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I'm sitting at our dining room table, I've finished a nice cup of tea, there are 2 snoozing doggos (1 is not ours, he's just visiting!) near me, and life is good.
Today I did one of the most decadent things I have ever, ever done. I went to a spa! For me, a big deal. I got a facial, a hot stone massage, and a pedicure with paraffin wax. It was all very relaxing, just what I was hoping for.
I've been working a lot. I guess this is becoming a theme, but I love what I do, so it's not that onerous. I mean, it's hard work! But not something I resent. Starting on Jan 3rd of this year I became a full time employee of my biggest client. (I've kept my smallest client on the side, too) As they're a start up, there's a lot of stress on everyone's shoulders. I've been working some really long hours. Enough that the Director of Engineering, who I report to, has said a couple of times "You're not a machine". He's very aware of how much work everyone is putting in, and very grateful. He also works just as much as everyone else, if not more. I don't think I would have started working full time for just any company, but I really like how well everyone is treated, how free of politics the place is, how much everyone is vocally grateful about the work everyone else is doing... it's amazing. I feel like I'm working in bizarro world.
At any rate, I'm working so much that Andrew suggested I do something fancy like go to a spa, and I'm so glad I did. I feel relaxed and pampered... and I have TWO MORE days off after this! Unreal.
I still haven't spoken to my mother since last year. She didn't send Tomas a Christmas present, and he didn't notice, actually. At some point I'll have to talk to him about what's going on with her, and I'm not really looking forward to it. But I don't feel any regret for not speaking to her.
On the personal front, Tomas, who is 9 and a half, continues to delight and infuriate me, as it should be. Andrew is lovely and imperfect, our home is messier than I'd like but full of laughter and music. A lot of both. I couldn't ask for more.
Today I did one of the most decadent things I have ever, ever done. I went to a spa! For me, a big deal. I got a facial, a hot stone massage, and a pedicure with paraffin wax. It was all very relaxing, just what I was hoping for.
I've been working a lot. I guess this is becoming a theme, but I love what I do, so it's not that onerous. I mean, it's hard work! But not something I resent. Starting on Jan 3rd of this year I became a full time employee of my biggest client. (I've kept my smallest client on the side, too) As they're a start up, there's a lot of stress on everyone's shoulders. I've been working some really long hours. Enough that the Director of Engineering, who I report to, has said a couple of times "You're not a machine". He's very aware of how much work everyone is putting in, and very grateful. He also works just as much as everyone else, if not more. I don't think I would have started working full time for just any company, but I really like how well everyone is treated, how free of politics the place is, how much everyone is vocally grateful about the work everyone else is doing... it's amazing. I feel like I'm working in bizarro world.
At any rate, I'm working so much that Andrew suggested I do something fancy like go to a spa, and I'm so glad I did. I feel relaxed and pampered... and I have TWO MORE days off after this! Unreal.
I still haven't spoken to my mother since last year. She didn't send Tomas a Christmas present, and he didn't notice, actually. At some point I'll have to talk to him about what's going on with her, and I'm not really looking forward to it. But I don't feel any regret for not speaking to her.
On the personal front, Tomas, who is 9 and a half, continues to delight and infuriate me, as it should be. Andrew is lovely and imperfect, our home is messier than I'd like but full of laughter and music. A lot of both. I couldn't ask for more.
Part 1... done.
Jul. 23rd, 2013 08:53 amPhewf. So the move is completed, and I have such respect and gratitude for my friends and partner. Let me tell you. It was a rough day.
The woman hadn't finished packing - I was helping her pack up her kitchen, for example.
She hadn't cleaned... some things I'm quite sure she'd never cleaned. The kitchen cupboard doors, once beige, were BLACK from 12 years of fingerprints. The kitchen walls had dark brown lines all over them that DID wash off... after using 3 different cleansers. The master bedroom had a horrid funky smell in it - I have minimized it only by washing the walls, vacuuming and then steam cleaning the floor, and throwing out the closet shelf. And of course the whole place was just... ugh. One of our friends helped for an hour and had to leave - because he had HIVES all over his body (even with taking allergy meds before he started), and his throat was closing. So you know... scary stuff. There were so many holes and screws and hooks and drywall anchors in all the walls (think 10 in a 2 foot square section of the wall... repeated all over the apartment).
And worst of all (what irreparably harmed her relationship with Andrew, who is furious), our 6 friends who came to help were the majority of the workers that day. They moved a TON of her stuff into our old place (and she had so much more than we did), and her thanks was to YELL at them. She was a nasty unpleasant person the whole day and didn't thank them, but did yell at them for where they were placing stuff.
Anyway. It's been a few days. All the screws/etc have been removed and the holes patched, the kitchen is clean and so therefore usable (although there's a leak in the plumbing, which has rotted out the under-sink cabinet, which means there's a smell in there too), Tomas's bedroom is coming along (it's been painted and the old floor removed, a new underlay put in and Andrew plans on getting the laminate in there tonight, so we can get Tomas's stuff set up nicely), and etc. It's getting there. So we can see how nice it's going to be, how wonderful this space will be for us once it's all done.
The woman hadn't finished packing - I was helping her pack up her kitchen, for example.
She hadn't cleaned... some things I'm quite sure she'd never cleaned. The kitchen cupboard doors, once beige, were BLACK from 12 years of fingerprints. The kitchen walls had dark brown lines all over them that DID wash off... after using 3 different cleansers. The master bedroom had a horrid funky smell in it - I have minimized it only by washing the walls, vacuuming and then steam cleaning the floor, and throwing out the closet shelf. And of course the whole place was just... ugh. One of our friends helped for an hour and had to leave - because he had HIVES all over his body (even with taking allergy meds before he started), and his throat was closing. So you know... scary stuff. There were so many holes and screws and hooks and drywall anchors in all the walls (think 10 in a 2 foot square section of the wall... repeated all over the apartment).
And worst of all (what irreparably harmed her relationship with Andrew, who is furious), our 6 friends who came to help were the majority of the workers that day. They moved a TON of her stuff into our old place (and she had so much more than we did), and her thanks was to YELL at them. She was a nasty unpleasant person the whole day and didn't thank them, but did yell at them for where they were placing stuff.
Anyway. It's been a few days. All the screws/etc have been removed and the holes patched, the kitchen is clean and so therefore usable (although there's a leak in the plumbing, which has rotted out the under-sink cabinet, which means there's a smell in there too), Tomas's bedroom is coming along (it's been painted and the old floor removed, a new underlay put in and Andrew plans on getting the laminate in there tonight, so we can get Tomas's stuff set up nicely), and etc. It's getting there. So we can see how nice it's going to be, how wonderful this space will be for us once it's all done.
part the second
Jan. 28th, 2013 03:58 pmThe most important part, probably, that I thought of just as I was signing off and really want to get down here, is the blessed SILENCE I have for 5 1/2 hours a day. It's so healing and healthy for me. For those 5 1/2 hours I don't have to talk to anyone if I don't want to, and I don't have to listen to anything. My brain gets to move through whatever it needs to move through - and that's WHY everything in our life has been improving in leaps and bounds. The silence and calm has allowed me to do everything from finally figure out a way to properly organize under the kitchen sink to finally be able to put into words thoughts I've had about how Andrew and I think so very differently (and therefore finally have less frustration about it)...
Interestingly what I've also noticed is that my social media use has gone WAY down. Not just emails and lj, but fb and tw too. I'm barely on anything, rarely post and rarely read. I miss huge swaths of things people post... and it doesn't really bother me. That too was too much entering my brain.
So I'm calmer, and I'm happier, and I'm doing more, and etc. Life is good. Is what I'm saying.
Interestingly what I've also noticed is that my social media use has gone WAY down. Not just emails and lj, but fb and tw too. I'm barely on anything, rarely post and rarely read. I miss huge swaths of things people post... and it doesn't really bother me. That too was too much entering my brain.
So I'm calmer, and I'm happier, and I'm doing more, and etc. Life is good. Is what I'm saying.
Inner city life
Mar. 3rd, 2012 10:32 pmIt's a common movie trope, as far as I can tell, about the cold and uncaring inner city. Either everyone is selfish, or shallow, friends aren't "true", everyone is just trying to make a buck and community is something sold by Starbucks.
I live in a big city. I'm an inner city girl. And this is not my experience.
Take today, for example.
Today many of my friends came over and crammed into my apartment, where their children played with my child while we all made many many pierogi (3 different fillings! Regular AND gluten free dough!). We laughed and talked and joked and sang, reaffirmed bonds and loved and it was a fucking blast.
For dinner we ate the spoils of our work, and we all took home bags of pierogi for another day.
All this happened, I might add, while my next door neighbour laboured at home, to birth her son (born at 8:43pm tonight). As the day wore on we'd often run into a member of her family in the hallway (her partner, mother, brother, etc), and they'd update us on progress. At times I'd step into the hallway and hear her.
After most folks left, a friend sat on the couch and read my son a bedtime book while Andrew and I cleaned up (not that there was much to clean, since my friend's parents had been here alongside us, and had washed and dried most of the dishes after dinner). My neighbour's mum and brother stopped by individually to tell us the happy birth news.
This is my city life.
I live in a big city. I'm an inner city girl. And this is not my experience.
Take today, for example.
Today many of my friends came over and crammed into my apartment, where their children played with my child while we all made many many pierogi (3 different fillings! Regular AND gluten free dough!). We laughed and talked and joked and sang, reaffirmed bonds and loved and it was a fucking blast.
For dinner we ate the spoils of our work, and we all took home bags of pierogi for another day.
All this happened, I might add, while my next door neighbour laboured at home, to birth her son (born at 8:43pm tonight). As the day wore on we'd often run into a member of her family in the hallway (her partner, mother, brother, etc), and they'd update us on progress. At times I'd step into the hallway and hear her.
After most folks left, a friend sat on the couch and read my son a bedtime book while Andrew and I cleaned up (not that there was much to clean, since my friend's parents had been here alongside us, and had washed and dried most of the dishes after dinner). My neighbour's mum and brother stopped by individually to tell us the happy birth news.
This is my city life.
You know that book, the girl with the dragon tattoo?
A neighbour lent it to me months ago. I've avoided reading it based on what I've heard about it (mostly because I abhor the "violence against women/children as plot point" trope).
I felt that I should read it before returning it, though, especially since I'd held on to it so long. So I powered through it the last few days. And...
I hated it. I just don't see what made it so popular. Unless it's the violence towards women, which apparently is very popular is current fiction. Yuck.
A neighbour lent it to me months ago. I've avoided reading it based on what I've heard about it (mostly because I abhor the "violence against women/children as plot point" trope).
I felt that I should read it before returning it, though, especially since I'd held on to it so long. So I powered through it the last few days. And...
I hated it. I just don't see what made it so popular. Unless it's the violence towards women, which apparently is very popular is current fiction. Yuck.
I'm tired. Like - in my head tired.
Mar. 21st, 2010 09:16 pm*sigh*
It's Sunday night, my attempt to put the kidlet to bed didn't work so Andrew is trying this time, and so I could (should) be doing anything useful (like the mountain of dishes, or some sewing, or tidying, or the budget, or cleaning the scrawled-on-tub, or really, ANYTHING), but here I am, not doing any of those things.
I don't even want to continue my 365. And I've done so well so far.
*sigh*
It's Sunday night, my attempt to put the kidlet to bed didn't work so Andrew is trying this time, and so I could (should) be doing anything useful (like the mountain of dishes, or some sewing, or tidying, or the budget, or cleaning the scrawled-on-tub, or really, ANYTHING), but here I am, not doing any of those things.
I don't even want to continue my 365. And I've done so well so far.
*sigh*
No, please DON'T get 'er done.
Nov. 6th, 2009 01:28 pmWas just in an all-employee meeting. Several offices, all on the phone. And an extremely high level man actually said to someone else, such that we all, across all offices, heard it: "Get 'er done".
That really, REALLY bothered me. The inherent assumption of the objectification and sexualization of women is horrifying. Way to bring us down into representations of whatever item it is you need to "do", buddy.
And I am fully aware that he was clueless.
I immediately spoke out, although the only people who could hear me were the ones in our office - and I was laughed at. Another female in the office said I pretty much guaranteed that people will be saying it around me quite a lot.
It doesn't bother me to be laughed at about something like this. And I WILL continue to fight it.
That really, REALLY bothered me. The inherent assumption of the objectification and sexualization of women is horrifying. Way to bring us down into representations of whatever item it is you need to "do", buddy.
And I am fully aware that he was clueless.
I immediately spoke out, although the only people who could hear me were the ones in our office - and I was laughed at. Another female in the office said I pretty much guaranteed that people will be saying it around me quite a lot.
It doesn't bother me to be laughed at about something like this. And I WILL continue to fight it.
On this day 2 years ago, my water broke.
Sep. 11th, 2009 09:34 pmI'm sure I posted this video before:
The song is lovely, beautiful and makes me melt. The video, well... it makes me cry every time.
The song is lovely, beautiful and makes me melt. The video, well... it makes me cry every time.
Know what I did today?
Aug. 17th, 2009 09:12 pmPaid off my student loan.
Ayup. All gone. See ya NEVER.
Waaaahooooo!!
Ayup. All gone. See ya NEVER.
Waaaahooooo!!
How I try to live my life
Aug. 11th, 2009 02:09 pmYou don't do the things you do because others will necessarily join you in doing them, nor because they will ultimately prove successful. You do the things you do because the things you do are right.
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
I've become one of THOSE people...
Jul. 29th, 2009 07:52 amGrande Soy Half-Sweet Mocha, No Whip, please.*****
*****There's hope for me still - I still smile and I'm not a bitch about it. I have never done either of the following, both of which are true stories:
-Complained because my foam bubbles were TOO BIG
-Complained because they put TOO MUCH COFFEE IN MY CUP
*****There's hope for me still - I still smile and I'm not a bitch about it. I have never done either of the following, both of which are true stories:
-Complained because my foam bubbles were TOO BIG
-Complained because they put TOO MUCH COFFEE IN MY CUP
I feel like such a jerk
Jul. 21st, 2009 02:05 amI came home after work with a headache. Andrew made dinner and wrangled the kid, I passed out at 7:30 and he did EVERYTHING. And it's my turn to take the night shift, too, but he's doing that too. I feel like such a jerk. ;(
Also - he's pretty awesome.
Also - he's pretty awesome.
This is my morning
Jul. 12th, 2009 09:30 am
So it went something like this:
We're having breakfast, Tomas stacks one blueberry on top of another one, Andrew stacks a third on top of those... and then Andrew went and got a skewer and "stacked" all those blueberries on it. In this picture, Tomas is trying to blow the berries down.
snack food
Feb. 3rd, 2009 12:28 pmThis weekend I made my own soy-nuts. It's extremely easy!
I just took 2 cups of dried soy beans, soaked them overnight, drained them well, spread them out on a cookie sheet and added salt, then baked them at 250F for 3 or so hours.
The first batch, I stirred around after an hour or so. The second batch, I didn't bother.
They are crispy and crunchy and just perfect. Yum!
I just took 2 cups of dried soy beans, soaked them overnight, drained them well, spread them out on a cookie sheet and added salt, then baked them at 250F for 3 or so hours.
The first batch, I stirred around after an hour or so. The second batch, I didn't bother.
They are crispy and crunchy and just perfect. Yum!
