catheroominations

In honor of Festivus, I hereby present my very own airing of (workplace) grievances:

• Popping your gum so loudly I can hear it from four cubicles away.
• Nail clipping in your cubicle. I mean, come ON!
• Using the word “right” used when it doesn’t belong. (“I left him a message, right? And he never called me back, right? And I’m still playing phone tag with him, right?”) It has reached epidemic proportions at my company.
• Lack of articles before nouns (“customer wants a meeting tomorrow”). Unless someone has the extreme misfortune to have the first name “Customer,” use a freaking article when referring to them.
• Making phone calls using your speaker phone, in your cubicle. Unless you are performing a bris or something, pick up the damn receiver.
• Discussions that take place between two cubicles, when my cubicle separates the two cubicles housing the people having the discussion.
• Cubicles. Suck.
• Reheated fish in the microwave. Just…EW.
• Singing in the stall in the restroom. Really? Singing? Are you just so happy to be evacuating your bladder that you cannot contain yourself? At least you’re not singing about the actual act. I guess I should cut you a break.
• Also? People who answer the phone while in the stall. Every time someone does that, I flush. Even if I don’t have to at the time. Because folks on the other end of the line need to know that they are talking to someone while they are sitting on the commode.

So, in the spirit of all things Festivus, please air your own grievances (workplace or other) in the comments.

Next up, Feats of Strength!

I am campaigning. I posted a photo in the Split-second theme for consideration in the next issue of JPG magazine.

Please go vote for me here.

We are destined to either 1) pay rent forever or 2) buy a house in Iowa. We definitely won’t be buying in Santa Clara County anytime soon.

I’m trying to get into the Christmas spirit, but for some reason, I’m not feelin’ it, dawg. See what I mean?

Have you ever met someone with whom you felt an instant connection? A person you knew you could be with for, possibly, the rest of your life? I’m talking about the kind of person, who, when you find them, you know you are done looking. For good. For most people, like me, it can take years to find this special someone. Someone who gets you. Who understands your fears, and even encourages you to embrace and overcome them. This person will hold your hand and make you feel safe while you confront these fears and smack those bitches down.

Most of us at one time or another have thought we’ve had someone like that, but inevitably something happens to break our trust in that person. The one who used to fulfill our needs suddenly just doesn’t do it for us. It’s hard not to place blame when things go wrong, but when they do, if we’re smart, we leave. Even a glutton for punishment will learn that when it’s not right, it’s best to move on.

But after you’ve left a relationship, it’s so hard to trust again. It’s hard to put yourself out there and start over. And yet. You must do it. Often a friend will offer to help (“Hey, I know someone for you!”). Out of desperation, sometimes we take a friend up on their offer. And even if we have to go from person to person to person, eventually the right one comes along.

When we do find them, we hesitate at first, afraid of being disappointed once again. But in time, the trepidation disappears and we open ourselves up to new experiences. Past heartbreak is forgotten and we are happy again.

And once in a while, we get so caught up in this person that we do things with them that we never would have considered doing with anyone else. Something that once was outlandish and crazy suddenly becomes rational, because we have the confidence to do something new, something spontaneous. Before we have time to think much about it, we’re already doing it. Because this is just the person to broaden our horizons.

I have found such a person. We met through a mutual friend. And yesterday, as I sat in a leather chair, I let her color my highlighted-for-years blond hair to brown-red.

I <3 my hairdresser.

I ran eight miles today along the coast of Half Moon Bay. It was gorgeous. And damn hard, let me tell you. Even with the five-minute run, 1 minute walk, it was still hard. And far. And the friggin’ wind made it seem like I was running in place for about 3 of those miles.

Since Half Moon Bay isn’t near my house, I needed to find a way to ice myself other than my usual post-run ice bath. Sitting in a car for an hour sort of lessens the benefit of the ice bath, since you’re supposed to do it soon after the run. So I rolled up my pant legs as far as I could and walked into the ocean. We stood there for 10 minutes, my TNT teammates and I, our teeth chattering. It was freezing, but if I didn’t do it, I’d be so much more sore than I will already be when I try to get out of bed tomorrow.

And I officially changed the event I’m training for. I’m doing the Napa FULL marathon. That means I only need to run just over three times further than I did today. Uhm…yeah.