One of those days

Okay, y'all, it is one of those days.

Wake up, shower, dry hair. Review script for tonight's California Legacy performance. Get dressed, realize that I can't find my boots. Put on another pair of boots, realize they look wrong with slacks. Go to car to see if heeled boots are there. They aren't. Go back to house, put on pair of heeled oxfords, realize the comfy stripey socks I put on when my ankles were going to be covered clash horribly. Take off shoes, switch socks, put on shoes again. Gather up script, change of shirt, shawl. Get in car. Drive out of driveway. Realize have forgotten lunch. Pull back into driveway, scurry to house, look down and realize undergarments are visible under sweater. Go inside, take off sweater, put on tank top, put sweater back on. Almost forget soup, but remember before heading down driveway. Get back in car. Drive down through town, in left turn lane when look down and realize am missing my purse. Turn around, go back, get purse. Leave again.

Arrive at office, later than hoped. Walk to building, realize soup is still in car. Keep walking, go to desk, struggle a good 45 seconds to get laptop seated in docking station for booting. Go to kitchen, since coffee obviously needed; coffeepot empty. Sigh and walk back to car to retrieve lunch.

And that's as far as I've gotten today. But I am seriously worried how the rest of it will go, especially the driving to Monterey and performing part. Wish me luck?

Ancient Injury

Still working on classifying newspaper articles at Santa Cruz... I'm looking at The Mountain Echo, published in Boulder Creek in the late 18 and early 19 hundreds. Browsing through these aged papers - this one was obscure enough not to have been converted to microfiche - is quite an experience. I find myself wondering about the people who produced them, and how many hands before mine have carefully turned the pages.

I'm not sure if it says something about the work, humanity, or just me, but as I'm moving through the articles, I've ended up inadvertantly following the story of one Mr. Dool, who had an illness which required his being sent to San Jose for treatment. After a September 1904 entry indicating his return home and improved health, I felt a pang of genuine surprise and concern when his name came up the following month next to the word "operation."

Mr. Dool has most likely been dead for some time now; but somehow I find myself concerned for his health. We humans are funny folks.

Reflecting on the Day

I have to say, this is how I felt most days, in my old job.

I love Garfield Minus Garfield.

Making the Most of It

I am still working, but I find myself taking perverse pleasure in exploiting the circumstances. Like taking meeting calls in my pajamas well after 10am. Then wandering out the back door and nibbling tomatoes off the vine between comments. Just because I can. Bwahaha.

First Day of Freedom

People have been asking me how it feels to be unemployed now. To be honest, I don't know yet.

At the moment, it feels kind of like the weekend arrived early. I think next week it will sink in more, when I don't have to go back on Monday. (woo!)

However, I've been having a lovely morning - I took today as a holiday, so no packing or anything. I've played with the cats, done some laundry, walked downtown for coffee and a bagel, browsed the used bookstore... it's been very very nice.

After today, it will be all about the packing and cleaning. And you know... I'm kind of looking forward to it!

Live. Sleepy. But live.

OMG I think we're done. The redesign is live.

Final Friday

So, today is my last Friday as a full time employee of VMware. I have only 4 more days (including today) of immersion in all the frenzy that goes on there. Only four more days of having people tell me I'm crazy for making different choices than they would.

At the moment, that may be one of the best parts. It is really hard to make a difficult decision and then have 2-3 different people EVERY DAY not only question it, but try to persuade you that you are wrong. And they're doing that because they kind of like you... but can't fathom that your priorities can be so different than their own.

It's been pretty interesting, really. Because wow. It turns out my priorities ARE really different. Fortunately, I have the support of my boyfriend, my family, and my close friends. They understand where I am and why I am making these choices. Some of them have even made similar ones.

I have fun the full gamut of emotions on this event - I've been elated, petrified, sad, relieved, nostalgic. But it's really happening. Finally.

Inevitable

The worst thing about taking vacation time is the inevitable mess you find when you get back.

And I mean inevitable in a very literal sort of way. It ALWAYS happens. Sigh.