Date: July 25th, 2010
I've dated a surprising number of pilots in my life. By which I mean two. I have dated two people who are pilots. Which is significantly more than most people's number: zero. The first pilot I dated was also my first boyfriend. Kevin. I was 14 and he was 16 and instead of trying to get his driver's license the second he turned 16 like a lot of guys, he was focusing on getting enough hours to get his pilot's license. I asked him about it a couple times, but being 14 and shallow, I actually found his love of the sky to be somewhat distracting from the task at hand. Dating me. Like I said - 14 and shallow. The thing was though, it stuck with me how much he loved being up in the air.
July 31, 2010
July 29, 2010
Day 199 - Cut Down a Tree
Date: July 24th, 2010
American mythology taught us that George Washington couldn't tell a lie so he admitted to chopping down a cherry tree. Or was that Abe Lincoln? Being Honest Abe and all. I've heard it both ways. The point is, lying is bad. Also, don't cut down trees. Unless they're gigantic, ugly, power-line strangling monsters without a vegetative soul, to speak of. That was the case this weekend as I head down to Southgate to chill with Justin's family. One of the things his folks had been asking him to do (before he started disappearing to Ann Arbor every weekend for two months... something I take full personal blame for) was help cut back and poison one particularly aggressive tree-bush-monster that had been growing outside his brother's window.
American mythology taught us that George Washington couldn't tell a lie so he admitted to chopping down a cherry tree. Or was that Abe Lincoln? Being Honest Abe and all. I've heard it both ways. The point is, lying is bad. Also, don't cut down trees. Unless they're gigantic, ugly, power-line strangling monsters without a vegetative soul, to speak of. That was the case this weekend as I head down to Southgate to chill with Justin's family. One of the things his folks had been asking him to do (before he started disappearing to Ann Arbor every weekend for two months... something I take full personal blame for) was help cut back and poison one particularly aggressive tree-bush-monster that had been growing outside his brother's window.
July 27, 2010
Day 198 - Make a Microloan
Date: July 23rd, 2010
One of the things that I have to fight with clients a lot at work is this idea that taking charity or getting assistance is somehow a bad thing. A lot of the people I talk to would benefit greatly from food stamps, government cash assistance, or medicaid, but they haven't applied yet because they don't want to take "hand outs". For the most part, the people who I talk to that are taking government assistance are people who have children to feed and care for, rather than just themselves. It is such a surprising stance for me to hear from people, having been raised to believe that a society should care for all its members. I've been blessed not to need food stamps or government assistance, but if I qualified for the programs and needed the help, I would surely take it. The stigma that others feel is something that I never really, well, got.
One of the things that I have to fight with clients a lot at work is this idea that taking charity or getting assistance is somehow a bad thing. A lot of the people I talk to would benefit greatly from food stamps, government cash assistance, or medicaid, but they haven't applied yet because they don't want to take "hand outs". For the most part, the people who I talk to that are taking government assistance are people who have children to feed and care for, rather than just themselves. It is such a surprising stance for me to hear from people, having been raised to believe that a society should care for all its members. I've been blessed not to need food stamps or government assistance, but if I qualified for the programs and needed the help, I would surely take it. The stigma that others feel is something that I never really, well, got.
Day 197 - Listen to NPR
Date: July 22nd, 2010
Generally speaking, I think of one of two things when I think about NPR -- how every unwashed hippie turns into a foreign policy expert after an hour of listening to it and how, every once in a while, SNL hits the nail on the head. I also realized toward the end of last week that NPR is such a cultural icon that I feel like I understand it and appreciate it without ever having listened to it.
Generally speaking, I think of one of two things when I think about NPR -- how every unwashed hippie turns into a foreign policy expert after an hour of listening to it and how, every once in a while, SNL hits the nail on the head. I also realized toward the end of last week that NPR is such a cultural icon that I feel like I understand it and appreciate it without ever having listened to it.
July 26, 2010
Day 196 - Run a Meeting with a Client in Full
Date: July 21st, 2010
I've been taking baby steps at work for the past month or so, all leading up to eventually being a real lawyer. Each brief I write needs fewer corrections and each phone call I take needs fewer follow ups. I still have miles and miles to go, but I'm starting to really notice progress. Even so, it has been small, incremental, comfortable steps. So, when one of the attorneys I've been working with said I should handle a meeting in a divorce case completely unsupervised, I felt substantially more nervous than I expected.
I've been taking baby steps at work for the past month or so, all leading up to eventually being a real lawyer. Each brief I write needs fewer corrections and each phone call I take needs fewer follow ups. I still have miles and miles to go, but I'm starting to really notice progress. Even so, it has been small, incremental, comfortable steps. So, when one of the attorneys I've been working with said I should handle a meeting in a divorce case completely unsupervised, I felt substantially more nervous than I expected.
Day 195 - Use a Wedding Registry to Buy a Gift
Date: July 20th, 2010
In less than a month, the most awesome, super-fantastic, crazypants adorable couple in the world is getting married. Their illustrious nuptials will put all others, past and future to shame. Your wedding? Shame! My wedding? Shame! The marriage of Princess Diana to Prince Charles? Shame! Of course, I may be biased, since, well, I semi-sort-of-partly fixed up the couple in question. Also because they're so sweet they'd give the candy man a toothache.
In less than a month, the most awesome, super-fantastic, crazypants adorable couple in the world is getting married. Their illustrious nuptials will put all others, past and future to shame. Your wedding? Shame! My wedding? Shame! The marriage of Princess Diana to Prince Charles? Shame! Of course, I may be biased, since, well, I semi-sort-of-partly fixed up the couple in question. Also because they're so sweet they'd give the candy man a toothache.
July 25, 2010
Day 194 - Install a Portable Air Conditioner
Date: July 19th, 2010
For the last week, during the heatwave that gripped the country, I was in a place in Lansing without benefit of air conditioning. While it was a great way to empathize with people who can't afford A/C, it was also a freaking nightmare when it came to sleeping comfortably, not sweating and, you know, existing in general. I did develop a good system after a while. I would alternate freezing three towels. The first towel I placed on my head and waited until the joyful chill started to fade. When it was half frozen and half thawed, I moved it to my feet and took the second towel out of the freezer. When the foot towel got warm and the head towel got semi-thawed, it was time to rotate.
For the last week, during the heatwave that gripped the country, I was in a place in Lansing without benefit of air conditioning. While it was a great way to empathize with people who can't afford A/C, it was also a freaking nightmare when it came to sleeping comfortably, not sweating and, you know, existing in general. I did develop a good system after a while. I would alternate freezing three towels. The first towel I placed on my head and waited until the joyful chill started to fade. When it was half frozen and half thawed, I moved it to my feet and took the second towel out of the freezer. When the foot towel got warm and the head towel got semi-thawed, it was time to rotate.
Day 193 - Attend a Reiki Share
Date: July 18th, 2010
Several of the things I've done this year have been about maintaining or creating balance. I'm starting to discover a side of myself that is much more calm and zen focused than before. For a long time, I thought that was something that would conflict with my Christian beliefs. What I'm finding is that it strengthens them to acknowledge the inherent energy of the universe around us. Given that heightened connection to God that I've been experiencing, whenever there is a chance to learn something new about energy work, Reiki, etc... I've jumped at the chance.
Several of the things I've done this year have been about maintaining or creating balance. I'm starting to discover a side of myself that is much more calm and zen focused than before. For a long time, I thought that was something that would conflict with my Christian beliefs. What I'm finding is that it strengthens them to acknowledge the inherent energy of the universe around us. Given that heightened connection to God that I've been experiencing, whenever there is a chance to learn something new about energy work, Reiki, etc... I've jumped at the chance.
July 20, 2010
Day 192 - Edit a Wikipedia Page
Date: July 17th, 2010
July 16th, 2010 would've been Devin Gaines' 26th birthday. Three years ago, about a week before his 23rd birthday, he passed away. I know that there are a lot of people in the world who his death had a profound effect on and that there are lots of people who were closer to him at the time than I was. Despite having drifted apart from him since high school, I remember him each year on his birthday because of the profound impact he had on my life.
July 16th, 2010 would've been Devin Gaines' 26th birthday. Three years ago, about a week before his 23rd birthday, he passed away. I know that there are a lot of people in the world who his death had a profound effect on and that there are lots of people who were closer to him at the time than I was. Despite having drifted apart from him since high school, I remember him each year on his birthday because of the profound impact he had on my life.
Day 191 - Shoot a Bow
Date: July 16th, 2010
Survival skills are really important. I know this because I don't have any. It is to my great personal fortune that I didn't encounter anything dangerous, deadly or otherwise concerning while out camping earlier this year. Having no concept of my own safety might've lead to my befriending a poisonous snake or wiping my butt with poison oak or eating a poison mushroom. I guess what I'm getting at is that the entire wilderness is poisonous and it is only by sheer luck that I managed to escape with my life.
Survival skills are really important. I know this because I don't have any. It is to my great personal fortune that I didn't encounter anything dangerous, deadly or otherwise concerning while out camping earlier this year. Having no concept of my own safety might've lead to my befriending a poisonous snake or wiping my butt with poison oak or eating a poison mushroom. I guess what I'm getting at is that the entire wilderness is poisonous and it is only by sheer luck that I managed to escape with my life.
July 18, 2010
Day 190 - Be Treated Like a Peer at Work
Date: July 15th, 2010
This job has been a job of a lot of firsts, pretty much all of which have made it into blog entries. I had one that I didn't expect on Thursday though. At each of the jobs I've had, I've been treated as a subordinate by my boss or bosses. That's not a negative statement whatsoever. I've been a subordinate so, you know, the universe is in balance. In each of my other jobs, I've been learning the trade and the company culture as well as doing a job.
This job has been a job of a lot of firsts, pretty much all of which have made it into blog entries. I had one that I didn't expect on Thursday though. At each of the jobs I've had, I've been treated as a subordinate by my boss or bosses. That's not a negative statement whatsoever. I've been a subordinate so, you know, the universe is in balance. In each of my other jobs, I've been learning the trade and the company culture as well as doing a job.
Day 189 - Rub Vasoline on my Feet
Date: July 14th, 2010
I come from a family that loves knowing the little tricks and solutions to problems that most people miss. Got a sty? Here's this goop from Poland; rub it on your eye. Got a hangover? Yellow Gatorade works better than red Gatorade. They even bought a watering can that needed to be plugged in at one point. That's right. Someone, somewhere, invented a watering can that required an electric charge and my parents got it. Turns out it didn't work. Water leaked onto the electrical part. So, you know, that's probably a design flaw.
I come from a family that loves knowing the little tricks and solutions to problems that most people miss. Got a sty? Here's this goop from Poland; rub it on your eye. Got a hangover? Yellow Gatorade works better than red Gatorade. They even bought a watering can that needed to be plugged in at one point. That's right. Someone, somewhere, invented a watering can that required an electric charge and my parents got it. Turns out it didn't work. Water leaked onto the electrical part. So, you know, that's probably a design flaw.
July 17, 2010
Day 188 - Slap a Cow on the Butt
Date: July 13th, 2010
I had another reminder of why I'm on this project when I headed out to the Eaton County Fair on Tuesday. When I left work, I was insanely tired, and contemplated quite seriously just going back to my place in Lansing, laying down and taking a long nap. Then I remembered that my lack of air conditioning made living there similar to sitting in a sauna at the center of the freaking sun. So I yawned my way to a gas station, grabbed some caffeine and thought "well, it probably won't be a great afternoon, but I'll go anyway".
I had another reminder of why I'm on this project when I headed out to the Eaton County Fair on Tuesday. When I left work, I was insanely tired, and contemplated quite seriously just going back to my place in Lansing, laying down and taking a long nap. Then I remembered that my lack of air conditioning made living there similar to sitting in a sauna at the center of the freaking sun. So I yawned my way to a gas station, grabbed some caffeine and thought "well, it probably won't be a great afternoon, but I'll go anyway".
July 15, 2010
Day 187 - File a FOIA Request
Date: July 12th, 2010
I know I've been writing a decent number of work entries, leaving those who are less legally inclined to be highly and rightfully bored out of their collective minds. However, this one is different. Mostly because I found myself pleasantly surprised by it. Now, I've been consistently shocked at how overly complicated the paperwork for a lot of proceedings has been. Especially the cases where our clients are applying for or appealing a denial of benefits. Those cases will just lose you in paperwork. I assumed, what with the double-secret-probation the whole freaking country has been on for the last ten years, that filing a Freedom of Information Act request would be the same complex nightmare as all those other things.
It was not.
I know I've been writing a decent number of work entries, leaving those who are less legally inclined to be highly and rightfully bored out of their collective minds. However, this one is different. Mostly because I found myself pleasantly surprised by it. Now, I've been consistently shocked at how overly complicated the paperwork for a lot of proceedings has been. Especially the cases where our clients are applying for or appealing a denial of benefits. Those cases will just lose you in paperwork. I assumed, what with the double-secret-probation the whole freaking country has been on for the last ten years, that filing a Freedom of Information Act request would be the same complex nightmare as all those other things.
It was not.
July 14, 2010
Day 186 - Participate in Free Slurpee Day
Date: July 11th, 2010
I woke up at the lake after heading over there around dinner time the night before and felt incredibly, deeply rested. As a result, I made the command decision not to get up and get moving super early in the morning. I slept until about 10am (which is, for me, decadent) and then lazed about watching the waves roll by on the lake. Around noon I got a text message from Justin reminding me of the joyful rapture that is Free Slurpee Day. Sweet glorious rapture of the Gods. Not really. I snagged myself an 8oz Cherry and called it a day.
Seriously. This entry is gonna be super short cause there's nothing to learn from Free Slurpee Day except that not doing it for 25 years was really stupid. Slurpee's are awesome, the lines at the place I went weren't bad at all and cherry rocks my socks off. The end.
I woke up at the lake after heading over there around dinner time the night before and felt incredibly, deeply rested. As a result, I made the command decision not to get up and get moving super early in the morning. I slept until about 10am (which is, for me, decadent) and then lazed about watching the waves roll by on the lake. Around noon I got a text message from Justin reminding me of the joyful rapture that is Free Slurpee Day. Sweet glorious rapture of the Gods. Not really. I snagged myself an 8oz Cherry and called it a day.
Seriously. This entry is gonna be super short cause there's nothing to learn from Free Slurpee Day except that not doing it for 25 years was really stupid. Slurpee's are awesome, the lines at the place I went weren't bad at all and cherry rocks my socks off. The end.
Day 185 - Housesit
Date: July 10th, 2010
For the past two weeks, I have felt like I needed a break from everything. I love this project, but there is no stopping, no sitting down, no just having a day off. I love my job, but its so incredibly tiring to know how much stuff the clients are having to deal with on a daily basis. I love my friends and family, but sometimes a girl just needs to sit and watch some TV. Enter housesitting.
A friend of Justin's asked him if he could watch her house and puppy for the weekend while she was out of town and, with her permission, he asked me to come keep him company. Now the puppy, a shih tzu/yorkie mix, was adorable and well behaved, so there was very little to actually, you know, do at the house. So we sat, watched some TV, wrote some bloggings, slept, drank pop and ate pizza. Other than making sure no one broke in, keeping the dog happy and not wrecking up the place, housesitting was literally no work at all.
Well, unless you count the incredible hassle that was figuring out someone else's cable set up. I mean, really? How hard is it to make these things universal, Comcast? Just saying.
It was the perfect break. I got to put my feet up (not on the couch, of course) and relax, knowing that this was still a new experience, albeit the most relaxing one I've had yet. I can't say there was any great insight or lesson in housesitting, except that I'd be totally happy to do it again. It is exactly as the term describes - you go to a house and you sit in it. And here I was expecting to have to work over the weekend.
For the past two weeks, I have felt like I needed a break from everything. I love this project, but there is no stopping, no sitting down, no just having a day off. I love my job, but its so incredibly tiring to know how much stuff the clients are having to deal with on a daily basis. I love my friends and family, but sometimes a girl just needs to sit and watch some TV. Enter housesitting.
A friend of Justin's asked him if he could watch her house and puppy for the weekend while she was out of town and, with her permission, he asked me to come keep him company. Now the puppy, a shih tzu/yorkie mix, was adorable and well behaved, so there was very little to actually, you know, do at the house. So we sat, watched some TV, wrote some bloggings, slept, drank pop and ate pizza. Other than making sure no one broke in, keeping the dog happy and not wrecking up the place, housesitting was literally no work at all.
Well, unless you count the incredible hassle that was figuring out someone else's cable set up. I mean, really? How hard is it to make these things universal, Comcast? Just saying.
It was the perfect break. I got to put my feet up (not on the couch, of course) and relax, knowing that this was still a new experience, albeit the most relaxing one I've had yet. I can't say there was any great insight or lesson in housesitting, except that I'd be totally happy to do it again. It is exactly as the term describes - you go to a house and you sit in it. And here I was expecting to have to work over the weekend.
Day 184 - Play Dungeons and Dragons
Date: July 9th, 2010
There are certain things that I have preset opinions about. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand, it makes assessing situations a lot simpler than if I, you know, stopped and politely reserved judgment. In the words of George Clooney (one of the few guys over 50 I'd still totally hop into bed with, just saying) in Up in the Air: "I'm like my mother, I stereotype. Its faster." I'd like to think I'm not that bad about it, but when it comes to certain things, my opinion is well-formed despite little to no contact with the actual activity.
There are certain things that I have preset opinions about. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand, it makes assessing situations a lot simpler than if I, you know, stopped and politely reserved judgment. In the words of George Clooney (one of the few guys over 50 I'd still totally hop into bed with, just saying) in Up in the Air: "I'm like my mother, I stereotype. Its faster." I'd like to think I'm not that bad about it, but when it comes to certain things, my opinion is well-formed despite little to no contact with the actual activity.
July 13, 2010
Day 183 - Become an Ordained Minister
Date: July 8th, 2010
Day 183 is special. Its not that there is anything particularly special about the number 183 or that July 8th has some particular meaning for me. Day 183 is special because it is the exact midpoint of my project. I woke up, sat in my bed, and contemplated the fact that I had completed 182 days of new things and at the end of the evening I would have 182 more days to go. I spent most of the day deciding between one of three or four different "super special" new things I could do, only to turn around in the late evening and realize that I'd done none of them.
Day 183 is special. Its not that there is anything particularly special about the number 183 or that July 8th has some particular meaning for me. Day 183 is special because it is the exact midpoint of my project. I woke up, sat in my bed, and contemplated the fact that I had completed 182 days of new things and at the end of the evening I would have 182 more days to go. I spent most of the day deciding between one of three or four different "super special" new things I could do, only to turn around in the late evening and realize that I'd done none of them.
July 12, 2010
Day 182 - Create a Dungeons & Dragons Character
Date: July 7th, 2010
I may have mentioned this recently, but I'm a recovering WoW player. Now, there's nothing particularly wrong with playing World of Warcraft. Its an incredibly interesting and complex game. The problem with it, for me at least, is that none of the parts that are simple and short are fun. All the things I enjoyed involved hours upon hours of committed play time to achieve. I loved being able to raid. I loved having a high level character with high level gear and a proper build. That was the challenge for me. Because of that, and because of the blatant social climbing involved in getting oneself into said endeavors, I didn't exactly go making a lot of friends online. So I missed out on the social aspects of the game.
I may have mentioned this recently, but I'm a recovering WoW player. Now, there's nothing particularly wrong with playing World of Warcraft. Its an incredibly interesting and complex game. The problem with it, for me at least, is that none of the parts that are simple and short are fun. All the things I enjoyed involved hours upon hours of committed play time to achieve. I loved being able to raid. I loved having a high level character with high level gear and a proper build. That was the challenge for me. Because of that, and because of the blatant social climbing involved in getting oneself into said endeavors, I didn't exactly go making a lot of friends online. So I missed out on the social aspects of the game.
Pictured: The Social Dynamic
Day 181 - Go to the MSU Dairy Store
Date: July 6th, 2010
Last week in Michigan was hotter than the surface of the sun. It was like someone took a kiln, made it mate with the sun and then set its child on fire. Then added humidity. So, I guess more like the flaming love child of the sun and a kiln had an affair with a pot of boiling water. I got first degree burns from my steering wheel it was so freaking hot. My glasses melted onto my face. I can't take them off anymore. Thank you very much, Michigan.
Last week in Michigan was hotter than the surface of the sun. It was like someone took a kiln, made it mate with the sun and then set its child on fire. Then added humidity. So, I guess more like the flaming love child of the sun and a kiln had an affair with a pot of boiling water. I got first degree burns from my steering wheel it was so freaking hot. My glasses melted onto my face. I can't take them off anymore. Thank you very much, Michigan.
July 11, 2010
Day 180 - Draw a Political Cartoon
Date: July 5th, 2010
When I was younger I wanted to be a comic strip author. I never tried though. Mostly because me and art are mortal enemies. We have tangoed many times lo this past six months and art has always kicked my ass. Remember that necklace from day five (an oldie, but a goodie)? Yea, the clasp broke on that about a month ago. Remember my mousetrap car? It is in dire need of repair. So freehand drawing was something I generally avoided. See, the way I figure it is, if you can't learn to square dance, trying break-dancing might be hazardous to your health.
When I was younger I wanted to be a comic strip author. I never tried though. Mostly because me and art are mortal enemies. We have tangoed many times lo this past six months and art has always kicked my ass. Remember that necklace from day five (an oldie, but a goodie)? Yea, the clasp broke on that about a month ago. Remember my mousetrap car? It is in dire need of repair. So freehand drawing was something I generally avoided. See, the way I figure it is, if you can't learn to square dance, trying break-dancing might be hazardous to your health.
Day 179 - Host a Fourth of July BBQ
Date: July 4th, 2010
My earliest memories of 4th of July are from Enfield, Connecticut. Every year, my family would head up there to visit my grandparents and participate in parades, races, and all manner of other patriotic whatnot. I loved the camaraderie, atmosphere and having an excuse to wear bright red, white and blue clothes for a day. Not to mention the watermelon eating contest. I didn't even play to win. I just really loved free watermelon. Since then, 4th of July has meant spent time with family, good food and blowing things up in celebration of independence.
My earliest memories of 4th of July are from Enfield, Connecticut. Every year, my family would head up there to visit my grandparents and participate in parades, races, and all manner of other patriotic whatnot. I loved the camaraderie, atmosphere and having an excuse to wear bright red, white and blue clothes for a day. Not to mention the watermelon eating contest. I didn't even play to win. I just really loved free watermelon. Since then, 4th of July has meant spent time with family, good food and blowing things up in celebration of independence.
Day 178 - Watch a World Cup Soccer Game
Date: July 3rd, 2010
In my life, I have operated under the belief that there are few things more boring than soccer. Off the top of my head, I'd say HGTV, watching paint dry (which I've also done), and reading the dictionary may be more boring than soccer. Conversely, things that are less boring would include watching the Weather channel, online solitaire and mercenary spelunking (though that one is awesome). You would think, given that attitude, that I would be avoiding the World Cup like some sort of weird, international plague. And I was. Oh golly I was.
In my life, I have operated under the belief that there are few things more boring than soccer. Off the top of my head, I'd say HGTV, watching paint dry (which I've also done), and reading the dictionary may be more boring than soccer. Conversely, things that are less boring would include watching the Weather channel, online solitaire and mercenary spelunking (though that one is awesome). You would think, given that attitude, that I would be avoiding the World Cup like some sort of weird, international plague. And I was. Oh golly I was.
July 10, 2010
Day 177 - Take the Online Boater Safety Course
Date: July 2nd, 2010
One thing that I didn't realize about boating is that there are, you know, rules. I knew you couldn't drive a boat drunk, but other than that, I assumed it was like the wild wild west, but with a lot more water and a lot fewer gun battles. Turns out there are more rules than that to worry about. Anybody can drive a pontoon boat, but youngsters wanting to drive a jetski need to take a safety course. Seeing as I can't pass for 32-years-old (and nor do I want to), I had to get my boating safety certification.
The way to do that is to take an online course and test for free (unless you pass, then its $30) and then go take an in person test. I figured it wouldn't take too long to take the online test and I made the, apparently faulty, assumption that it would be really easy. See, here's my logic. When I was in high school, I got a speeding ticket. I was going 62 in a 40mph zone. I wasn't in a hurry. I was just a teenager. We do stuff like that.
When you get a ticket in California, you have a choice between getting a point on your license or taking traffic school and getting it wiped from the record within about a year. I opted for traffic school. That involved an online course with such gems as "what color is a stop sign?" and "always remember not to drive angry". Apparently the idea was to patronize people out of doing things that might get them tickets in the future.
I finished the 30 question in person test with 100% accuracy in about five minutes. That's how easy it was. I think if anyone fails California traffic school they should just never be allowed to drive again. I figured, since the test was free if you fail, it was worth taking a swing and seeing if it was as easy as traffic school. So what happened? Swing and a miss.
It was mostly common sense, but with a lot of boating terms that I had no idea about. So, I'm back to square one. No jetskiing for me for a little while. Though I will have to study for and take the test again soon because, well, I've never driven a jetski before and summer's a wastin'.
One thing that I didn't realize about boating is that there are, you know, rules. I knew you couldn't drive a boat drunk, but other than that, I assumed it was like the wild wild west, but with a lot more water and a lot fewer gun battles. Turns out there are more rules than that to worry about. Anybody can drive a pontoon boat, but youngsters wanting to drive a jetski need to take a safety course. Seeing as I can't pass for 32-years-old (and nor do I want to), I had to get my boating safety certification.
The way to do that is to take an online course and test for free (unless you pass, then its $30) and then go take an in person test. I figured it wouldn't take too long to take the online test and I made the, apparently faulty, assumption that it would be really easy. See, here's my logic. When I was in high school, I got a speeding ticket. I was going 62 in a 40mph zone. I wasn't in a hurry. I was just a teenager. We do stuff like that.
When you get a ticket in California, you have a choice between getting a point on your license or taking traffic school and getting it wiped from the record within about a year. I opted for traffic school. That involved an online course with such gems as "what color is a stop sign?" and "always remember not to drive angry". Apparently the idea was to patronize people out of doing things that might get them tickets in the future.
I finished the 30 question in person test with 100% accuracy in about five minutes. That's how easy it was. I think if anyone fails California traffic school they should just never be allowed to drive again. I figured, since the test was free if you fail, it was worth taking a swing and seeing if it was as easy as traffic school. So what happened? Swing and a miss.
It was mostly common sense, but with a lot of boating terms that I had no idea about. So, I'm back to square one. No jetskiing for me for a little while. Though I will have to study for and take the test again soon because, well, I've never driven a jetski before and summer's a wastin'.
Day 176 - Back into a Parking Spot
Date: July 1st, 2010
I'm not a good parker. I'm a good driver. I've never been in an accident and I've had enough close calls to confidently say that I know how to avoid other drivers when they start acting wack. Though, I'm unsure as to what to do when they become wiggity wack. In any case, the story isn't the same for parking. The one time I've ever hit another car with my own was trying to wedge it into a parking spot. The woman I hit was incredibly nice though. She had her three year old with her and I'd walked back to her car (after reparking) to leave a note. When she walked up, I explained what happened and handed her my information. As I walked away, her daughter asked what happened. Her response was: "That lady accidentally hit our car when she was trying to park and she was very responsible to come back and make sure we could get in touch with her if we needed to fix anything".
And that's the story of how I became a learning experience for someone. The end.
I'm not a good parker. I'm a good driver. I've never been in an accident and I've had enough close calls to confidently say that I know how to avoid other drivers when they start acting wack. Though, I'm unsure as to what to do when they become wiggity wack. In any case, the story isn't the same for parking. The one time I've ever hit another car with my own was trying to wedge it into a parking spot. The woman I hit was incredibly nice though. She had her three year old with her and I'd walked back to her car (after reparking) to leave a note. When she walked up, I explained what happened and handed her my information. As I walked away, her daughter asked what happened. Her response was: "That lady accidentally hit our car when she was trying to park and she was very responsible to come back and make sure we could get in touch with her if we needed to fix anything".
And that's the story of how I became a learning experience for someone. The end.
July 7, 2010
Day 175 - Drink Alone
Date: June 30th, 2010
I've spent my whole life knowing that certain members of my family were alcoholics. Some in recovery, some functional but still drinking, some who dodged a bullet by realizing their disease early in life (before true problems arose). Because of that, when I reached an age that I might start wanting to drink, my parents had the alcohol version of the birds and the bees talk with me.
From the first time I ever took a drink, I did so with the knowledge that alcoholism runs in my family. So I was always strict with myself about drinking. I never did it in the morning (with one notable St. Patty's Day exception). I avoided doing it when I was sad or upset. I stopped drinking anytime I started feeling sick (and the vast majority of the time, I stopped long before feeling sick). And most importantly - I never drank alone.
I've spent my whole life knowing that certain members of my family were alcoholics. Some in recovery, some functional but still drinking, some who dodged a bullet by realizing their disease early in life (before true problems arose). Because of that, when I reached an age that I might start wanting to drink, my parents had the alcohol version of the birds and the bees talk with me.
From the first time I ever took a drink, I did so with the knowledge that alcoholism runs in my family. So I was always strict with myself about drinking. I never did it in the morning (with one notable St. Patty's Day exception). I avoided doing it when I was sad or upset. I stopped drinking anytime I started feeling sick (and the vast majority of the time, I stopped long before feeling sick). And most importantly - I never drank alone.
Day 174 - Learn the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
Date: June 29th, 2010
Its well settled that about the only thing cooler than being an astronaut-lawyer is being a secret-agent-astronaut-lawyer. I could sue the moon for espionage... or something. In any case, in the course of my daily news readings this past week, it became clear to me that being a spy is, well, kind of freaking easy. I'm just saying, when CNN sarcastically puts "deep cover" in semi-quotes in your headline, you've probably made more than a few mistakes.
Its well settled that about the only thing cooler than being an astronaut-lawyer is being a secret-agent-astronaut-lawyer. I could sue the moon for espionage... or something. In any case, in the course of my daily news readings this past week, it became clear to me that being a spy is, well, kind of freaking easy. I'm just saying, when CNN sarcastically puts "deep cover" in semi-quotes in your headline, you've probably made more than a few mistakes.
July 6, 2010
Day 173 - Learn Piquet
Date: June 28th, 2010
I'm a huge card player. Growing up, I learned how to play double-bid euchre from my parents, then pinochle, then various forms of poker. Real, honest-to-goodness, strategic card games are my bread and butter. That's why, when I stop and think about how little strategy the vast majority of two player games have, I find myself deeply frustrated.
On a note thusfar completely unrelated to card games, it had been way too long since I'd last hung out with Louis. I was tired and/or sick the last two weeks in a row, making handball an impossibility. We decided not to let my repeated illness get in the way of hanging out and having a good time so I got in the car and headed back to Ann Arbor for dinner at the original Cottage Inn and some card playing good times.
I'm a huge card player. Growing up, I learned how to play double-bid euchre from my parents, then pinochle, then various forms of poker. Real, honest-to-goodness, strategic card games are my bread and butter. That's why, when I stop and think about how little strategy the vast majority of two player games have, I find myself deeply frustrated.
On a note thusfar completely unrelated to card games, it had been way too long since I'd last hung out with Louis. I was tired and/or sick the last two weeks in a row, making handball an impossibility. We decided not to let my repeated illness get in the way of hanging out and having a good time so I got in the car and headed back to Ann Arbor for dinner at the original Cottage Inn and some card playing good times.
Day 172 - Hear Tornado Sirens
Date: June 27th, 2010
I have, on a few occasions, completely flipped out. Its rare, but it happens. One of said flip outs happened this weekend as yet another wave of big storms came rolling in.
In the past month, tornadoes and bad storms had decimated neighborhoods in several states, killed people and wrecked havoc on Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. For the longest time I operated under the naive fallacy that Ann Arbor was in this small pocket of protected zone. Sometime back during my freshman year in college when, let's face it, I essentially believed everything I was told, someone came to me and explained that tornadoes never hit Ann Arbor. Apparently, I was to believe, there was some magical atmospheric force field around the town that wind and destruction could not penetrate.
I have, on a few occasions, completely flipped out. Its rare, but it happens. One of said flip outs happened this weekend as yet another wave of big storms came rolling in.
In the past month, tornadoes and bad storms had decimated neighborhoods in several states, killed people and wrecked havoc on Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. For the longest time I operated under the naive fallacy that Ann Arbor was in this small pocket of protected zone. Sometime back during my freshman year in college when, let's face it, I essentially believed everything I was told, someone came to me and explained that tornadoes never hit Ann Arbor. Apparently, I was to believe, there was some magical atmospheric force field around the town that wind and destruction could not penetrate.
Day 171 - Be Someone's Date to a Wedding
Date: June 26th, 2010
I love weddings. They're one of the few times that I really feel like I can suspend my general sense of cynicism for just a few hours and watch two people celebrate a deep and abiding love. I choose not to acknowledge the divorce rate, general sense of drama at large family gatherings or inevitable drunken dancing. Why? Because there is nothing more touching than the look on the groom's face when he first sees the bride. Some of the more rom-com oriented readers may notice that my delight at weddings is eerily similar to that of the main characters in 27 Dresses. I felt that way long before the movie came out and, I assure you, a lawsuit is pending.
I love weddings. They're one of the few times that I really feel like I can suspend my general sense of cynicism for just a few hours and watch two people celebrate a deep and abiding love. I choose not to acknowledge the divorce rate, general sense of drama at large family gatherings or inevitable drunken dancing. Why? Because there is nothing more touching than the look on the groom's face when he first sees the bride. Some of the more rom-com oriented readers may notice that my delight at weddings is eerily similar to that of the main characters in 27 Dresses. I felt that way long before the movie came out and, I assure you, a lawsuit is pending.
July 4, 2010
Day 170 - Become a Jigsaw Puzzle
Date: June 25th, 2010
People are often concerned with their legacy. One of the common comments about children is that a person lives on through them. I've wondering many times whether or not Einstein had a sense of how his name would live on. Or Washington. Or Lincoln. Could those men have known that they would leave something that would outlast their beating hearts?
People are often concerned with their legacy. One of the common comments about children is that a person lives on through them. I've wondering many times whether or not Einstein had a sense of how his name would live on. Or Washington. Or Lincoln. Could those men have known that they would leave something that would outlast their beating hearts?
July 3, 2010
Day 169 - Use my Own Money to Pay for Something for Work
Date: June 24th, 2010
Very few of the jobs I've held entail the possibility of having to pay for something on the job. There are not job-related expenses at grocery stores and in dormitory kitchens; and while there were such expenses at Cisco and Yahoo, there was never an occasion for me to have to pay them. There were so few "emergencies" on the job that it never occurred to me that, at some point, I might have to reach into my own pockets to make something happen.
Now that I've been working at Legal Services, I have realized that there truly are situations in which we run out of time. In the corporate world, there is always another day, always another five minutes. If you miss a deadline, you get yelled at, but that's about it. I know this is a realization I've had before, but it was so strongly reinforced this week that I felt the need to restate it.
I had to pick up some papers from the court clerk for a project with a hard and fast court deadline. Unlike deadlines from corporate bosses, if you miss a court deadline, there is no going back. There is no excuse. There is no way out. Given that the weekend was fast approaching, it was my last chance to get said papers. So when the court clerk giggled at my measly $20 from the work cache, I knew I was in trouble.
Luckily, I'd gone to the bank earlier in the week. With the clerk's office closing in fifteen minutes, me having no idea where the nearest bank was and work being a solid twenty minutes away; my only chance to get the papers was right at that moment. Its not the big dramatic song and dance it could've been, but for me, reaching into my own wallet and paying for the rest of the papers without thinking about it was definitely a new experience.
I didn't really realize how much I care about this job and the things I'm doing at it until that moment. There wasn't a question. There wasn't hesitation. It just... needed to be done. I think this is what a sense of purpose truly feels like. Its not the pomp and circumstance and prideful chest pounding that is might seem to be, but just the simple, unquestioned choice to do what needs to be done.
Very few of the jobs I've held entail the possibility of having to pay for something on the job. There are not job-related expenses at grocery stores and in dormitory kitchens; and while there were such expenses at Cisco and Yahoo, there was never an occasion for me to have to pay them. There were so few "emergencies" on the job that it never occurred to me that, at some point, I might have to reach into my own pockets to make something happen.
Now that I've been working at Legal Services, I have realized that there truly are situations in which we run out of time. In the corporate world, there is always another day, always another five minutes. If you miss a deadline, you get yelled at, but that's about it. I know this is a realization I've had before, but it was so strongly reinforced this week that I felt the need to restate it.
I had to pick up some papers from the court clerk for a project with a hard and fast court deadline. Unlike deadlines from corporate bosses, if you miss a court deadline, there is no going back. There is no excuse. There is no way out. Given that the weekend was fast approaching, it was my last chance to get said papers. So when the court clerk giggled at my measly $20 from the work cache, I knew I was in trouble.
Luckily, I'd gone to the bank earlier in the week. With the clerk's office closing in fifteen minutes, me having no idea where the nearest bank was and work being a solid twenty minutes away; my only chance to get the papers was right at that moment. Its not the big dramatic song and dance it could've been, but for me, reaching into my own wallet and paying for the rest of the papers without thinking about it was definitely a new experience.
I didn't really realize how much I care about this job and the things I'm doing at it until that moment. There wasn't a question. There wasn't hesitation. It just... needed to be done. I think this is what a sense of purpose truly feels like. Its not the pomp and circumstance and prideful chest pounding that is might seem to be, but just the simple, unquestioned choice to do what needs to be done.
July 2, 2010
Day 168 - Follow a Random Person to Wherever they are Going
Date: June 23rd, 2010
Have you ever sat and watched people and wondered where they were going? I do that all the time. I sit at restaurants, look out the window as people walk down the street, and wonder about them. I wonder if they're coming or going. I wonder if they're shopping or meeting friends. I wonder if they're happy. I wonder if their lives are good and filled with new, interesting things. That being said, like most people, I've never dropped what I'm doing and followed someone down the road.
Have you ever sat and watched people and wondered where they were going? I do that all the time. I sit at restaurants, look out the window as people walk down the street, and wonder about them. I wonder if they're coming or going. I wonder if they're shopping or meeting friends. I wonder if they're happy. I wonder if their lives are good and filled with new, interesting things. That being said, like most people, I've never dropped what I'm doing and followed someone down the road.
Day 167 - See a Chihuly Glass Exhibit
Date: June 22nd, 2010
So, the thing about having a job, having this project and having a not-technically-a-boyfriend is that it takes up a lot of time. The past two weeks have consisted of a lot of sleep, doing fairly easy project things and making sure not to get behind on work, despite being super crazy tired. Thus ends my excuses about why the updates are so far behind and begins the actual update.
About three weeks ago, I let it slip at work that I'm doing this project. See, one of the attorneys mentioned that there is a festival coming up that has a power tool race. It seemed just kitschy enough to be completely unmissable. Of course, that wasn't how things turned out, but having let the cat out of the proverbial bag, I found that my coworkers (in addition to being delightful human beings) were a veritable goldmine of new project ideas.
So, the thing about having a job, having this project and having a not-technically-a-boyfriend is that it takes up a lot of time. The past two weeks have consisted of a lot of sleep, doing fairly easy project things and making sure not to get behind on work, despite being super crazy tired. Thus ends my excuses about why the updates are so far behind and begins the actual update.
About three weeks ago, I let it slip at work that I'm doing this project. See, one of the attorneys mentioned that there is a festival coming up that has a power tool race. It seemed just kitschy enough to be completely unmissable. Of course, that wasn't how things turned out, but having let the cat out of the proverbial bag, I found that my coworkers (in addition to being delightful human beings) were a veritable goldmine of new project ideas.
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