. Presumably I'll post a few more times between now and the end of 2009, though I won't be home many evenings between now and then. Still there are some major events to come in the next 11 days. Family picture. Christmas eve. Christmas. Chris' birthday. New Years Eve. Bound to be something to say in all of that.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Snow!
Tonight and tomorrow, we are supposed to get up to 20" of snow. While some parts of the country may cope with that, here in the DC metro area that amount of snow is likely to bring everything to a halt.
If you look at the date, you'll also notice that it's a week before Christmas. Which means that this weekend is a MAJOR shopping weekend. The stores are expecting the shoppers. The shoppers were expecting to be able to get presents this weekend. Now it's highly likely that neither of those expectations are going to be fulfilled.
The only retailers making more money than they know what to do with are the grocery stores. I'm willing to bet that you would be hard-pressed to find milk, toilet paper, bread, and water in most stores right now.
Personally, I am planning to avoid both kinds of stores. I am finished with my Christmas shopping. I have enough food to get through a few days without restocking. I'm good.
Let it snow!
If you look at the date, you'll also notice that it's a week before Christmas. Which means that this weekend is a MAJOR shopping weekend. The stores are expecting the shoppers. The shoppers were expecting to be able to get presents this weekend. Now it's highly likely that neither of those expectations are going to be fulfilled.
The only retailers making more money than they know what to do with are the grocery stores. I'm willing to bet that you would be hard-pressed to find milk, toilet paper, bread, and water in most stores right now.
Personally, I am planning to avoid both kinds of stores. I am finished with my Christmas shopping. I have enough food to get through a few days without restocking. I'm good.
Let it snow!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
It's Time For Annual Giving
As you hit the stores and buy your presents, don't forget to spend some of your time and money helping others.
Those who are trying to feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, teach the undereducated. So Others Might Eat. Share Our Strength. One Laptop At A Time.
What about those working to change the world one patient at a time? Doctors without Borders. Whitman-Walker Clinic. St. Jude's Childrens Hospital.
What about those who take care of those who don't have voices to tell us when they need help? The animal rescue organizations, like my friends at Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation.
And finally don't forget those who are stewards of the earth. The Nature Conservancy. World Wildlife Fund. The Sierra Club. Greenpeace.
So remember all these organizations - or your charity of choice - in the midst of all the other holiday craziness. Give back. Give of yourself. Just give. It's time.
Those who are trying to feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, teach the undereducated. So Others Might Eat. Share Our Strength. One Laptop At A Time.
What about those working to change the world one patient at a time? Doctors without Borders. Whitman-Walker Clinic. St. Jude's Childrens Hospital.
What about those who take care of those who don't have voices to tell us when they need help? The animal rescue organizations, like my friends at Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation.
And finally don't forget those who are stewards of the earth. The Nature Conservancy. World Wildlife Fund. The Sierra Club. Greenpeace.
So remember all these organizations - or your charity of choice - in the midst of all the other holiday craziness. Give back. Give of yourself. Just give. It's time.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Caught Between The 19th and 21st Centuries
About a week ago my home phone went out. I came home from work, and it just wasn't working. I called and reported the outage, they had me test a few things, then they tested the line, and they determined that it was an external problem and scheduled a service call. For 10 days later!
But that's not the point. The point is for 5 days (they fixed it earlier than scheduled), I had no home telephone. I called a few people to let them know that (including most importantly my parents). But if you didn't know, you wouldn't know. There was no indication from the outside that the number wouldn't work and I wouldn't know if anyone left a message. It was quite odd.
I know lots of people who don't have a home telephone anymore. Instead they rely on mobile phones. My brother, for example, doesn't have a home phone. In part because he's rarely home; he runs a bar and is there more than anywhere else. My niece and her husband don't have a home telephone; neither do my cousin and his wife who are about the same age. In that case, I think it's a generational thing. I don't actually know the statistics, but I'd be willing to bet that the percentage of home phones drops substantially among those under age 30. Even age 35.
But for me, I felt disconnected. What you need to know is that I have TWO cell phones. I have one for work and one for home. So it's not like I couldn't make a telephone call. I could and did make calls during those 5 days from my home. But I still felt as though I was living in the 19th century, before having a home phone was a normal thing.
The other thing that not having a home phone reminded me is that there are other aspects of my life that depend on home phone service. First, I had no access to the Internet. So no blogging (I try not to blog at work - seems inappropriate). No games on Facebook. While I can post and comment on Facebook via my iPhone, you can't play Facebook games on an iPhone. Likewise, I could check my personal email via my iPhone, but responding was a bit more challenging.
Second, my home alarm system is tied to my home phone. I could set the alarm. But if it was triggered (and really, I hope that NEVER happens because I'm not sure what I will do), the automatic dialer that would call the security service and let them know that my alarm was going off wasn't going to work. So I set the alarm and kept a mobile phone by my bed so that I could call if the alarm did go off. It wouldn't solve the problem of having an alarm incident while I was at work. But it would hopefully have solved the problem of an alarm going off while I was sleeping (though, as I said, I NEVER want that to happen).
So there I was, caught between the 19th century - when the phone hadn't yet been invented much less become prevalent in people's homes - and the 21st century - when the younger generations don't use home phones but rely on mobile devices instead.
Perhaps the 19th century wouldn't have been so bad, because we just wouldn't have known better. But I'm glad to be back in the 21st century, complete with home phone service (Internet and alarm system too).
But that's not the point. The point is for 5 days (they fixed it earlier than scheduled), I had no home telephone. I called a few people to let them know that (including most importantly my parents). But if you didn't know, you wouldn't know. There was no indication from the outside that the number wouldn't work and I wouldn't know if anyone left a message. It was quite odd.
I know lots of people who don't have a home telephone anymore. Instead they rely on mobile phones. My brother, for example, doesn't have a home phone. In part because he's rarely home; he runs a bar and is there more than anywhere else. My niece and her husband don't have a home telephone; neither do my cousin and his wife who are about the same age. In that case, I think it's a generational thing. I don't actually know the statistics, but I'd be willing to bet that the percentage of home phones drops substantially among those under age 30. Even age 35.
But for me, I felt disconnected. What you need to know is that I have TWO cell phones. I have one for work and one for home. So it's not like I couldn't make a telephone call. I could and did make calls during those 5 days from my home. But I still felt as though I was living in the 19th century, before having a home phone was a normal thing.
The other thing that not having a home phone reminded me is that there are other aspects of my life that depend on home phone service. First, I had no access to the Internet. So no blogging (I try not to blog at work - seems inappropriate). No games on Facebook. While I can post and comment on Facebook via my iPhone, you can't play Facebook games on an iPhone. Likewise, I could check my personal email via my iPhone, but responding was a bit more challenging.
Second, my home alarm system is tied to my home phone. I could set the alarm. But if it was triggered (and really, I hope that NEVER happens because I'm not sure what I will do), the automatic dialer that would call the security service and let them know that my alarm was going off wasn't going to work. So I set the alarm and kept a mobile phone by my bed so that I could call if the alarm did go off. It wouldn't solve the problem of having an alarm incident while I was at work. But it would hopefully have solved the problem of an alarm going off while I was sleeping (though, as I said, I NEVER want that to happen).
So there I was, caught between the 19th century - when the phone hadn't yet been invented much less become prevalent in people's homes - and the 21st century - when the younger generations don't use home phones but rely on mobile devices instead.
Perhaps the 19th century wouldn't have been so bad, because we just wouldn't have known better. But I'm glad to be back in the 21st century, complete with home phone service (Internet and alarm system too).
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Just When You Think Your Life Sucks...
I was feeling picked on today. I hit a pothole with my left front tire yesterday, and my alignment is all screwed up now. I have a cold. My home phone stopped working on Tuesday. And my job situation is not what I thought it would be. Poor, poor pitiful me.
Perspective. I just got an email from a friend about a mutual friend. This mutual friend's life sucks even worse than mine. In ways that are unimaginable. And makes me feel as though any complaints I might have are silly and ridiculous. That I should count my blessings and move on.
First, his wife was laid off. It's been several months now, and she's had several interviews but no offers. They live in North Carolina and there are not a whole lot of jobs in their area.
Second, he's in danger of being laid off himself. He's been told that he's at risk. I've sent his resume to everyone I know. But the market is tight.
Now, yesterday, his stepson (his wife's child) was in a car accident. The stepson is not expected to survive.
So now my cold, my car, my phone - all pale in comparison.
Just when you think your life sucks....someone else's sucks even more.
Perspective. I just got an email from a friend about a mutual friend. This mutual friend's life sucks even worse than mine. In ways that are unimaginable. And makes me feel as though any complaints I might have are silly and ridiculous. That I should count my blessings and move on.
First, his wife was laid off. It's been several months now, and she's had several interviews but no offers. They live in North Carolina and there are not a whole lot of jobs in their area.
Second, he's in danger of being laid off himself. He's been told that he's at risk. I've sent his resume to everyone I know. But the market is tight.
Now, yesterday, his stepson (his wife's child) was in a car accident. The stepson is not expected to survive.
So now my cold, my car, my phone - all pale in comparison.
Just when you think your life sucks....someone else's sucks even more.
Monday, December 7, 2009
I Dream Of Jeannie, Samantha, Sabrina...
Since I was a little girl, I have wanted to have magical powers. When I was a child, I wanted them only because it was cool. I Dream of Jeannie. Bewitched. Sabrina the Teenage Witch. These are the magical women I grew up on. Having been born in Salem, Massachusetts, only exacerbated this desire. What I would do with such magical powers was undefined, however. After all, what does a small girl - one with a happy family life - really need in life?
Today, however, I know exactly what I would wish for.
I wouldn't wish for unlimited wealth. While it would be nice to have enough money not to have to work anymore, most of the time I like working. If I did have enough money that I didn't need to work, I would definitely do a great deal of volunteer work. I can't imagine just sitting around "eating bonbons".
I wouldn't wish for the perfect guy, though that would be tempting. But would it last? Would the wish wear off and he become not perfect? It's something that I would worry about. Because I'm not sure I would believe in that kind of wish. In that kind of luck.
I would wish for the ability to get home from work instantly. To be able to blink and be home. Or wiggle my nose. Or whatever Sabrina did to invoke magic. I live 5 miles from work. Somehow the morning commute is almost never a problem (with the exception of when a water main broke off the side of the Beltway). But the afternoon/evening commute - painful! Tonight, that 5 miles took 45 minutes. Since I run a mile in 11 minutes, I could almost have made it home faster by running. That's ridiculous. It shouldn't take me longer to drive than it would to run. At a normal time of the year, my drive home is usually about 20 minutes. Still a long time for 5 miles. But this time of the year, commuting becomes even more painful. Because my office is in Tysons Corner - across the street from one mall and next to another. So in addition to the usual traffic - all the rest of the people heading home from work, same as me - there are the shoppers. I have tried various routes to avoid getting near the mall. But since I'm not the only one who thinks of these things, others use these alternate routes as well. Hence a 45-minute commute.
So I wish for magic to get me home. Blink. Twitch. Nod.
Today, however, I know exactly what I would wish for.
I wouldn't wish for unlimited wealth. While it would be nice to have enough money not to have to work anymore, most of the time I like working. If I did have enough money that I didn't need to work, I would definitely do a great deal of volunteer work. I can't imagine just sitting around "eating bonbons".
I wouldn't wish for the perfect guy, though that would be tempting. But would it last? Would the wish wear off and he become not perfect? It's something that I would worry about. Because I'm not sure I would believe in that kind of wish. In that kind of luck.
I would wish for the ability to get home from work instantly. To be able to blink and be home. Or wiggle my nose. Or whatever Sabrina did to invoke magic. I live 5 miles from work. Somehow the morning commute is almost never a problem (with the exception of when a water main broke off the side of the Beltway). But the afternoon/evening commute - painful! Tonight, that 5 miles took 45 minutes. Since I run a mile in 11 minutes, I could almost have made it home faster by running. That's ridiculous. It shouldn't take me longer to drive than it would to run. At a normal time of the year, my drive home is usually about 20 minutes. Still a long time for 5 miles. But this time of the year, commuting becomes even more painful. Because my office is in Tysons Corner - across the street from one mall and next to another. So in addition to the usual traffic - all the rest of the people heading home from work, same as me - there are the shoppers. I have tried various routes to avoid getting near the mall. But since I'm not the only one who thinks of these things, others use these alternate routes as well. Hence a 45-minute commute.
So I wish for magic to get me home. Blink. Twitch. Nod.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Tough Day In Cat World
We had 6 cats in cat world today, no kittens. Four of the "cats" were essentially kittens - under 1 year old that is. The other two were 2 years old, so still young.
As sometimes happen in cat world, we had one human volunteer per cat. That's really too many. It makes it hard for the people who might be interested in a cat to "get through". The space we have in the store for the cats is small, so too many people makes things crowded. The other challenge we have is the dog volunteers with their dogs coming by. You don't want to be rude, but when we have cats who don't like dogs - as we did today - it makes those cats not "show" well. But we don't want to impair the volunteer process for them either. It's a tough line to walk - allowing the cats to shine without making it more difficult for any of the shoppers in the store.
It also snowed today. That always makes things more difficult because it reduces the number of people who come to the store in the first place, not to mention coming by to see the cats.
No cats were adopted. Tough day.
As sometimes happen in cat world, we had one human volunteer per cat. That's really too many. It makes it hard for the people who might be interested in a cat to "get through". The space we have in the store for the cats is small, so too many people makes things crowded. The other challenge we have is the dog volunteers with their dogs coming by. You don't want to be rude, but when we have cats who don't like dogs - as we did today - it makes those cats not "show" well. But we don't want to impair the volunteer process for them either. It's a tough line to walk - allowing the cats to shine without making it more difficult for any of the shoppers in the store.
It also snowed today. That always makes things more difficult because it reduces the number of people who come to the store in the first place, not to mention coming by to see the cats.
No cats were adopted. Tough day.
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