Ok, today isn't Tuesday. And I'm not actually writing about a date. But I was really really tired and brain dead yesterday. And in my mind, (and blog) I'm totally categorizing this in the Tuesday's Bad Date file. 'Cause that's the way I roll!
On Jan 3rd, I boarded a plane for a 6 hour cross country journey home. Looking like I always do on a mid-winter cross country plane ride: hair in a ponytail through the back of a Red Sox cap, wearing one of those velour track suits that were popular with soccer moms about 7 years ago that I snatched up on sale after they went out of style and now referred to as my "flying attire", glasses (since I'm not wearing contacts in that dry environment), and every exposed inch of skin slathered in lotion. Makes me look rather shiny. I always pray its not windy and dusty on the way to the airport or it'll stick to me and I'll spend the entire plane ride looking like Pig Pen. In other words, I'm even HOTTER and SEXIER than my usual makeup-less, jeans and chuck-taylors self!
So I got all settled in my seat and busted out my book and my ipod. And I noticed that the guy in the row in front of me kept looking back across the aisle at me. Yeah, yeah. I know I look like somebody who lives in a house with TV dinner trays piled to the ceiling and 57 cats. I get it. You can stop staring at me.
Then I realized that he was looking at me a lot more than the usual "Wow, what a sad creature that is" glance or two. Hmm. Maybe I knew him.
The next time he looked back, I looked -- really looked -- at him. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin. Looked like he could be Indian. Or Lebanese. Come to think of it, he looked Iranian. Kind of cute, too. Early to mid 30's. Very computer nerd or scientist looking; black jeans, black T-shirt, Banana Republic-y suede jacket, looks like he hits the gym 3-4 times a week with a routine ripped out of Men's Fitness magazine.
You know, until this plane trip, I never realized how interchangeable Boston and the Silicon Valley are! You could take the entire clientele from Red Bones in Somerville and just exchange them for the clientele from Nola's in Palo Alto. Nobody would even notice. Unfortunately, I soon figured out that I did not know this plane guy from either of those establishments. He was, in fact, a plane stranger.
Alright, if he doesn't know me, why the heck does he keep looking back at me? What is his problem? Oh. Hey. Maybe he thinks I'm cute. And, you know, from the looks of his geeky appearance, he may think that I'm on the cutting edge of fashion in my plane attire!
The next time he looked back and made eye contact, I smiled a little. No response. That's ok, though. Everyone knows that nerds and geeks tend to be a bit socially awkward and sometimes take a few reps. Maybe this plane ride would be a turning point in my life. Maybe years from now we'd be telling stories about how we met on a plane when he kept turning back to look at me and I finally smiled at him. Except that after I smiled a few more times, I still got no response. In fact, he started kind of looking not at me, but at my carry-on under the seat. At me, then my ipod, then my carry-on. And now at me again. Ok, what is going on here?
Maybe he's planning to kill me! Maybe he's been looking back to see if he can find out information about me to follow me home and attack me. Or maybe he won't even wait that long! Maybe he's going to take that electronic device in his hand and blow us all up right now. Oh, wait. He's just playing a video game. My bad.
What the hell is wrong with me? Some guy looks at me a few times and I go from "He thinks I'm a freak" to "He wants to date me" to "He wants to kill me" in a matter of 45 minutes? Is this why I'm still single? Seriously, I think I'm going to have to sit down and do some hard-core self reflection and...wait. Is he playing some kind of single player Everquest game on his cell phone?
Never mind. Even if he was interested, it wouldn't have worked anyway. I'm going back to my book.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
This week's book
Book of the Week: The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood
One of my patients gave me this book before I went away. Said it was a good book for a plane. And so it was; this book is perfect fare for a plane ride, train ride, afternoon on the beach, or for frazzled mothers who miss reading but those brains are too fried to tackle anything too difficult during nap time. It's mildly entertaining, entirely predictable, and doesn't take much brain power. I fell asleep on the plane reading it and was able to pick right up where I left off without back tracking to figure out where I was in the plot. I cared just enough about the characters to continue reading but not so much that if I lost the book half way through I would've gone half mad because I wanted to know what happened to them.
The story revolves around Charlie St. Cloud, an entirely likable leading man-type guy in his early 20s. He had a near death experience in his teens which left him with the ability to see people after they had died but before they had transitioned over to the other side. Which complicated things with his love interest. Kind of like "The Sixth Sense" as a romantic comedy. But not a romantic comedy with Isla Fisher or Vince Vaughn. It wasn't that funny. Maybe a Jennifer Anniston and Ryan Reynolds kind of romantic comedy. Or Scarlett Johansson. She's not actually all that funny, but she looks good and she's a bit intimidating and almost snooty. She'd be perfect for the love interest in this book.
Anyway, without getting into all the subtleties of the plot -- it ends exactly the way you'd think it would. Which is why you'd read a book like this to begin with. It's kind of reassuring in a totally unrealistic way. Nicholas Sparks could have written it. Although if Nicholas Sparks had written it, it would have already been made into a movie by now. Maybe starring Rachel Mc Adams.
Overall, it was a fairly pleasant way to spend the time at 30,000 feet. I'd recommend it for that purpose.
Though in general, I 'm not a big fan of those Nicholas Sparks-y kind of books. My life never works out that way. It's always a bit more messy and non-sensical. For instance, I've gone into the grocery store and knocked over a display. This did not result in the meeting of a grocery clerk-who-is-actually-a-divorced-but-wildly-successful-architect-but-due-to-the-stress-of-the-divorce --no! TRAGIC DEATH of his wife! -- had-to-return-to-his-hometown-and-work-in-a-grocery-store. Usually they just page a sullen teenager for cleanup on aisle 5.
But every now and then, it's ok to indulge in a fairy tale for grown ups. You come away with exactly what you had hoped for.
One of my patients gave me this book before I went away. Said it was a good book for a plane. And so it was; this book is perfect fare for a plane ride, train ride, afternoon on the beach, or for frazzled mothers who miss reading but those brains are too fried to tackle anything too difficult during nap time. It's mildly entertaining, entirely predictable, and doesn't take much brain power. I fell asleep on the plane reading it and was able to pick right up where I left off without back tracking to figure out where I was in the plot. I cared just enough about the characters to continue reading but not so much that if I lost the book half way through I would've gone half mad because I wanted to know what happened to them.
The story revolves around Charlie St. Cloud, an entirely likable leading man-type guy in his early 20s. He had a near death experience in his teens which left him with the ability to see people after they had died but before they had transitioned over to the other side. Which complicated things with his love interest. Kind of like "The Sixth Sense" as a romantic comedy. But not a romantic comedy with Isla Fisher or Vince Vaughn. It wasn't that funny. Maybe a Jennifer Anniston and Ryan Reynolds kind of romantic comedy. Or Scarlett Johansson. She's not actually all that funny, but she looks good and she's a bit intimidating and almost snooty. She'd be perfect for the love interest in this book.
Anyway, without getting into all the subtleties of the plot -- it ends exactly the way you'd think it would. Which is why you'd read a book like this to begin with. It's kind of reassuring in a totally unrealistic way. Nicholas Sparks could have written it. Although if Nicholas Sparks had written it, it would have already been made into a movie by now. Maybe starring Rachel Mc Adams.
Overall, it was a fairly pleasant way to spend the time at 30,000 feet. I'd recommend it for that purpose.
Though in general, I 'm not a big fan of those Nicholas Sparks-y kind of books. My life never works out that way. It's always a bit more messy and non-sensical. For instance, I've gone into the grocery store and knocked over a display. This did not result in the meeting of a grocery clerk-who-is-actually-a-divorced-but-wildly-successful-architect-but-due-to-the-stress-of-the-divorce --no! TRAGIC DEATH of his wife! -- had-to-return-to-his-hometown-and-work-in-a-grocery-store. Usually they just page a sullen teenager for cleanup on aisle 5.
But every now and then, it's ok to indulge in a fairy tale for grown ups. You come away with exactly what you had hoped for.
Friday, January 8, 2010
weekend wrap up
Weekend Wrap Up:
Do you ever watch "The best week ever" on VH1? Where a bunch of comedians rehash what happened in pop culture over the past week and make jokes? I love that show. I don't watch it much, because I don't really know what time it's on. I don't really know what channel VH1 is on my cable, but every now and then if I have some time and I'm channel surfing, I'll catch it.
I was thinking that maybe I could hire myself some comedians to rehash what happened in Heather's life over the past week and make jokes. But then again, how many jokes can there be about: "went to work, worked out, showered, ate, went to bed. repeat."
SO instead, I decided I would just do a straightforward rehashing of progress on the goals for 2010.
2010 Week One, 51 weeks left ;
Project One: I put up the curtain rod and hung up the curtain over my kitchen window. There's been a draft coming in and the curtain and rod have been sitting there for I don't know how long, waiting to be put up. CHECK!
Book One: The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood (more on that later)
Bests: Best quote I saw this week: on bottle of Poland Spring --"Water -- the ultimate hydrator" I can't argue with that logic!
Best news of the week: I got the advanced position I applied for at work. Yay me!
And in other news...totally on track with water, cutting down diet coke, and recycling goals. Things got super hectic before Xmas and I found myself mindlessly just chugging down diet coke whenever I was thirsty. Now I've broken out my water bottles and I'm drinking nice, cold, clean water when I'm thirsty. I'm still doing a diet coke here and there...the first week back at work after a vacation is nearly impossible without a caffeine boost every now and then...but I have cut down significantly. Next week, cutting down even more!
I've been using my cute little plastic plate and bowl for lunch every day instead of getting a disposable plate. In addition from earning the nickname "Little Miss Green" at work, I've gotten a few others talking about bringing in their own plates, too.
I've been more conscious of what goes in the trash and what goes in recycling; can the plastic film from the top of a microwave dinner be recycled? Can my energy bar wrapper? And then...I gotta cook a crock pot of soup and make some homemade granola ...they don't have any wrappers!
So anyway...there ya have it! How are the rest of y'all doing?
Do you ever watch "The best week ever" on VH1? Where a bunch of comedians rehash what happened in pop culture over the past week and make jokes? I love that show. I don't watch it much, because I don't really know what time it's on. I don't really know what channel VH1 is on my cable, but every now and then if I have some time and I'm channel surfing, I'll catch it.
I was thinking that maybe I could hire myself some comedians to rehash what happened in Heather's life over the past week and make jokes. But then again, how many jokes can there be about: "went to work, worked out, showered, ate, went to bed. repeat."
SO instead, I decided I would just do a straightforward rehashing of progress on the goals for 2010.
2010 Week One, 51 weeks left ;
Project One: I put up the curtain rod and hung up the curtain over my kitchen window. There's been a draft coming in and the curtain and rod have been sitting there for I don't know how long, waiting to be put up. CHECK!
Book One: The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud by Ben Sherwood (more on that later)
Bests: Best quote I saw this week: on bottle of Poland Spring --"Water -- the ultimate hydrator" I can't argue with that logic!
Best news of the week: I got the advanced position I applied for at work. Yay me!
And in other news...totally on track with water, cutting down diet coke, and recycling goals. Things got super hectic before Xmas and I found myself mindlessly just chugging down diet coke whenever I was thirsty. Now I've broken out my water bottles and I'm drinking nice, cold, clean water when I'm thirsty. I'm still doing a diet coke here and there...the first week back at work after a vacation is nearly impossible without a caffeine boost every now and then...but I have cut down significantly. Next week, cutting down even more!
I've been using my cute little plastic plate and bowl for lunch every day instead of getting a disposable plate. In addition from earning the nickname "Little Miss Green" at work, I've gotten a few others talking about bringing in their own plates, too.
I've been more conscious of what goes in the trash and what goes in recycling; can the plastic film from the top of a microwave dinner be recycled? Can my energy bar wrapper? And then...I gotta cook a crock pot of soup and make some homemade granola ...they don't have any wrappers!
So anyway...there ya have it! How are the rest of y'all doing?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
January Goals
December was...busy. Very, very busy. Work was so overwhelmingly busy, I worked 46 hours the week of Xmas! Plus, one entire weekend was taken up with a class and another weekend day spent waiting to get new tires on the jeep. In other words, December goals had to take a backseat. But as I look back, I did surprisingly -- ok.
December Goals:
1) Holiday Booty Buster: success. Did well with the marathon training and other exercising. Even on vacation.
2) Get details of Feb and Mar trips finalized. Half credit. Feb done, still working on Mar.
3) Finish online class and turn in completed form. FAIL!
4) Finish and submit article to health times. FAIL!
5) Send out Xmas card and letter. Done and done.
6) 6-8 glasses of water a day. FAIL! Way too much diet coke in my life.
7) Four books from the bookshelf. Done
8) Try one more new recipe. Done.
9) Have a great Xmas. check
10) and an even better birthday. double check! I'm old and wise now!
ANd now, for January:
1) Continue marathon training and begin triathlon training.
2) Finalize March trip details and register for June Half Ironman
3) Finish online class
4) Article to Health Times
5) 6-8 glasses of water a day
6) Dramatically reduce Diet Coke consumption
7) Lose 2 pounds
8) Finish mock up for brochure for clinic at work
9) Get a new digital camera
10) Get my hair cut
December Goals:
1) Holiday Booty Buster: success. Did well with the marathon training and other exercising. Even on vacation.
2) Get details of Feb and Mar trips finalized. Half credit. Feb done, still working on Mar.
3) Finish online class and turn in completed form. FAIL!
4) Finish and submit article to health times. FAIL!
5) Send out Xmas card and letter. Done and done.
6) 6-8 glasses of water a day. FAIL! Way too much diet coke in my life.
7) Four books from the bookshelf. Done
8) Try one more new recipe. Done.
9) Have a great Xmas. check
10) and an even better birthday. double check! I'm old and wise now!
ANd now, for January:
1) Continue marathon training and begin triathlon training.
2) Finalize March trip details and register for June Half Ironman
3) Finish online class
4) Article to Health Times
5) 6-8 glasses of water a day
6) Dramatically reduce Diet Coke consumption
7) Lose 2 pounds
8) Finish mock up for brochure for clinic at work
9) Get a new digital camera
10) Get my hair cut
Monday, January 4, 2010
From decluttering to projects
Though I was absent from Bloggie Land for the past week, I was continuing with the decluttering goal. And since I like to have everything all neat and tidy and tied up with a little red bow, here's the LAST of the decluttering posts from 2009:
December 22 thru December 31:
1 pair of socks and a sweatshirt to the clothing donation bag
2 books that were given to me that I just am not going to read to a bag to give to my sister in law (she is prego once again and will be on bedrest as she was with her previous 2 pregnancies. She needs lots of books to get her through)
One more book I had that I wanted to give to Slacker Boy. I read it on the plane and passed it on
Then, I read one more book and left it in the airport with a note that said "Free Book" nice surprise for a fellow traveler.
I planned the toiletries for the trip so that there was very little left of a tinted moiturizer with sunscreen and body lotion. Just tossed the rest rather than carry back on the plane
Cleaned up the miscellaneous papers on the desk and fridge and put the un-needed in the recycling pile
Lastly, the zipper on my carry on backpack broke on the trip. I guess I got a fair amount of use, since I've been using this thing since high school! It has become the next clothing donation bag.
And there we are: 365 things in 365 days.
As I come to an end, I've found that I can't stop. I've gotten rid of two things in the 2 days I've been home! So, it's become a habit and part of a lifestyle, just as I had hoped.
Frequently during 2009, I came across something that was less of a declutter and more of a project. Sometimes, I got around to the projects, but more often than not, they ended up in the project box, waiting for me to get around to it.
2010 is when I get around to it!
My simplifying goal for 2010 is to address all those projects that were unearthed in the decluttering. I'm aiming to complete 52 projects in 52 weeks.
Also, since I still feel like I'm drowning in books, I'm aiming to read 52 books in 52 weeks. (I reserve the right to keep the book when I'm done, though)
And also, just a a way to try to live with less impact, I'm aiming to aquire NO plastic bags from shopping (I still sometimes leave my reusable bags in the car, but this year I'll go back and get them before I reach check out) and use NO disposable plates at work (I bought a plate and bowl that I keep in my desk at work, but also sometimes forget to bring them to the cafeteria. 2010, I gotta turn around and go get them)
Lastly, in trying to recycle even more, I'm aiming to have no more than one bag of garbage per month. I'm sure I can do it.
as Thoreau said...SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY
December 22 thru December 31:
1 pair of socks and a sweatshirt to the clothing donation bag
2 books that were given to me that I just am not going to read to a bag to give to my sister in law (she is prego once again and will be on bedrest as she was with her previous 2 pregnancies. She needs lots of books to get her through)
One more book I had that I wanted to give to Slacker Boy. I read it on the plane and passed it on
Then, I read one more book and left it in the airport with a note that said "Free Book" nice surprise for a fellow traveler.
I planned the toiletries for the trip so that there was very little left of a tinted moiturizer with sunscreen and body lotion. Just tossed the rest rather than carry back on the plane
Cleaned up the miscellaneous papers on the desk and fridge and put the un-needed in the recycling pile
Lastly, the zipper on my carry on backpack broke on the trip. I guess I got a fair amount of use, since I've been using this thing since high school! It has become the next clothing donation bag.
And there we are: 365 things in 365 days.
As I come to an end, I've found that I can't stop. I've gotten rid of two things in the 2 days I've been home! So, it's become a habit and part of a lifestyle, just as I had hoped.
Frequently during 2009, I came across something that was less of a declutter and more of a project. Sometimes, I got around to the projects, but more often than not, they ended up in the project box, waiting for me to get around to it.
2010 is when I get around to it!
My simplifying goal for 2010 is to address all those projects that were unearthed in the decluttering. I'm aiming to complete 52 projects in 52 weeks.
Also, since I still feel like I'm drowning in books, I'm aiming to read 52 books in 52 weeks. (I reserve the right to keep the book when I'm done, though)
And also, just a a way to try to live with less impact, I'm aiming to aquire NO plastic bags from shopping (I still sometimes leave my reusable bags in the car, but this year I'll go back and get them before I reach check out) and use NO disposable plates at work (I bought a plate and bowl that I keep in my desk at work, but also sometimes forget to bring them to the cafeteria. 2010, I gotta turn around and go get them)
Lastly, in trying to recycle even more, I'm aiming to have no more than one bag of garbage per month. I'm sure I can do it.
as Thoreau said...SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy New Year
Hello bloggie peeps! I missed y'all this past week, but I was having lots of fun. I'm freshly back from a whirlwind trip to San Francisco, Napa, and Yosemite with my most favorite people in the world.
I may have been one of the luckiest people in the world this past new year's eve, as I got to see Yosemite by the light of the blue moon. It was almost as bright as day and the moonlight reflecting off of the snow on top of the rock faces was breathtaking. You know when something is so beautiful that you get a hollow feeling in your chest and you feel like laughing and crying at the same time? That's what Yosemite on a full moon night is like. I only wish I had the foresight to plan a moonlight hike around midnight. That would have been something!
We also went on a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley. J, in her infinite wisdom and generosity, surprised us all with a coupon for the balloon ride. It was a 40th birthday surprise for me, K, and Slacker boy, down from Washington. I have done a lot of things in my life -- drove cross country solo 4 times, dove with the mantarays in Kona, hiked Canyonlands, climbed Mt. Shasta, crawled through miles of caves in Pennsylvania -- the balloon ride may just have been the coolest thing I've ever done. It was spectacular!
So I enter 2010 full of optomism and excitement. I think it's going to be a good year. There are so many fun things to do. I can't wait to try them all!
I may have been one of the luckiest people in the world this past new year's eve, as I got to see Yosemite by the light of the blue moon. It was almost as bright as day and the moonlight reflecting off of the snow on top of the rock faces was breathtaking. You know when something is so beautiful that you get a hollow feeling in your chest and you feel like laughing and crying at the same time? That's what Yosemite on a full moon night is like. I only wish I had the foresight to plan a moonlight hike around midnight. That would have been something!
We also went on a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley. J, in her infinite wisdom and generosity, surprised us all with a coupon for the balloon ride. It was a 40th birthday surprise for me, K, and Slacker boy, down from Washington. I have done a lot of things in my life -- drove cross country solo 4 times, dove with the mantarays in Kona, hiked Canyonlands, climbed Mt. Shasta, crawled through miles of caves in Pennsylvania -- the balloon ride may just have been the coolest thing I've ever done. It was spectacular!
So I enter 2010 full of optomism and excitement. I think it's going to be a good year. There are so many fun things to do. I can't wait to try them all!
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