Today my family splurged on me, and we all went out to a bakery where they serve real people pastry! It was delicious. And I had a real chocolate croissant for the first time in 2.5 years! =)
I am also now the proud owner of a GPS. You realize what this means, right? NO MORE GETTING LOST ON THE HIGHWAY!!
Ahem. I'm a bit excited about this prospect. :P
G'night, world.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Manifesto
So, I know I've sounded pretty negative on here for a while now... and honestly, it's just 'cause I mostly use this place to let off steam about the non-serious, everyday things in life that build up and make my head want to explode.
So, let me share a positive episode, as I'm trying to shift my outlook from "more pessimistic than optimistic, but more realistic than pessimistic" - which places me, if this whole optimism/pessimism thing were a scale, in the middle, but safely on the side of pessimism - to something more along the lines of "more optimistic than pessimistic, but more realistic than optimistic" - or in other words, squarely on the side of optimism, but still fairly close to the middle.
If all the repetitions of optimistic/optimism and pessimistic/pessimism in the previous paragraph have you confused, I'll make it simple: I spend a lot of time mentally (and vocally) complaining, criticizing, and looking sorrowfully at the past. I want to spend more time rejoicing, praising, and looking hopefully over both the past and the future. Cynicism has its time and place, but that's not now, or with me. Hehe.
Anyway, so yeah. This Saturday I hosted a dinner party. Me. I've never done that before! And it went beautifully. =) I had some of my favorite people around me, and we ate good food, and laughed. We also had a visit from a couple that I really hadn't expected to come- it was such a privilege to see them! And feed them. ;)
Over 'n out.
E.O.
So, let me share a positive episode, as I'm trying to shift my outlook from "more pessimistic than optimistic, but more realistic than pessimistic" - which places me, if this whole optimism/pessimism thing were a scale, in the middle, but safely on the side of pessimism - to something more along the lines of "more optimistic than pessimistic, but more realistic than optimistic" - or in other words, squarely on the side of optimism, but still fairly close to the middle.
If all the repetitions of optimistic/optimism and pessimistic/pessimism in the previous paragraph have you confused, I'll make it simple: I spend a lot of time mentally (and vocally) complaining, criticizing, and looking sorrowfully at the past. I want to spend more time rejoicing, praising, and looking hopefully over both the past and the future. Cynicism has its time and place, but that's not now, or with me. Hehe.
Anyway, so yeah. This Saturday I hosted a dinner party. Me. I've never done that before! And it went beautifully. =) I had some of my favorite people around me, and we ate good food, and laughed. We also had a visit from a couple that I really hadn't expected to come- it was such a privilege to see them! And feed them. ;)
Over 'n out.
E.O.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
On being a little bitchy
Things I've dealt with this week:
1. Fav. Chinese-American calling while I was at work (thus, me missing it) and when I tried to call back leaving not one, but two, idiotic, insufficient messages.
2. Parking in a PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE spot that NO ONE ON EARTH WAS GOING TO USE BUT ME and getting a ticket for parking in a "tow zone" - though I had parked there the day before without any trouble, and there were NO SIGNS marking it as a tow zone.
3. Cajoling my boss into giving me the raise I earned a year ago.
4. Trying to give the finaid office all the financial crap they need to determine whether or not I'm worthy of being given some mula so I can continue to go to this school, and being told repeatedly that I had brought them the wrong thing. Again. Only to find out (finally) that they want X document (not Y or Z), that it must be ALL 30 PAGES of said document, and that it must be SIGNED by BOTH my parents on the SECOND page.
5. One of my parents happens to be in another state. This has ramifications for 4, but makes a number of its own because it means that the ONE PERSON I was looking forward to talking to this summer is NOT AROUND.
6. Smiling and telling people that yes, I'm loving being on vacation - when in truth, I'm working 40h a week, and commuting for the first time ever, and so this is NOT a vacation, SCHOOL IS MY VACATION.
7. Being forced by my family to appeal the parking ticket, though I absolutely HATE dealing with red tape, and highly doubt that this *coughgreedycough* university is going to let my money out of its clutches.
8. Wrestling with how to get communication into swing with my fav. Chinese American, though said person is self-admittedly awful at long-distance communication, and wondering if this is even a good idea at all.
9. My dad coming (after 3 weeks of saying he would) in to my workplace to get help with a project he's designing, and the whole affair being decidedly awkward because the person he really needed to talk to wasn't there, and someone else (who's much less helpful and friendly) taking over.
10. Messing up at work because of being distracted by all of the above and more.
So when I finally did get another call from my fCA, and missed it AGAIN 'cause he can't figure out that I WON'T PICK UP BETWEEN 10 AND 5, I may have left a message that was a bit... angry sounding... though most of my frustration is not at all his fault, and I'd like to fix that area of my life and get out of the bumpy, scratchy, working-out-how-things-should-work phase of communication. And sounding angry on the phone for the only 30 seconds he'll hear me speak for however long isn't the best way to accomplish that.
Bleeeeeaaaaaaargh.
Summer WILL get better. I'm having a birthday party this weekend. That will be good. A is at work with me. That is good. I got hired for a second job, that pays much better and isn't in the basement. That will be good.
But for now... I really want some chocolate.
over 'n out.
E.O.
1. Fav. Chinese-American calling while I was at work (thus, me missing it) and when I tried to call back leaving not one, but two, idiotic, insufficient messages.
2. Parking in a PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE spot that NO ONE ON EARTH WAS GOING TO USE BUT ME and getting a ticket for parking in a "tow zone" - though I had parked there the day before without any trouble, and there were NO SIGNS marking it as a tow zone.
3. Cajoling my boss into giving me the raise I earned a year ago.
4. Trying to give the finaid office all the financial crap they need to determine whether or not I'm worthy of being given some mula so I can continue to go to this school, and being told repeatedly that I had brought them the wrong thing. Again. Only to find out (finally) that they want X document (not Y or Z), that it must be ALL 30 PAGES of said document, and that it must be SIGNED by BOTH my parents on the SECOND page.
5. One of my parents happens to be in another state. This has ramifications for 4, but makes a number of its own because it means that the ONE PERSON I was looking forward to talking to this summer is NOT AROUND.
6. Smiling and telling people that yes, I'm loving being on vacation - when in truth, I'm working 40h a week, and commuting for the first time ever, and so this is NOT a vacation, SCHOOL IS MY VACATION.
7. Being forced by my family to appeal the parking ticket, though I absolutely HATE dealing with red tape, and highly doubt that this *coughgreedycough* university is going to let my money out of its clutches.
8. Wrestling with how to get communication into swing with my fav. Chinese American, though said person is self-admittedly awful at long-distance communication, and wondering if this is even a good idea at all.
9. My dad coming (after 3 weeks of saying he would) in to my workplace to get help with a project he's designing, and the whole affair being decidedly awkward because the person he really needed to talk to wasn't there, and someone else (who's much less helpful and friendly) taking over.
10. Messing up at work because of being distracted by all of the above and more.
So when I finally did get another call from my fCA, and missed it AGAIN 'cause he can't figure out that I WON'T PICK UP BETWEEN 10 AND 5, I may have left a message that was a bit... angry sounding... though most of my frustration is not at all his fault, and I'd like to fix that area of my life and get out of the bumpy, scratchy, working-out-how-things-should-work phase of communication. And sounding angry on the phone for the only 30 seconds he'll hear me speak for however long isn't the best way to accomplish that.
Bleeeeeaaaaaaargh.
Summer WILL get better. I'm having a birthday party this weekend. That will be good. A is at work with me. That is good. I got hired for a second job, that pays much better and isn't in the basement. That will be good.
But for now... I really want some chocolate.
over 'n out.
E.O.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Highway Travels/Troubles
So... I've been getting a ride to work with a relative of mine for a few weeks now. I have watched closely as she careens the car, with us in it, into the city. So when I was informed that she wouldn't be going to work today and tomorrow, and that I would have to drive myself to work and back I thought, hey, no problem! I got up in the morning, got myself dressed, fed, etc, got in the car, and drove myself to work. All was splendid.
It wasn't until the drive home that I realized that I had not been paying quite so much attention to the road on the way back. In my defense, I was also trying to get home from a different part of the city, having visited the ever-lovely IKEA. Needless to say, I got hopelessly turned around. So hopelessly, in fact, that I had half-an-hour's trouble finding a highway, any highway, to get onto and on which to get closer to familiar territory. Eventually I managed to get on a highway, going in one direction of the compass, thinking it would feed into the highway I actually wanted to be on ('cause it does, in the center of the city) only to realize that it DOES do so - in the complete opposite direction from the one in which I was presently traveling. Joy. I righted myself, and finally (and very, very circuitously) got on the right route, only to miss my exit and practically have left the city behind me for good before I realized it.
At this point I gave up, got off the highway, and called my Dad. Wise man that he is, he sent me straight to the right exit, and gave me nice, simple directions for getting from said exit to my house.
Hurray for dads who know their exits.
Also, I have to do this again tomorrow. Hopefully minus the whole getting-lost-adventure bit. I've discovered though that I really like driving. And oh, the elation of figuring out you're finally right where you need to be! But I wax metaphorical. And I'm beginning to begin sentences with "and" and "but" - stop me, before I turn English (back) into German! Aaagh!
-end of broadcast-
E.O.
It wasn't until the drive home that I realized that I had not been paying quite so much attention to the road on the way back. In my defense, I was also trying to get home from a different part of the city, having visited the ever-lovely IKEA. Needless to say, I got hopelessly turned around. So hopelessly, in fact, that I had half-an-hour's trouble finding a highway, any highway, to get onto and on which to get closer to familiar territory. Eventually I managed to get on a highway, going in one direction of the compass, thinking it would feed into the highway I actually wanted to be on ('cause it does, in the center of the city) only to realize that it DOES do so - in the complete opposite direction from the one in which I was presently traveling. Joy. I righted myself, and finally (and very, very circuitously) got on the right route, only to miss my exit and practically have left the city behind me for good before I realized it.
At this point I gave up, got off the highway, and called my Dad. Wise man that he is, he sent me straight to the right exit, and gave me nice, simple directions for getting from said exit to my house.
Hurray for dads who know their exits.
Also, I have to do this again tomorrow. Hopefully minus the whole getting-lost-adventure bit. I've discovered though that I really like driving. And oh, the elation of figuring out you're finally right where you need to be! But I wax metaphorical. And I'm beginning to begin sentences with "and" and "but" - stop me, before I turn English (back) into German! Aaagh!
-end of broadcast-
E.O.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Where'd you go?
I realized something the other night, and it compels me to make a list. So here's my attempt:
the First:
Marlies
Tanja
Claudia
Kirsten
Paul
Georg
Gudrun
Frau Vertatchnik
Kristiana
Adrian
Helena
Emma
the Second:
Taylor
Leah
Holly
Sarah
Mary
Hudson C
Hudson
(boy's name)
Mrs. Beacham
the Third:
Monica
Ana
Conchi
Lili
Camila
Cristina
Kenan
Carlos
Rosa
Albert
Jenny
Merche
Irene
Maria
Joan
Isai
Inaki
Jason
Dina
Danielle & Costellos
the Cooks
the Fourth:
Sarah M
Sarah C
Oliver
Steen
Mimi
Emily
Chris
William
Sharon
Katherine
Delaney
Holly
Veronica
Anne
Frau Ingram
the Fifth:
Silvia
Conchita
Castro
Luciano
Cristina/Noa
Belen
Sandra
Jessi
Jenni
Lidia
Pablo
Sergi
Capafons
Culell
Juan Carlos
Blanquito
la de Quimica
la Toucan
Nicolas
Mari
Ellen
Sara
Sarita
Keila
Miriam
Oliver
Sara
Andrea
Joel
Doris & David
Mr. Beattie
Mark & Aniana
Susana
Jordi
Ibai
Rut
Dan
Pedro & Vicki
the Sixth:
Maria
Obsa
Egipcio
Eunice
Alaye
Mrs Ballantine
Coach Lee
the in between:
Ann-Phyllis
Delice
Matt
Alexa
Martha
Hank
Andrew
Eliza
Sarah
Rachel
John/Fred
JD
John L
Melanie
Ariel
And this list only comprises a fraction... a fraction of the people that have disappeared from my life because of distance. I haven't included their parents/families, and there are a lot of people whose faces I can remember, but not names.
Stayed (non-family):
Annalisa
Hannah
Ann-Phyllis
Delice
the First:
Marlies
Tanja
Claudia
Kirsten
Paul
Georg
Gudrun
Frau Vertatchnik
Kristiana
Adrian
Helena
Emma
the Second:
Taylor
Leah
Holly
Sarah
Mary
Hudson C
Hudson
(boy's name)
Mrs. Beacham
the Third:
Monica
Ana
Conchi
Lili
Camila
Cristina
Kenan
Carlos
Rosa
Albert
Jenny
Merche
Irene
Maria
Joan
Isai
Inaki
Jason
Dina
Danielle & Costellos
the Cooks
the Fourth:
Sarah M
Sarah C
Oliver
Steen
Mimi
Emily
Chris
William
Sharon
Katherine
Delaney
Holly
Veronica
Anne
Frau Ingram
the Fifth:
Silvia
Conchita
Castro
Luciano
Cristina/Noa
Belen
Sandra
Jessi
Jenni
Lidia
Pablo
Sergi
Capafons
Culell
Juan Carlos
Blanquito
la de Quimica
la Toucan
Nicolas
Mari
Ellen
Sara
Sarita
Keila
Miriam
Oliver
Sara
Andrea
Joel
Doris & David
Mr. Beattie
Mark & Aniana
Susana
Jordi
Ibai
Rut
Dan
Pedro & Vicki
the Sixth:
Maria
Obsa
Egipcio
Eunice
Alaye
Mrs Ballantine
Coach Lee
the in between:
Ann-Phyllis
Delice
Matt
Alexa
Martha
Hank
Andrew
Eliza
Sarah
Rachel
John/Fred
JD
John L
Melanie
Ariel
And this list only comprises a fraction... a fraction of the people that have disappeared from my life because of distance. I haven't included their parents/families, and there are a lot of people whose faces I can remember, but not names.
Stayed (non-family):
Annalisa
Hannah
Ann-Phyllis
Delice
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