Catching Up

One of my goals this year is to blog more, but here it is, the 16th, and this is only my second post.  I haven't even gone back and posted my holiday photos here yet, though I did manage to get them up on Flickr.  So I'm here, trying to write something.

I had a conversation with DS today about time.  Well, mostly I pontificated to him through instant messaging while he failed to respond because he was working at a real job.  Anyway, we were talking about how it was taking me longer than I wanted to write out some new flute parts for some new material the band is making, and I was worried about getting it done before practice tonight so I'd have something to play.  But also, there are like 15 other things I wanted/needed to do today, one of which was "spend several hours playing computer games."  In case you're curious, those games are Skyrim and Sims Medieval*.  Though I have to admit that it's mostly Sims Medieval, because I rock at that game (I think you have to be really bad not to), and I keep dying in stupid Morvunskar and it makes me mad so I quit.

Anyway, I was thinking about how whenever someone finds out I don't work, they look at me strange and almost always ask what I do all day.  Except they don't ask it in a way that would suggest they're curious, but more like they can't comprehend what a fully functional adult with any self respect would do with themselves during those hours of the day most people dedicate to "work."  As if not going to a job every day somehow means you are incapable of doing anything worthwhile.  This question always bothers me.  My snippy answer is, "All those things you wish you had more time to do but don't because you work all day."  It's a subject that I struggle with on my own anyhow.  There is a lot of importance put on what you do for a living in this world.  Or maybe there isn't, but some congruence of my childhood and upbringing and education caused me to be overly sensitive to the matter.  For a long time I felt like I should be working, even though I didn't really like the idea of working, because that is what an adult does.  Even now, when I'm mostly okay with things, I will feel the urge to find a job.  The idea of having to be up and dressed every morning and out the door by 8 or whatever shuts that urge down really fast.

I'm getting off topic.  What I was trying to say is that I was thinking about all these things I wanted to do today.  Not just things to do in general, but a long list of specific things that I wanted to accomplish on this one day.  And I found myself wishing for more time in the day.  Even though I have more time in the day for these things than most.  Which, as you can see up there, brought me back to thinking about how people are always amazed that I'm not bored out of my mind.  I wonder why it is that I'm not when so many people are sure they would be in my place?  What is different about me?  Do I just have that many hobbies?  It really doesn't feel like it, especially since I know I could spent several days in a row, all day, doing the same thing and be perfectly content.

I did title this post Catching Up, didn't I?  Well, DS and I have been spending a lot of quiet time at home.  He's most of the way through The Eye of the World, and not hating it, which is a big source of happiness for me.  I've been listening to audiobooks while chugging along on this cross stitch pattern I've had for 15 years.  Band practice finally resumed after a 2 month hiatus, and this time we had my new Zoom H2 to record our shenanigans, so we happily caught the impromptu new song on tape.  DS and I got a membership at the local climbing gym, and we've been twice already.  Their climbs are graded harder than they were at Boulders in Wisconsin, which combined with my several years of not doing it meant that I was struggling up 5.4's the first day.  This gym is quite a bit taller than my last one too, and I found myself afraid of doing moves at the top.  Also, it took a session and a half to really start trusting the rope and my harness to catch me again, even for little things like lowering me off the climb.  My muscles hurt in a good way, and I was up to 5.6's when we left yesterday.  I also have new beads and some jewelry making tools, and plan to really get into my Etsy shop again soon.  And I got a book for learning the violin, and hopefully I'll find the time and motivation to squeeze that into my schedule too.

So we've been busy, but also mostly by ourselves.  A bit different from last year.  I'm feeling very productive, and I like it.

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*It occurred to me the other day, in one of those thoughts that you think are excellent and profound but in truth probably only seem so as long as they stay within the confines of your own brain, an "it sounded better in my head" type of moment if you will, that any Sims game (not Sim City though, that's a whole other beast) mostly requires a strong dose of time management for excelling.  Which is funny, because anyone good at those games probably struggles with that in their real life.

Professor Science for Real

Every time I talk to real people, I spend the next three or four hours feeling like I said something wrong, but I have no idea why.  It's very troubling, and makes me think it's a good thing that I'm a hermit.

That being said, I love my book club, and it's one of the things I will miss when I leave Santa Barbara.  Which, by the way, will before the fall semester, because my husband has a job offer.

Every time the universe delivers a solution to a problem of mine right as it's close to spiraling out of control, I sit around waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Right now though, we're still in celebration mode. Say hello to PROFESSOR DRAGONSLAYER!

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Professor Science?  Remember when I bought him this shirt?  The one I had him wear under his suit for his PhD defense??

Au Revoir

This morning I took my husband to the airport. He's on his way to France. Again. For free.

Jerk.

This time it's only a week though, so I'll have him back again next Friday night. Also, this trip makes me hopeful for his career. Strangely enough, his advisor back in Madison invited him to go, all expenses paid. Meaning he chose DS over other, current, students. Exciting for what that means about his talent, but kind of sad for the options for the current round of people.

At any rate, this is both good and bad for me personally. The good news is that with me being so swamped at work (how long has it been since I made a blog post??), severely behind on deadlined crafting projects, and heavily addicted to the game Dragon Age: Origins, some time alone will probably be helpful in getting back on track. The bad news is that without DS, my sleep schedule always becomes highly erratic, and having him to talk to has been keeping me sane. I mean really, if you're just going to be a complete ass on the phone, you should probably do your shopping on the website instead. I'm just saying.

I'm finding it hard to believe that it's mid December. Even with the tree up, lights outside, Christmas cookies in the house, all of that and it feels like any other time of the year. Is it because I'm not going home for Christmas (AGAIN?)? That it's officially "cold" here at 50 degrees and a little rain? That there are like 30 new blooming plants outside?

Whatever it is, I find myself paying more attention to the Facebook statuses of my Wisconsin friends (thank you Facebook friend lists, for being amazing development), scouring them for snow related information. Also, I find myself getting excited about my trip to Kentucky planned for January.

Now, if you'll excuse me, me and the cats need to snuggle this morning. They need reassurance that just because their daddy is gone, doesn't mean they're abandoned.

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Back-posting may follow to fill that... very long gap of silence. Because occasionally I did some stuff these past 2 months that I might want to remember later.

Busy

I've been keeping myself too busy to blog, but as I have a brief respite, I though I would give you a quick run down on what I've been doing.

1. Made hand-dipped peanut butter balls for my husband's 30th birthday. A LOT of them. This was the very last one, and as I keep them refrigerated until I eat them, they get a little sweaty. However, I have yet had someone taste them that did not fall in love. My papaw's recipe is still the winner!

2. I've been volunteering at the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care place. There was one afternoon of "training", and now I go in a few hours a week. My first day I was sent to the zoo to pick up a sparrow that had nearly drowned in a pool. The poor thing was nearly dead when I got him back to the center. I held in my hands under a heat lamp for an hour, occasionally feeding him electrolytes. Now he is happy and perky, and awaiting the healing of an injury before being released again. I have learned that as long as you have gloves on, you get over touch bird poop very quickly. And also the meal worms some of the birds eat. But this is worth getting to help pretty little things like European Starlings, Meadowlarks, and Warblers get well. Also, Starlings and Sparrows are tricky bastards. When cleaning a cage, we put the bird in a temporary enclosure to help keep them calm. This is usually a basket with some netting or a towel pinned to the top. These little guys would be in there, and then I'd go to the kitchen for fresh food and come back to them hopping around on the floor like it's perfectly normal for a bird that can't fly and has one taped wing. Sneaky!

3. My scarves have been surprisingly popular! Also, a family member ordered seven to sell in her bricks and mortar store. So most of my free time for the last two weeks have involved heavy weaving. I've been very happy with the results:

This one is in Lion Brand Color Waves in Lava. It's mostly black with a lot of jewel tone accents.

Here are four scarves done in Red Heart Casual Cot'n, one each in Trailside, Preppie, Majestic, and Falling Leaves. I need to get more of this yarn. The scarves feel wonderful, and I love the colors.

And sadly, I'm already out of Falling Leaves.

4. I started a new job on September 28th. Now that training is over, I'm doing real work. So far, I actually kind of like it. It pretty simple stuff, and I get to talk to people all day. Considering I only interacted with one person in my previous job, this is an improvement.

5. Today I got off work early, and all the scarves are mailed. So I'm taking a break before starting into the Christmas ornament production to curl up with Winston and a book. Speaking of Winston... if I'm in the craft room, he's in he craft room. And if there are clean clothes that aren't put away, they are without a doubt his new bed. On Monday, DS's pile was too high to lay on, so he just shoved his face into them and fell asleep...

Musings

1. It's September 1. What? I seriously don't understand how time can move so quickly here.

2. This is the last week of my 2 week temp job. It's a shame, because I enjoy it. I also don't have anything lined up for after, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

3. I had a very weird dream last night. Weird in terms of both storyline and characters. Why was I dreaming of people I've known since 1st grade but haven't seen since high school? Not sure, though I would guess that the pictures showing up on Facebook of my skipped 10 year reunion have something to do with it. The weirdest thing? I dreamed of this guy, Buddy Sampson, who in fifth grade I had a huge crush on. I remember I sent him one of those notes in class with the yes and no check boxes. He checked no. He seems sorry he couldn't make me happy, but I did not forgive him.

I don't remember much about him from high school (I'm beginning to find I don't remember much about high school period, but that's another story), and I certainly haven't seen him since. So why dream about him now, 10 years after seeing him, and 20 after caring? Who knows, but the dream was at least fun. There were speed boats and seals and beluga whales. So thanks for that Buddy!

4. In a normal place, September would bring to mind aspects of Fall, such as harvest, pumpkins, colored leaves, and cooler temperatures. Here we're having a heat wave, sleep with THREE fans in the bedroom, and all the palm trees still looks like their normal stupid selves. Fall is my favorite season, and I'm a little afraid of how spending one here will affect me. Time makes no sense without seasons! Maybe that's why I feel flabbergasted over it being September.

5. My husband and I watched Major League last night. I had never seen it, and that upset him very much. I have to say, it's a great movie. I think it made him very happy to listen to me getting excited about it.

6. Which reminds me, married life is awesome. I don't think I say that enough.

Job Hunting

My job hunt may be wrapping up, which is a relief. Though I will miss everything about not working except the lack of pay. I really am well suited to staying home all day, and hope that I have the chance to do it again in the future. I'm currently working with a temp agency, which immediately found me 2 1/2 weeks worth of work running a register at a campus bookstore. Today they called and said they may have a temp-to-hire position for me. The pay is perfect, but the company requires an interview and background check first, so we'll see.

More importantly however is that DS is job hunting. His is a much longer process which will likely last around 6 months, and the job wouldn't start until Fall semester of 2010. It's nerve wracking, but what can I do about it? We were very worried that budget cuts would result in no job openings this year, but so far he has a list of 15 schools he can apply to. Since I don't have any real interest in the university itself, apart from hoping that DS likes it, I spend my time researching the towns where these schools reside. My favorites so far all have rivers in them, and a lot of trees. Like this:


Of course, it's not all that likely we'll have a lot of choice in the matter. I will be happy if even one school wants to hire him, and I fervently hope that school doesn't end up being in Mississippi or something. Because honestly, I would die. I was not made for heat. *shudder*

Meanwhile, I don't start training at my temp job until Wednesday, so I'm still pretending to be on vacation. It's glorious.

What?

It's been over a month since I last posted? Hmmm... that means it's been over a month since I last took any photos off my camera. In that time, I have had visits from my bestest good friend from Madison, Luke, and my mother and her husband (not at all at once). I sewed 8 panels of curtains for my living room and an entire baby quilt (I'm pretty proud of that quilt). And I decided to quit my job.

The idea of course was to get a new job. A full-time job so that we could maybe do fun things like visit friends in the other places we have lived. However, the getting a new job part is not going well, and it's been long enough now that my current employer thinks tomorrow is my last day. *cry* I am so freaked. Why did I think it was a good idea to let him know I was looking for a new job? I can't help but feel I should have stayed quiet until I had a job, except that would have really screwed up the office. When it's just two people, planning is important. Stupid responsible-ness!!!

So yeah... I don't know where the last month and a half went, but there you have it. Hopefully I can do some back posting at some point to fill in the gaps, but for now, it would appear I'm on full time job searching patrol.

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P.S. Apparently, Zemanta saw the word day in my post and decided that my post might be about Felicia Day. Which, it could be, as I am certainly in love with her and secretly hope she'll notice me following her on Goodreads and Twitter and instead of being freaked about it think, "she looks like a cool gal, and we live relatively close to each other, let's be friends!". But alas, I meant the normal kind.

P.P.S. If you ever wanted to pay me to make you something, now would be a good time.

P.P.P.S. The wind is blowing so hard I would normally think it's about to storm here. Except it never does. Ever. Just like it never rains. California sucks.

Exhausted

Wow! Maker Faire was just amazing!

DS and I are home from a very long, exhausting, but satisfying weekend. For now, you can check out the photos of Maker Faire itself on my flickr account. For everything else, you will have to wait until I work up the energy to parse it all out. Right now, I have to get some sleep so I'm not worthless at work tomorrow. I can't believe I have to work for the next 4 days! I'm already ready for the weekend. :P

Distractions

It's been several weeks since I've posted anything. Part of me feels like I haven't done anything worth posting about, and part of me feels like I've been too busy to post. Truth be told, I've been very distracted. There are lots of pictures I need to wade through so I can post stuff (be on the lookout for back posts in the near future). I've been making a meager effort to jot down small reminders of my more interesting days so that I'll have some kind of reference when I finally do get around to posting again.

Life is in disarray. Not bad. Not bad at all. Kinda good actually. But very much not organized. I had plans for life here. Work part time in the real world, part time for myself. Get chores done somewhat regularly, do some exercise, actually experience the outdoors from time to time. The only thing I'm consistently doing is working part time in the real world, and I think we all know why I'm doing that... Certainly not because it's the thing I want to do most.

I'm finding that I have a habit of obsessing over things, and then only really being able to do that one thing with any sort of discipline. The rest falls by the wayside and hopes I'll remember it and re-obsess soon. After I picked up Animal Crossing for the Wii, I did that for 2-3 hours everyday. I spent a lot of time setting up the craft room. Then I bought a loom, and spent a couple of weeks weaving. Last weekend I was starting over with Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, and the past few days have been split between crocheting a bunny and reading The Time Traveler's Wife (this book is AWESOME, btw).

Meanwhile, I haven't posted new jewelry to my store since 2/18 (though I have made a few things, and shipped some other things to a solid store), I'm not getting around to laundry until I have enough for a whole day's worth of washing, and the mail is in an ever-growing heap on the kitchen counter. I don't remember the last time I rode my fancy bicycle. I think it was early March.

Image via Wikipedia

So what's the deal? I'm young enough to be able to have energy to do things, yet 2 things a day seems to be my limit. And I'm sleeping like 8-10 hours every night. How do I get motivated? Any ideas? I need some kind of schedule that's flexible enough to allow my imagination to have room to come up with new ideas and keep me feeling fresh, but rigid enough that I'm actually getting something done.

Oh, and can anyone clean my apartment before this Firefly marathon we're hosting on Saturday?

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Seriously though, life is awesome. The weather is beautiful, we're seeing friends, and I'm happy. Just not productive :)

My brain hurts

At my work, we have deadlines for development and QA that revolve around release schedules. There is currently one approaching at the end of the month. Every time I think I'm doing well, and getting my stuff tested, more things show up in my queue... it's making my brain hurt. And I'm tired. I haven't even been checking my e-mail with any regularity, or reading my online comics. Also, if anyone knows how to make Winston shut up, that would be great. He's taken to meowing constantly, and if we don't spend every second doting on him, he does something he's not supposed on purpose to get attention. DS is threatening to throw him off the balcony, something he usually says in jest...

Other than that though, things are good. Building zoos, reading The Subtle Knife, bringing down my Brain Age. And sleeping... Is it my allergies? I don't know, but I'm tired.