Category: life

commentaries on the little stuff

Categories
confession life

dude … where’s my car?

I lost my car today. In the parking lot. It was just for a few moments, but, still it’s never a good feeling when you get to that place in the lot where you left your car … and it’s not there.

Especially when you drive a Subaru Baja. It’s a car with a truck bed. Doesn’t get much more distinctive than that. The only thing more visible in a parking lot would be a bright yellow Expedition.

I have to admit, it took me awhile to warm up to the Baja. It wasn’t supposed to be my car, but after an unfortunate series of events, I found myself trading my beloved Escape for the Baja. (Just an inter-spousal trade, I still get to drive the Escape on occasion.)

I originally decided I would drive the Baja because I am a money nazi. When it didn’t work out for my husband, I insisted on keeping it at least until we were no longer upside-down on the loan. Because, well, I just don’t have it in me to pay for the honor of trading in a car.

Now that we finally hit the break-even point, however, I’ve found that I don’t want to give it up. I never knew how much fun it was to drive a car with all-wheel-drive and a turbo engine. It definitely gets out of its own way – while staying firmly gripped to the pavement. I can take turns like a mad man! Something I definitely shied away from in that more top-heavy baby suv of mine.

And as much as I was unsure of the truck bed on a car thing, it actually is very utilitarian. When I go to home depot, I can throw bags of dirt in the back without worrying about having to vacuum it out later. When I go grocery shopping, if it’s not too hot outside, I just dump all my groceries in the back.

I did, eventually, find my car, just a few cars past where I thought I left it. Hiding behind a bright-yellow Expedition …

Categories
life

it’s beginning to feel a lot like christmas …

And no, I’m not saying that because I was at the mall last night.  I’m saying it because of the weather outside!

For those of you who actually live in northern Virginia, you would be fully justified in thinking I’m nuts.  Cuz, well, it’s 42 degrees outside, with a slow, drippy-drippy rain.  A slow, cold rain, accompanied by a gray sky that causes the evening to get dark prematurely.

From the time I was 8 to 18, however, that was what winter weather meant.  And now that I no longer live in the great Pacific Northwest, that’s still the weather that greets me when I visit during the holidays.

So … happy holidays, everyone!  Er, almost.

Categories
confession life

secretly delighted

Every now and again, when I let my husband take on the chore of laundry, he gives me reason to smile. Secretly, of course.

After all the sorting, once the first load has made it through both the washer and the dryer, comes the step of folding the laundry. And every time he folds my clothes, he feels the need to exclaim, “Your [insert clothing item] are so TINY!” Last night, as he folded my jeans, I learned that my pants are indeed as tiny as the rest of my wardrobe.

Upon hearing how tiny my clothes are, I feel compelled to pout and throw a fit, just as every 4 year-old does when you are so bold as imply that they are not a “big kid.” I insisted that my pants are not tiny, and are, in fact grown-up lady pants. Because there is nothing that will convince someone how “large” and “adult” you are more than insisting that you wear grown-up lady pants.

My clothes really aren’t tiny. In fact, as the years go by, I find that they are slowly getting bigger and bigger. I hope, though, that my husband will forever be entranced – and surprised – at their tininess.

Categories
life

fall

It’s a gray, rainy day today. But not dreary! It is saved from being dreary by the bright display of foliage, everywhere you look.

I grew up in a place where fall was just another dreary rainy season, if you could even call it a season. The biggest change that occurred was that it was ten degrees cooler than summer. Winter brought a drop of another 10 degrees, then spring brought it back up to fall temps. There is something nice about a moderate climate, the temperature always between 50 and 70 degrees – but there are definitely things you miss out on.

Like fall! I was first introduced to fall (and butt-cold winders, and the wondrous arrival of spring) when I went to college. The leaves on the trees changed colors! No evergreens in Utah. It was a beautiful transformation to watch, and I even found myself going on ‘fall drives’ through Provo Canyon just to take in the trees.

Fall is even more pronounced in Virginia. Today, as I drove through the rain on my way home from work, I marveled at all the vibrant colors. Oranges, yellows, reds, even some purple. All the trees, all different colors, right next to each other, a fluffy rainbow. I was struck by the sudden urge to paint it, and then I realized that I don’t paint. In fact, I’m not even remotely artistic.

My tree is already dropping leaves, which means it will soon be time for weekly rakings. Even then, I hope to continue to enjoy my favorite season.

Categories
life

istp

The Myers-Brigg personality test has long intrigued me, and I recently did some more reading about my personality type. It definitely gives insights into why I act the way I act, but it also gives insights into how other people see me. And, well, I really do seem like quite the nut.

To an outside observer, I’m a pretty low energy person. Until I embark on a project – then I am capable of a frenzy of activity that looks like complete madness. And I will work seemingly tirelessly on said project, to the great consternation, of say, my husband, who likes to do things like have dinner together. He often walks away frustrated, when he can’t get me to abandon my work for just 30 minutes …

I also have issues with authority (just ask my parents …) and hate having a set schedule. Plus, with my extreme ‘I’, I internalize all my decision-making. Which means that when I make decisions, I don’t feel the need to consult others. Which means that no one has any prior hints as to what I might decide. Which just makes me seem all the more unpredictable and fickle.

I made my brothers take the test as well, and found that b3 and I get along with all the siblings. b1 and b2, however, don’t really get each other. At all. Which is ironic, as they have been roommates for the last 2 years. And which totally explains why when I ask b1 about b2, he always seems perplexed – and vice versa.

So … take the test! And enjoy reading about yourself. 🙂

Categories
confession life

directv, please stop calling me!

When I canceled my directv service 6 months ago, I was excited at the prospect of not getting a monthly phone call to inform me of new services. Seriously, what kind of model is it where you call up to harass your own paying customers? I always got the conversation to end by asking, “Is this information available on your website? Great, then I’ll check it out there.”

When I first canceled directv, the monthly phone calls continued, but this time to try to win me back. I even answered a 50-question phone survey, supposedly not sponsored by directv, but every question seemed to revolve around “why did you cancel your directv service?”

Then the phone calls started to slowly increase. Last week I got 3. This week I’m up to 4.

When I was an actual directv customer, I hated it when they called. Now that I am no longer a customer, I downright detest it.

Today, I am sad to say, I actually got the directv lady to hang up on me. I wasn’t trying to be mean, or to hurt her feelings. But seeing as, “I’m-sorry-we’re-not-interested-today-thank-you[hangup]” wasn’t getting through to them, I finally blew up. “Is there any way we can get off your calling list, because it doesn’t matter if you call us every day, we aren’t going to re-subscribe to your service?” And then I got a dial tone. Perhaps I should have used a little less ‘tude.

I hope this is the end of it. But if not: directv – please stop calling me!

Categories
life

a very special day …

Happy Birthday, Dave! Hope it’s a good one. 🙂

Categories
confession life

my cross-indexed brain

My brain is a big fan of cross indexing, but it only seems to do it as the mood suits it. I have yet to be able to master control of the skill, and instead am often struck by memories that I am reminded of when I see or hear the right trigger.

One of the triggers is cars. Yes, that’s right, cars. Which happen to be a reference to people. When I see a Ford Aerostar, I think of my mom. When I see a Prius, I think of my college BFF, and occasionally the wife of an old work colleague. When I see a Ford Probe, I think of a guy I went on one date with even though he still lived with his parents. (He bought me a sandwich, and, over lunch, he said: “I enjoy working with kids.” For real? If you think I can’t see right through where you think that one is gonna get ya, you got another think coming. It was the fulfillment of a third-grade crush, what can I say …)

When I see a Toyota Matrix, I wonder if Michelle ever bought one. And when I see a Mazda RX8, I wonder the same thing about Kevin. Ditto for the FJ Cruiser and John.

White Accords pull double duty with two old work colleagues, as do black Accords. The new-style Honda CRV reminds me of a neighbor, as does the old-style CRV. Additionally, the old-style CRV reminds me of a past life, the first brand new car I ever bought. The old, old-style CRV brings up memories of yet another old work colleague.

Whenever I see an Xterra, I wonder how Angie and her twins are doing – even though I’m pretty sure she traded that car in years ago.

Mazda Tributes, Infiniti FXs, and the sporty little Infinitis all pull up hits for people I used to work with. Honda Odysseys are soon to be tied with Accords, with one neighbor, one past boss, and one past coworker all coming to mind.

This is only the surface of my linkages of people and cars. I have to say, it does make my commute a little more interesting, as the thoughts of everyone I ever knew go flitting across my mind, jumbled in with trying to make my mental shopping list (that NEVER works, I always forget something), contemplating the Heroes story lines, and trying not to rear-end the guy that just cut in front of me. Maybe someday I’ll hone my skill, but for now, I’ll just enjoy the ride.

Categories
life technogeeky

they do exist!

I’ve been telling people that I was taking today off to wait for the FIOS man. I had the brief thought that there was no reason my tech had to be male, but I brushed the thought aside, seeing as, well, I’ve never had a woman set up my cable, phone, directv, or internet service.

But it turns out, female FIOS techs do exist! She’s wiring up my house as I speak. She was a little wary of my two-cablecards-in-the-tivo setup, but I think I’ve talked her into giving it a try. And that wariness has nothing to do with her gender; my Comcast cable man had similar misgivings.

A lady tech ranks right up there with a female airline pilot, or a woman-owned car dealership. You know they must exist, but I’ve never been on a flight piloted by a woman, nor do I recall ever driving past a car dealership with a woman’s name plastered all over it. (To be fair, some car dealerships just have a last name, or they are named for some landmark, so who’s to know who actually owns the place if all you do is analyze the signage.)

So, heres to ladies who aren’t afraid to give “man-jobs” a try: you go, girls!

Edit: I just ordered a pizza and got a pizza girl! Girl power is strong today!

Categories
life

where was I?

The day started out bad. One of the worst days I had had in a long time, in fact. I was ready to head to work, but my car didn’t seem to be where I had left it. In fact, it wasn’t in the parking lot. At all. Anywhere. I realized that I had been towed, and it was all my fault.

I had lived in the Arlington apartment for 3 months, but had never bothered to put the parking sticker in my window. I knew that I needed to, that I risked the chance of being towed, but I had forgotten for the first few weeks, then the sticker disappeared in a pile of mail and old papers. So I had just never done it.

I didn’t know the towing company the complex used, so I had to wait till they opened so I could call and find out. My roommate was surprised to see me still home at 7:30, and I managed to growl a good morning. Sensing my mood, she let me be till I could figure out where my car was.

At 8, I called the apartment office, and got the name and number of the towing company. Then I called the towing company to find out where they were located, and found that they were in Springfield. Directly the opposite direction of work. They informed me it would be $72 to get my car back. And they only took cash. I called a cab to pick me up at my apartment, then realized that I didn’t have much cash on hand. So with no car, and no cash, I walked to the Safeway down the street to hit up their ATM. And then with no car, but some cash, I walked back to my apartment building to await my ride.

A $25 cab ride later, I was at the towing grounds. Trading $72 for my parking-sticker-free car. After getting directions to Herndon – turns out there’s a road that goes right from Springfield to Herndon, a rare occurrence in the Northern Virginia area – I was finally on my way to work.

I was frustrated, almost to the point of tears. I had just paid $100 for the privilege of driving my own stupid car. And I was going to be late for work. I was having the worst day ever. I was already formulating the story I was going to tell my coworkers when I finally made it in to work.

I was listening to one of my radio stations, when they stopped playing music. Not one for talking-on-the-radio-in-the-morning-especially-when-I’m-having-a-bad-day, I started cycling through all my stations, trying to find a song I liked. But they had all gone to talk at the same time, like they often seem to do. Just before I switched over to a cd, I caught some of the talk – something about planes in New York, hitting the World Trade Center towers. They didn’t seem to know much, there were people calling in saying all kinds of things. It was so completely unreal, I bounced around from DJ to DJ, trying to get the news. Nobody seemed to know what was happening, but one thing was clear: it was bad. Very, very bad.

I got to work just in time to watch the towers collapse on CNN. We were all gathered around the tv, trying to make sense of everything, the towers collapsing, the bomb or plane at the Pentagon, there seemed to be reports of both. There were reports of other planes headed to other places, of bombs going off in various government buildings in DC, it was all a chaotic mess.

And so we were sent home. I made my way back home, to Arlington, half a mile from the defaced Pentagon. I realized what a truly horrible day it had become. And I realized that in comparison, I was having a GREAT day after all.