Back to Work

I spent last week off work and getting situated in my apartment. I figured I'd get everything in order by the week's end, but it didn't work out this way, mainly, because part of taking vacation is to relax. Granted, it's difficult to relax when you are surrounded by piles, boxes, plants and furniture w/ no place, but it's needed. So, I slept in several days, read and took care of getting lots of things situated. Many items didn't make the cut, including a vintage suitcase I'd never used but loved the look of; a vintage doctor's bag (also never used) that had that moldy smell inside and felt like it was made of cardboard; a picnic table and bench set that folder down (hadn't been used in almost three years), a fireplace screen given to me that turned out to be way too small for the fireplace; and many, many CDs.

Friday was fun. Met Carrie and Andy at the Yen Wor Garden for karaoke. For the first time ever, I didn't sing. I wasn't feeling it but it was fun to see the old favs there. That place is an undiscovered (for the most part) karaoke GEM! Everyone raves about the Rickshaw. I haven't been but I'm tired of hearing about it 'cause I love my Yen Wor. But, even at the Yen Wor, sometimes you have to press on as Carrie, Andy and I did to the 5th Avenue, which is also a nicely kept secret (not to the neighborhood locales) but most excellent drinking establishment. Saw some old friends there. Some more interesting than others ;). Played some Misfits and enjoyed a cholate martini.

Saturday was relatively lowkey. Indulged my craving for Chinese food. Woop woop!

Sunday rained and rained and rained, but the work had to press on. I dropped off many of the goods at the nearby Goodwill. I had to drop off the best book I've read recently called Homesick Creek by Diane Hammond. Set in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, specifically), you meet Anita and Kitty--lifelong friends who've shared lots since meeting in high school. At present, Anita is dealing w/ dim prospects in her life due to an alcoholic husband and young daughter married to a man involved w/ drugs and her daughter's inability to care for her daughter (Anita's granddaughter). Kitty is living in financial abundance. She works as a waitress as she has for years and he husband is the breakwinner as a car salesman but Kitty is certain he's cheating again. Within these plots, there are some good twists. It was hard to put this one down.

I digressed, so I dropped off Homesick Creek and picked up a book about Goya. I've always loved his art but don't know much about the man, so thought this one could be good. I've heard ppl say he wasn't a good man, but we'll just see what this book says. I also picked up The Corner, an HBO mini-series that seems to be the jumping off point for my newest discovery The Wire. The Wire has really rocked my world. Complex plots where nothing is left unresolved. The Corner is okay. Pretty good, but I miss the grittiness of The Wire. Many, many, many of the same players involved.

Back in the workout saddle after a few weeks of chaos. Yesterday, hit the Y for a little weight training and 35 minutes of bicycle riding. Tonight, it's yoga.

Returning to work is good. It gives a good structure in which to compartmentalize what I have to do at home and not get overwhelmed by it. If I'm working for 8 or 9 hours per day, then, I can focus the rest of the time on fixing up the place, exercise and some sewing (as I just started my construction class).

The Digging Continues...

I expected today to be productive. Set up my bed and found the right spot for the dresser. I really like how it looks so far. The thought of unloading my car was awful, but I needed to get out and got my backseat almost unloaded. I went to Grocery Outlet today. It's been a while since I've gone there but today, I picked up a nice Blueberry Ale. Not very strong, but it was tasty. When I got home, I laid down to watch an Iranian film called The Circle. It started off slow, but became much more interesting. The director Jafar Panahi focuses on female oppressoin in Iran. My first exposure to director Jafar Panahi was Offside. About an hour into the movie, I fell asleep. Is a pattern developing? It was a delicous nap. I got up and started serious work on the kitchen. Several boxes were unpacked. Then, I spent about four hours on the Internet--looking up people from my past. Why is Internet stalking such addictive fun? My spirits are on the upswing. I have fished to the kitchen table chairs and tomorrow I set up a good spot for it and then, I can actually sit and eat and sit and type. The floor has been a very good and willing friend, but my back has had a few complaints!

Finally...New Home, Messy Home

I'm finally in my condo! It took forever to finish up and leave my old place in Phinney. Leaving a 750 sq ft space after nearly five years left me with wonderful memories but unfortunately also lots of accumulated crap. I have the pack rat in me, but I had no idea how badly I was afflicted.

Just today I finished clearing out all the crap. The best decision I made regarding was hiring the Millionaire Club movers! Q, William and Visor Guy were hard-working and positive. My biggest mistake--running out of boxes and figuring I'd just get the last of it on my own when I could have saved myself the headache yesterday and today of that extra packing and moving stuff when I had movers! Dumb, dumb, dumb. My car is still packed w/ stuff. It is parked downstairs in the garage. I'll get to it little by little.

Last night, I fell asleep watched The Painted Veil. Not a judgement on the film, but rather an indication of the exhaustion that has culminated in these last two stressful weeks. Today, upon my arrival back home from a day of cleaning, I put the movie back on and rewound a bit as I started dozing off well before I actually konked out. It delves into the nuances of a marriage that begins for all the wrong reasons. Kitty and Walter have nothing in common--nothing. But, it's back in the day and things were different (or were they?). For reasons, you'll discover soon enough, they are married and living in China. It's clearly not a relationshiop of love and they quickly fall into an understanding--living very separate lives--and later in separate rooms and rarely interacting. It isn't until cholera breaks out in the village that there's a change in their relationship and the couple actually starts getting to know one another. Films rarely delve into this aspect of relationships and Naomi Watts and Edward Norton brilliantly depict the troubled couple. It challenges notions about falling in love, what it takes and what's possible. I give it an A.

Lastly, I haven't cooked in over a week and this eating out business is fun, but also costly and killing my stomach. Tonight, I had an excellent Thai Beef Salad from the Thai Food Restaurant in Greenwood. The salad was tasty, but those deep-fried veggie spring rolls--they were the business!! Last night, I delighted in Kung Pao Prawns from Yen Wor Garden. How can something [fried food] so good be so bad? Alack, alack, I'm back on the wagon. Tomorrow, Special K and 1% milk for breakfast and hopefully a big salad in my lunch or dinner future.

First post EVER...

I've been wanting to start a blog for years but I've had an issue. First, if I were to use it as a journal of sorts, there's no way I'd want anyone to see it. The things written about in a journal are neurotic, obsessive and boring to an outsider. Even when I return to the scene of a crime and read my journal entry, I bore myself. Other times, I actually enjoy it but I don't want to do that to you. Instead, I'm going to do my best to find a niche here. Not sure yet, but perhaps it'll a little like writing, reading or cooking, sometimes you figure out where you're going while en route.

Today, I'm working from Kristi's place. We met at a bookstore to work on our respective projects for the tech company we work for, but I just couldn't buckle down. After three months on the job, little training and a complex project that keeps changing, ugh, I'm so sick of it. I feel fortunate to have this job but does it have to be this difficult. I've been brainstorming many ideas about starting a business. I've always wanted to do this but what kind of business? Really need to brainstorm ideas. For now, I'm left w/ knowing that tomorrow I will meet w/ my boss and try to let him know how overwhelmed I feel w/o giving that desperate edge.

There are several other matters, non-work related, that I'm not ready to delve into, but I'm planning on it.