small, but important.


A few attainable goals for this week, my first full week of work in 1.75 years.

{1}
Write a post card every morning.
NOTE:
Since I get to work early and have the place to myself for a bit, I've decided one way to bring my old life into my new life and breath a bit of soul into the office is to keep the lights dim for a bit and take a moment to write a post.  I really want JSL's postcards for this very reason.

{2}
Get to bed between 10:00pm-11:00pm every night.  
NOTE:
I failed last night, but only by half an hour.  I've been telling everyone my most recent thought...if there is one thing I learned about staying home it's how much sleep I needed but wasn't getting.  Honestly, I really need close to 10 hours, but if I can grab 7-8, I should be fine.  By fine, I mean able to maintain a relatively positive outlook, be nice to people, and ward off unnecessary existential angst.  Seriously, if most of my deep depression and dilemmas came as a result of lack of sleep, I will feel so cosmically silly.

{3}
Eat Breakfast.
NOTE:
To many this seems like an obvious thing one should do; feed the body its fuel and all.  I love breakfast, but it can be hard when you are rushing out the door.  Last week, I was able to poach a few eggs before I left and it made all the difference in my hunger level throughout the day.  I am a protein girl, for sure.  This morning, my saint made them for me (who is only working from home one more week before HE starts HIS new job next week).

I suppose that shall do.
Evening fellow worker bees...home, office, and otherwise.

{completely unrelated subscript}
I just finished watching "No Impact Man" and found it rather entertaining.  I was inspired so much (and felt immensely guilty about all the packaging my dinner created) that I am considering going one year without a television (we already don't have live TV, just internet and netflix).  They did this and it just seemed that they read more, spent more time together, slept more, and saw their friends more.  I have never felt that viewing really relaxed me anyway...but the mindless part is so enjoyable...especially when working.

{more unrelated drivel}
  • Musings of a Melancholic just reached 100 followers with google connect!  (There are lots more, but it's great to see that number on the actual public page for all to see).  Thanks for following me!
  • My 3 year blog-iversary is coming up on October 26...look!  Maybe I should do a give-away.


weekend report

Happy Sunday Eventide, Blogites.  I'm quite happy to be reporting on this weekend from my parent's home, sitting in the coziest of chairs, sipping (another) gin & tonic, listening to Chopin, and finding deep peace in the cascade of rain I hear out of the open window.  A baby asleep, laundry in the dryer, and I feel relaxed, rested...and (I think) ready to take on my first FULL week of (corporate) work since Feb 09.

: CAREER SIDE-NOTE :
Perhaps I should fill you in on my position. I am actually not a Microsoft employee, but work on Microsoft campus for SQLsoft.  I am essentially an event coordinator, in charge of hosting trainings in our state-of-the-art technical classrooms.  It's low stress, I can wear whatever I want, I have my own office, my team of workers are really great, and the hours are flexible.  All in all, I am really happy about it.  I'll be sure to take photos for you here shortly.  

Here's the weekend report...


First of all, I was really happy to attend an art show of one of my very closest friends, Jeremy Kronbach.  His paintings are amazing (I have a few up in my house) and this was his first official show.  We were all so proud, and quite happy to attend.  The show is hanging up in Greenwood for a while, but there is another show in December at Naked City pub in December, so if you live in the Seattle area, email me for details.


After a good night with my friends, I woke up Saturday morning to the most wonderful drizzle...quiet and pensive. I grabbed a magazine and a french press of Sumatra.



After a lazy afternoon, we began to unpack the books...which are always the first thing we pack UP and the last things we UNpack.  


After working hard at unpacking on Saturday, we took Sunday to sell a few items on craigslist, eat a few muffins, and head to our siblings for dinner.


After a delicious quiche (complete with swiss chard from the garden) and a delicious bowl of banana pudding with toasted coconut on top, a few loads of laundry, and a lot of kisses imposed upon little Olive Jade*, I can head back to the city and begin my work week with satisfaction and rest.



p.s.
weekend confession: I ate mac&cheese for lunch BOTH Saturday and Sunday.

* go HERE to see more pics of that gorgeous baby

a day like any other

Like Any Other

It would appear like any other morning...any she's had for the last 1.5 years.
Waking to a quiet alarm, an internal alarm, the very best alarm.
Putting on a pot of boiling water, poaching two eggs for 3 minutes precisely,
sneaking a cup of Earl Grey from her saint's personal pot.

Showering, writing, cleaning, talking to friends, cooking, caring.

A leisurely existence, for sure...but still...a learned one.
To be home, to be one's own boss...
though amazing, ideal even,
it's a lesson to learn.

It might appear like any other afternoon...
watching an episode (of anything BBC) with him on his lunch break,
sneaking a snooze, chatting on the phone,
loading the dishwasher, planning dinner, sweeping the floor,
nesting.

But today, though likened indeed to many others
is unlike them underneath its surface.

Season.

A bookend
A creaking door
A gush of westerly wind
A costume change

Today was the last day she spent at home.
Fulltime work begins tomorrow.

A new adventure begins...the dread subsides...
and shifting into 5th gear
feels smooth and sexy.

But only after a completely ordinary day
unlike any other.




the new abode [aka, the house of light]...unpacked version

Here's the front room...I am just over the moon about that glass!

Turn left to face north, and you'll see these curtains covering a floor-to-ceiling window.  The light in this place is divine.

Do an about face to the south, and you'll enjoy a view of the mantel.
We are toying with placing the TV in the fireplace, but for now...it's just a jumbly mess.


Little Miss Octavia is settling in more quickly than expected...though she is an now a hybrid outdoor/indoor kitty, we'll keep her inside for a week and then she can start to explore outside.  She's been rather frisky because she usually exerts quite a bit of energy outside...but she's literally a caged cat. Well, not literally.  But kind of.


A lovely kitchen scape, one to replace my favorite part of the trailer.


And the other kitchen windows.
I guess they'll do.
[smirk]


The view of the light cascading onto the bed (and unpacked shiz)
from my bedroom.  It has another (two) window(s).
[double smirk]


Here's an example of what happens when a girl packs way too late at night...after working 8 hours...when that girl is unaccustomed to the energy necessary to work again.  She forgets how to spell some of her favorite things, and then proceeds to use proper proofreading symbols to correct it.  On the box.
Sidenote: Don't you think jewels and letters make such a dreamy combination?

Well, this week I am only working a few days...so I'll be unpacking, sitting in this cafe until our internet gets installed, and soaking up the last week of leisure before it's back to work full time next week.

I'll be keeping you posted on the house and the state of my soul as I attempt to put into practice all my self-care tools without the free time to spare.  I think it's entirely possible, but I admit that I am daily swimming in a pool of fear...

And it may be all the surprising and shocking transitions of 2010
(learning that anything can happen at a moment's notice)
but I feel as if I am standing over a trap door, gasping for one more breath with every inhale,
as if it will be my last chance before I plunge into an abyss
and the floor falls out under me.
It's a dread...something making me feel like another transition (good or bad) is just around the corner.
That good news will be reneged.
That bad news will reoccur.

I am grabbing blindly for anything to hold that won't come crashing down with me.
Call it paranoia, call it portent,
or call it self-fulfilling prophesy,
I am just noticing a continual need to remind myself to
breath, stare at light, and get plenty of rest.
Plus,
Milk Duds.

The end.






Trailer Tribute

While several of our amazing friends help us move today, I'll let this video take us all out...

Trailer, it's been trashy.
But oh so memorable.