This is sort of a follow up to the THAT girl post. In an attempt to use up more of my vacation time I took off time around the holidays. Rather ironically, a snow storm in DC meant my office was closed, which means I get to carry over more time intended for 2009 vacation into 2010. Not that I am complaining!
But - I relaxed. I slept in every day. I watched copious amounts of TV while eating food that was not healthy during nearly two weeks that I did not work out. My personality is such that I like to get lots of things done each day; it gives me a sense of accomplishment. I had to "trick" myself by putting my "relaxing" things on my to do list so it felt like watching a whole season of Friends in a day was an accomplishment.
And it was great! Tons of good time with family and friends, too. I think I am ready to go back to work next week.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas
This Christmas was perfectly imperfect. Recently, I was asked to describe what Christmas is like in my family and what my role is. Each family is different; some people are the host, others are the funny little brother suppplying jokes, others the bossy older sister directing the holiday like an air traffic controller. When asked, my reply was "the peace keeper."
One of the benefits of divorced parents is having multiple Chrismases. Each family is its own little culture and it is my job to shepherd my sister and I successfully through the holiday in two different lands, getting the right gifts and participating in the right traditions at each Christmas. I am thankful we get to, and have gotten over the years, spend time and have a meaningful Christmas with each family.
But there is also the pressure that one misstep, one miscalculation on timing, or eating just a bit too much at one house, could result in the whole house of cards falling down. I am always relieved the day after Christmas when everything has been successfully executed. So I was a bit relieved when an "imperfect" moment came up Christmas Eve day. My grandmother needed to go to the emergency room for a few tests. I could tell she hated to go; it was not the Christmas image she had pictured.
But you know what? To me, there was something perfect about the family being together in the emergency room on Christmas Eve. Whatever we had been doing (most of it insignificant) we stopped doing so we could be with Grandma. Since I no longer live in my hometown, I felt fortunate to be able to be there in person rather than getting this news over the phone. And this unexpected field trip punctured the "perfect" Christmas bubble, leaving things to be perfectly imperfect - and allowing us to spend time together, which is what matters most at Christmas time.
One of the benefits of divorced parents is having multiple Chrismases. Each family is its own little culture and it is my job to shepherd my sister and I successfully through the holiday in two different lands, getting the right gifts and participating in the right traditions at each Christmas. I am thankful we get to, and have gotten over the years, spend time and have a meaningful Christmas with each family.
But there is also the pressure that one misstep, one miscalculation on timing, or eating just a bit too much at one house, could result in the whole house of cards falling down. I am always relieved the day after Christmas when everything has been successfully executed. So I was a bit relieved when an "imperfect" moment came up Christmas Eve day. My grandmother needed to go to the emergency room for a few tests. I could tell she hated to go; it was not the Christmas image she had pictured.
But you know what? To me, there was something perfect about the family being together in the emergency room on Christmas Eve. Whatever we had been doing (most of it insignificant) we stopped doing so we could be with Grandma. Since I no longer live in my hometown, I felt fortunate to be able to be there in person rather than getting this news over the phone. And this unexpected field trip punctured the "perfect" Christmas bubble, leaving things to be perfectly imperfect - and allowing us to spend time together, which is what matters most at Christmas time.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Speed Dating
Slightly concerned that I had been on almost no dates this year, when my alter ego friend called to see if I wanted to go speed dating with her, my response was an enthusiastic yes. Speed dating?! That would provide me with a quick way to get my dates/year ratio up while investing little time. Sometimes five minutes is all you need to know if a person is right or wrong for you.
FYI, my alter ego friend shares my name, occupation, interests, single status on my tax return, and practically my address. On paper we are quite similar.
So we arrive at the bar early for this dating adventure. We go to order a drink and eventually find ourselves talking to a handful of nice guys. In fact, we even exchange contact info with some of them. Then we get called to go upstairs for this speed dating adventure where we are - get this - the only two girls! Hilarious. And ironically the people we are speed dating are the same ones we were talking to at the bar.
And yes, sometimes five minutes is all you need.
FYI, my alter ego friend shares my name, occupation, interests, single status on my tax return, and practically my address. On paper we are quite similar.
So we arrive at the bar early for this dating adventure. We go to order a drink and eventually find ourselves talking to a handful of nice guys. In fact, we even exchange contact info with some of them. Then we get called to go upstairs for this speed dating adventure where we are - get this - the only two girls! Hilarious. And ironically the people we are speed dating are the same ones we were talking to at the bar.
And yes, sometimes five minutes is all you need.
The Year's Top Five
With 2009 drawing to a close, I have to think of the top five moments from the year. And they are (drum roll, please):
1) Inauguration. Historic moment, great time to be in DC.
2) Peru trip. New continent (5 out of 7!), check. Machu Picchu, check. Lake Titicaca, check. Pisco Sour, check. Witnessing a Latin American labor strike, check. Seeing police respond to the labor strike, check. Good times with my girls, check.
3) Beyonce concert. That girl can sing! Plus Michelle & the girls were there.
4) Watching my friend's face at Spring Awakening at the Kennedy Center. Quite the interesting play. I was not properly warned.
5) Good times in Chicago. What can I say? It continues to be my kind of town and I had great times there this year, witnessing the city in nearly every season and with really everyone I hold near & dear to me. Plus we saw The Santaland Diaries this past weekend - very funny!
1) Inauguration. Historic moment, great time to be in DC.
2) Peru trip. New continent (5 out of 7!), check. Machu Picchu, check. Lake Titicaca, check. Pisco Sour, check. Witnessing a Latin American labor strike, check. Seeing police respond to the labor strike, check. Good times with my girls, check.
3) Beyonce concert. That girl can sing! Plus Michelle & the girls were there.
4) Watching my friend's face at Spring Awakening at the Kennedy Center. Quite the interesting play. I was not properly warned.
5) Good times in Chicago. What can I say? It continues to be my kind of town and I had great times there this year, witnessing the city in nearly every season and with really everyone I hold near & dear to me. Plus we saw The Santaland Diaries this past weekend - very funny!
Tiger
There has been a lot of chatter about Tiger lately so I'll add my opinion to the mix. My thinking is: Elin is hot. And classy. Now why are you gonna go cheat on a hot, classy woman? If I do a litmus test of hotness - and classyness - with Elin and the various gals Tiger's allegedly been with, Elin wins by far.
So that's what I think. Not saying cheating is OK if your girl is not hot and/or classy...
So that's what I think. Not saying cheating is OK if your girl is not hot and/or classy...
Adapting to Different Cultures
A funny moment from the Peace Corps interview seems to not have made it into the blog. One of the questions the recruiter asked was "Do you have any reason why you would not be able to either live in a culture where drinking alcohol is extremely taboo and forbidden or live in a culture where drinking lots of alcohol is very common and to fit in socially you are expected to drink a lot?"
Huh? I get the first part of the question. But the second? In what country is drinking in excess a daily thing? Perhaps Russia or another Eastern European country? Well, vodka I can handle becuase that looks like water and I can just fake it and drink lots of water. I've never been the sort to be out of control with drinking. In fact I'll go out on a Friday or Saturday on occasion with friends, dancing and what not, and not drink but still have a great time.
Do you know where this mythical land is where lots of drinking is part of the daily life experience?
Huh? I get the first part of the question. But the second? In what country is drinking in excess a daily thing? Perhaps Russia or another Eastern European country? Well, vodka I can handle becuase that looks like water and I can just fake it and drink lots of water. I've never been the sort to be out of control with drinking. In fact I'll go out on a Friday or Saturday on occasion with friends, dancing and what not, and not drink but still have a great time.
Do you know where this mythical land is where lots of drinking is part of the daily life experience?
Illinois vs. Rome
Some of my dear relatives have gone across the pond for the holiday, to Rome and Paris. There was a brief scare when it seemed that, due to the snow on the Eastern Seaboard, they may not make their flight. When that happened, I have to admit I had a twinge of envy toward my cousin who was perhaps going to spend a few days in Rome by herself awaiting the arrival of her family. Rome? By yourself for a few days? That sounds fabulous. I bet if I were there alone I could entertain myself on gelateries, coffee shops, wine bars, and restaurants alone, not to mention churches, museums, and art.
But, thankfully, they made it which has inspired me to create my own "mini-Rome" at the new wine and coffee bar that has opened near my grandparents' house. Really my hometown probably can not support a place like this, that sells exotic Argentinian malbecs and non-pasteurized goat cheese. There is probably more of a demand for John Deer products than these sorts of frivolous things in this Illinois town. So I find myself catching up on my blog over a glass of cabernet sauvignon and a cheese plate on this winter day, proving that vacation is a state of mind - for me, a state of mind that involves good wine, coffee, and great food - not necessarily a place.
So, for what it is worth here are my top 5 reasons why Illinois can be better than Rome:
1) My glass of wine and cheese plate cost less than $12 (no euros needed) and is served in heaping Midwestern portions that made me say "That's the half cheese plate?"
2) I can listen to top 40 American pop without any shame. In Rome, I would feel a need to appreciate finer music than Beyonce and Chris Brown.
3) There are no aggressive Italian gentlemen with mullets for me to push away.
4) I get to stay up-to-date on the Tiger Woods saga. Rest assured the American media is on top of this, as well as the Gosselins' divorce, the potential new tax on tanning, and other critical, life-altering news stories.
5) My grandma's cooking. I don't care how delicious the pasta or pizza is, Grandma's cooking trumps all.
But, thankfully, they made it which has inspired me to create my own "mini-Rome" at the new wine and coffee bar that has opened near my grandparents' house. Really my hometown probably can not support a place like this, that sells exotic Argentinian malbecs and non-pasteurized goat cheese. There is probably more of a demand for John Deer products than these sorts of frivolous things in this Illinois town. So I find myself catching up on my blog over a glass of cabernet sauvignon and a cheese plate on this winter day, proving that vacation is a state of mind - for me, a state of mind that involves good wine, coffee, and great food - not necessarily a place.
So, for what it is worth here are my top 5 reasons why Illinois can be better than Rome:
1) My glass of wine and cheese plate cost less than $12 (no euros needed) and is served in heaping Midwestern portions that made me say "That's the half cheese plate?"
2) I can listen to top 40 American pop without any shame. In Rome, I would feel a need to appreciate finer music than Beyonce and Chris Brown.
3) There are no aggressive Italian gentlemen with mullets for me to push away.
4) I get to stay up-to-date on the Tiger Woods saga. Rest assured the American media is on top of this, as well as the Gosselins' divorce, the potential new tax on tanning, and other critical, life-altering news stories.
5) My grandma's cooking. I don't care how delicious the pasta or pizza is, Grandma's cooking trumps all.
I've Turned into THAT Girl
Once upon a time I lived in England, land of 28 vacation days and 8 public holidays. When I say 28 vacation days that is the minimum number of vacation days that employers are required by law to provide to employees. My friends on that side of the pond used to question me on the number of vacation days provided in the US, generally over pints at the pub. When I revealed that there is no legal minimum number of vacation days in the US, responses varied from "Oh, that's awful!" to "That's horrid!" and "Oh, how inhumane!" I would have thought I had said workers are required to wear day glo lime green suits from the 1970s or something equally appalling.
I promised myself, flying West bound back to the States after my time in London, that I would not! not! not! become one of those Americans who doesn't even use the 10 - 15 vacation days they are given. And guess what? As I sit here flipping through a travel magazine, I see an awful statistic: 34% of Americans do not use all their vacation time. And I realize that I fit that statistic, that indeed I have not used all of my vacation time this year. Maybe that will be my New Year's resolution? Certainly I should use all of my vacation time.
I promised myself, flying West bound back to the States after my time in London, that I would not! not! not! become one of those Americans who doesn't even use the 10 - 15 vacation days they are given. And guess what? As I sit here flipping through a travel magazine, I see an awful statistic: 34% of Americans do not use all their vacation time. And I realize that I fit that statistic, that indeed I have not used all of my vacation time this year. Maybe that will be my New Year's resolution? Certainly I should use all of my vacation time.
