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Monday, March 20, 2006
unpacking secrets of the rich and famous
I am half unpacked. I totally wrenched my back out doing it, but it was progress! The kitchen is totally unpacked as is the bathroom and linens. The bathroom may not seem like a notable milestone to you, but it involved putting together a new shelfy-cabinet thing, so that counted as an accomplishment. Before I unpacked the kitchen, I sat there a long while planning where everything would go for maximum efficiency, ability for husband to find things without asking, etc. But when you are not only unpacking, but organizing, I find it takes an awfully long time. And, we may not be in this location that long, so spending a lot of time organizing, instead of simply getting things out of boxes, might not be the best invenstment of time. So I decided that I would just unpack and not arrange everything just so just yet. While some cupboards are arranged exquisitely (the paden city pottery cupboard, the tea and lovely beverage cabinet, etc.) there are areas that are only unpacked, not actually organized. As an example, the spice rack has all the spices there, but not arranged in any particular fashion. I figure the more used ones will automatically gravitate towards the front as if govered by one of Newton's laws, and I won't actually have to invest time actually organizing it. In the bathroom, things are grouped with similar items, but again, it isn't all arranged. I have made a deal with myself to simply unpack and then go back and organize at a later date when all the boxes have been recycled and we're sure we aren't moving to a different apartment.
This has proven extremely difficult. While I am not to cleanest person, I have a penchant for liking things organized just right. So while I may have dirty dishes in the sink, the different types of forks in the drawer are stacked painstakingly, not just dumped into the fork compartment willy-nilly. So it is in my nature to ponder where things should go and arrange them ergonomically and aesthetically. But I really have to repeat to myself that it is a job that just needs to get done and not pondered, or it will take forever. "Just unpack now and you can arrange it later," I tell myself. We will see how long it lasts.
My biggest challenge is still ahead of me, namely art supplies and books, both of which I love to arrange endlessly. There are just so many different ways to organize them! We will see if I am able to simply unpack and put everything away with the promise or being able to rearrange at a later date.
----------OK here is my countdown to being done--------------------------
Furniture waiting to be put together: while shelves (X2), small storage unit, small decorative shelves (X2), curtain rod
Boxes still packed: 18
.: posted by Zemlet 12:20 PM
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
moving
Well in addition to moving half our stuff to Los Angeles, today I also had to move out of my favorite cube at the client office I'm working at. They took me out of CAD and moved me into a gigantic corner office with windows. Now I know I should be loving the cushy huge desk and commanding views of trees and raindrops, but I thought the cube was better: the right lighting and in with more productive people, and not stared at so much. Everyone who passes this office looks at me, because they want to know who snagged the big spot that has been kept empty for someone important. No, I tell them, I am not the important corner messiah you've been waiting for. I'm just a contractor with a laptop who needed a network hookup.
While I was moving my equipment in, I came across a fortune from one of those cookies. It read,
"You will be reunited with old friends before the month is out."
I sure hope so! In fact, if I don't have a reunion with my husband before the week is out, I'll go crazy. I say the word "husband" all the time. Even to friends he has known for 15 years or to his own sister, I am like "my husband blah blah blah..." I am just still so excited to be married to the greatest guy in the world. I still stare at my engagement ring and just marvel at all that has happened and how lucky I am all the time. I literally almost walked into someone in the hallway yesterday because I was staring at my diamond. I cannot wait until Saturday when we are together again.
So while I'd rather be organizing what is left of the things in my house and putting away all the books in the library, I'm working almost nonstop this week for my client in Bellevue. I find I don't have the stamina I used to for working a full day and then playing all night. Hopefully there is a workout video for that kind of thing, so I can get ready for doing this full time. Two nights ago I went to bed at 8PM... now THAT is tired. Of course, I didn't think I'd have to come in today, so I hung out with Britta last night until 3AM watching Evita starring Madonna and catching up on episodes of The Shield, while killing Incendius. Yeah I am feeling that now. I have to say I really like working, but this place has terrible coffee!
I had a dream that I got a new job but right away found out the General Manager was a jerk who liked to scream at people, so I quit in the middle of a meeting. Is there ever a time to scream at work in a negative way? I just don't think there is... I was perfectly justified in quitting my imaginary job. No yelling, that should be a rule; it is a workplace, not a family. I think my brain is preparing my high standards for a workplace run by managers who respect and value people. I think I had that at Concept Marine Associates and can find it again. When I was younger, I would and did put up with all kinds of disrespectful behavior, but now I think my life is just too short and precious to spend time with people like that. I need to build myself into the person who isn't taken advantage of. I need to feel like it is OK to be picky about who you will work with. I will be a tremendous asset to whatever company I work for and they should be desrving of it. I also need to work on not volunteering for too much work. I often sign up to do way too much, just because it is all things I -can- do. Just because I -can- do it, doesn't mean I should do it all. I should put my 8 hours a day in and only work overtime when it will really make a difference, not just to make things extra super good (which nobody will notice anyway.)
OK this is totally rambling and not entertaining you, but I needed to write all this stuff down because I thought of it on my commute.
So to entertain you, I'll tell a bad joke:
What's the difference between an enzyme and a hormone?
You can't hear an enzyme.
.: posted by Zemlet 11:33 AM
Monday, March 06, 2006
camping in your own home
Well according to the movers, they won't know for sure for a bit, but we will probably be in our new apartment but without our stuff for about a week. Now won't that be fun. We'll have clothes and some books and things, oh and some of our computer equipment, but not dishes or my espresso machine or a bed. It could be fun or really really annoying. We're going to borrow my homie's (that is what we call our house mate now) aerobed and I guess we'll just sit cross-legged on the floor or something while we play WoW on the carpet. Oh and I am getting a new printer. When Epson heard what happened to my old one, they offered to either fix it for free (how long would that take, though? hmmm?) or give me half off a new one. So I took the new one and had it shipped for free to my new house so it will be waiting for me. Perhaps we can use the box it comes in as our only piece of furniture?
I am still in Seattle this week working (YAY) and dealing with the plumber (BOO). Something is amiss with the water pressurizer system in the garage and apparently I need to get the whole thing insulated. The good news is, I'll do most of that myself- go me. I love fixing things so, except for the fact that it is freezing outside right now (hence the need for insulation), it should be a fun home improvement project. There is also a leak that the plumber is going to take care of. I am very proud of how I found the plumber. I had saved the manual from the water pressurizer and called the manufacturer to get information on the local sales rep and then called them for a referral to a plumber. I had initially called around and casually talked to some plumbers I found in the phone book and formed a list of "guys I am ok dealing with". One name was on both my list from calling around and the one from the sales rep, so that was my choice. Why not use the internet, you ask? I don't actually want a plumber who knows how to use the internet. So there.
The graphics guy that works for one of my clients is on vacation this week, so I am filling in for him. Yay for work and money! I will have to post anything cool I end up making. Don't hold your breath- one of the projects I'll work on this week is for a wastewater treatment plant. On second thought, hold your breath.
Last night eight of us went out for a fancy dinner party at Flying Fish where I wore part of my wedding dress. I wore a brown sweater with that floor length pink skirt I have and the brown overskirt from my wedding ensemble. My homie wore pearls with a floor length red velvet gown with matching velvet shoes! Wolfe wore a tuxedo and Britta wore a very smart pink blouse with french cuffs. Even Lois wore a dress and we made quite the scene. At one point we were out of bread, so I stole some from a waitress station. After that they brought like 3 more bread plates. Heh heh. Most of us got the Price Fixe dinner which is $25 for a starter, entree and dessert on off nights. You don't have to wear a ball gown if you want to go (but why not?) Many Seattleites wear jeans no matter what and nobody cares. You don't want to be the stupid restaurant that pissed off the rich nerd. ANyhow it was really fun and hopefully I'll have time to watch the Jon Stewart Oscars tonight instead... so NOBODY say anything about who won!
.: posted by Zemlet 11:41 AM
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