This Week

photo © 2010 Scott Stilson | more info (via: Wylio)This is what I'll be doing this week: driving. I just added it up, and it will be about 18.5 hours on the road, mostly highway driving. The picture is sort of like the truck I'll be driving. I wish I'd been smarter and loaded up more audio books (I only have two with me), or at least loaded all my Christmas music onto the iPod. Tough tooties, as Owen might say (or tell me to not say).

Wanted to get my post out early today, as this is the last day of NaBloPoMo and there's a small chance I won't be off the road until AFTER midnight and don't want to take that change after making it 29 straight days with a post. This makes 30. Huzzah!

After flexing my "writing" muscles a bit I like chronicling things daily. I write a little bit by hand each day and have throughout this year. So I think I'll be on the lookout for another journal like that. This one was from Upper Room and included the liturgy readings each Sunday plus a daily Bible verse. Hrm.

Hope everyone had a smashing November and that your slide into the holiday season and 2011 is joyful, restful and full of love.

Bonus: You (Don't) Know Mari

My most creative birthday gift was a tag-team by my husband and sister -- two of my most favorite people in the world. And they've been working on it since the summer! After Thanksgiving dinner, and a rousing game of Scattergories (yeah, I won), they whipped out their custom game: "How Well Do You Know Mari?"

It was basically a bunch of questions (30 would have been appropriate, but it was closer to 50) about me, and then people wrote down their answers. Toward the end it turned into a who-can-shout-the-answer-first. It was pretty funny, although some of the questions ventured into territory I'd rather NOT relive ... uh, sneaking out is a right of passage, but do we have to talk about it on the first anniversary of my 29th birthday? (Saw that on Scrubs today while ellipticalling after work -- cracked me up.)

There was no winner to the game, but a lot of laughs. And some of the answers I wasn't even sure of -- how many universities have I taken classes at? (Six: OSU, WOSC, OU, Oxford, Georgetown, Maryland)

How great is it to be loved?!

Holiday Music

photo © 2008 stuartpilbrow | more info (via: Wylio)Started rocking the Christmas music, and I'm loving it, as per usual. My Pandora holiday station plays my perfect mix mostly -- poppy, classics and weird throw backs including NKOTB. My office mate will be glad she's leaving in a week -- although I'll be gone for the rest of this week and I use headphones if she's in the office.

I need to get packing for this week. I don't know about my Friday -- if I'll be staying on an extra day in Florida or if I can just skip it and come home to Baton Rouge on Thursday night. Everyone root for Thursday!

November is coming to a close, and I haven't even done all the post ideas I had in mind. Some ideas: camping, ha!; "lots of stuff to look at"; how to house hunt -- next actions; i like to write letters; what i like to cook/best recipes; describe the inside of my recent church's sanctuary ... memory of other sanctuaries where i have worshiped; going home to Baton Rouge ... BR is home?; statistics of the blog and how they change; possessions: curbing that desire and cycle; and the Thanksgiving Parade/missing New York.

Don't know what I'm missing, clearly! There's always tomorrow...

Present Company

This is what 30 looks like

Here's a snap taken by Shawn on my birthday -- you can see a few of my birthday gifts (and my silly little sister in the background). There's the Kindle, the rockstar eyeliner and my new bracelet and watch on my left wrist. Also the lovely manicure before it started to chip, less than 24 hours after having them done. Oh well.

When I went to the car today for church -- after getting dressed and excited to be back to a service after two weeks of traveling Sundays -- and the car wouldn't start. The electronic key wouldn't open the door, so at first I thought it was just that. Nope. Dead battery. In a brand new car.

Shawn figured out, after he got a jump from a kindly stranger, that he had somehow switched on the hazard lights when he put the GPS unit back in the car last night. Oiy! We're back in business and were able to go get lunch (calzone!) and groceries (mostly easy things for Shawn to make while I'm gone for most of the week).

Now he's off to work and I'm catching up on TV, finishing up laundry and thinking about pulling out my Christmas decorations. Will also do a little Christmas shopping online and finish the thank you notes. Also wouldn't mind just laying on the couch for a while. La-zee-bones.

Getting close to the end of November and ability to slow down on the posts. Delightful!

Taxi, Taxi

I rode in a taxi for the first time in Baton Rouge. (Thought it was the first time since leaving NYC, but remembered I took a cab from the Washington airport to Silver Spring my second day on the job ... oh, work.)

Relatively uneventful trip home. A long layover in Dallas and we ate at Bennigans -- didn't think they even existed anymore! We also saw a woman yelling at an airline employee. Reminiscent of my melt down in LAX over checking my bag. Makes me red-faced all over again.

My brand new manicure chipped -- didn't even last a day. BIG bummer. But maybe I can smooth it over. At least I got a neutral polish so it isn't mega noticeable. This is why I can't have nice things. Meh.

Got a few new nice things for my birthday. Mama gave me a Kindle! So now I can have an easier time lugging my reading material around with me! She also gave me a purple car coat that I'd picked out a while back and forgotten. I wore it on the plane home and it's just the right weight for the chill in the air here in the Red Stick.

Owen gave me a little toy car that he wrapped himself. And as a present he let me have as many hugs and kisses on my birthday as I wanted. That was super fun.

Beth gave me a purple diver watch, very similar to the one I'd tweeted about (just a coincidence, but funny). I got a Brighton charm bracelet from my California aunts and cousin. Chic, chic, no? A purple Urban Decay eyeliner rounded out the gifts ... and there's a package here waiting for me to open AND the new bike from Shawn to enjoy.

So far being 30 is so good. Let's hope the good times continue to roll!

Biological Imperative

The day is slipping away, but I wanted to at least do a stream of consciousness post to knock out today on nablopomo. I was woken up by a certain six-year-old looking for the Subway book. And so far I've had a coffee, breakfast bar, shower and blowdry. More fun to come -- mom is making a s/f cheesecake, I plan to have a Sonic drink if I can find a ride, and tonight my fave: Mexican food and margaritas. I'd like to get a manicure -- I have a hang nail issue and love having pretty fingers. What better way to start my fourth decade on the planet (start being the key word in this sentence)?

We're going home tomorrow, so this trip has flown by. Although all together we'll have been away from home for one week. Traveling couple.

Owen is in the tub having a fun bath. He's the silliest.

Thanksgiving was nice, although I'd like it if we had more South Beach friendly dishes. I only ate four things, although I ate a lot of each!

Hope you are having a great Thanksgiving weekend and safe travels home if you're on the road... More from me tomorrow!

FWD: Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

~ Author Unknown ~

-via Auntie Sue

Gift-ability

My feed reader is full of posts with titles like "Thank You" and "Grateful." That's nice, and I have a lot to be thankful for. But I'm not sure it's interesting enough for me to write about.

Something I'm most thankful for is Shawn, but instead of gushing about how much I love him (a lot), how about coming up with Christmas gift ideas?

He's very hard to buy for, and I have trouble coming up with things. He's not really a collector, and he doesn't want STUFF cluttering his life (complete opposite of me, natch).

Anyway, here are some ideas, which he'll probably scream about each and every one: black dress socks, white T-shirts, funny ties, silly magnets (he has a metal filing cabinet in one of his offices). He eats cereal almost every morning -- so I have always thought about getting him this Eat Me Crunchy bowl, but I never have. He doesn't use iTunes and doesn't really have any new music wishes, although if there was a band someone liked a lot a CD would be an easy gift. Maybe a DVD of an old 80s movie?

Anyway, I'll keep thinking, and if you have any good gift ideas for a 30-something husband who wants for nothing, drop 'em in the comments. Thanks!

Seasoned Traveler

photo © 2009 Addie | more info (via: Wylio)
The flight experience yesterday was unfun. LAX (or at least the section we were going through) didn't have the full body scanners, so getting through security was no worries.

But upon reaching the gate I wasn't able to take my carry on wheelie bag onto the plane because it was too big. I'd already hassled with it before going through security, and now I had to put it in the tiny metal sleeve to prove it would fit in the overhead.

So I lose my sh*t and start taking stuff out to make it fit. No dice. Even when I get the bag into the smaller-than-the-overhead-compartment segment outside the gate, the agents tell me I have to check my bag. I move stuff around, get my toothbrush out of it (it's a high dollar sonicare one, and I didn't feel like throwing it away), and say goodbye to my bag, sure that the gate agents will just throw it away after my tantrum. I was so agitated that I start crying on the plane (air travel always makes me emotional anyway, so every nerve is raw, right at the surface and ready to explode).

Poor Shawn. But after some time and then a margarita at the Chili's Too in the Dallas airport I was feeling better. I think flying after a drink could be a good modus operandi for me in the future. And much to my surprise the luggage arrived in Lawton anyway, so there's that. Shouldn't be a problem on the flights back since both are tiny jets where you valet check your roller bags.

New Louisiana State Flag

My colleague and I were just talking about this, what does the LA flag look like? Apparently it looks like this and was just unveiled this week:

Traveling this afternoon, en route to see a certain little kid I love so much. But I wanted to knock out my post before we leave so I don't forget or have to scramble late at night or from an airport some where.

Busy-ness

Dirty Beach

Yesterday before my aunts came to pick me up for craft fair shopping I managed to work out, take a walk on the beach and run to the drug store. Once shopping we got some good stuff at the craft fair and did a bit of shopping in Long Beach itself. We had lunch at a groovy cafe and then went to Auntie Sue's for tea and supper.

Requisite Feet Shot

We drove past Grandma Jane's house, which was a little bit surreal, because they've changed so much of it. Hardly looks like the same house. Susan had been inside of it when the owners had a garage sale. One thing they have kept is the nifty mail box and the ingenious flap Gpa Ray rigged to alert you when the mailman had come. I miss the times we had there at that house. But home is more than just an address.

I took a few snaps at the beach but none of us shopping/grooving. I am a lame-oh.

I Whip My Hair Back and Forth

Greener Pastures

We made it to California with no real issue. Of course the flight in Dallas was delayed, and there were seven people on board who missed their connection to Maui -- the last flight of the day. What a bummer. Last night was a fun birthday dinner with my aunts.

Today Shawn left in his suit and looked SO HANDSOME. His talk is today, and I'm going to spend the day with my aunts at a craft fair and grooving. Maybe I can get a shot of Shawn in his suit tonight.

Tomorrow I'll be working from this hotel room, which is nice. I should be able to get things done. Then Tuesday it will be off to Oklahoma. Intra-national travelers.

I'm keeping my body on a Central Time schedule as much as I can, so it's just after 9 a.m. here and I've gone to the gym, showered and am dressed. And I've got two hours before take off. I think I may have a drive around, get some claritin for the kitties and see if I can see the ocean. Huzzah!

Growth

photo © 2009 Shane Gavin | more info (via: Wylio)Sometimes a light bulb goes off in my brain, and I think I have a clever idea.

With all this travel, I have been lugging my one-a-day Bible and spiritual journal around with me. It takes up a lot of space in my small wheelie bag. For this trip I realized I could write down the passages I need to read each day (in the journal) and then read them online OR in the Gideon Bible in the hotel room. When I get to Oklahoma I can even borrow Gran's Bible, which is identical to mine, since they were a Christmas gift from my mom years ago. (Gran has been better about using it to read through. I think this is only the second year I've done it.)

And speaking of that, last night's reading included James 3. Yikes. I need to read that passage every day and work to control my tongue, and similarly my fingers. As I can type some passive aggressive, downright mean e-mails if I let my true nature take over. I'm never going to be able to control myself all the time, but I have to keep working to get better.

Another effort to improve myself is my almost-daily exercise routine, which has been obliterated the last week or so by travel. I took my sneakers and workout clothes to Galveston, and the hotel had a gym. But I was only at the hotel from 10 p.m.-7:45 a.m. most nights, and I haven't worked on myself to become an early bird and work out BEFORE all my days begin. Perhaps that can be a challenge in the new year. Once all the travel settles down I'll get back into the swing, and hope my weight doesn't swing up in the interim! I'll see if I can bring myself to use the hotel gym in CA, and there will be some walking there. And in Oklahoma I'll go outside and run and play with Owen -- the best kind of exercise I think!

Just a few more sleeps 'til I'm snuggling that little moo head.

Note: The Wylio photo finding software really is amazing. You can read about it on the creator's wife's blog (and elsewhere, but this or Tech Crunch is where I heard about it first, I think).

Grey-Haired Lady

Got my hair cut today and it doesn't look much different. I wasn't clear enough, but at least the ends are trimmed and she used a razor as well as she could. I'll work on her next time. It was pretty cheap for a salon cut. I think that's a bonus for living in the stick(s).

I also had an adventure getting (well not getting) my government ID card. It was exhausting and I was just missing two pieces of information. Of course the person who could give me that information was gone/out. And no one else in the entire organization could fill in. I would hate to think what happens when someone dies unexpectedly. GRIPE!

I'm getting loads of grey in my hair. It's a little distressing when coupled with the fact that I have ONE WEEK left in my 20s. As one of my coworkers said so nicely: Black Friday will be the start of holiday shopping and the end of your youth. BURN!

So washing then packing and a noon flight tomorrow. Hopefully we'll get out of here before the REAL traffic starts for the game, but I know we'll see some. It's already picking up out there.

This is just a "here's what happened" post, seems to be most of what I do lately. Not really thought out, themed posts. I should work on that, but posting once a day ... I don't do that as much. Plus all the travel. Whine, whine, whine.

May I have some cheese, please?

This is Auntie M

Driven more than 8 hours today, counting a couple hours where I just road rode. Unreal. Woke up to the sunrise in Galveston and saw the sunset in the Garden District of New Orleans. I didn't sleep well last night either, turning things over in my mind and pushing to get home.

Home.

Just a couple nights here and then off to a California Adventure. Should be a good time, but this much travel in a row is almost more than I can bear!!!

I am glad to be back with all my clothes. I really didn't do a good job packing, and yesterday I wore polka dot socks, striped pants ad a striped shirt. Crazy.

I need a hair cut, I need a doctor's appointment, I need a dentist appointment, I need an appointment to get a new work badge. First, I need to sleep.

Going Coastal

It is lovely here. Almost everything I would write about this trip would be griping, so I'll redirect my focus.

Packing is apparently not my forte. I only brought crazy socks, and I was one pair of pants short. I'll just re-wear one of them for tomorrow. I never used my exercise clothes or tennis shoes. I could have used jeans and a sweatshirt (it was surprisingly chilly here, especially in the evenings). But I already am lugging so much stuff it's kind of ridiculous.

I'll be glad to be home, although it will just be for a couple nights then off on another adventure, at least this time for pleasure. I will be Shawn, which makes things better anyway!

Also, I've got at least two new readers, so welcome. My stats are down this year compared to last, which I can't really figure out. Comments are picking up slightly I guess. This is mostly all just a narcissistic record for myself anyway. But I do like to use it to test trends and see if I can do better. Apparently, I can't!

Zing!

Losing My ...

Today's Dessert at Lunch

Since I've been at this conference I have lost and found my mini dell bag of computer accessories and my favorite pen. The bag was left on the floor and a janitor picked it up. I tracked it down in the building office. Then pen fell on the floor during a session, and then I found it when I was back in the same room for another session later. Thrilling.

But it's made me feel more airheaded than normal. I've also been more upset. Being out of my routine (however shaky and new it is) is making me feel worse. And the swing from insular, nearly anti-social lifestyle and personality to near constant sociability for what seems like days on end is a bit wearing. I am tired.

I do love the views here. The coast line is amazing. I did take some photos, so I'll use those as a post later this week. Maybe on a travel day when I'm even more exhausted than I am now, although i can hardly imagine!

I ate dessert at lunch today -- and still regretting it. Not from the calories/sugar/and not really exercising perspective, although that's bad. But from the how it made me feel perspective. I didn't even love the taste, I had a bad sugar reaction, where you get super sluggish afterward. I have to remember it's not worth it.

A lot to do before I can hit the sack so I'd better get to it.

Happy?

I want to be more even keeled.

I want to let go of the snark, and not project my unhappiness.

I want to be a vessel for joy -- and spread it to others.

I want a lot of things. I'm trying to want fewer things and more experiences and love. But it's a struggle.

To cheer myself up, how about a picture of Owen in front of the mighty Mississipp? Remember when I used to say he was the cutest thing on either side of that river? I still think he is!

Have an Absorbing Day!

Insulting

Writing from a conference. This is a different kind of travel than I have been and will continue to do. Many of the people here seem to be whooping it up and just happy to be away from their desk jobs. Hrm.

I met the president (owner? founder?) of my company -- the contracting company that actually pays my salary. He was weird -- introduced himself as my boss after someone else introduced me as being with the company. (Just what I need, another "boss.") He asked about my work -- thought I was doing something completely different, so I explained a little about my role and my title. Obviously didn't know I, or my position, existed. Which is fine with me, so whatever.

Then I was talking to the HR lady with whom I'd had many discussions in the process of interviewing for and accepting the position. We talked about how I went from working from home, alone in my studio apartment to this, which is much more people-involved.

The president guy scoffed and said "I thought you said you were a communications person."

I think insulting my background is uncalled for. And besides, my past life work was heavily web based ... and it wasn't like I didn't do any person-to-person outreach. It just wasn't as concentrated as this work is. Also most of my closest contacts within the organization are REMOTE. I don't know, it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

But I schmoozed and said "everything is great." HR lady said ~sounds like it's been really good for your career ... as a professional ... or something like that.

But sometimes, like when I've technically worked 12 hours on a Sunday, missed church, a workout, dinner and an evening with my boy ... I don't know that this is worth it.

It's just one week, one Sunday, one conference.

Time to put on my big girl panties and be a professional ... for once.

Bike Owner

SUCCESS!

The first place we went had a bike that I really liked. The medium was a little too small for me, perhaps, so the bike man called to the other locations and found one that had the large so I could go try it out. I did, and Shawn was convinced it was the correct size. The bike lady at the second shop said it looked almost too big, but that if it felt OK it was good. And it did feel OK.

So we got it! And it's purple!!!

At Target we got a lock and a helmet -- silver for silvermari. It was less than 1/3 of the price of those they had at the bike shop. BUT the bells at the bike shop and the baskets were cheaper. I'll bling out later, either when I'm back from my travels/before Christmas or in the spring if the weather here actually turns cold enough that you can't ride bikes.

It is threatening rain so not sure if we'll go test out the new wheels, but I've got a ticket to ride!!! And I can get to work even more easily now with this new option. Huzzah!

I haven't taken pictures, but it looks something like this, although it is not the exact model.

Edit: Here's a picture: