Boy, do I have some Tales to Tell...
A few of my friends have birthdays around Christmas: L. on the 23rd, E. on the 25th, and A. on the 26th. What I find very interesting is how each of them deals with having their birthdays basically next to Christmas. Since my birthday is early January, I kinda understand the effects of having your birthday around a major holiday. For my birthday, I tend to want to do very low-key things. Very very low-key. So low-key that being alone is not out of the question.
L. basically just shrugs and says "What can you do?"
E. appreciates when we call her. When I lived near her, my family would throw her a party because her's would not. We would clear away any Christmas presents and bring out a birthday cake and a bunch of birthday presents, celebrate her birthday for a couple of hours, and then bring the holiday stuff back out (which included another gift for her). E. still loves it when I call but we end up talking about other things besides her birthday doings. She feels, "Eh, what can you do?"
A. is a whole different story. She always wants a bunch of people to go out with her. Will not accept anything less. And, as a matter of fact, never accepts invitations from a couple of us to go out for drinks and a dinner. She tends to think "big crowd or no crowd". She did once bemoan the fact that her birthday was the day after Christmas and wondered why people always had plans. Sometimes, she borders on being cranky.
Today, A. is not out with a bunch of friends. Thing is, we all just got back from long trips back and would rather just stay home and relax. On top of it all, most of us are sick. I have aches and pains all over plus I have the chills. Not a fun way to go out. Plus, we never made plans to go out for dinner with her. We did offer to take her out for a drink. No go.
Here is my thing: if your birthday is right next to a major holiday, wouldn't you just accept the fact that you are not going to be going out with a big crowd and just make the best of it by having low-key plans with friends who are willing to do that? Just wondering. Later.
Remember the Sex and the City episode where Aidan's dog, Pete, chews on Carrie's blue Manolo Blahnik sling-backs? How did you feel about that? I myself almost passed out from the fact that that mutt was chewing on a shoe... a precious Manolo Blahnik shoe... I would have put him down at that very moment. I also remember Aidan's reaction of indifference. But it's just a shoe. And I remember Carrie's reaction. No, it is not just a shoe... it's a $500 designer shoe... what the fuck!!!!
Anyway, last night, I decided to get dressed up for dinner with my friend Christine. I wore dress pants!!!!! Flat-front black dress pants!!!!! Not jeans... dress pants!!! AND, I wore a sweater. Not just any sweater. A body-concious v-neck sweater. Needless to say, I was dressed. For those who don't know, an outfit is only as good as the shoes you wear. So, I went into my closet to choose from my 22 pairs of shoes (sneakers not included) and what do I find? My fucking cat had regurgitated all over two pairs of Patrick Cox Wanna-be's and a pair of limited edition slip-ons that I got way back in the day. Thank god my Prada and Yohji Yamamoto loafers were bagged in water-resistant felt bags. I would have had to kick her if they stained.
I was livid. But I was also late for my dinner plans. I put the shoes aside as I cursed the cat. Removed my Miu Miu saddle shoes from their protective felt sack (yes, I know, I have saddle shoes that were made for men... and yes, gay men), threw them on, and ran out the door while plotting the death of my cat.
So, this morning, I clean up the mess in my closet. I also had to carefully clean my shoes (one of which was snake-skin but I'll save that explanation for another post). Before my husband left for work, I told him what the cat did. He laughed and said, "They're just shoes." I think I will kill him as well.
You know what? They aren't "just shoes". They are a collection of art. They are something I hold dearly. I spent a lot of money on these. How do you think an art collector would feel if your dog chewed up his Van Gogh? How do you think you would feel if a cat pissed all over your prized whoosiewhatsits? You would be more than angry. You would be livid.
And for the record, they're not just shoes. They're MY shoes. Later.
About 12 years ago was when I last went to one. It may be more than 12 but, for our sake, we'll say it is. About 12 years ago, I went to the dentist for the last time. Until this summer. This summer, I went to see a dentist because I have dental insurance again.
Let's speed forward: I love my
dentist. I love everything about her. Maybe it's because I have always had male dentists but my current dentist is just the nicest person in the world. And, she has a great "chair"-side manner. As of today, I have actually seen her five times in the past six months. Talk about making up for lost time.
But, let's go back to the first visit: what stood out the most was that she walked into the room, sat down next to me, and started a conversation. And just like that, I fell in love. We talked about life in general, about dental health, about teeth issues that I have, and other things. She examined my teeth, took some digital x-rays, took some digital pictures, and did a cleaning. I also returned for a scaling, two more visits for an on-lay, and a fifth for a cavity. Since my insurance does have a yearly cap, I won't be seeing her until January.
Now back to today: I had gone in to get a cavity filled on tooth #2. Before that, I had gotten an on-lay on #14. Originally, we were going to put an on-lay on #3 first but the doctor thought that I may have to get that root canaled. Plus, #14 was becoming symptomatic, so we decided to deal with it first... but I digress... After, filling the cavity in #2, she decided to take a new x-ray of #3. After further review, we are going to start with putting an on-lay on #3 because she thinks the tooth is not totally decayed. Which is good news because it saves me almost $1500.
Which is why I love her.
She does think I am very strange (not because I can rattle off the teeth numbers) because I have an uncanny tolerance for pain when it comes to getting my teeth worked on. During the scaling, she only did topical anesthesia. Nope, no novacaine for me. Just call me Butch McButchness. She did remark how she was was a bit weirded out for my tolerance for pain; especially since she dug deeper than she normally does. Even for someone who took the novacaine shot. Yes, I am weird that way.
So, weird that I refuse to be put under, listen to music, or watch a movie while I am getting any dental work done. Oh, did I mention you can either watch a movie or listen to music as the dentist works on your teeth? I never do. I love the sound of the drill. It makes me feel like I am getting my money's worth. Strange, eh? Later.
In the next few weeks, I will have to do something I find very difficult. I will have to "toot my own horn" louder than I ever have. To be honest, I find it very difficult to "toot my horn". But, a friend of mine told me that the era of being recognized for your merits alone are over. The people who get the spoils are the ones who ask for it the loudest.
You see, I was one of a few who received an advanced job posting. It was sent to me with the belief that I would be applying for another position that reported to that posting. I have decided that I want the bigger position. I want to be the person in charge. I want to be the person directing the team. Yes, possibly for the first time in my life, I want to be the BIG CHEESE.
On paper, I more than fit the bill. Nope, on paper, I am perfect. On paper, I am the one. I also believe that I have ideas of how the job should be done, what direction the department should go in, and how to maximize revenue. I know that I have many ideas that may have been thought off but have never, or at least I have never seen them, been executed. I am the right person for the job. I know my company and what it has to offer. I know how to best incorporate what we have to offer to best suit the needs of our customers and us. I know I know.
So, in the next two weeks, I will be creating a resume and an action plan that will "toot my horn" so loud, they will have no choice but to listen. I may not get the job but I'll be ringing in their ears. They will know who I am by the time I leave the interview. Wish me luck. Later.
I was chatting with my sister last night (until the wee hours of the morn) about our cousins. I am not in touch with any of them. I don't hate them, necessarily. I just find that we have such differing points of view, in general. So different, that I have decided that I would rather not be part of their lives. Not that they are dying to be part of mine. So, it's seems like a win-win situation. Truth be told, I am not one to suffer fools gladly and my cousins are just a bunch of fools.
During our talk, my sister mentioned a few cousins who I haven't seen in forever. I think I may have been a 'tween the last time I saw them. And now, I am pushing 40. Anyway, I said to my sister, "How interesting would it be to have all 19 of our first cousins spend a few days together?" I think my sister's nervous giggle said it all. She asked what we would even talk about. I replied that I am sure we were adult enough to make conversation. Even mundane conversation.
Of course, this would never happen. Or, if there was a chance, it would be very remote. Very, very remote. So, I think what I am going to do is email all my first cousins and request a current picture or two or three from them. Maybe a short message too. And, maybe create a blog that will double as a family tree.
I think I may have come up with a second project. And, if you are wondering, the first project I took on has ended. And what did I discover? I just don't have certain talents that I wish I had. Later.
I had the pleasure of having lunch with
him and his partner. They were visiting from the other side of the globe. It was nice to help someone navigate this City that I so love. I hope to someday make it to New Zealand so he can return the favor. Hope you had fun, Kevin. Say hello to Jason. It was very wonderful to meet both of you.
After meeting with Kevin and Jason, a friend of mine asked me if I have met other bloggers. I have met a few but certainly not as many as I could. I do wonder why. Is the web a good shield for most of us? Are we more comfortable cyber-socializing? I'm not averse to meeting people in person, at all. I love it. I even understand it when you meet someone who's blog you find interesting and you decide to keep it to one meeting. It definitely is easier for some people to be more open/interesting when it isn't in person. But I do wonder why I haven't met
him or
him in person. And I would absolutely love to. Even at the same time.
Him, I would like to meet but the whole anonymous thing is there for a reason.
And for the record, I have met
him and continue to and I love him dearly. Later.
