Working Existence

I spend a lot of time these days in an office building sitting in front of a desk. Side note: sitting for 8 hours a day + normal amounts of food + added chocolate + no exercise = not healthy. I don't recommend it.

I digress.

Look! Here I am! Sitting at my desk!

Yes. Yes I did take a selfie in my office by myself. I'm awkward like that.

For a long time (oh, two years), I sort of forgot that in order to make life interesting, you can't just go to work, talk to clients, go home, and repeat. Of course, that's not what I did all the time, but it often felt like most of my "living" was only happening on weekends. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and do something about it. 

Step 1 happened without trying. Making friends at work is easy when you're surrounded by good people! So...check. One thing off the list. Maria and Erica are awesome (one time Maria gave me binoculars - the mark of a true friend), and now they're bridesmaids. Win. Also I work with my fiance. Double win.

It probably should have been sufficient to stop there. Having good people surround you should be enough to make you a human instead of a request-answering robo-drone, right? No. I stayed stuck in my little routine, and I remained mostly dead. 

Enter step 2: making my office interesting. 

I got a cool bookshelf. I added an amusing grammar phrase in a frame. Later, I added an engagement photo. (That certainly helped because every time that I see it, I smile.) Then I added some fake plants.

That was almost enough. I even added a snazzy (real) succulent (also courtesy of Maria and Erica). 

But as I continued carrying on and feeling numb, I finally realized that filling my office with stuff and even having wonderful people around me wasn't enough for me to come out of my stupor and back to life. I mean, the fact is that I still look at this for most of the day:

Well, if I'm looking down and to the left.

The bottom line is that I can't count on external forces to make me an interesting person with an interesting life. I'm responsible for doing that. I'm not sure how I lost that for so long, but the eureka moment arrived, I felt like I woke up. And I'm hoping I can stay this way! I don't ever want to get bogged down like that again. 

As Julie says in the best movie of all time (Julie and Julia, in case you were wondering), "I could write a blog. I have thoughts." And that's where I am now. I can write a blog. I do have thoughts. I answer a lot of work requests, it's true. But no one says that the things I happen to do during the day need to govern my entire existence.

But just to make sure, perhaps I too should consider going to culinary school.

P.S. If you haven't seen that movie, do it now. Then tell me. But don't tell me if you hate it, because that's just not allowed around this part of the world wide web.

An Announcement

People.

I finally - finally - have internet in my apartment.

With less than three months left at this lovely abode, I'm finally wired up and can actually blog. From my bed. Or my desk. Or from wherever the spirit leads. Prepare to see an increase in blog posts in the near future.

Stage Note: Drastic subject change.

Lately I've been chomping my way through a lot of books. Just in case you want some recommendations, here's what I have to say about what I've read.

1. Memoirs of a Geisha: ok, ok, I'm way behind the bandwagon on this one. Seriously...I think it's probably required reading for some high school somewhere, and I originally picked it up because I saw it on a list of "100 Books that Every Person Should Have Read" and I was convicted. I hadn't read it! I should have read it! I needed to read it right then!

 But honestly, I was mesmerized the whole way through. The writing was so good that I was almost convinced that it was non-fiction. While I can't say that I was totally in love with the main character (I though her motive through the entire story was a little silly), I can say that it was a very compelling plot, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I'd give it 4 stars.

2. Doomsday Book: I wouldn't consider myself a sci-fi fan, so even though this book is technically considered sci-fi, I don't think I'd put it in that camp. Yes, there was time travel involved. But that wasn't the point. The point was that the story showed how people cope in the face of massive suffering and death, and how regardless of time period, people all struggle. Obviously, it was a really happy book (insert sarcasm here). If you feel like reading about that, I'd tell you to pick up this book. Although be forewarned - I finished the book and couldn't sleep until I'd done Wikipedia research on the bubonic plague to remind myself that it was something that happened in history, and wasn't happening to people that are my nearest and dearest friends. I'd give this one 4.5 stars.

3. I Am Malala: I thought this book was fascinating. Since it's non-fiction, it's a little different than my usual fictional fare. But it was well worth the departure from the norm! I got to the last page and felt like I'd learned a ton about Pakistani culture. I think this is an important book - it helped open my eyes to the fact that the American perspective is certainly not the only one, and if we're going to try to help people, it's best to really understand them. What a concept, right? Atticus Finch really had something going on when he mentioned walking a mile in another person's shoes...4 stars.

4. Theft of Swords, Rise of Empire, and Heir of Novron: These books are just pure fun. I haven't read anything quite that good in a long time, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. There are two smaller books in each book (in the style of Lord of the Rings), so reading all of it is definitely a commitment. Technically it's in the fantasy genre, but I think the beauty of it is that it's just a good story. How often does adult literature aim to just tell a good story? I won't give you a synopsis. Just go read it and enjoy. 5 stars, no question.

This certainly hasn't been my most interesting post as of late. But I think it's probably better than nothing, and who knows! Maybe you'll now go pick up a book. What should I read next? Throw me your best suggestions!

And...Re-start.

For the past several months, I've felt like I'm in a get up-work-go home-eat-sleep-repeat rut.  I tell myself that I have nothing worthwhile to blog about, and therefore I don't write.  This is bad, and in reality it's just not at all true.  The fact that life if more of a routine than it was during college does not in any way, shape, or form mean that it's less interesting.  And while it is true that much of my time is spent at a desk each day, there's a lot of life that happens outside of work.  For example, here's a list of things that I haven't blogged about and should have over the past several months (in no particular order):

1. At least four business trips to places I've never been to before.

2. The fact that Potomac, Maryland has the most enormous mansions.  And a Tesla store in the mall.

3. The gardening project on my office's windowsill (I'm now a gnat-killing ninja).

4. Downhill skiing after not skiing for over six years.

5. Buying a wedding dress.

[No picture available due to pre-wedding secrecy.]

6. Traveling to Milwaukee to see a Tolkien exhibit in two days.

7. Hiking in the rain in New Hampshire.

[The view from the top.]

8. A trip to the Grand Cayman.

9. Making new friends from work.

[Well, I guess I don't have pictures of said new friends...yet.]

10. The gloriousness of crock pot cooking.

[Yet another thing I didn't take a picture of.]

11. My new-found obsession with NPR.  (I'm the nerd with the NPR app on her phone...)

12. 2013's goal of trying several new restaurants in the area.

13. Not-so-small brother heading to college.

14. Oh, I don't know...planning a wedding.  Obviously not a big deal.

[There is no picture.  We're too busy emailing people.]

15. Getting engaged.  (BOOM.  DONE.)

[This photo is actually two years old.]

So clearly, my imperceptive view that nothing exciting happens anymore is a total and complete lie.  College does lend itself to random, exciting, blog-worthy activities, but college ended more than two years ago - and for crying out loud - my life is just as good (if not better) than it was then.  So in short, I am without excuse.  The no-internet-in-my-apartment thing is just a cover.  If I'm going to "suck the marrow out of life," as Kelle Hampton is fond of saying, then I better start recognizing the fact that everyday life is worth capturing.  I've said it before, but I think there's a good chance of succeeding this time: it's time to bring this blog back from the dead.  I might even give it a fresh coat of paint.  Here's to 2014 - the year of weddings, blogging, adventures, and the beauty of the routine.

Vikings! Sequester! Ah!

The two subjects listed above literally have absolutely nothing in common except for the fact that I've been thinking about both of them lately.  So...one thing at a time!

Vikings

While listening to NPR (I admit it - I LOVE NPR) on my way home from work last night, I heard the beginning of an interview with the man who wrote the new Viking show on the history channel.  Being a small bit Norwegian myself, I found this interview fascinating, and since I had to turn off the radio before the interview was over, I decided to do some research myself.

-- Nerd Alert --

As a result of my research, here are five interesting facts about Vikings:

1. In reality, Vikings did not wear horned helmets.  Thanks for the historical accuracy, Wagner.

2. Most of the literature written about Vikings was composed by Christian and Muslim communities in the lands that the Vikings raided, which means that the Vikings' reputation is much more negative than they likely were.

3. Though I'm sure Christopher Columbus would like to take credit for discovering the Americas, that was simply not the case.  The Vikings - specifically Leif Ericson - sailed to L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland approximately 500 years before Christopher Columbus ever set foot on the continent.

4. Based on archaeological evidence, the Vikings were exceptionally clean people.

5. The Vikings didn't die out.  Instead, when raiding neighboring countries became unprofitable, they simply stopped raiding and settled in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Greenland.

Congratulations.  Now you know more about Vikings.


SequesterSequesterSequester!

At risk of sound criticism from the internet community, I am relieved that the sequester actually happened.  From my perspective, the amount of government spending is ridiculous and completely unsustainable.  If we were discussing personal finances, it makes perfect sense to me that if you're spending far more than you make in yearly income, you will be in too much debt to be able to repay.  The answer to debt is not to take more loans.  The answer to debt is to stop spending more than you have.  Plus, if you look at the graph, the sequester doesn't look like the "deep spending cuts" that we keep hearing about.

While I understand that cutting spending may have an effect on various entitlement programs, the military, and even every day life, it seems better to take a hit now before the debt gets worse.  There's no way to keep up with exponential spending when you're already in the hole without severe consequences, so if we have a chance to fix this with fewer consequences now, we should jump on that opportunity.  Plus, who would complain about the elimination of those awkward full body scanners that the TSA is so fond of?

Success.

World, you should be proud of me. I went to the gym for the fourth time in 22 years last night. And I did something other than run around the indoor track. This may mark a turning point in the future of my existence.


(But probably not.)

In it to win it...

I am making a goals list for this year. And LUCKY YOU! You get to read them. Don't you feel privileged? Ok, maybe not. But at least I have witnesses now, right?

1. I will practice at least 4 out of 7 days of the week. I will, I will, I will. I will.

[source]

2. I will read the entirety of Gray's Anatomy in 356 days. So far I've made it to page two, but I started today. Give me a break, ok?

3. I want to be more...muscle-y. I have to wear a nicer dress next month, and I want it to look better than it does at present. Grr.

[source]

4. I will take part in at least one world-wide fad, just because I can. I mean, come on. Though we are not of the world, we are in it. This will probably happen sooner rather than later, while I still have motivation.

[source]

(Not this one; fear not.)

5. I will consider learning yoga. I may not actually do it, but I will consider it.

6. In two years, I will be on my way to doing something fantastic as a result of hard work.

[source]

(Ha.)

7. I will throw a dinner party, cooked entirely from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Consider yourself invited, because chances are...if you're reading this, I probably know you.

[source]

8. I will travel somewhere out of the country. That will require funding, but perhaps that will happen soon. Perhaps. I dunno...if all else fails, I could always join a convent in Italy. That's been my back-up plan to my back-up plan for several years now. Don't YOU want to become a nun?

[source]

That's all. I may add more to the list later in time. I could add impossible things, like becoming a Highly Successful Blogger, but then my list wouldn't be realistic anymore. So...bye.

Goals?

I may have come up with a ridiculous but amazing plan for the future. That's all I'm going to say here, because it's too risky. If it works out, I'll let you know in a year or two when it actually comes to fruition. If not, no one will be able to laugh and say, "Well, obviously. I TOLD you that was impossible."

It can't hurt to dream big, right?

I like lists.

Do you have a rich-and-famous list? I do. Now, before you get all weirded out and wonder why I want to go off and meet rich and famous people, let me explain. (Although honestly...who would complain about meeting rich and famous people?)

This is a stuff-I-will-do-when-I-am-rich-and-famous list, but I'm lazy and I don't want to write that all out every time I reference said list. Thus, we have the rich-and-famous list. (Also, this list excludes giving to charity, because that would be a given.)

TRAAAAAAVEL.

Traveling is pretty much my favorite thing to do ever. Problem: international travel requires a lot of money. Hence, it goes on the list. Destinations include Norway, Ireland, France, Italy (ROME!), Turkey, Greece, Iceland, Wales, and Mongolia.


[source]


Oboe Lessons/Baroque Oboe

Lessons with some really important people, because they generally know what they're doing, and I could learn a lot from them. And a Baroque oboe because it sounds cool.


...Clothes...

Al-RIGHT already. So maybe I'm materialistic. But I like clothes that are nice, and if I were rich and famous, I'd buy some.


Red Sox Tickets

Because I've never been to a game. And I've lived near Boston for four freakin' years now. You'd think I'd have done that already.


iPhone.

Duh.


Ballroom Dance

Because it's fun. And doesn't everyone want to be Fred Astaire and/or Ginger Rogers?


[source]

I can't keep this up because you'll get bored. But other stuff is on there too, like owning an estate, a time portal, a fancy-schmancy camera, a cat, and an unclaimed island where I could resurrect Latin.

What's on your list?