So - it's Friday and I'm in Raleigh. That's a bit of a rarity for me as my typical schedule sends me home on Thursday nights so I typically work remotely on Friday. But not this week.
Part of the reason for the change was a mandatory all-day off site event scheduled for today. That was cancelled last minute, so it's just another work day. Actually, it's more than just another work day as one of the projects I was originally hired to manage is implemented today so it's nice to reach that milestone.
I am going through some interesting "moods".
The companyis having their official Holiday Party this evening afternoon and evening. It's down at our new headquarters building downtown, and I had originally made arrangements to spend an extra night here to attend. I have also been invited to a holiday event later this evening by my manager at her home. Realistically, although I just drove up here yesterday I suspect I'll be on the road home by the time the party starts.
Why? I dunno. I'm really not feeling all that festive - although that's neither good nor bad. Going alone to these things is a bit of a drag - and although I already know that for some reason I continue to think things will change at some event or another. Regardless....I'd rather be home than anywhere so that makes it an easier decision.
I will also admit to feeling particularly "girly" lately. I don't get accused of being girly all that often but truth be told I go through phases. I'm in one of those phases. And - when I say that - I immediately open myself up for charges of being stereotypical but I'm ok with that.
For example, I've probably bought a dozen or more pairs of shoes in the last 2 or 3 months. Pumps. Boots. Wedges. Darn you, DSW! The good news is that I'll only buy stuff that is on sale so at least I always feel like I'm saving some money. But this particular DSW in Raleigh has a wonderful selection of size 10's and 11's so my chances for finding something I like are higher (I'm still not sure if that's good or bad).
Same for make-up. I've bought quite a bit lately. More than I either can possibly use. But I still enjoy learning how to do it....
And dresses. I'm feeling particularly "dress needy" and my typical source of therapy in that regard is Banana Republic, or Nordstrom's Rack. Another part of my "mood" is that I'm back into the swing of things about getting to the gym regularly so far so good. But I need to get this figure a little more under control to fully appreciate the dresses and the shoes. It all fits together.
So, back to the here and now. If I had a crystal ball I'd sat I'll be in my truck shortly doing the 300 miles back home and I'll be in my own bed tonight. I've got a phone conference at 4 to dial into so that'll keep me busy part of the way. Hopefully whatever they consider as "Holiday Traffic" hasn't started up yet...
Saturday 7:30am
My crystal ball was true. I skipped the Holiday party and drove home. I'm glad I did.
I've been watching the reactions to the elementary school shootings in Connecticut yesterday morning. I can't think of words horrific enough to describe what it must be like for someone to target a school full of young kids and to shoot them, or to be a parent of a child there.
What this person did was the ultimate of cowardice. He went to a school - a place where no firearms are allowed, and targeted the most vulnerable people he could find. Kids. It was a slaughter, and I refuse the let my mind go to what it must have been like as those innocent kids were killed one after another.
I think of other countries....like Isreal...where people get on a bus or walk own a busy street unaware that they're about to die in a massive explosion. But here - we live under an increasingly false sense of security that we can come and go in our daily lives and we, and the people we love, will be safe.
We've seen other senseless situations like this with alarming frequency. And the conversation always turns to gun control. I'm not going to wade into that right now, but frankly as far as I'm concerned this is a much deeper problem. How people like this are walking around, whether it be due to mental illness or rage or whatever. I have no answers on how to stem the tide of horrific violence. But I sincerely hope we, as a society, look at the bigger picture rather than particular symptoms of what is happening.
One story on CNN was talking about how these things feed on themselves and I think it's true. Disaffected, angry, frustrated, mentally unbalanced people who somehow get it in their mind that they're going to spend their last few moments of life slaughtering others. You can only watch so much of these news things....it's so emotional. Sadness, anger, frustration.....one psychologist was just talking about how kids are going to be afraid to go to school and how important it is for parents to ensure them that they're safe there. Before long people are going to get hunkered down in their houses thinking that it'll keep them safe.
One of the things it reinforces in me is to live each day as though it's your last. It very well could be. My ex- wrote to me last night about one of the parents from our neighborhood who had a son in my own son's class. This father has had 3 heart attacks, and she says he's gray and looks like he's 90 years old. I feel fortunate to be able to go at the pace I do. It could all end in a minute.
I've got a busy weekend here planned. Of course, I've got a list of things to do. It includes some "me" things - a pedicure, some time at the gym, a little bit of shopping (thank God for the person who invented the Gift Card!), maybe a movie. I'm looking forward to a nice day here....
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Twofer
This contains two entries....one I started last night and one I wrote today. And they're both FREE! As always.
Mon 9:00pm
As a follow-up to my post from this morning....
The crown thing went fine. The places where she injected the painkiller hurt a bit when the painkiller wore off (how ironic is that?) but the temporary crown feels right at home in there and I'm none the worse for wear.
The interesting thing about living in downtown Charleston is that we live on a peninsula. I live right near the tip so I can get to the ocean in a couple of minutes in a number of different directions. .One problem we don't have here is sprawl - there's no place to sprawl to except the sea.
There is one place to do grocery shopping. If you want to meet anyone who lives here....hang out at the Harris Teeter on E. Bay for a while. It's a nice store - thankfully - although I'll admit that I've been spoiled by living in Rochester and getting to know Wegmans. But, I regress.... I sometimes walk to it, or ride my bike there. It's that close...and the walk never gets old. Plus, the exercise is good.
When I lived in Scottsdale I could do everything I wanted or needed without ever going to another part of the Valley. I'd go into Phoenix proper once or twice a year, but everything else was right there in Scottsdale. But I couldn't walk there. Here - although we live downtown most other things are someplace else. Whether it's W. Ashley or Mt. Pleasant or N. Charleston, or even out towards Summerville I find myself out somewhere most days I'm here.
Right now, as I type this, it's 8 something pm and there's a night time tour in front of the house. I can hear the guy talking through my open windows. I'm not quite sure why you'd take a tour of this historic city in the dark, but I'm sure there's a good reason. Some of the night tours are "haunted" tours, but night or day whether on foot or in a carriage or in a bus, people are up and down the streets.
Tuesday 4pm
I got my annual card from the White House today. Last year it was pretty. This year...well....it's a picture of the dog wearing a scarf running in the snow on the front lawn. I'm pretty sure it's an old picture because so far as I know they haven't had that big of a snowfall yet this winter. And it's as out of focus in person as it looks. Very interesting...
Regardless - I do appreciate it.
Now that it's the end of the year all kinds of "Best Of" lists will be coming out.
I've been thinking of my own "Best of" moments for the trans community in 2012. This is what I've got so far.
1) Canadian beauty queen allowed to compete is Miss Universe pageant.
2) GID Removed from DSM 5
3) Continuing corporate growth of insurance benefits for trans wellness
4) 9 trans delegates at the DNC
5) Trans athletes.
I mentioned a recent USA Today article about a trans basketball player. Needless to say, it has generated quite a bit of talk. I've said before and I'll say again - that's what I was worried about during my wrestling adventures - so glad it didn't happen. Of particular interest are the very trans defamatory remarks of 2 DJ's for ESPN Radio in Washington DC. They have since been suspended (story here). It's one of those instances where the right thing happened.
As for me - I went to the gym today - ran 3 miles. I'm headed to my usual half-price burger place tonight. Got a good day of work done. I bought a couple of dresses at Banana Republic (40% off!) I appreciate the help of the salesladies....you can dislocate a shoulder trying to zip the silly things. And their help narrowing the 4 dresses I liked to the 2 I bought was much appreciated.
I bought a couple of pairs of new shoes, too. One pair has a leopard print on it that's a little out of character but they look and feel good, and the prices was right. Now I just need to find an opportunity to wear them.
All things considered....it's just my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.....
Mon 9:00pm
As a follow-up to my post from this morning....
The crown thing went fine. The places where she injected the painkiller hurt a bit when the painkiller wore off (how ironic is that?) but the temporary crown feels right at home in there and I'm none the worse for wear.
The interesting thing about living in downtown Charleston is that we live on a peninsula. I live right near the tip so I can get to the ocean in a couple of minutes in a number of different directions. .One problem we don't have here is sprawl - there's no place to sprawl to except the sea.
There is one place to do grocery shopping. If you want to meet anyone who lives here....hang out at the Harris Teeter on E. Bay for a while. It's a nice store - thankfully - although I'll admit that I've been spoiled by living in Rochester and getting to know Wegmans. But, I regress.... I sometimes walk to it, or ride my bike there. It's that close...and the walk never gets old. Plus, the exercise is good.
When I lived in Scottsdale I could do everything I wanted or needed without ever going to another part of the Valley. I'd go into Phoenix proper once or twice a year, but everything else was right there in Scottsdale. But I couldn't walk there. Here - although we live downtown most other things are someplace else. Whether it's W. Ashley or Mt. Pleasant or N. Charleston, or even out towards Summerville I find myself out somewhere most days I'm here.
Right now, as I type this, it's 8 something pm and there's a night time tour in front of the house. I can hear the guy talking through my open windows. I'm not quite sure why you'd take a tour of this historic city in the dark, but I'm sure there's a good reason. Some of the night tours are "haunted" tours, but night or day whether on foot or in a carriage or in a bus, people are up and down the streets.
Tuesday 4pm
I got my annual card from the White House today. Last year it was pretty. This year...well....it's a picture of the dog wearing a scarf running in the snow on the front lawn. I'm pretty sure it's an old picture because so far as I know they haven't had that big of a snowfall yet this winter. And it's as out of focus in person as it looks. Very interesting...
Regardless - I do appreciate it.
Now that it's the end of the year all kinds of "Best Of" lists will be coming out.
I've been thinking of my own "Best of" moments for the trans community in 2012. This is what I've got so far.
1) Canadian beauty queen allowed to compete is Miss Universe pageant.
2) GID Removed from DSM 5
3) Continuing corporate growth of insurance benefits for trans wellness
4) 9 trans delegates at the DNC
5) Trans athletes.
I mentioned a recent USA Today article about a trans basketball player. Needless to say, it has generated quite a bit of talk. I've said before and I'll say again - that's what I was worried about during my wrestling adventures - so glad it didn't happen. Of particular interest are the very trans defamatory remarks of 2 DJ's for ESPN Radio in Washington DC. They have since been suspended (story here). It's one of those instances where the right thing happened.
As for me - I went to the gym today - ran 3 miles. I'm headed to my usual half-price burger place tonight. Got a good day of work done. I bought a couple of dresses at Banana Republic (40% off!) I appreciate the help of the salesladies....you can dislocate a shoulder trying to zip the silly things. And their help narrowing the 4 dresses I liked to the 2 I bought was much appreciated.
I bought a couple of pairs of new shoes, too. One pair has a leopard print on it that's a little out of character but they look and feel good, and the prices was right. Now I just need to find an opportunity to wear them.
All things considered....it's just my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.....
Monday, December 10, 2012
Ouch
I went to the dentist this morning.
It's not a visit I've been looking forward to. I've got a couple of teeth that need crowns. At a thousand dollars a pop it's something I need to save for, and I'll admit the reality spending that kind of money on my mouth hurts more than the procedures themselves.
Some may remember that last spring I had a root canal - no fun there either. But I've got my mom's teeth and she's had the exact same "problems" so I try to convince myself that these investments in my teeth are actually good things. Which they are. I just wish it wasn't so bloody expensive.
I've basically had two dentists in my adult life. One was back in Rochester, and I made it a point to go and see him whenever I went to visit in the years after we left. He's my sister's dentist, he was my mom's dentist, he was my dad's dentist, and I've known him ever since we were both 20 something year olds....we're around the same age.
But I've gotten comfortable with a dentist here in Charleston so for all intents and purposes, she's in charge of my teeth now. It's another of those things that comes with settling somewhere and making it feel like home - finding a hairdresser, and a doctor, and a dentist.... I have those things here.
While this dentist works she provides headphones and an iPod to listen to music. One song that played today while she was working left a lasting impression. It's a wonderful version with a unique, soulful treatment, of an old Cure song:
It's well worth closing your eyes and listening. For me, It's haunting. A question - when you listen to it does someone in your life immediately come to mind, without actually thinking about it? Not necessarily an "I'm in Love" with you kind of person, but a person that you can honestly and truly tell that you love them?
Anyways, I will admit that it's much more fun to listen to without a bright light in your eyes and a drill in your mouth. I suppose that's true with most things in life, tho.
I went to the Mt. Pleasant Holiday parade yesterday evening. It was actually pretty nice...they make a big deal of it. Fireworks, floats, bands...it was quite the production. Very festive.
My schedule this week is a bit "off" because of a number of things. I'll be going to see Hall and Oates perform here in Charleston, I've got a number of meetings at work on Thursday, then there's an all-day off-site work event Friday. The week is topped off with the company Holiday party on Friday evening.
The only thing I didn't get done yesterday that I had planned was a visit to the gym. That's actually pretty good, I think. My my weekends seem to take on a life of their own and I don't try to "plan" them so much as set flexible goals. I'll catch up on the things I didn't get done today and tomorrow. :)
I did some little things to get settled more lately. For example, I took all the little keychain bar-code thingies for the various grocery store chains in Phoenix off my keychain. I've still got old Wegmans/Chase Pitkins ones that I wouldn't get rid of for anything, but when it comes to Albertson's or Fry's or Basha's....I don't expect to need those anymore. Same is true for my Blockbuster card. Old news.
It's not a visit I've been looking forward to. I've got a couple of teeth that need crowns. At a thousand dollars a pop it's something I need to save for, and I'll admit the reality spending that kind of money on my mouth hurts more than the procedures themselves.
Some may remember that last spring I had a root canal - no fun there either. But I've got my mom's teeth and she's had the exact same "problems" so I try to convince myself that these investments in my teeth are actually good things. Which they are. I just wish it wasn't so bloody expensive.
I've basically had two dentists in my adult life. One was back in Rochester, and I made it a point to go and see him whenever I went to visit in the years after we left. He's my sister's dentist, he was my mom's dentist, he was my dad's dentist, and I've known him ever since we were both 20 something year olds....we're around the same age.
But I've gotten comfortable with a dentist here in Charleston so for all intents and purposes, she's in charge of my teeth now. It's another of those things that comes with settling somewhere and making it feel like home - finding a hairdresser, and a doctor, and a dentist.... I have those things here.
While this dentist works she provides headphones and an iPod to listen to music. One song that played today while she was working left a lasting impression. It's a wonderful version with a unique, soulful treatment, of an old Cure song:
It's well worth closing your eyes and listening. For me, It's haunting. A question - when you listen to it does someone in your life immediately come to mind, without actually thinking about it? Not necessarily an "I'm in Love" with you kind of person, but a person that you can honestly and truly tell that you love them?
Anyways, I will admit that it's much more fun to listen to without a bright light in your eyes and a drill in your mouth. I suppose that's true with most things in life, tho.
I went to the Mt. Pleasant Holiday parade yesterday evening. It was actually pretty nice...they make a big deal of it. Fireworks, floats, bands...it was quite the production. Very festive.
My schedule this week is a bit "off" because of a number of things. I'll be going to see Hall and Oates perform here in Charleston, I've got a number of meetings at work on Thursday, then there's an all-day off-site work event Friday. The week is topped off with the company Holiday party on Friday evening.
The only thing I didn't get done yesterday that I had planned was a visit to the gym. That's actually pretty good, I think. My my weekends seem to take on a life of their own and I don't try to "plan" them so much as set flexible goals. I'll catch up on the things I didn't get done today and tomorrow. :)
I did some little things to get settled more lately. For example, I took all the little keychain bar-code thingies for the various grocery store chains in Phoenix off my keychain. I've still got old Wegmans/Chase Pitkins ones that I wouldn't get rid of for anything, but when it comes to Albertson's or Fry's or Basha's....I don't expect to need those anymore. Same is true for my Blockbuster card. Old news.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
My Own Drum
It's 8:30am. I woke up about a half hour ago, and am sitting with my first cup of coffee. I slept for almost 9 hours....that's just mind blowing for me. I suppose it's a function of needing it, being wonderfully relaxed, and having the opportunity to do it.
Ironically, I don't know if I'd do it every day even if I could. There's something special about the rare nature of it, about the rarity. Anyway - it was nice. I hope my day unfolds in a similarly nice way.
One minor cloud. I have a pimple this morning that I didn't have last night. Puberty is a bear....
I was watching something on Bo Jackson. The interviewer asked him if he would have made any different decisions in his career. As the only player to play in both the NFL Pro-Bowl and the Major League Baseball All-Star game his career was cut short by a horrible hip injury in his late 20's. He honestly said 'no' - the length of his career wasn't important. What was important was that he broke rules about professional athletes that others didn't think could be broken, and he showed that you could be good at more than one thing. He lived his life to the beat of his own drum. Amen.
I sometimes find it difficult to reconcile the need to march by my own drum and at drums that others play. It's a constant balancing act. It'd be easy to say that I don't think about it but I do. Who and what I am is me - drummers be damned.
Yesterday was full of nothing special, which is what made it SO special. I spent time at the gym. I did a little shopping. I spent a good chunk of time running errands and hangin' with a certain someone. It was a good day.
Oh - and when I got home last night I parallel parked my truck in a space that had a foot of room in the front and 2 feet in the back. That might not sound like much, but this is a big friggen truck so being able to maneuver her like that and estimate that I could even do it was no small feat. I was right up next to the curb, too, so it was almost a perfect park. As I stood there and looked at it I was admittedly proud of it. It's progress.
We are looking at the possibility of record warm weather here today - the high is forecast to be 76%. I'm already looking forward to getting out in it. On the second Sunday of each month they close King St. to traffic so it's full of shoppers, musicians, the restaurants spill out onto the street....it's like a street festival. Anyway, I'm going to get that done. I need to spend a little more time in the gym. The rest of the day? It will unfold itself....
I talked with a dear friend for a while last night. She was on her way home from her company Christmas party. We talked about our common sense of maintaining a sense of distance from most of our co-workers because we're "different" and we don't want worlds over-lapping. It is a feeling that she and I share because I find those same social blockers at play in my own life.
I've got two work-related Christmas parties coming up. I will go to both, but I suspect my experience will be similar to hers....make an appearance, socialize with a few people, then go. I still can't believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away. If I'm going to do Christmas Cards this year I better get at it...
Right now I'm not worried about it. I'm sipping on coffee, sun is streaming in, and the possibility of a good day is at hand. I suppose I couldn't ask for anything more.
The Keb Mo concert on Friday was excellent. It was a solo/acoustic show, so it was just Keb, his guitars, his music, and a full theater. By the end people were dancing in the gap between the stage and Row 1. As far as I'm concerned, that's the mark of an amazing musician.
Ironically, I don't know if I'd do it every day even if I could. There's something special about the rare nature of it, about the rarity. Anyway - it was nice. I hope my day unfolds in a similarly nice way.
One minor cloud. I have a pimple this morning that I didn't have last night. Puberty is a bear....
I was watching something on Bo Jackson. The interviewer asked him if he would have made any different decisions in his career. As the only player to play in both the NFL Pro-Bowl and the Major League Baseball All-Star game his career was cut short by a horrible hip injury in his late 20's. He honestly said 'no' - the length of his career wasn't important. What was important was that he broke rules about professional athletes that others didn't think could be broken, and he showed that you could be good at more than one thing. He lived his life to the beat of his own drum. Amen.
I sometimes find it difficult to reconcile the need to march by my own drum and at drums that others play. It's a constant balancing act. It'd be easy to say that I don't think about it but I do. Who and what I am is me - drummers be damned.
Yesterday was full of nothing special, which is what made it SO special. I spent time at the gym. I did a little shopping. I spent a good chunk of time running errands and hangin' with a certain someone. It was a good day.
Oh - and when I got home last night I parallel parked my truck in a space that had a foot of room in the front and 2 feet in the back. That might not sound like much, but this is a big friggen truck so being able to maneuver her like that and estimate that I could even do it was no small feat. I was right up next to the curb, too, so it was almost a perfect park. As I stood there and looked at it I was admittedly proud of it. It's progress.
We are looking at the possibility of record warm weather here today - the high is forecast to be 76%. I'm already looking forward to getting out in it. On the second Sunday of each month they close King St. to traffic so it's full of shoppers, musicians, the restaurants spill out onto the street....it's like a street festival. Anyway, I'm going to get that done. I need to spend a little more time in the gym. The rest of the day? It will unfold itself....
I talked with a dear friend for a while last night. She was on her way home from her company Christmas party. We talked about our common sense of maintaining a sense of distance from most of our co-workers because we're "different" and we don't want worlds over-lapping. It is a feeling that she and I share because I find those same social blockers at play in my own life.
I've got two work-related Christmas parties coming up. I will go to both, but I suspect my experience will be similar to hers....make an appearance, socialize with a few people, then go. I still can't believe that Christmas is less than two weeks away. If I'm going to do Christmas Cards this year I better get at it...
Right now I'm not worried about it. I'm sipping on coffee, sun is streaming in, and the possibility of a good day is at hand. I suppose I couldn't ask for anything more.
The Keb Mo concert on Friday was excellent. It was a solo/acoustic show, so it was just Keb, his guitars, his music, and a full theater. By the end people were dancing in the gap between the stage and Row 1. As far as I'm concerned, that's the mark of an amazing musician.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Mo Stuff
Too bad there's no such thing as a life-GPS.
When I went to visit my mom in Dallas over Thanksgiving she mentioned that she was thinking about getting a GPS, or a GPS-enabled cell phone. Technology is not my mom's strong suit as evidenced by the fact it took me years just to get her off Microsoft Windows ME because she was just comfortable there. Now, I suspect she'll hold onto Windows XP until her last day.
Regardless, I offered to give her my GPS. Which I did. While I was there I showed her how it all worked and she seemed truly impressed. The funny thing is that I'm willing to bet money that the next time I visit - whether next month, 6 months from now, or beyond, it'll be where I left it....in the box.
The reason it's pertinent for this post is that I needed a new GPS. With all the driving I do finding things is just a necessity, and I don't like using my iPhone as my main source of navigation. There are a number of things that I wanted in a GPS that I didn't have in my last one so as usual I did my research and waited for Black Friday to make the move. Which I did.
Now, there's a 5-inch Garmin GPS on my dash. She's very polite...and I use the pronoun "she" because she's got a female voice. She's very polite...she even sometimes says "please" when providing directions. The funny thing is that I find myself talking back to her sometimes....kinda like Siri....but of course she doesn't answer. But I think it's probably telling of how much time I spend in it and how much I depend on her. As far as I'm concerned the GPS is up there with the microwave oven, cell phones and laptop computers as life-changing "appliances".
I suppose it would be nice to have similar navigation guidance through life. A GPS Unit that says "Um...don't do that" could be helpful. Or, when you meet someone it urges you to follow-up with them because it recognizes the potential for the future. I suppose the closest thing any of us has to a life GPS is our gut, but the funny thing is that even though we know better than the GPS how to get from A to B yet we still trust it I don't know that we have a similar level of confidence in our gut. Just saying...
After getting out of work yesterday I did the 4 1/2 hr. drive home, so today I'm in Charleston. I've got a busy day....work, hair appointment late this afternoon, today is the December Art Walk downtown which is always special, and I've got a ticket to see Keb 'Mo tonight. That doesn't include all the little things.
There have been a couple of interesting things on Huffington Post over the last couple of days. One is that Ellen DeGeneres seems to have again earned the ire of the conservative group "One Million Moms" with her most recent JC Penny ad (article here). I had't seen that ad, but frankly I find it pretty funny. And their problem can't be with the content - it's with the fact that Ellen is involved at all.
Speaking of Ellen, Finding Nemo comes out in Blu-Ray this week and I'll be sure to get my copy. I've been waiting for this for years. It's still one of my favorite "feel-good" movies.
So - I'm going to see Keb 'Mo tonight. I've followed his music for several years, and tonight I finally get to see him. I'm looking forward to it as he plays a unique style of blues that I particularly enjoy. Kind of Robert Cray-ish, but he's a little rougher.
It surprises me how many people have never heard of him and that's ok as far as I'm concerned. It means getting a ticket wasn't as crazed as it might have been, and he's playing in a relatively small venue so there's more opportunity to be up close.
Since this entry seems to be filled with video I may as well add one more to the mix. I used my iPhone to take a little movie during lunch yesterday. It's fairly self-explanatory...
There's a little story behind this. The guitar in question is a SeaGull S6. It's at the top of the scale of what I'm willing to pay. Anyway, I went to Guitar Center during lunch, where they have a special isolated "Acoustic Guitar Room" that's somewhat calmer than the frenetic noise of electric guitars, drums, and other "stuff" in the main store.
There was a guy sitting in this room playing this specific guitar. And he made it absolutely sing. It sounded gorgeous. We started to chat a bit and he acknowledged that he owns several guitars for a variety of reasons, but that his S6 was his most "fun" to play. Well, one of the key reasons I'm looking to get back into this is "fun"....so I had a deposit on it while it was still warm from him playing it. It all just felt so....."right".
This afternoon, after work but before Keb Mo, I'm going to my hair salon. I suspect that the dark roots so evident in my little video will be gone by tonights. I truly enjoy my salon experiences, so perhaps I'll share something from there.
In the meantime that's all for now. Gotta get busy. :)
When I went to visit my mom in Dallas over Thanksgiving she mentioned that she was thinking about getting a GPS, or a GPS-enabled cell phone. Technology is not my mom's strong suit as evidenced by the fact it took me years just to get her off Microsoft Windows ME because she was just comfortable there. Now, I suspect she'll hold onto Windows XP until her last day.
Regardless, I offered to give her my GPS. Which I did. While I was there I showed her how it all worked and she seemed truly impressed. The funny thing is that I'm willing to bet money that the next time I visit - whether next month, 6 months from now, or beyond, it'll be where I left it....in the box.
The reason it's pertinent for this post is that I needed a new GPS. With all the driving I do finding things is just a necessity, and I don't like using my iPhone as my main source of navigation. There are a number of things that I wanted in a GPS that I didn't have in my last one so as usual I did my research and waited for Black Friday to make the move. Which I did.
Now, there's a 5-inch Garmin GPS on my dash. She's very polite...and I use the pronoun "she" because she's got a female voice. She's very polite...she even sometimes says "please" when providing directions. The funny thing is that I find myself talking back to her sometimes....kinda like Siri....but of course she doesn't answer. But I think it's probably telling of how much time I spend in it and how much I depend on her. As far as I'm concerned the GPS is up there with the microwave oven, cell phones and laptop computers as life-changing "appliances".
I suppose it would be nice to have similar navigation guidance through life. A GPS Unit that says "Um...don't do that" could be helpful. Or, when you meet someone it urges you to follow-up with them because it recognizes the potential for the future. I suppose the closest thing any of us has to a life GPS is our gut, but the funny thing is that even though we know better than the GPS how to get from A to B yet we still trust it I don't know that we have a similar level of confidence in our gut. Just saying...
After getting out of work yesterday I did the 4 1/2 hr. drive home, so today I'm in Charleston. I've got a busy day....work, hair appointment late this afternoon, today is the December Art Walk downtown which is always special, and I've got a ticket to see Keb 'Mo tonight. That doesn't include all the little things.
There have been a couple of interesting things on Huffington Post over the last couple of days. One is that Ellen DeGeneres seems to have again earned the ire of the conservative group "One Million Moms" with her most recent JC Penny ad (article here). I had't seen that ad, but frankly I find it pretty funny. And their problem can't be with the content - it's with the fact that Ellen is involved at all.
Speaking of Ellen, Finding Nemo comes out in Blu-Ray this week and I'll be sure to get my copy. I've been waiting for this for years. It's still one of my favorite "feel-good" movies.
So - I'm going to see Keb 'Mo tonight. I've followed his music for several years, and tonight I finally get to see him. I'm looking forward to it as he plays a unique style of blues that I particularly enjoy. Kind of Robert Cray-ish, but he's a little rougher.
It surprises me how many people have never heard of him and that's ok as far as I'm concerned. It means getting a ticket wasn't as crazed as it might have been, and he's playing in a relatively small venue so there's more opportunity to be up close.
Since this entry seems to be filled with video I may as well add one more to the mix. I used my iPhone to take a little movie during lunch yesterday. It's fairly self-explanatory...
There's a little story behind this. The guitar in question is a SeaGull S6. It's at the top of the scale of what I'm willing to pay. Anyway, I went to Guitar Center during lunch, where they have a special isolated "Acoustic Guitar Room" that's somewhat calmer than the frenetic noise of electric guitars, drums, and other "stuff" in the main store.
There was a guy sitting in this room playing this specific guitar. And he made it absolutely sing. It sounded gorgeous. We started to chat a bit and he acknowledged that he owns several guitars for a variety of reasons, but that his S6 was his most "fun" to play. Well, one of the key reasons I'm looking to get back into this is "fun"....so I had a deposit on it while it was still warm from him playing it. It all just felt so....."right".
This afternoon, after work but before Keb Mo, I'm going to my hair salon. I suspect that the dark roots so evident in my little video will be gone by tonights. I truly enjoy my salon experiences, so perhaps I'll share something from there.
In the meantime that's all for now. Gotta get busy. :)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Cuppla More Things
So - there's something fun about girl-shopping.
I didn't go girl-shopping tonight, but I was in Nordstrom's Rack and was around a couple of young women who were out shopping together. I've had those kinds of adventures, and they're fun...
While I was there (bought a couple of little things....just love it there) there was someone I'm fairly confident was another trans-woman shopping there, too. At least, I'm fairly confident that she was. I've lamented in the past how we've got no secret wink or any other way to say 'hi' to one another that's not somehow inappropriate. It sometimes feels like the phrase from the Sixth Sense where the kids says "I see dead people".... I think we're sensitized to seeing one another for no other reason than...well...we just can.
This particular mall - South Point - is wonderful. It's halfway between Raleigh and Durham and on both sides of the street there's pretty much every store I'd want to shop at, except for a real MAC store. But I was thrilled that the traffic wasn't bad, that parking was easy, that there were no crowds. Except at Maggiano's.
I went there, and there was a 45 minute wait at 7:30. So, I ate at the bar with a couple of guys in town on business. It was very pleasant, and as usual I brought food home with me.
As I was walking thru the mall tonight it struck me how this time of year can get depressing. Honestly, I haven't felt it...at least not yet...but it reminded me of my first year starting my transition around this same time of year. They put me on a traveling assignment and I remember staying a week and over a long weekend in Birmingham, Alabama at our mail-order pharmacy there.
I went actually went back to my old journals to find the entry from that time and coincidentally, it was 13 years ago today:
12/5/99 =================================================
December 1999 – Birmingham AL
It's Sunday morning at about 8:45 and I'm at work. We have a huge building here, and I think me and the security guard are the only two people in it. Sheesh.
For some reason, I'm feeling kinda down this morning. I don't know if it's from feeling alone, or stress, or what...but I can feel it. I was planning to go for a run at the fitness center at the hotel this morning, but I just don't have the motivation or the energy. On top of that, I have a scratchy throat, and a bit of a sniffly nose, so I may be at the early stages of a cold. Great....
I worked here yesterday from 7:30am-6pm, and actually got alot done. Unfortunately, the computer that this program runs on is physically located inside the pharmacy, and that area is only accessible as long as there is a pharmacist here. The pharmacist was scheduled to leave yesterday afternoon and not return until Monday morning, so I had to get a cart and take the system apart and lug it to a cube outside of the pharmacy area and set it back up again....
When I left here, I really wasn't hungry for dinner, and I didn't want to go and park myself in my hotel room for the rest of the night, so it was a tossup between going to a movie or going to the mall. I decided that I wanted to walk around a bit after being cooped up here all day, so I went to the mall. It is a very nice one, and needless to say was VERY busy.
Hotel life. The gym. A cold. Long hours. So much has changed, but so much is the same.
My ex-wife called me last night and we chatted for a while. It was pleasant, but I don't miss her anymore.
My son texted me today to ask me what I wanted for Christmas. I still can't believe that his 27th birthday is 2 weeks from today....
And, the one person I do miss right now....well, thankfully it's not a chronic situation.
My day today was a good one. Tomorrow I pack up, I work all day, then I drive the 300 miles back to Charleston. If all goes as planned I'll be at home in my own bed at this time tomorrow.
So - time for bed. As I said - it was a good day. I just got through several days of ebb, so I need to enjoy the flow while it lasts. :)
I didn't go girl-shopping tonight, but I was in Nordstrom's Rack and was around a couple of young women who were out shopping together. I've had those kinds of adventures, and they're fun...
While I was there (bought a couple of little things....just love it there) there was someone I'm fairly confident was another trans-woman shopping there, too. At least, I'm fairly confident that she was. I've lamented in the past how we've got no secret wink or any other way to say 'hi' to one another that's not somehow inappropriate. It sometimes feels like the phrase from the Sixth Sense where the kids says "I see dead people".... I think we're sensitized to seeing one another for no other reason than...well...we just can.
This particular mall - South Point - is wonderful. It's halfway between Raleigh and Durham and on both sides of the street there's pretty much every store I'd want to shop at, except for a real MAC store. But I was thrilled that the traffic wasn't bad, that parking was easy, that there were no crowds. Except at Maggiano's.
I went there, and there was a 45 minute wait at 7:30. So, I ate at the bar with a couple of guys in town on business. It was very pleasant, and as usual I brought food home with me.
As I was walking thru the mall tonight it struck me how this time of year can get depressing. Honestly, I haven't felt it...at least not yet...but it reminded me of my first year starting my transition around this same time of year. They put me on a traveling assignment and I remember staying a week and over a long weekend in Birmingham, Alabama at our mail-order pharmacy there.
I went actually went back to my old journals to find the entry from that time and coincidentally, it was 13 years ago today:
12/5/99 =================================================
December 1999 – Birmingham AL
It's Sunday morning at about 8:45 and I'm at work. We have a huge building here, and I think me and the security guard are the only two people in it. Sheesh.
For some reason, I'm feeling kinda down this morning. I don't know if it's from feeling alone, or stress, or what...but I can feel it. I was planning to go for a run at the fitness center at the hotel this morning, but I just don't have the motivation or the energy. On top of that, I have a scratchy throat, and a bit of a sniffly nose, so I may be at the early stages of a cold. Great....
I worked here yesterday from 7:30am-6pm, and actually got alot done. Unfortunately, the computer that this program runs on is physically located inside the pharmacy, and that area is only accessible as long as there is a pharmacist here. The pharmacist was scheduled to leave yesterday afternoon and not return until Monday morning, so I had to get a cart and take the system apart and lug it to a cube outside of the pharmacy area and set it back up again....
When I left here, I really wasn't hungry for dinner, and I didn't want to go and park myself in my hotel room for the rest of the night, so it was a tossup between going to a movie or going to the mall. I decided that I wanted to walk around a bit after being cooped up here all day, so I went to the mall. It is a very nice one, and needless to say was VERY busy.
Hotel life. The gym. A cold. Long hours. So much has changed, but so much is the same.
My ex-wife called me last night and we chatted for a while. It was pleasant, but I don't miss her anymore.
My son texted me today to ask me what I wanted for Christmas. I still can't believe that his 27th birthday is 2 weeks from today....
And, the one person I do miss right now....well, thankfully it's not a chronic situation.
My day today was a good one. Tomorrow I pack up, I work all day, then I drive the 300 miles back to Charleston. If all goes as planned I'll be at home in my own bed at this time tomorrow.
So - time for bed. As I said - it was a good day. I just got through several days of ebb, so I need to enjoy the flow while it lasts. :)
Cuppla Things
I've got a couple of things to say this afternoon.
Over the last few days I've felt like I've been getting my butt kicked. At the end of the day things happen and you just feel drained...
Today it's a whole other story. I'm feeling like the kicker, not the kick-ee. There's no real reason....it's just the emotional ebb and flow of life, I think. But I'm managing a steering committee meeting in a little while so there's still time for things to change.
I've decided that I'm heading to Sephora later. It's like Costco for cosmetics, and walking thru it is just good therapy. They sent me a coupon that needs to be used (by today, I think) so I'm going to indulge. It's a little way from here, but it's near the Nordstrom's Rack and the REI so it's well worth the trip. We don't have a "real" Sephora in Charleston....there's one in the middle of a JC Penny but it's just not the same thing.
I've gotten some feedback on the Canon/Nikon thing. I've found people have some very strong opinions about it, but frankly I'm trying to approach it from a company-agnostic perspective. My main goal is to get something that is full-frame, and where image quality/features is more important than video quality/features.
This is the bad boy that I'm leaning towards - the Nikon D800. A close second is the Nikon D600 (they've got a package at Costco). On the Canon side is the Canon 5D Mark III, and the recently announced Canon 6D. I've already got some Canon lenses, but I'm planning to keep what I've got so it won't be wasted. Regardless, any of these cameras is a serious investment so it's not that simple.
That's it for now. I've had my mid-day Mountain Dew so I'm good to go for a few more hours. Steering Committee meeting coming up....we're scheduled to go into production at the end of next week. Wish me luck....
Over the last few days I've felt like I've been getting my butt kicked. At the end of the day things happen and you just feel drained...
Today it's a whole other story. I'm feeling like the kicker, not the kick-ee. There's no real reason....it's just the emotional ebb and flow of life, I think. But I'm managing a steering committee meeting in a little while so there's still time for things to change.
I've decided that I'm heading to Sephora later. It's like Costco for cosmetics, and walking thru it is just good therapy. They sent me a coupon that needs to be used (by today, I think) so I'm going to indulge. It's a little way from here, but it's near the Nordstrom's Rack and the REI so it's well worth the trip. We don't have a "real" Sephora in Charleston....there's one in the middle of a JC Penny but it's just not the same thing.
I've gotten some feedback on the Canon/Nikon thing. I've found people have some very strong opinions about it, but frankly I'm trying to approach it from a company-agnostic perspective. My main goal is to get something that is full-frame, and where image quality/features is more important than video quality/features.
This is the bad boy that I'm leaning towards - the Nikon D800. A close second is the Nikon D600 (they've got a package at Costco). On the Canon side is the Canon 5D Mark III, and the recently announced Canon 6D. I've already got some Canon lenses, but I'm planning to keep what I've got so it won't be wasted. Regardless, any of these cameras is a serious investment so it's not that simple.
That's it for now. I've had my mid-day Mountain Dew so I'm good to go for a few more hours. Steering Committee meeting coming up....we're scheduled to go into production at the end of next week. Wish me luck....
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