Another Catch Up Entry

Hello again, fantastic people.

Its that time again.  The time that I realize that while I've barely hung on to not messing up the project itself, I've failed utterly at keeping all you amazing people in the loop.  I can only hope that playing big catch up one more time will be enough to get my writings back in the swing of things.  So, without further adieu, here are ten paragraphs about my amazing life.

Day 260 - Learn How to Throw a Punch Properly
Date: September 23rd, 2010

I took self-defense classes when I was younger, but I never really learned the proper technique.  Mostly because the only thing I knew about throwing punches is that they involved making fists.  The things that most surprised me, quite frankly, were that I could learn how to do it online and that the punch is so much less about the fist and arm than it is about the body stance.  Though that does make sense, given that's where the power lies.  Now I just need to find someone who needs a good sock in the jaw.  Oh Justin... I need help with my thing of the day.  (Kidding, dear).

Day 261 - Learn How to Fix a Sink
Date: September 24th, 2010

Generally speaking, when my sink, radiator, air conditioning or any other technical object or major appliance breaks down, the first thing I do is call a repair man.  The next thing I do is wait and the thing after that is relax while someone else gets a-fixin'.  Steps one and two were per usual, but when it came time to sit back and let the plumber I called fix my sink, I found myself overwhelmingly curious about what he was planning on doing.  So, unlike all the times before, I stayed, watched and asked questions.  I know that doesn't seem particularly special, and in truth, its not.  But it is new and it was good to know.  I'm slowly on my way to being able to do my own home maintenance.

Day 262 - Fry an Egg
Date: September 25th, 2010

My whole life, I've been a scrambled kind of gal.  Unfortunately for me, I started a new diet that doesn't allow my to use full fat cream or cheese and those are the two things that make scrambled eggs actually taste good.  Justin and I decided that shouldn't stop us from enjoying the delicious taste of eggs for breakfast.  So I took a swing at frying an egg.  Shockingly, I nailed it.  I wouldn't usually say that, but the egg white was completely done and the egg yolk was perfectly runny.  I.  Nailed.  It.

Day 263 - Stomp Grapes
Date: September 26th, 2010

Pictures and entry on this one to follow.  Its a bit too epic not to write a full treatment of.

Day 264 - Fix a Garage Door
Date: September 27th, 2010

The other day, Justin and I tried to leave to go somewhere and noticed that my garage door wasn't closing the whole way.  We forced it down, but realized there might be a problem.  I decided to forestall calling a repair man for a little while to see if I could manage it on my own.  It took about an hour to figure out what the heck was going on, but after rolling up my sleeves and getting a little greasy, I managed to figure it out.  I was quite proud of myself, truthfully.  And now my garage door works.

Day 265 - Do Trial Prep
Date: September 28th, 2010

The thing about trial preparation is that it is boring and slow until the very last moment and then it is frantic.  I spent months preparing for a trial that happened on September 29th.  In June, July and August it was slow, consistent work that gradually built a case out of more and more evidence available.  On this day, it became a race to the finish, hoping and praying that all the work would actually come together in time for trial.  I was awake most of the night and when I did sleep, I dreamed about the trial and what I hoped would happen for our client.  At the end of the day, it was just a lot of work, but it was work with purpose. The purpose is what gave me the energy to stay awake and get it done.

Day 266 - Directly Examine a Witness at Trial
Date: September 29th, 2010

Though there are no pictures, not unlike grape stomping, this day is epic enough that it requires its own entry.  The short version is that I am ever more confident that my life is going the right direction after experiencing a real trial.

Day 267 - Turn Down Birthday Cake
Date: September 30th, 2010

The thing that was most shocking about this day, for me, was the realization that in 25 years on this each, whenever anyone, anywhere had birthday cake (or cake of any kind for that matter) I would treat it as a "special occasion" and allow myself a piece or two.  Always.  Didn't matter if I was dieting, training, starving or full.  If there was cake, I was ready to have some.  But I've been fighting my worse urges and most of the time I've been able to resist temptation.  That will power was tested when not one, but two, chocolate cakes were brought to our office for the September birthdays.  It was hard, but I snuck back to my desk and snack on carrots instead of calling it a special occasion like I used to.

Day 268 - Commission a Drawing
Date: October 1st, 2010

One of the things that I want to do this year is get a tattoo, but only if I were to find the perfect design.  Since it stays there forever, it just doesn't seem right to go all willy nilly on it.  I thought for a long time about what kind of design I wanted and decided that the best thing for me to do was to ask a friend to design it for me.  Over dinner and delightful conversation the other night, it struck me that something that would mean a lot to me would be for my friend Jihan to design it.  She's an artist, a poet and an all around beautiful soul.  Luckily for me, she was willing to draw up some designs.  I've gone from nervous to excited about the tattoo overnight.

Day 269 - Crack Open a Geode
Date: October 2nd, 2010

It was awesome.  I got to smash stuff with a hammer.  Pictures to follow.