Monday, September 18, 2006
Oh, I am fortune's fool!
How shockingly quick the tides of fate can turn. Yesterday I was on such a high coming back from my vacation. Now I'm on such a low. Alas, the story does not deserve recounting.
I've been at work for hours for no particular reason, doing nothing in particular. In other news, that currently can be categorized as "Meh"--my job has been posted. So I guess I'll apply.
I've been at work for hours for no particular reason, doing nothing in particular. In other news, that currently can be categorized as "Meh"--my job has been posted. So I guess I'll apply.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Mahalo
I'm back! And when not scamming wireless signals in Halei'va, but here in good old DC, Blogger is once again cooperating. So here is the cameraphone shot of us that very first day. Ms. Write Again Soon has a full photo album that is far superior. I will get a digital camera when I am out of debt.I know I have not said much about the vacation/work trip. Vacationing was wonderfully relaxing, if a bit unremarkable. We both slept a LOT. There were also the obligatory hours spent lying on our virtually private beach reading. I finished my first book of fiction in years--and it was set in a life raft upon the ocean, so it seemed especially appropos for our setting.
The only truly novel thing we did was ATVing at Koaloa Ranch, after a scenic drive across the North Shore. Neither of us having ever been on an ATV, we both know want one. The ranch apparently has filmed scenes from Jurassic Park and Lost, so it took only a little bit of imagination to think we were off hunting dinos--Jurassic Park being the book that introduced me (and a generation of boys) to reading for pleasure.Work was boring but productive. We were put up in the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a small city of Japanese tourists and honeymooners. Most of our conversation sounded something like:
Ms. WAS: "Everyone think you're a bad husband for not letting me go first."
Mr. BA: "Everyone think you're a bitchy wife."
Ms. WAS: "I want a divorce."
All kidding aside, we were the picture of a great young relationship. And my second tropical vacation as an adult in as many years, and both with girls! After last summer in St. Thomas I thought maybe the honeymoons would include a boy at some point. I'm crossing my fingers that South Beach in November with MOSI will be the most romantic of the three (and with a B&B booked, how could it not?).
Sadly, it is now back to work for me. Looking forward to finally taking a trip to Pittsburgh to visit MOSI this coming weekend--however there is a lot to accomplish between now and then.
Labels: Travel
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Brilliant Stupidity
Sometimes I feel brilliant. Often, I think this is only the result of clawing my way out of a fit of stupidity. My mental capacity seems to ebb and flow, much as the character in my book (read below). After not having internet for two days (what EVER were we to do!?), with Ms. Write Again Soon passed out for a good many hours, I finally realized that if we no longer had a workable wireless signal bringing the internet to us, I should GO TO THE INTERNET!
So here I am, camped out on the roof of the condo, watching the waves hit the breakers, and drinking a Sam Adams. Time to post what I penned so many hours ago:
Time here on the (slightly grungy) north shore of Oahu has become almost timeless. Hours and days bleed together, populated by occasional exploring or swimming, frequent reading [Life of Pi], and copious sleeping. I have had to struggle to know what day it is, and even how many days we have been here.
The last vestige of connection to our cyclical lives--our internet connection--failed completely yesterday, and now we have only laptops and the memory of their former capabilities. In spite of this, I'm brushing ants off my screen and briefly jotting down these few thoughts before returning to my book and my lunch--both in silence that is unnatural for me, but greatly pleasing. I'll post this eventually. Time is forgiving.
I still talk to MOSI back east--and the distance, the vacation, and his words have greatly fortified me against any irrational concerns that hung over my head last week, amidst the haze of pre-travel stress. I was perhaps at my most annoyingly needy the night before I left. Having some perspective now I'm a bit embarrassed by that. The last thing I need is to either expose myself to that discomfort or impose that added demand upon him. With our opportunities to reunite drawing close, I'm happily tending my soul back to a place that appreciates what I have.
Work beckons, I imagine, but even that has great prospects. My business here will be utterly easy, having the Columbus trip as a dry run. I have a pro bono project I desperately need to act on, and I think tomorrow morning will provide just such an opportunity. When I return to the office, we have someone new starting in just 5 short weeks. What joy!
So for the meantime, I am going to return to my book. Poor Pi is lost at sea. I feel so intimately connected to him, as the taste of saltwater is freshly on my lips and the smell in my nostrils, even as the story Pi's similar exposures through my mind.
So here I am, camped out on the roof of the condo, watching the waves hit the breakers, and drinking a Sam Adams. Time to post what I penned so many hours ago:
Time here on the (slightly grungy) north shore of Oahu has become almost timeless. Hours and days bleed together, populated by occasional exploring or swimming, frequent reading [Life of Pi], and copious sleeping. I have had to struggle to know what day it is, and even how many days we have been here.
The last vestige of connection to our cyclical lives--our internet connection--failed completely yesterday, and now we have only laptops and the memory of their former capabilities. In spite of this, I'm brushing ants off my screen and briefly jotting down these few thoughts before returning to my book and my lunch--both in silence that is unnatural for me, but greatly pleasing. I'll post this eventually. Time is forgiving.
I still talk to MOSI back east--and the distance, the vacation, and his words have greatly fortified me against any irrational concerns that hung over my head last week, amidst the haze of pre-travel stress. I was perhaps at my most annoyingly needy the night before I left. Having some perspective now I'm a bit embarrassed by that. The last thing I need is to either expose myself to that discomfort or impose that added demand upon him. With our opportunities to reunite drawing close, I'm happily tending my soul back to a place that appreciates what I have.
Work beckons, I imagine, but even that has great prospects. My business here will be utterly easy, having the Columbus trip as a dry run. I have a pro bono project I desperately need to act on, and I think tomorrow morning will provide just such an opportunity. When I return to the office, we have someone new starting in just 5 short weeks. What joy!
So for the meantime, I am going to return to my book. Poor Pi is lost at sea. I feel so intimately connected to him, as the taste of saltwater is freshly on my lips and the smell in my nostrils, even as the story Pi's similar exposures through my mind.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Aloha
I have no intention of fighting with blogger all morning. So I'm just going to say that if you want to see how happy we are, check out Ms. Write Again Soon's post for yesterday's picture!
Labels: Travel
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Four on a Couch
Four bloggers on a couch. Spent my Labor Day Eve in Dickerson, visiting Ms. Rather be Travelling, who was a gracious host, save for her coffee. We were joined by Ms. Wish to See, who's failed attempt at sewing has not dissuaded my demand for a full-on queen-size quilt, and Ms. Write Again Soon, who did a much better job of chronicling our inertia than could I. Technically, we were only physically inert. Look how electronically active we look, as captured by Ms. RBT (the most fervent protector of her own identity).I'm sorry I have nothing interesting to share. I thought something of an update would at least be useful. I'm listless, stressed, and unfocused. But I do fly to Hawaii tomorrow. So much travel, never in the right direction...
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
That Would be Great
Ayyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Thank you.
Thank you.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Verizon, what have you done to me?
Recently, I discovered that for the same price I am currently paying for text messages, I could get a new plan that was double, and photo messages were no longer priced at a higher rate. I immediately told all my v-to-v compadres. Now, New Gay and I have become ridiculous. While he's in Cali, we communiate not by phone, and not by txt, but solely by image. Here are some choice recent ones from him and Valley Girl. All of my responses are like the one at the bottom, with me in various self-portraits, all involving me at work, in my hotel for work, or preping for work.
Apparently in California, like in Europe, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. And that is not a bug in the passenger seat, it is Valley Girl being too hip for you.
San Francisco, my birthplace! On my phone, that steel rail looked like a white sandy beach.
A coffee break. I spared you the rest, because there were many food- and drink-related images.
"The next morning." This is New Gay capturing Valley Girl capturing New Gay sneaking away from a bit of debauchery.
Apparently in California, you go for a run in parking garages.
The elevators at my work are dark and moody. I love that.
Apparently in California, like in Europe, the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. And that is not a bug in the passenger seat, it is Valley Girl being too hip for you.
San Francisco, my birthplace! On my phone, that steel rail looked like a white sandy beach.
A coffee break. I spared you the rest, because there were many food- and drink-related images.
"The next morning." This is New Gay capturing Valley Girl capturing New Gay sneaking away from a bit of debauchery.
The elevators at my work are dark and moody. I love that.Friday, September 01, 2006
Does Comcast Carry CCTV?
Check it out! You might remember that at one time I complained of the various noise issues on my block. Well, check out what showed up while I was out of town. I even trudged out there in this crappy huricane-leftover weather. The city has but a handful of these. I must say I'm a bit shocked that this went up on our block, of all the actually dangerous ones that must be out there. Nonetheless, there's our living room, on the top floor of the red rowhouse, under the turret. Maybe now something exciting will liven things up. But for now, it's chick films (In Her Shoes) and working from home (okay, blogging).