27 November 2006
moving progress
well, i did it.
i sold my car.
cancelled my insurance
took all my food to the food bank
picked up some last minute clothing essentials - ok, had a full-out shopping spree, but you can't go to europe without some new clothes! (plus cheaper here than there)
emptied out my safe deposit box - not much in there anyway
got the webcam - Skype here I come!
books got donated to a northern michigan library
things are being given away, stashed or otherwise disposed of.
i'm almost done with my craft projects for the holidays.
i did xmas with the fam, it was great! 4 days at the cottage chillin, playin games, and eating until we burst. awesome.
it's just been a bit overwhelm-y. the tears started on Sunday. they're coming in brief but vigorious showers. the shopping really helped today. heh.
ok. still no contract. but that's a detail, right?
I like what Karen suggested during one of my meltdowns, "Just think, 'What would Elizabeth Taylor do?' She'd probably "borrow" a fur coat. Think big."
The bombshells they are a-flyin.
i sold my car.
cancelled my insurance
took all my food to the food bank
picked up some last minute clothing essentials - ok, had a full-out shopping spree, but you can't go to europe without some new clothes! (plus cheaper here than there)
emptied out my safe deposit box - not much in there anyway
got the webcam - Skype here I come!
books got donated to a northern michigan library
things are being given away, stashed or otherwise disposed of.
i'm almost done with my craft projects for the holidays.
i did xmas with the fam, it was great! 4 days at the cottage chillin, playin games, and eating until we burst. awesome.
it's just been a bit overwhelm-y. the tears started on Sunday. they're coming in brief but vigorious showers. the shopping really helped today. heh.
ok. still no contract. but that's a detail, right?
I like what Karen suggested during one of my meltdowns, "Just think, 'What would Elizabeth Taylor do?' She'd probably "borrow" a fur coat. Think big."
The bombshells they are a-flyin.
Labels: moving
20 November 2006
Stops 3 and 4, Salsa and Swing!
Salsa at the Sky bar in Royal Oak. Jenn and Brian showed up, Brian brought some pals. We salsa'd through the lesson, and a little bit afterwards, but the music quickly shifted to Merengue. I like Merengue, but after an hour or so, we were pretty well done.
So we proceeded to Luna during 80's night. There was more drinking and dancing. It really got fun. There was another Coney Attack at National afterwards, and then homeward.
The Big 3 Swing Dance was phenomenal. There was a ~10 piece jazz band playing songbook classics. Little old ladies were out dancing with the grandfathers, just like when they were in their 20's. Young swing kids dressed in vintage military uniforms and dresses and really cut up the dancefloor. There was some East-coast swing, and some West-coast. Jenn is talking about taking lessons, and Brian seemed interested in them as well. Woo! It was a great night of gin, Jazz, and East-coast swing. Brian's a great dance partner. Plus, the Masonic Temple is just lovely.
So we proceeded to Luna during 80's night. There was more drinking and dancing. It really got fun. There was another Coney Attack at National afterwards, and then homeward.
The Big 3 Swing Dance was phenomenal. There was a ~10 piece jazz band playing songbook classics. Little old ladies were out dancing with the grandfathers, just like when they were in their 20's. Young swing kids dressed in vintage military uniforms and dresses and really cut up the dancefloor. There was some East-coast swing, and some West-coast. Jenn is talking about taking lessons, and Brian seemed interested in them as well. Woo! It was a great night of gin, Jazz, and East-coast swing. Brian's a great dance partner. Plus, the Masonic Temple is just lovely.
08 November 2006
Second Stop, Matt Pond PA!
matt pond PA at the Magic Stick
Jay chaufferred, and was on the list, so I got to be +1. Cryptic Brian the Scientist showed up. He's always good fun.
The show was great. matt pond was wonderful, as usual. They make very pretty music. I danced. The CD's are good, but the live show is just extramuch.
It's funny, the show started really early, doors were at 6:30, it was all ages. when we got to the garden bowl I ordered a double gin gimlet. ooh. that's how you know it's going to be an evening! (jay drove, so I wasn't feelin too responsible) matt pond wrapped up, and straylight run was coming on. I'd had 2 double gimlets at that point. we checked our watches and it was 9:35. 9:35 and piss drunk on a Tuesday. it was perfect. then we all went to the lager house for more good bands. the Pernice Brothers were a bunch of older smoking guys who didn't look like they would, but they played beautiful ballad-y songs.
truth be told, I think I might have overdone it a bit. eating today is a delicate proposition, and it feels like the back of my head's blown open. I checked in the mirror, and it's not.
I believe I'll take a nap at lunch today. Maybe that'll put my horses back together again.
Jay chaufferred, and was on the list, so I got to be +1. Cryptic Brian the Scientist showed up. He's always good fun.
The show was great. matt pond was wonderful, as usual. They make very pretty music. I danced. The CD's are good, but the live show is just extramuch.
It's funny, the show started really early, doors were at 6:30, it was all ages. when we got to the garden bowl I ordered a double gin gimlet. ooh. that's how you know it's going to be an evening! (jay drove, so I wasn't feelin too responsible) matt pond wrapped up, and straylight run was coming on. I'd had 2 double gimlets at that point. we checked our watches and it was 9:35. 9:35 and piss drunk on a Tuesday. it was perfect. then we all went to the lager house for more good bands. the Pernice Brothers were a bunch of older smoking guys who didn't look like they would, but they played beautiful ballad-y songs.
truth be told, I think I might have overdone it a bit. eating today is a delicate proposition, and it feels like the back of my head's blown open. I checked in the mirror, and it's not.
I believe I'll take a nap at lunch today. Maybe that'll put my horses back together again.
07 November 2006
work and circuses
This is what it's like working next to the Palace of Auburn Hills: Some days the dump smells like wet death, and some days it's all horses and elephants parading by. :)
06 November 2006
First Stop, Iceman!
BIKE RIDE
It was a cold Iceman this year. ~27F when we left Kalkaska for the 28 mile bike ride to Traverse City. It stopped snowing a little ways out, and turned into a really nice ride. It took me about an hour longer to ride it this year than last, but I had a great soundtrack and was just lovin' life. I didn't cramp, no serious back or knee pain. I just put my head down on the hills and did my best. The Fat Girls class took off with the Beginners, who were a dizzz-asster in the sandpits. Once I got around the least technical of them the ride got better and faster.
They called my name at the 17-mile mark, Williamsburg Road, and that's always a nice pick-me-up. I was also announced at the finish line. I saw Nick and Marco as I was coming up the hill, through the gates. I was just all tired and done at that point, 3:24 minutes of bike riding and I just wanted to drop the bike and drink some Supertang. Warm clothes, cookies, and beer made it all better. That, and about an hour soaking in the tub back at the hotel.
BEST COMPLIMENT
After warming up and cleaning up, before the awards ceremony, I got the nicest compliment. Nick, Marty and I were standing in line for dinner, and Marts said, "I've got yours too. When we get to our table I'll tell you why." I was surprised and interested to hear.
A bunch of our friends didn't show up for the race. They hadn't been training enough, their pinky fingers hurt, or whatever. Point being, they didn't come up for the ride or the parties. Me, you couldn't say that I've been training. You could say that I've been drinking my ass off, and ride my bike once a month or so.
Marty said, "You just came up here, put your clothes on and got on your bike. And you beat me. That took grit." Girl's got character. Maybe someday I'll be less self-involved, and will give great compliments like that. Don't hold your breath, but maybe.
AWARDS CEREMONY
My pal and coworker, JOberon, bought the first beer of the raucous evening. We waited through awards, and I got my medal for third place Fat Chick, and my $50 drinkin money, and we wandered out. As we were leaving, John hollered after me, "Get real drunk and don't kick anybody's ass" I love it. It's going to take a while to establish a rep like this in Europe.
AFTERPARTY
The Bells party at Union Street was very fun this year. The Studiotones did good cover songs, and there was plenty of drinking and dancing. It was fun to spend time with drunken coworkers and drunken mountain bikers. I was pretty happy about the whole situation.
It was nothing like last year's debacle, but it was a good start to the going away parties.
It was a cold Iceman this year. ~27F when we left Kalkaska for the 28 mile bike ride to Traverse City. It stopped snowing a little ways out, and turned into a really nice ride. It took me about an hour longer to ride it this year than last, but I had a great soundtrack and was just lovin' life. I didn't cramp, no serious back or knee pain. I just put my head down on the hills and did my best. The Fat Girls class took off with the Beginners, who were a dizzz-asster in the sandpits. Once I got around the least technical of them the ride got better and faster.
They called my name at the 17-mile mark, Williamsburg Road, and that's always a nice pick-me-up. I was also announced at the finish line. I saw Nick and Marco as I was coming up the hill, through the gates. I was just all tired and done at that point, 3:24 minutes of bike riding and I just wanted to drop the bike and drink some Supertang. Warm clothes, cookies, and beer made it all better. That, and about an hour soaking in the tub back at the hotel.
BEST COMPLIMENT
After warming up and cleaning up, before the awards ceremony, I got the nicest compliment. Nick, Marty and I were standing in line for dinner, and Marts said, "I've got yours too. When we get to our table I'll tell you why." I was surprised and interested to hear.
A bunch of our friends didn't show up for the race. They hadn't been training enough, their pinky fingers hurt, or whatever. Point being, they didn't come up for the ride or the parties. Me, you couldn't say that I've been training. You could say that I've been drinking my ass off, and ride my bike once a month or so.
Marty said, "You just came up here, put your clothes on and got on your bike. And you beat me. That took grit." Girl's got character. Maybe someday I'll be less self-involved, and will give great compliments like that. Don't hold your breath, but maybe.
AWARDS CEREMONY
My pal and coworker, JOberon, bought the first beer of the raucous evening. We waited through awards, and I got my medal for third place Fat Chick, and my $50 drinkin money, and we wandered out. As we were leaving, John hollered after me, "Get real drunk and don't kick anybody's ass" I love it. It's going to take a while to establish a rep like this in Europe.
AFTERPARTY
The Bells party at Union Street was very fun this year. The Studiotones did good cover songs, and there was plenty of drinking and dancing. It was fun to spend time with drunken coworkers and drunken mountain bikers. I was pretty happy about the whole situation.
It was nothing like last year's debacle, but it was a good start to the going away parties.
01 November 2006
Farewell Tour
Wow, here we are. November 1. I fly out on December 1. I have 30 days left in this country. eep!
September and the first part of October were really dragging for me. But the last part has been great, and just sped by.
So here we are. Consider occupying some of your November with these events:
September and the first part of October were really dragging for me. But the last part has been great, and just sped by.
So here we are. Consider occupying some of your November with these events:
