Your Mileage May Vary

Bob the Builder

Background Noise:The Last Book of Nostradomus, the History Channel
Last Visited: updating my facebook status
Random Thought: funny, i thought Puff was whining just because he wanted treats...
Mood: heart rate slowing...

Oh, so that's what an earthquake feels like; got it. 5.6 you say? Huh. Good to know. For comparison purposes and all. Um, just a question: is your apartment supposed to feel like it was built out of matchsticks while shaking? No? Huh. Interesting. At least i was home in my comfy chair instead of say, on the freeway or at work... though, um, who knows, there are plenty of aftershocks to go. Party.

I'd like to be able to say that i was calm and cool and collected...

[... turning off the History Channel... sorry, i can't stand to listen to this anymore... sigh....]

... but who am i kidding. I froze in my chair, stared at the ceiling hearing the shimmy shaking of whatever (aparently heavy) things my upstairs neighbor has, Puff and i kinda looked at eachother, he bolted for under the bed, i got up and moved to my doorway which seriously felt like it was no longer at an appropriate angle, then... it stopped. And my heart? Didn't - far from it, it was going a million miles an hour. I looked at my phone, tried to make some calls, which obviously didn't go through... then... well, i sat down. Because really? what do you do then? Nothing fell, nothing broke, I was fine, and, well, that was that.

An hour and a half later i can honestly say my heart rate is basically back to normal. Basically.

But! More importantly! I found a Halloween costume! You're thrilled, i can tell. Actually, isn't as much a costume as it is... a hat. With a sticker.

See, when i went into the Halloween store down the street earlier tonight i had it in my head that i should be an Angel because a) Barb is being the Devil in Desguise, b) i'm usually either an Angel, a Hobo, or a Puffer, and c) I figured i should be able to find a halo on a headband that i could stand wearing to work all day. But apparently being an Angel has gone out of style because there wasn't *one* halo like device in the entire store; there was a lovely set of wings for $7.99, but chances of them surviving a day of me at my desk were coming in at slim to none.

So there i was, searching the madness that was this store, digging through hats and wigs and props and bumping into people every time i moved, and i was half convinced i should either be a Princess with a tiara or a Cowgirl with a Hat and "gun" when i stumbled on this... yellow hat. With the sticker. The sticker was a bit worn, a bit torn, and quite simple, white background, blue border with blue and red writing, and a price tag of $1.99. I took the tiara, the cowboy hat, and the yellow hat to a mirror (saying "excuse me", and "pardon me", and "don't worry about it" left right and center) and decided that amazingly enough that yellow hat? Looks freaking adorable on.

So for Halloween? I'm going to be an Engineer. And I have the hat to prove it.

Expression:

Sniffly.

Background Noise: Dancing, Elisa
Last Visited: a very happy website
Random Thought: sometimes you have to make up for things you didn't even realize you missed
Mood: so sniffly

Never underestimate the wisdom of Rogers and Hammerstein:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites When the bee stings When I'm feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad

And never underestimate how absolutely lovely picking the right gift can make one feel; even if one might have half spoiled the surprise. Seriously, giving presents is almost more fun than getting them. Almost.

Expression:

Run

Background Noise: Run, Snow Patrol
Last Visited: "...but Ms. Rowling refuses to be content with simply rejecting the old order and championing a morally vague multiculturalism. The pure-bloods here are blinded by their pride, but Harry and his friends see something more profound, a threat that goes beyond self-interest and identity. This is why Dumbledore’s supposed gayness is ultimately as unimportant as Ron’s shabby clothes. These wounded outsiders recognize the nature of evil, and finally that is what matters."
Random Thought: light up, light up; as if you had a choice ; even if you cannot hear my voice, i'll be right beside you dear
Mood: yesterday? was a very good day

I've just noticed that i have a tendency not to blog when i'm a) unhappy b) annoyed c) cranky or d) all of the above. Now, on the one hand, that does leave major holes in my archives, and leaves whoever relies on this blog to know what's going on with me pretty much solidly out of the loop. On the other hand, it means that when i'm going back over my time here in Cali, i've minimized as much as possible documenting those worst of times; which, you know what? I think on the whole is good. I don't *like* being in a bad mood; i certainly don't thrive when i'm too stressed and actively annoyed; and i don't need a reminder of how often i actually am in any of those states.

Just in case anyone wonders about those times when i'm not blogging like a fiend, well, that's a possible reason. That or i'm just really freaking busy. Like, really busy. Like, "I swear Mom, i'll call ____, i promise, but i'm really really busy right now and don't have time for dinner with them; i'll get to it. No really. Mom, i have to go, i'm sorry. Love you", busy.

16 Billion Bits: The Last Supper

[In other news, i have a new hobby. Or, a new pseudo-hobby: seeing friends i've known forever dressed up for the first time. Because, seriously? Seeing some of these guys cleaned up puts the biggest silliest grin on my face ever. We're adults, i swear! ]

So Michigan pulled out another win this weekend against Minnesota, keeping the Little Brown Jug safe for the next few years and silently continuing a 7-0 record over the last 7 games (for a current season of 7-2). Which also brought us back up to #12 in the BCS. Not that the BCS is worth the paper it's printed on, but it's nominal progress.

... and... um... i'm sorry, but i did that thing again... that getting up in the middle of a post and coming back completely forgetting how to finish this post thing. Again. So sorry, but since i can't remember what i was going to say next, i just won't say anything at all.

Expression:

Beirut

Background Noise: The Flying Club Cup
Last Visited: Jimy's Office
Random Thought: i should remember never to take candy from a cauldron
Mood: testing the mood lighting

I wanted to write a short, sweet, and simple post about my lovely weekend, my lovely-and-now-stylish office, yet another Michigan win, and Apple's awesome 4th Quarter earnings.

But apparently today i'm having issues typing properly or writing completely sentences, so i'm going to just put this one off. Possibly indefinitely.

... So i can write the 4 other papers i'm working on. Oh boy. Maybe i need coffee first....

Expression:

Twirling

Background Noise: my iphone is quiet
Last Visited: perspective
Random Thought: TRs really do like TDs to follow them and to close themselves properly
Mood: guess who's back in the top 25?! (ok, it's not really a mood; sue me)

Ok, is anyone looking? No? All clear? Excellent.

Oh... well, i don't actually have anything particularly secret or secrative to say. Sorry. A while ago i was watching something on the history channel where they were searching for God's Gold - the treasure from the second Temple of Solomon, which, for the record was quite fun; and i have to admit, it put me in a bit of an Indiana Jones gotta-watch-out-who-might-be-listening kinda mood. Which was broken as soon as the waltzing started on Dancing with the Stars. But that's besides the point.

... assuming i have a point. Which, honestly, might be a really big assumption right now.

[For the record, Puff has been trying to commandeer this post - he seems quite convinced he can write something a fair bit more interesting than i can. Perhaps he's right, but i'm just not inclined to let him try. At least not tonight.]

Anyways, it is a rather tantalizing thought that the wealth of the Second Temple might be stashed away in a monestary outside of Bethlehem - in the West Bank, in a war zone, hidden from the world for the past, oh, fourteen hundered years. This treasure, God's Gold, is said to be cursed; that only death and destruction lies in it's wake; that it felled Rome and Constantinople; that it brought the plague; that it's presence away from it's home and proper keepers brings only destruction. And in theory, there it sits, in the West Bank; admist the fighting that has been going on since perhaps the time of the Second Temple itself.

History - or rather, Historians and those they tell their stories to - like clean causational paths; x and x alone leads to y which along with n create the basis for z, etc. Perhaps the story of God's Gold as postulated is too simple to paint an accurate picture of what really happened. Then again, perhaps that simplification of causality simply allows us to remember just how deliciously, maddeningly, and disasterously intertwined the peoples and religions of the land of milk and honey are; how men's greed often leads to consequences far greater than one could have imagined; how long a memory the Desert has; and how much we still have to learn.

... Speaking of lessons I still need to learn: when to go to bed when one is getting up early for a quick run and many early meetings. At least i'm a bit ahead of the game and already in bed... though, i'm sure i'm a few steps behind being that my laptop is still on and i'm still typing. So i suppose i should stop typing. Right.

Expression:

Here We Go Again

Background Noise: But It's Better If You Do
Last Visited: the growing trash bin
Random Thought: instead of being down $10, i'm up $10... not a bad night
Mood: hesitant

It's moving day again; and, like last time i packed these boxes i'm blogging and drinking coffee, oddly hesitant to finish leaving this office. Really all i have left to do is shut down my computers, pack up the cables, make sure all the boxes are labeled, take my key off the key ring and walk out the door. Back to my car, hopefully with enough time to drive home and drop off my pictures and other breakables before taking Joe and Sarah to the airport, then dinner w/ the crew.

It's not that i especially like this office; there's no natural light; often i feel very isolated here, like i'm trapped in a box guessing what the rest of the world wants me to do and hoping that like Dumbledore i'm a fairly good guesser. I don't love this building; the general isolation from many of the teams i work with; how this building hides it's occupants from one another. The general lack of color or vibrancy.

And i don't especially like my office's location, except it's proximity to a few people who brighten my day and put a smile on my face every time i see them; people i will sadly be very far removed from in the new world. And this separation makes me pause to take a breath, take a moment to realize what this office has meant, what i have accomplished here. To realize that while life here hasn't exactly been sunshine and daisies, my time here hasn't been wasted; so much good has happened here, i'm kicking myself for not appreciating it quite as often as i maybe should.

To those who make me smile, who remind me of the girl i meant to be, i cannot thank you enough; and i am going to make is darn hard to get rid of me - sometimes i feel like i need your presence like i need air to breathe - helping you in any way i can is my pleasure, and penance.

Looking forward, though, the new office holds new adventures; and at the very least another chance to maybe decorate - that old design plan still hasn't been implemented after all - who knows.

Time to shut down the world. I'll see you on the flip side, {shudder} at Valco 1. Seriously, they found a way to make DeAnza 8 sound good. Amazing.

Expression:

take your pictures off another wall

Background Noise: Driving Music
Last Visited: Wizard of Odds: Texas Holdem
Random Thought: Required: fine balance, a sense of proportion, and context
Mood: i might need a nap

I, I always believed in futures I hope for better in November I try the same losing lucky numbers It could be a cold night for a lifetime Hey now, you can't keeping saying endlessly My darling, how long until this affects me? Say hello to good times Trade up for the fast ride We close our eyes while the nickel and dime take the streets completely I, I always could count on futures That things would look up, and they look up Why is it so hard to find balance Between living decent and the cold and real Hey now, what is it you think you see? My darling, now's the time to disgaree Say hello to good times Trade up for the fast ride We close our eyes while the nickel and dime take the streets completely Hey now, the past is told by those who win My darling, what matters is what hasn't been Hey now, we're wide awake and we're thinking My darling, believe your voice can mean something Say hello to good times Trade up for the fast ride We close our eyes while the nickel and dime take the streets completely We close our eyes while the nickel and dime take the streets completely - Futures, Jimmy Eat World.

Expression:

27

Background Noise: Green Bay vs. Da Bears
Last Visited: Flickr!
Random Thought: good cameras are fun
Mood: relaxing, and it's fabulous

Happy Birthday to Me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to me.

So, the breakdown: slept in, donuts and cider from the cider mill, pictures at the farm, fishing on the boat, cottage inn extended family dinner (with pie!), laundry!, and rest. I'm adoring the rest. I need more rest. My goodness i'm tired. But, reality will be returning tomorrow morning, and after a brief stop at Zingerman's for coffee, bribes, and an intersting looking pb/honey&bananna sandwhich for the plane, i'll be heading back to the Gold Coast. Hopefully my ride will remember i'm flying into SFO and not SJC.

But you really want to know what my day looked like? Here you go:

Ok, so, i was mentioning rest, right? Well, typing on Jack doesn't exactly feel like resting, so, i'm going to grab a drink and watch the rest of the game (peaking in on the Indians / Yankees game, of course).

Expression:

Go Fighting Trees!!

Background Noise:Ohio State v. Purdue, 3:58 in the 3rd
Last Visited: espn?!?!
Random Thought: OMG, Batman, GO STANFORD!!! 24-23 over USC!!!
Mood: ecstatic!!

So, i took like 150 pictures of this tree this evening, so i figured i should put up a couple:

Also: the best place on earth to watch college football? The student section of the Big House. Thanks, Dave!

Expression:

Say Cheese

Background Noise: Something on tv
Last Visited: Twelve Oaks Mall... doesn't suck? What?
Random Thought: Legally Blonde the Musical is running on MTV? What?
Mood: it's been a long day

The interesting thing about this first set of pictures? (Beyond how fabulous Dave's camera is?) The places represented here i would never have thought to photograph - the day directed the path, and this is what came out. Hopefully tomorrow i'll have time to hit central campus for real, but i figured i'd post these now.

Side note: my siblings are hilarious. Also, i'm glad i didn't buy the Mazda 6; not a bad car, but not exactly my style; thanks, Hertz.

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