I had to work today. I normally have Fridays off, but thanks to Tuesday's accident, I had the choice to either make up the hours or use my paid vacation time (Tuesday was no vacation, so I decided to make up the hours).
But I digress. At some point during my 10 hours at the office, I was reminded that I graduated college 9 weeks ago. 'So I guess this is the next chapter,' I thought to myself, while in my think-tank (the bathroom). Then, as I often do, I interrupted my thoughts with a contradictory thought.
'My post-college life is totally different. So different, in fact, the two parts don't belong in the same book.'
So instead of life being one book, I think life should be a series of books. Overall, the series will have a single protagonist (me) and a few similar supporting characters, but each book will put these characters in completely different situations.
That said, I need to do a better job at keeping in touch with the supporting characters in my personal book series.
Happy weekend. Tomorrow's agenda - rent a car in preparation for my personal carmageddon (car in shop for the week)
July 29, 2011
July 26, 2011
A Series of Firsts
Today marks my first time missing work. Why? Because today also marks my first car accident (nearly 7 years with a perfect record...then I move to LA and this happens).
I'll admit, it was my fault. I was zoning out on the way to work and didn't see the car in my blind spot. It was an expensive mistake.
So I spent my day off filing claims and getting repair estimates. Fun stuff. Unfortunately, the shop can't fix my car until the parts they have to order arrive. Fortunately, my car is still drivable (though very sad looking). Until Monday, I'll be driving around town in a front bumper-less car.
Sorry JUD. Lesson learned.
I'll admit, it was my fault. I was zoning out on the way to work and didn't see the car in my blind spot. It was an expensive mistake.
So I spent my day off filing claims and getting repair estimates. Fun stuff. Unfortunately, the shop can't fix my car until the parts they have to order arrive. Fortunately, my car is still drivable (though very sad looking). Until Monday, I'll be driving around town in a front bumper-less car.
Sorry JUD. Lesson learned.
July 21, 2011
M.I.A.
Today's post is sleep-related (yeah, another one), but, surprisingly, not dream-related (I can hear you cheering on the other end).
Last Sunday when I woke up, something felt....off. It was a beautiful, traffic-free day, but something wasn't right. I gnashed my teeth together a few times (not really, but I've never had an excuse to use the word gnash so just go with it), and realized that I wasn't wearing my retainers. Mind you, I usually don't wear them, but I was 100% certain that I'd had them in when I went to bed.
I began a frantic (or as frantic as one can be on a lazy Sunday) search in my sheets. No luck. I called my mom, who advised me to look under the bed. Sure enough, about 4 feet under the bed was a blue hunk of plastic. My beloved. I was a little weirded out, but oddly impressed at my sleep-throwing abilities.
Fast forward to this morning. I woke up feeling a little breezier than normal. I got out of bed, and realized I wasn't wearing a shirt (thanks, mirror). I guess sleep-stripping is the next level up from sleep-throwing. I'm going on a camping trip this weekend, which could get interesting if this trend continues.
What will I sleep-do next? I'll keep you posted.
Last Sunday when I woke up, something felt....off. It was a beautiful, traffic-free day, but something wasn't right. I gnashed my teeth together a few times (not really, but I've never had an excuse to use the word gnash so just go with it), and realized that I wasn't wearing my retainers. Mind you, I usually don't wear them, but I was 100% certain that I'd had them in when I went to bed.
I began a frantic (or as frantic as one can be on a lazy Sunday) search in my sheets. No luck. I called my mom, who advised me to look under the bed. Sure enough, about 4 feet under the bed was a blue hunk of plastic. My beloved. I was a little weirded out, but oddly impressed at my sleep-throwing abilities.
Fast forward to this morning. I woke up feeling a little breezier than normal. I got out of bed, and realized I wasn't wearing a shirt (thanks, mirror). I guess sleep-stripping is the next level up from sleep-throwing. I'm going on a camping trip this weekend, which could get interesting if this trend continues.
What will I sleep-do next? I'll keep you posted.
July 15, 2011
Car-ma
The 405 freeway is closing this weekend, and the city is freaking out. What have we done to deserve such a horrible fate? We have been robbed of our entitlements and modern conveniences! How dare they!
Personally, I welcome the challenge. I like the convenience of hopping into my car and getting places quickly as much as the next person (relatively speaking....c'mon, it's LA), but this weekend will hopefully confirm that I don't NEED my car to survive. Hell, people survived for thousands of years without cars. Plus, it's an excuse to NOT go anywhere or do anything.
Maybe if I'm feeling bold, I'll turn off my phone too. So primitive!
So cheers to carmageddon. A lazy weekend is just what the doctor ordered.
PS - those of you in my inner circle already know that I have a weird obsession/fascination with freeway overpasses. This photo was a natural choice.
Personally, I welcome the challenge. I like the convenience of hopping into my car and getting places quickly as much as the next person (relatively speaking....c'mon, it's LA), but this weekend will hopefully confirm that I don't NEED my car to survive. Hell, people survived for thousands of years without cars. Plus, it's an excuse to NOT go anywhere or do anything.
Maybe if I'm feeling bold, I'll turn off my phone too. So primitive!
So cheers to carmageddon. A lazy weekend is just what the doctor ordered.
PS - those of you in my inner circle already know that I have a weird obsession/fascination with freeway overpasses. This photo was a natural choice.
July 8, 2011
Guilt-Free
Happy Friday
Con: I have work today
Pro: Fridays are casual.
Today is officially a guilt-free day. Why? Well, this morning I logged onto facebook (still one of the first pages I check--so college-y of me) and noticed that none of my "friends" had birthdays today. Every other morning, I inspect the names, and usually end up deciding not to send my well-wishes (justification: they'll probably get hundreds of other posts from their other "friends"). I am not the type to write an insincere/generic "happy birthday!" on the wall of every person on their birthday. If I can't think of something personal to add, or I wouldn't ever write on their wall otherwise, I hold off. No offense to anyone, I just don't want to feel like a phony (can you tell I'm rereading Catcher in the Rye? Ha)
Even so, my conscience feels a little clearer on the days that my news feed doesn't inform me that 28 of my friends wished someone a happy birthday and I didn't.
Con: I have work today
Pro: Fridays are casual.
Today is officially a guilt-free day. Why? Well, this morning I logged onto facebook (still one of the first pages I check--so college-y of me) and noticed that none of my "friends" had birthdays today. Every other morning, I inspect the names, and usually end up deciding not to send my well-wishes (justification: they'll probably get hundreds of other posts from their other "friends"). I am not the type to write an insincere/generic "happy birthday!" on the wall of every person on their birthday. If I can't think of something personal to add, or I wouldn't ever write on their wall otherwise, I hold off. No offense to anyone, I just don't want to feel like a phony (can you tell I'm rereading Catcher in the Rye? Ha)
Even so, my conscience feels a little clearer on the days that my news feed doesn't inform me that 28 of my friends wished someone a happy birthday and I didn't.
July 7, 2011
Oh The Places I'll Go...
My mind has a tendency to wander. Like, hard-core wander. I have thought about things so random that I wonder how on earth my mind even thought to think about whatever it is I'm thinking about.
Frequently, when I'm trying to motivate myself to get through something, I tell myself "c'mon. You only have {insert amount of time here} left. You can do anything for {amount of time}."
Today at work, while I was taking a break, I realized that I had two hours left until the day was over. I had been reviewing contracts (tedious) all day, and needed my motivational phrase. "C'mon, Dana," I said. "You only have two hours left. You can do anything for two hours."
"Excuse me," the devil on my shoulder chimed in, "but I'm pretty sure there are many things you can't do for two hours." Damn it. My shoulder devil was right. Shoulder angel couldn't even come back with a counter argument. I proceeded to think of a bunch of things I could not do for two hours (the first thing was 'hold my breath'). As my time remaining at work lessened, I began mentally crossing things off my 'things-I-wouldn't-be-able-to-do-for-this-amount-of-time' list, until finally, I was able to go home.
Needless to say, today was a long day.
Frequently, when I'm trying to motivate myself to get through something, I tell myself "c'mon. You only have {insert amount of time here} left. You can do anything for {amount of time}."
Today at work, while I was taking a break, I realized that I had two hours left until the day was over. I had been reviewing contracts (tedious) all day, and needed my motivational phrase. "C'mon, Dana," I said. "You only have two hours left. You can do anything for two hours."
"Excuse me," the devil on my shoulder chimed in, "but I'm pretty sure there are many things you can't do for two hours." Damn it. My shoulder devil was right. Shoulder angel couldn't even come back with a counter argument. I proceeded to think of a bunch of things I could not do for two hours (the first thing was 'hold my breath'). As my time remaining at work lessened, I began mentally crossing things off my 'things-I-wouldn't-be-able-to-do-for-this-amount-of-time' list, until finally, I was able to go home.
Needless to say, today was a long day.
July 4, 2011
July 3, 2011
High Times
Does the title of this post have anything to do with the fact that I've spent the weekend basking in the sun and eating excessive quantities of seasonal fruit? (What type of person would I be to waste your precious brain-space with such an entry?). In short - no.
This morning, while on a hill-walk with my mom, we got on the subject of kids who'd peaked in high school. (High Times --High school....see what I'm getting at?)
Back in high school, I wasn't particularly happy ("but you were winter formal queen and captain of the song squad," mother chimed in. Yeah, I remember). I wasn't bullied or subject to any traumatic experiences, but I wasn't satisfied either. I knew some kids that loved high school. They were born for the sole purpose of going to high school and being awesome.
At the time, I was envious of these kids. That ended on graduation day, along with their awesomeness. Now they are looking back on their heyday with sadness, knowing that they peaked too soon.
"See, time puts everything into perspective," mother chimed in.
I agree. However, when you are in the midst of a shitty situation, you can't raise your hand and say, "excuse me 12th grade english teacher. Things aren't going well for me right now, so I'm going to retreat into an obscure cave and return in five years with a fresh perspective."
On a grand scale I think I'm lucky. High school wasn't great. College was better, but still had some rough spots. My life has gotten steadily more satisfying over the years (save for some minor fluctuations), which is preferable to a sharp peak in my high school years, followed by spending the remainder of my life coping with the shock of nobody knowing or caring that I was hot shit at age 17. (*I was going to put a graph here, but technical difficulties said otherwise*).
Being too satisfied with life(whether by popularity, wealth, looks, etc.) too young is comparable to growing up too wealthy as a kid. The higher up the ladder you start, the harder it is to move up, and the less you'll appreciate it when you do.
So appreciate your humble beginnings. Happy 4th.
This morning, while on a hill-walk with my mom, we got on the subject of kids who'd peaked in high school. (High Times --High school....see what I'm getting at?)
Back in high school, I wasn't particularly happy ("but you were winter formal queen and captain of the song squad," mother chimed in. Yeah, I remember). I wasn't bullied or subject to any traumatic experiences, but I wasn't satisfied either. I knew some kids that loved high school. They were born for the sole purpose of going to high school and being awesome.
At the time, I was envious of these kids. That ended on graduation day, along with their awesomeness. Now they are looking back on their heyday with sadness, knowing that they peaked too soon.
"See, time puts everything into perspective," mother chimed in.
I agree. However, when you are in the midst of a shitty situation, you can't raise your hand and say, "excuse me 12th grade english teacher. Things aren't going well for me right now, so I'm going to retreat into an obscure cave and return in five years with a fresh perspective."
On a grand scale I think I'm lucky. High school wasn't great. College was better, but still had some rough spots. My life has gotten steadily more satisfying over the years (save for some minor fluctuations), which is preferable to a sharp peak in my high school years, followed by spending the remainder of my life coping with the shock of nobody knowing or caring that I was hot shit at age 17. (*I was going to put a graph here, but technical difficulties said otherwise*).
Being too satisfied with life(whether by popularity, wealth, looks, etc.) too young is comparable to growing up too wealthy as a kid. The higher up the ladder you start, the harder it is to move up, and the less you'll appreciate it when you do.
So appreciate your humble beginnings. Happy 4th.
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