Category Archives: Everyday Life

October 16, 2008

End Days… going Incommunicado

By terraluft

Well, I’ve done it… The email is all cleaned out, all the personal effects are either already carted home or are bound for the “5-minute box” on the way out the door tomorrow, and I’ve checked off pretty much all the things that I wanted to do on my list titled Departure Tasks with time tomorrow to take care of what’s left. I am even resigned to the fact that I will not have a Blackberry for the time being… although I found one on eBay that I do believe is going to be MINE. I am both excited for what’s ahead and very sad to leave. In the end, though, I believe that even if I had the elusive crystal ball it would simply confirm that I am making the right career choice for me long-term.

With that said, this will be my last post for a while – probably a week at least – because things in life don’t always turn out as we like them to and not only will I not have the Internet on my hip in the form of my little black beauty labeled Blackberry, we will not even have Internet access at the house. Long story short, our ISP dropped us from a local tower when they ran into problems with the home it was on a couple of months back and because I have a wireless card in my laptop provided for work access (a perk of being on call 24x7x365) we just didn’t rush to replace it and it got buried in all the rest of the stuff I’ve been up to. I called yesterday to order an install with the company we decided would give us comparable service at a reasonable rate and then listened in HORROR to the sales girl tell me that the first available install date is more than a week away. We are on the waiting list if anything comes open before then and I am sure hoping that happens! I have to turn in my work laptop and all accessories tomorrow before I leave and I won’t even be in my new office to get my new laptop until Tuesday. When I do, it does not come with a nifty little air card to access Internet anywhere so even with a laptop I won’t have Internet access on it. Talk about going cold turkey! See you on the other side of a week of no-Internet-hell and wish me luck, I’m definitely going to need it! Maybe it will give me an excuse to work on my novel outline since I sure don’t need the Internet to be creative…right?!?

On a light note, I heard that there’s a pot at the new place and that the most anyone has given me is 6 days before my head explodes from information overload. So, I have THAT to look forward to! 🙂

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October 16, 2008

Lunchtime with the Bitches

By terraluft

This was THE funniest moment of the week – hands down. My friend, who I won’t name names but rhymes with Becky and might be short for Rebecca, and I were at lunch today in a semi-crowded restaurant downtown. While we sat there trying – mostly in vain – to enjoy our lunchtime conversation, someones phone kept ringing. At first it was merely an annoyance. But as the lunch progressed it became incessant. Think Blackberry on steroids; one little chime, like it was notifying of a new email or a text message or something equally annoying. Neither Becky or I were subtle in our annoyance and are both very vocal when the need arises or when we think the need should arise. So, we started making comments directed flippantly to the table nearest us of construction-worker types who all had phones and who all were playing with them. Never mind that the entire table was over 40, they needed to answer their damn phone or shut it the HELL up! Now mind you, these comments were delivered very passive-aggressively and not actually directed toward these men but we sure had a great time showing our truly bitchy colors. About 25 minutes later having finished lunch and gotten into the car to head back to the office when what do we hear?!? YOU GUESSED IT – the same little ring we had been bitching about! Ding… Hey Becky – IS THAT YOUR PHONE?!? It was in her pocket the whole time and she was oblivious that it was hers. We almost crashed into the two cars that had already been involved in a fender bender at the intersection we were laughing so hard! Even Becky, my bitchiest friend besides my darling sister said that she felt bad and should probably go back and apologize for being so obnoxious. Of course we didn’t but it was the thought that counts. HEY BECKY… IS THAT YOUR PHONE!?!? It still brings a chuckle…

1 Comment | posted in Everyday Life

October 8, 2008

4179

By terraluft

4179…. That’s the number of emails in my InBox at work THAT I NOW HAVE TO CLEAN UP BEFORE MY DEPARTURE!! (What the hell was I thinking letting things get so out of hand?) Granted, the majority of these items at one point were important and related to some project or another but MY GOD at least they could have been organized! It appears – officially – that my powers of organization were abandoned about 2 years ago at least in the realm of email. I had an epiphany this afternoon… ain’t nuthin’ in there that’s gonna matter and they are just going to junk the whole email account when I’m gone anyway so just pick out the most recent stuff that needs to be passed on and trash the rest. Kind of liberating, although the pack-rat in me will be screaming at the top of her lungs when the trashing commences in earnest. I blame my Mom… she’s certainly the one who passed on that particular gene. Repeat after me… I will not keep email (or consider it reference material that I could ever possibly find again!) Folks, learn from my mistakes and de-junk your inbox. The life and sanity you save may be your own.

1 Comment | posted in Everyday Life

October 6, 2008

Weaning

By terraluft

I have attempted to get a grip on reality as it relates to me and my not having a Blackberry soon…. I didn’t wear the thing on my hip for almost two entire days this past weekend and didn’t die. Baby steps!

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October 6, 2008

The Mechanics of Writing

By terraluft

More signs from the Universe helping me along the way toward novel writing month as I have declared November to be… Last night I was driving home and listening to NPR at a time that I don’t normally tune in. It was a lecture by an author, Ann Patchett, being broadcast and immediately I was intrigued because it was all about the writing process. Coincidence? Probably not. One of the big points she made is that there are three things that are required to write a novel – 1) Commitment; 2) Mechanics (or Tools); and 3) Imagination. And, she said that it was really IN THAT ORDER that you needed these elements to be successful.

So, I began taking stock. I have the commitment – I will write every day in November and end the month with a completed novel of at least 50,000 words. Those are my specific deliverables that make the process real. The Mechanics (or Tools… I can’t remember the exact word she was using but you’ll get the idea) were the things that she said are essential to any creativity. Things like plot, character development, outlines, etc. Without the mechanics of writing it just doesn’t work. Then, and only then, came the imagination. Huh, SO not how I pictured it going… I thought I had to have this big imaginative idea that would blow every one’s mind and THEN I could come up with a plot and an outline, etc. Apparently according to Ann Patchett, this is a very common misconception. Lucky for me, I think, that I’m in good company?

Tonight I decided to skip the “should do” activities scheduled for after the little one was tucked in her bed and work on the novel. (Real estate continuing ed can wait, right?!?) I had already been collecting random thoughts over the last few weeks (read “imagination coming first” here) when I came up with ideas that fit with the book idea I have rattling around loosely in my head. But tonight I started to create an outline from a very high level making notes on each character and how they relate to the other characters. I started to create a plot and overall theme of “what is the book about”. And as I exercised the basic skills of writing (my high school Engish teacher and college professors would be SO proud) the story started to emerge and get me really excited about it. Already I have taken things to a much more inter-twined and complicated level than I thought I could come up with simply using my imagination tool. But, when coming at it from the mechanics, it seemed to just fall into place giving it more depth than I thought I had in me at this stage of the game. I think the imagination has to come later when I really start to write the thing – when I will have to give substance and expression to what I have begun to construct in the mechanics phase.

Lucky for me I had this “little” revelation and bit of success since the newly-formed writing group has set the date for our first meeting and we all have to submit a sample of our writing for discussion. Since I can’t “officially” start writing because of the NaNoWriMo program, we are going to discuss my outline. (I know, I know… ME, following rules! Just go with it…) Look out world, I might just be ready to start this novel when the time comes thanks to the help of all the various outlets I keep stumbling upon (or manifesting, whichever way you want to look at it).

The funny thing? I haven’t picked up a book for almost a week so obsessed I am getting with writing. Stay tuned….

Leave a comment | posted in Everyday Life, Writing

October 5, 2008

Real food or big joke?

By terraluft

Check out this photo that I came across in the vending aisle of the break room the other day…

Say it with me, “Big Az Bubba Twins”. I know it is a poor quality photo but yes, that is exactly what it says. Is this supposed to be appealing to actual people? Is there REALLY someone out there who would purchase something labeled “Big AZ Bubba Twins”? Never mind that it is frozen chili cheese dogs from a vending machine…. I found myself repeating it over and over again… BIG ASS BUBBA TWINS… And then, of course, I kept repeating it at random moments the rest of the week. All kidding about the name aside, if it hadn’t been $3 to buy it I might have been tempted to do so just so I could see what the ingredient list looks like. You can bet your “BIG AZ” that it doesn’t have anything remotely resembling real food on it! Another example of chemicals in the form of imitation food products that people have been conditioned to think of as real food. My stomach turns thinking of the horror of putting something like that in it. Do you know how many vegetables I can get for $3? And do you know how big one’s AZ would get from eating something like that? At least they have tried to keep SOME truth in the advertising, huh? Friends don’t let friends eat Big Az Bubba Twins.

Leave a comment | posted in Everyday Life, Society

October 1, 2008

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

By terraluft

How will I live without my Blackberry?!? (OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!)

Now that this whole craziness of quitting my job is getting real and hitting me where the Blackberry rests on my hip I am FREAKING out. Today I reached for my favorite accessory to mapquest where dance camp is for next weekend while sitting at a red light on my commute home. HELLO! Not gonna have that Internet connection on your hip 24/7 in like 16 days… but who’s counting… BESIDES ME!?!?! I believe in a moment of realized panic at what I will be losing I actually embraced the little black beauty and tried to kiss it today.

It is really getting that bad.

How do I stay in touch with friends if it isn’t on Blackberry Messenger WHENEVER I want? How do I ONLY check email when I’ve found free time to actually sit in front of my computer? How do I go back to texting without the beloved querty keyboard? (THE HORROR!) How do I sit through meetings without something to keep me occupied? (Well, clearly I may not need that where I’m going since I’m hoping they just have the productive kind but you never know…) And who – I ask you, WHO! – will look up words on dictionary.com mid-book-club-discussion every month? Oh, and I’m going to need a new alarm clock, too….

Told you, really getting that bad.

Why did I have to drop my personal cell phone in the toilet and WASTE my “new every two” credit so I’m not eligible for an upgrade for another 18 MONTHS. (Could have used the damn crystal ball on that one for sure!) I’m bidding on a used one on eBay but somehow I think my measly 12-dollar max bid won’t do me much good in the next 2 days. Please be an obscure listing and let no one else see MY item… please… please… please…

I think the doctor would diagnose this as withdrawal symptoms… YOU THINK?!?

I might have had too much coffee today but I don’t think that is the only thing that’s happening here…. Universe, send me a cheap blackberry I can afford right now!

Leave a comment | posted in Everyday Life, Ranting and Ravings

September 29, 2008

Learning to live without…

By terraluft

This is a little warning for others out there to never get attached to things that are not really your own! Remember I posted a while back about addictions and the first one I listed was my Blackberry? Yeah, well I’m faced with the possibility of not having a Blackberry any longer… (Reasons why will be announced shortly so stay tuned!) Along the same lines, we have not had our personal computer at home for a couple of weeks while my fabulous brother rebuilds and reformats the hard drive. What an insane time it has been having to explain to the hubby why he can’t use my work laptop to surf for his Internet fix each day like the junkie he is while I found a way to continue blogging using the work PC. (What a double-standard I know but remember I don’t share well!) Of course, I am a cheapskate at heart and instead of purchasing a much-needed new computer we are making the several-years-past-the-expiration-date-of-technology PC we have do for a bit longer. We’ve decided that we need to curb our consumer habits in light of the recent downturn and turmoil in the economy. We need to stop throwing our extra money every month to our out-of-control sushi habit and start putting money away for the inevitable rainy day that is sure to come. I’m certain that this new behaviour will teach me to live without a lot of things as painful as the prospect seems going in!

Here’s something I hope we don’t have to, as a society, learn to live without – financial freedom. I watch what is happening in the financial markets and unless you’re living under a rock you can’t help but wonder what is next and how will we as a society recover? Years ago our fearless leaders in Washington convinced Congress that the American Dream was to own a home and that we should be able to give that to every American citizen (whether they could afford it or not!). And how did we go about making this happen? We deregulated the banking and finance industry and allowed lenders to become greedy and lend to people who really couldn’t afford to purchase a home. Now, the housing market has collapsed and all those people who were banking on being able to refinance their insane adjustable rate mortgages before the monthly payments were so high they couldn’t afford to pay them each month are left with no options and property that doesn’t even appraise for what they owe on it. Result = record numbers of foreclosures and now the banks don’t have the money coming in and can’t recoup. What’s next, no credit for car loans available? Hmmm, with Wachovia being seized this morning by the FDIC and sold off to Chase that could be right around the corner. And what is the only probable way out of this mess? More government control and more loss of “freedom” in what is supposed to be the land of the free. I wonder what else we as a society will be asked to live without. First civil liberties, now financial liberties… what else is there to give?

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September 25, 2008

Universal forces and writing

By terraluft

It is true what they say: once you decide to do something the universe will line things up for you. “Your wish is my command.” I mentioned earlier that I have committed to writing a novel (or at least attempting one!) as part of the National Novel Writing Month program. And I’m working on a plot outline and some characters beforehand so that I have at least half a chance of it all working out. Some of the ideas are coming together nicely and some I am struggling with a bit more than others. Then along comes help from the most unlikely of places. I have a friend in the book club who wrote a book with her husband and asked me to be one of the first readers and give feedback. The focus group of the three of us asked to do this task met last night to discuss the book – what worked, what didn’t, what we thought, etc. It was amazing how the 5 of us in a room breaking down a book and character development and all the other things we talked about gave me insight into what pieces I am missing in my own attempt at creativity. And then, this little idea that came up at book club about starting a writing group came full circle and we decided that we were going to really do it! I’m taking it on to organize it since that’s one of the things I do well – organize. Now I will have a chance to actually write for the sake of writing and have a space to get feedback and grow in my skills. Hell, maybe I’ll become some insanely popular writer and can kiss my “day job” goodbye? Nah, I think it fits my crazy life better if I just have yet another thing that I do… System engineer, project manager, photographer, Realtor, writer and don’t forget wife and mother. It is insanity but I can’t ignore that the pieces are all lining up like it was all meant to be and am just going to hold on for the ride!

1 Comment | posted in Everyday Life, Random or philosophical thoughts

September 13, 2008

She doesn’t share well with others

By terraluft

Nope, never have, never will. Is it bad for me to admit this? Does it make me a bad person? I find it actually refreshing to be truthful without sugarcoating the bullshit. I’ve always known this tidbit about myself AND others are always trying to make me feel bad about it…. Bottom line is, I never lend out things because no one takes care of my things as well as I do. For instance; I never never lend out hardback books and paperbacks very rarely…. Pretty much only if I don’t care about not seeing it again, which is my assumption at time of lending. For the longest time I kept my kernel of nastiness hidden away and would pretend I couldn’t find things that people had an interest in or “forget” to bring things until the interest waned. But you know what, I wasn’t kidding anyone. Last weekend my sister and I were at a shopping opportunity together with some of my neighbors. Someone suggested that I buy something and then she could borrow it. Big dilema… But, before I could come out with any kind of excuse, out blurts my sister “oh, she doesn’t share!” Well, there you have it folks… SHE DOESN’T SHARE! In that moment I felt as if the weight of years of hiding the real me had been lifted off me. The sun shone just a little brighter, the air was just a bit easier to breath. The best thing is the freedom to have it out there for everyone to know about me. Almost as good was learning that my fabulous neighbor doesn’t share either. We are so much a like it is kind of frightening! (Ace, you make me feel better about being myself when you are near…) Want to know THE FUNNIEST thing about this phenomena of my not sharing and who put it out there for the universe to finally know, the IRONY of the whole thing? One of my earliest memories is of my sister – who as a child even my mother labeled a nightmare – being told by our mother that if she didn’t put her toys away they would get thrown in the garbage. To which my sister smugly smiled and replied, “that’s OK, they aren’t mine!” Bet you can guess who’s toys they WERE; and perhaps now we know just when I determined that sharing things might have negative connotations. Ironic, isn’t it? (Love you Sister – for always knowing the truth about me and loving me anyway!)

2 Comments | posted in Everyday Life, Random or philosophical thoughts

September 11, 2008

National Novel Writing Month

By terraluft

Well, it’s official… I’m going to write a novel. In November to be exact. I heard about this National Novel Writing Month last year like the day before it started and couldn’t arrange my schedule to handle the required 50,000 words to finish by the end of the month. Not to mention that I drew a total blank on what I wanted to write about. I guess that’s a common problem. The whole concept is that people always say “someday I’m going to write a novel” and yet the someday never comes because you try to plan and you try to outline and then you get scared and then you never even start. NaNoWriMo (as it is referred to) is designed to just get you writing in a gleeful free-for-all where you just don’t care. It’s about quantity not quality. The hope is that whatever I spew out will be more than I would have written had I never done the NaNoWriMo and perhaps have potential with some editing and re-writes. My neighbor and fellow book clubber and her husband have written a novel and it really got me to thinking “hey, I could do that!”. And, as the hubby is so wont to say – usually delivered a bit scornfully and a bit on the contemptuous side as I have my nose buried in a book… “you’ve read so many books you should be able to write one yourself”. We shall soon find out!

Leave a comment | posted in Events, Everyday Life

August 27, 2008

Addictions

By terraluft

Think you are above addictions? Think you don’t have an addictive personality? I always thought that until I started taking a closer look at my life. Know what I’m addicted to? Coffee for one… which I’m trying to curb and replace with more healthy tea choices but is mostly a losing battle. The label “Possessions” covers just about everything else I’m addicted to. I am addicted to my Blackberry – don’t think I could live without it even if it goes for days and weeks without actually ringing, I must have immediate and instantly gratifying access to my email. I’m addicted to books – if I didn’t have a book in my purse and several more lying about the house to pick up on any given whim, I would think that life had come to a screeching halt. I’m addicted to movies – I don’t watch much TV but man, take away my movie watching on either the big or small screen and I will be hurting. I’m addicted to my way of life – to think about leaving my home with all its quirks that I want to change or improve and I am sad. I’m addicted to the neighbors next door – knowing that their schedule is pretty much the same day after day and that I could walk outside and most likely find them in the yard to shoot the breeze with is pretty great and I wouldn’t want to give it up. I’m addicted to the company of my husband and daughter – as much as I like to read which lends itself to a lot of alone time, if we are all home at the same time and don’t interact I am sad. Goes to show that addictions are not just for hard drugs, cigarettes or alcohol anymore. What are you addicted to? Think hard… you may not like the answers!

1 Comment | posted in Everyday Life

August 6, 2008

Twilight… Need I say more?

By terraluft

I know, I know… what a cliche that I’m reading the Twilight Saga but I’m telling you don’t knock ’em until you try ’em! I just devoured the 756 glorious pages of the fourth and (supposedly) final installment of the series by Stephenie Meyers in 4 days. I resisted like any mature fiction reader would when told that “you just have to read” a novel written for the teen market. It took my sister and several others several months of hounding me last summer and I finally gave in and took the first one on loan from my sister last October. It started out a bit slow but after 50 pages it grabbed me and I haven’t been able to put them down – more often than not having to force myself to stop in the wee hours of the morning so I’m not a zombie at work. (Thank GAWD for coffee!!!) I read “Twilight” and immediately opened “New Moon” because I couldn’t wait to see how it continued. I ended up getting my own copies because after the first one I couldn’t wait to be next in line on the rotation list for loans within the little circle of readers who were passing it around. I had “Eclipse” on hand already when I finished the second and then had to wait an agonizing 9 months for the fourth, “Breaking Dawn” to be released. And, I have to say that (other than Stephen King’s conclusion of The Dark Tower Series) this is the one book I’ve known the release date of and actually purchased it ON that date as a premeditated act. If you’re looking for Pulitzer Prize level writing, you won’t get it. But, if you’re looking for a new twist on an old theme (vampires – could it get any older than the undead?) that is so fresh and interesting then this is the series for you. Can’t wait for the movie… although we all KNOW that the book is always better than the movie!

Leave a comment | posted in Book Reviews, Everyday Life