Spring 2007 Culture Post Mortem

Summer’s finally here!

While at this time of year most people tend to put up a reading list of what they want to read for the upcoming Summer season, I’m going to be a wuss and just note what I finished reading this past Spring:

• Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
• Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
• Sons and Lovers – D. H. Lawrence
• Good in Bed – Jennifer Weiner
• 2 Noam Chomsky books (One was 9-11, the other title escapes me at the moment)

. . . And the following Shakespeare plays (along with the accompanying overview chapters in the Marjorie Garber book):

• The Tempest
• Coriolanus
• Love’s Labors Lost
• Titus Andronicus
• Twelfth Night

Gee, that doesn’t seem like a lot, does it? But if we add in all of the newspapers, magazines and blogs that I read on a daily basis, that pushes the reading count up quite a bit!

However, I can quite happily say that I have seen the following plays performed live: Edward III, Coriolanus, Titus Andronicus, Love’s Labors Lost, and The Tempest.

I carry around Adam Gopnik’s Paris to the Moon in my purse to read while I’m waiting for stuff, so that should be finished soon. I know that I will be reading Hamlet and Macbeth pretty soon, since I’m going to see those plays within the next month or two.

I hope that my end of summer list will be a bit fuller and have a bit more variety, but I also am really excited that I will also get to see some more live performances.

Does anyone have any Spring accomplishments they want to boast about?

It's So Hard Admittin' When It's Quittin' Time

My boss, seeing my frazzled, exhausted state the past few days, told me to take the rest of the week off. That was awfully kind of her, and I eagerly took her up on her offer.

However, I’ve spent most of today checking my e-mail waiting for a coworker to finish editing a document so I can post it to the field, and writing up a few things that someone else asked me to help them with. Well, at least I’m at home on my couch . . .

The Random Cat spent the morning glued to the balcony window, watching all of the birds flying around and perching in the trees that are left standing near out condo. She sat hunched and ready to pounce, probably ardently hoping that I would open the screen door and let her prowl. There’s no chance of that – I can just see the Random Cat leaping off of the balcony, in a very ill-advised attempt to capture a bird, and while it would provide a moment of comic relief, having to go downstairs and pick up a splattered kitty does not appeal to me at all . . .

So, I’m still on edge . . . tomorrow I have a doctor’s appointment for a yearly check-up, which means I will have to drop Mr. Random off downtown and pick him up from work so I can use the car. I will also have to go into the office briefly to do something – I hope I can get there early enough to avoid people! So I’m thinking tomorrow won’t yield much rest either . . .

Maybe Friday? Fingers and toes crossed . . .

Tuesday Random Lunchtime Tunes

Today’s random song sampling:

Pick Yourself Up – Anita O’Day
No Pain, No Problem – Eddie From Ohio
Sisters – The Puppini Sisters
Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
Let Me – Sergio Mendes
Hey Eugene! – Pink Martini
Tango Suite: Allegro – Yo-Yo Ma
Doce de Coco – Yo-Yo Ma (different album)
A Mi Manera – Gipsy Kings
Brandenburg Concerto #2 in F: 3. Allegro Assai – J.S. Bach

Started off peppy, then went to mellow and stayed there. I really need more peppy music - the heat today is bringing me down, big time!

UPDATE: The little earbuds are hurting my ears - they hurt when I'm trying to take them out. Note to self: need to buy little felt things to put over the earbuds. Why wouldn't Apple have little felt things on their earbuds already installed? That's just being cheap . . . and people have to pay enough money for these things as it is? Things are never as simple as they seem . . .

The Past is Prologue

Thanks to everyone for the lovely responses to my post about my Grandpa. I am glad I was able to convey my feelings about him to the world. There are many people we meet in this life who are cool people, but who never get the recognition that we think that they should . . .

***
In my quest to continue to become a member of the 21st century, this weekend I finally got an iPod. Mr. Random had been encouraging me to get one for months, and yesterday – needing a bit of retail therapy – we went on down to the Apple Store and got one. I was filled with much anxiety about it, though – that’s a lot of money for what’s basically just a fancy gadget. (Gee, do I sound like a cranky old man?) I spent a good chunk of yesterday evening uploading half of my CDs and now have 499 songs at my fingertips.

It may just have been the luck of what I uploaded, but I seem to own a lot of really mellow music – a lot of folky stuff, a lot of classical, a lot of jazz, a lot of old standards. I like good voices, good stripped-down instrumentation and good lyrics. I do have a lot of upbeat, pop stuff . . . but, it is all on cassettes! Because my formative music-buying years were in the late 80’s/early 90’s, I have a lot of really cool music that I would love to have uploaded to my iPod so I can channel my inner 18 year old again, but doing so would be quite a pain . . . unless anyone knows of a cheap way convert them?

***
The reason I finally bought the iPod, was that I needed a bit of retail therapy. Mr. Random and I were supposed to take my parents to dinner at a local barbeque place in honor of Father’s Day, and we were going to give my dad a present of 4 tickets to a Washington Nationals game in really excellent seats. (We were giving him the tickets because we can’t use them on that date, but he doesn’t need to know that.) My Dad cancelled at the last minute, since had had to go out of town to a funeral a few days last week and wanted to help my mom get ready for her business trip to Florida for two weeks. Which, I guess is valid, but it did hurt my feelings. I actually had been looking forward to the dinner, since I hadn’t seen my folks since Mother’s Day. Also, my dad cancelled another time we had invited him to dinner while Mr. Random’s Mom was here – so there was a bit of a history. I’m probably making too much of this and I’ll get over it . . . I’m still debating whether to still give him the tickets, though . . .

***
Went to see The Tempest on Thursday. It was a good production, but I was thrown off by some of this company’s interpretations of the plot. They left out a few of the not-so-minor characters, who actually added some important elements to the plot, and portrayed Caliban as mentally disturbed and hearing voices in his head to replace the characters. I wasn’t real thrilled with that . . .

Next play up for me to see: Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Wooohooo!

***
I’m doing more ESL subbing this week, this time for a drop-in conversation class. I’m used to having a set bunch of people to educate for 10 to 12 weeks, so this is a new experience for me – I don’t need to do as much lesson planning and the key is to just have everyone talk and practice their English in a non-threatening environment. Very low key . . . perfect for me to do during the summer . . .

***
The weather is going to be DC summer hot this week. I’ve already received more mosquito bites this season than I’ve received in the past 5 years: This past week brought seven mosquito bites on my legs and thighs. I now have a bottle of OFF tucked away in my purse, along with a tube of sunscreen. I will not be caught off guard again!

OK, the last few songs on my iPod have been by: Allison Krauss, Fiona Apple, Paul Simon, Eddie From Ohio, and Diana Krall. Yes, I really need to finish uploading some other albums on here or this machine is going to put me to sleep . . .

The last two CDs I bought were The Puppini Sisters’ Betcha Bottom Dollar and Pink Martini’s Hey Eugene! What does this say about me?

What are you all listening to these days? I’m looking for ideas . . .

Ode to My Grandfather

I just wanted to share this with everyone. It is neither a meme nor a Scribblings Challenge, but a short essay I had to write for an application I submitted this week. You all probably heard this story before, but this time I actually had to make it coherent. With Father's Day coming up, it just seemed to fit . . .

The Topic: Describe an event or individual that has been instrumental in shaping who you are. Tell us why this event/person has been significant in your life. (In less than 500 words)

***********

Grandpa Henry was a big man. Not only big in relation to an adoring granddaughter, but at over six feet tall and roughly 300 pounds, he always made a big impression when he walked into a room with his charisma and booming infectious laugh.

Whenever he was around, I felt special. On both sides of the family, I was one of many grandchildren and tended to get lost in the hustle and bustle at large family gatherings in my hometown of Philadelphia. However, Grandpa would always take time to try to play with me and talk to me. Every so often, he would give my mother money to buy books that she thought that I would enjoy. He was proud of my schoolwork and always encouraged me to do my best.

After my family moved to Virginia in my junior year of high school, I did not get to see him very often. Occasionally, I spoke with him on the phone, but long-distance phone calls were expensive. During this time, unbeknownst to me, Grandpa became sick with an aggressive form of cancer. The last time I spoke to him was during a phone call in February 1987. He sounded very tired, but wanted to hear how I was doing. My high school graduation was coming up and I wanted to make sure he would be there. “You’re coming to my graduation, right Grandpa?” I asked. I did not notice at the time, but now I will never forget, he hesitated a bit before answering. “Of course, Kitty, I will be there.”

My mother received a call on St. Patrick’s Day that Grandpa died in his sleep. He was only 62 years old. I was devastated and sleep-walked through the funeral. I finished the school year but cried bitterly on graduation day because he was not there.

Later, it came out that Grandpa had been functionally illiterate. My grandmother and mother had covered up that fact from everyone for many years. Growing up as an African American in rural Alabama in the 1920s did not afford him the opportunity for a good education. He wanted to make sure that I took advantage of the opportunities that he did not have growing up. As an adult, I realize what a gift he gave me, and I wanted to honor his memory by sharing his gift with others.

A few years ago, I started volunteering with the [local volunteer group] as an English as a Second Language teacher. In my classes are people from all walks of life who are trying to learn to read, write and speak English to secure a better life for themselves and their families. I enjoy teaching these classes and seeing the triumph in students’ eyes when they figure out some difficult grammar or turn of phrase. In my teaching, I hope Grandpa Henry would be proud of me for helping to give others chances that he did not have.

Forty Years Ago Today . . .

Today, I want to honor the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that 31 years later allowed Mr. Random and me to be married in the State of Virginia:

LOVING ET UX. v. VIRGINIA

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

388 U.S. 1

June 12, 1967, Decided

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN delivered the opinion of the Court.

. . .

Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival. To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State's citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State.

. . .

Read the full decision here

It is so hard to find someone to love in this world . . . May the next few years bring the end of ALL discrimination in marriage, and may our LGBT brothers and sisters be able to exercise one of the basic civil rights of man, according to the requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Here is a picture of me and Mr. Random (having some serious bad-hair days.) We don’t have a better picture yet – so it’ll only be up for a day or so . . .

[Addendum: Today on NPR there was a segment about this: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10889047]

I'm No Virginia Woolf, That's for Sure

Other Random reflections:

• I’ve never watched the Sopranos. I’m always behind the curve on those sorts of things. Or rather, I hate watching overly-hyped stuff. Besides, I can always read the recaps in the paper and be just as informed without having to sit through the show.

• However, I do like some types of purposefully cheesy TV. I love “The Starter Wife” and I’m actually glad it is only 6 episodes long – kind of like a British series. It’s fun, it’s frothy, and it will be over soon.

• The Random Cat is now down to 8 pounds, which is her ideal weight! She lost 4 pounds over the course of the year. The “cat-kins” diet worked! The vet was very happy and very surprised. However, now she feels free to try to grab food directly out of your plate if you aren’t paying attention closely enough. She’s getting pretty sneaky . . .

• Thought while watching MTV today: No one should wear bright yellow stretch pants, no matter how skinny you are. They are just hideous looking. They’re YELLOW for goodness sake!

• I broke down and created a MySpace page. My sister is Iraq kept insisting I should do it, so I did it. I guess now I am fully a part of the 21^st century. It just seems like another thing I have to check and keep semi-updated, and I’m already falling down on the job with the blog here . . . and I actually LIKE doing the blog (and keeping up with you guys, of course!)

• I really want to travel somewhere this summer, but won’t be able to unless I go by myself. Mr. Random can’t take much time off this year, with grad school and the new job and all. I, on the other hand, am going stir-crazy. I feel really bad about it too, but I hate staying still. I HAVE to explore . . . for some odd reason, it is in my blood and won’t go away . . .

• Mr. Random is itching to look for a new house right now. I am too, but I don’t think we can really afford to move right now and there is much too much going on in our lives to throw another jumble of uncertainty into the pot. I would like a bigger place with a small yard and room to entertain – we can’t really invite many of our friends over now and it is killing me – but now is just not the right time. Mr. Random is calling the mortgage guy anyway to see what we possibly might be able to afford nowadays, but I’m thinking that it wouldn’t be much more than what we have right now . . . spring certainly brings house envy, though . . .

• The good thing about being at the conference for most of the week is that I didn’t have to see or read any of the Paris Hilton nonsense, although many people were commenting in disgust asking why it had to appear on the front page of the Washington Post AND on the first page of the Style section. That’s just really sad . . .

• I wish I had better hair. It’s just slightly too short to do anything fun with, and it isn’t growing fast enough. I want Beyonce hair – but then, Beyonce doesn’t even have Beyonce hair . . . I do believe that she pays good money for such nice pieces . . .

• I can’t wait to see The Tempest at the Folger Theater this week . . . yay!

• I love watching the Tony awards every year, but I’m always sad because I never get to see any of the cool plays or musicals. It takes forever for anything to come to DC, and even then it really isn’t the same show – it has an all new cast, which may or may not do it justice . . .

. . . Just wanted to share my random thoughts today – feel free to share your own!

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

I had a dream last night/this morning that kind of disturbed me:

I was in what seemed like an old house or old building of some sort, and I was trying to take a shower, but for some reason I had to do it in the middle of the room where people where coming in and out and just sitting around. I was trying to find a closet to shower in, but there were no closets. So I was standing in the middle of the room, with all of my stuff around me but far enough away so that they didn’t get wet from the showerhead in the ceiling, trying to take a shower while wearing a bathing suit. Of course this was not working well, but I was really frustrated because all these people were walking in and out. I was trying to suds up while wearing the bathing suit, feeling stupid wearing a bathing suit, and feeling so embarrassed just for being there . . .

I woke up feeling very . . . unsettled . . .

So here I am. Lots of things going on in my life and I guess I am feeling kind of exposed (as my amateur dream analysis tells me) and embarrassed and naked . . .

Reflections from the past week:

The conference came off all right – a lot of things could have been done better, and there were two days straight when my entire food intake for breakfast and lunch was a bottle of water and a handful of cheddar cheese Combos. It was non-stop meetings and talking to people and being “on” and two days later, I am just SO exhausted . . .

It was not as weird as I thought without Mr. Random there, if only because I was so busy from the time I got there until the time I left. The only thing I missed was the ability to leave right away – Mr. Random had to come and pick me up each evening. I tried to get some rides home, but no one ever was able to go my way . . . even the woman who lives a few blocks over from me, usually had to go somewhere else after work. Luckily, I brought a book with me, but sitting in a hotel lobby is never fun when all you want to do is go home . . .

Next year, if they are going to cut back on anything, it definitely should not be the meals. The one meal a day thing was horrible, and most days it was just the “continental breakfast” – which is basically just some rolls and coffee. I don’t do well with just carbs in the morning – it makes me very cranky, and some folks have dietary restrictions in which they can’t eat that stuff. Restaurants are also really expensive in the area we were in, and we weren’t reimbursing folks – and a lot of our constituents come from struggling organizations and states and the cost of the hotel was about $250 a night alone. You would think that being in the field we are in we would know better, but nope, being cheap trumps all . . .

The high point of the conference was the last evening, which is our organization’s closing night dinner. Here we give out awards to several inspiring young people, ages 13-26, who are doing amazing things in our field. Listening to them tell their stories always energizes me for a little bit – they, and others like them, are exactly the reason I put up with all of the crap at the Random Non-profit. The fact that they things we do are helping to improve their lives, it makes it all worthwhile. If we could just get our acts together, stop the internal dysfunction and fulfill our movement’s TRUE potential, just think of the change we could make in the world!

Now after those four days of pure adrenaline, I need a long, long nap . . .

Counting Down to Four Days of Fun

Conference starts tomorrow. Nervous upon nervous. Still fighting writer’s block for this other project I have to finish this week. It’s just stress city today . . .

The Random Non-profit got rid of its meeting planner, so we are all flying by the seat of our pants. We have much less staff now, trying to put on a conference over four days. Not that many people are coming either, in comparison to years past, since DC is extremely expensive. We are also cutting back on the number of meals that we will be providing, which kind of sucks – food is rather expensive near the hotel and there aren’t that many alternatives . . .

It’s also a big bummer that Mr. Random won’t be at the conference with me this year – he helps calm me down when I go too stressed out or too annoyed by random staff members who feel they are too good or too high up to help out. That drives me crazy – if something needs doing, I just roll up my sleeves and do it. We are down more than 10% of an already small staff – every little bit helps. Someone higher up once told me that if I wanted to advance seriously, I needed to stop helping out on administrative tasks. I can’t bring myself to do that. I remember how worn and tired and angry I felt when I had to assemble or collate some large project that was dumped on me at the last minute and then no one would help me. They would just sit there and read or go get coffee as I was sprawled on the floor trying to get everything straight. I know how it feels much too well – it was not too long ago. Also, I know quite a bit about event planning and conferences, so it seems silly to have people reinvent the wheel . . .

Anyway, I know I should have some interesting stories when this is all over. I hope everyone is having a good week . . . Wish me luck . . .

Article: Revisiting Fahrenheit 451

Found in today's ArtsJournal: Interesting article about Ray Bradbury and how his novel, Fahrenheit 451, has been misinterpreted all of these years:

http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/ray-bradbury-fahrenheit-451-misinterpreted/16524/

It's not really about government censorship - it's more about censorship by groups coupled with the rise of television.

Do give the article a read and let me know what you think . . . I'll have to re-read this book this week - it must be about 20 years since I last read it . . .

Monday Morning Kvetch and Moan

I’m dragging my feet on something that I really need to finish in the next two days. Once I finish it, I can let the chips fall where they may – however, I am petrified of finishing it because if I finish it, it means I may be rejected, and I hate rejection . . .

Wait. As I was writing that sentence, I realized how stupid and silly that was – if I get rejected, I’ll just move on to something else. I may feel a bit ashamed that others may know about my failure, but in the grand scheme of things, that is really not important. I mean, this step will allow me to move forward and if I don’t do it, I’ll NEVER move forward.

I have to finish by tomorrow night. I’m writing this for all and sundry to see.

Yes, this is horribly vague – all will be revealed in time, I promise!

I am really dreading this week – I’m really dreading this conference and being “on” all the time and being exhausted at the end of 14 hour days. I will be so happy when Sunday is here. What happens after the conference? Well that’s another kettle of fish I’ll have to deal with then . . .

I had a very busy, but cranky, weekend. I needed to do some shopping on Saturday, but Mr. Random had the car all day due to some miscommunication about scheduling on our parts. Went out on Sunday and got a few things, but I’m just going to have to cobble some outfits together for the conference and hope I don’t look too worn and haggard . . .

Man, I’m just a bundle of joy today. This waking up earlier thing has thrown off my whole internal body clock . . . I’ll just have to get used to it . . .

I did a trial run of walking to work and back on Saturday afternoon. Wearing t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, and only carrying a small bottle of water, it was a very hilly path and I was hot and worn out by the time I got to the office. If I do this during the workweek, it will probably be to just walk home, because walking to work on these humid DC summer mornings will just mean Random Kath gets to work a sweaty, smelly mess. There is also a bus route along the way that only costs $1 each way, so if worse comes to worse I could do that. Mr. Random also said I could drive him into town and drop him off and just come get him in the evenings, which would save on the parking costs (his new office is not near the metro at all). That is also an option . . .

I’ll try to have a more upbeat post later this evening, when I’m procrastinating horribly . . .

What’s So Funny about Peace, Love and Misunderstanding?

Last Friday night, Mr. Random, my friend J, and I went to see Love’s Labors Lost at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Northwest DC. The play is this year’s Shakespeare Theater’s “Free for All” performance.

It is a re-performance of the play they did last year on the main stage, where the twist was that this was set in 1960’s India, with the King of Navarre being an enlightenment guru and the “noblemen” are staged as a rock band coming to study at the feet of the master – kind of like the Beatles did.

It is a very fun and accessible play that made good use of the new setting. Instead of the noblemen dryly reading the sonnets they had written to each of their fair ladies, they sang the words while playing whatever instrument they play in the band. (Those actors could really sing and play too – especially the drummer!) The part of Costard was played as a burned out hippie guy, which lent a lot of comic relief to many of the scenes – especially one scene where the main characters were talking (and it was a boring exchange), in the background you could see the Costard character quietly and slowly taking out a baggie and carefully and slowly rolling a joint on stage . . .

The amphitheater is in Rock Creek Park, in an area I never even knew existed before – it’s like you aren’t even in the city, everything was so lush and green. It was a beautiful evening for a play outside – not too hot or humid with clear, starry skies. There were lots of families there and several middle school groups came as a class trip. For an introduction to Shakespeare, this play was an excellent choice, since it had music and frames a reference that most kids and parents could relate to. Although there was one part of the play where the guys were supposed to be disguised as Muscovites – so in the version, they were in space suits with “CCCP” across the front and carried the flag of the USSR. Several little kids around us asked what that stuff meant. I began to feel really, really old . . .

Another notable event: I received my first mosquito bite of the season! I forgot it was getting to be that time of year and while I sensibly wore a sweater and capris, I forgot to spray insect repellent around my ankles . . .

The “Season of Shakespeare” will continue in a couple of weeks when we go see The Tempest at the Folger Shakespeare Theater. The Folger is set up similarly to the old Globe Theater, so I can’t wait to see it. Have to start reading the play very soon, so I will know what’s going on . . .

This weekend will be low key, since next week is going to be brutal. It’s conference time, which means I will be working from 7 in the morning through 9 or 10 at night for four days straight – ugh! I get weary just thinking about it . . .

Any good plans for the upcoming weekend?

Scorpio In Transit

Things are weighing heavily on the brain this week, as Mr. Random starts his new job at what shall now be known as the Random Publication.

It’s a very big transition – so big that we won’t be sure what it all means for several weeks. We have to wake up much earlier, since Mr. Random now has to drive into town. I arrive at the Random Non-Profit much earlier, since Mr. Random drops me off in the morning. Lunch will probably be me wandering off to the strip mall or me huddled by my desk. I’m really not that social at work – having Mr. Random there at least allowed me to interact with folks on a looser basis. I’m not very chit-chatty – I just like to do my work and go home. I’m helpful and friendly as I can be, but I just have a lot of stuff to do, stuff on my mind.

It’s causing me to reflect a lot on my relationships with people. Now that Mr. Random is not close, that means we see each other much less, and with him going to graduate school for another year, it means many evenings of him studying and me off reading somewhere or watching TV during the week. My teaching is ended for the summer and does not start again until fall. Many of my friends are busy with families and/or work and/or traveling. One sister is in Iraq and not accessible. The other is off being 23 years old somewhere . . .

Usually I am so busy, but I do value having other people around, having people to talk to. Not small talk-y stuff though – I just have so many questions right now and not many answers . . .

Transitions are not easy. Mr. Random has such much to deal with and my grumbling – my whining, my complaining, my bitching – would not be very helpful to him.

It is a gorgeous day here in Northern Virginia – summer is almost here. Everything is green and the sky is blue. There is much to be thankful for and happy about. I need to remember that and keep it close right now . . .

Kvetching Allowed

Philosopher’s Playground has a really good post today about the differences between whining, complaining, bitching and kvetching.

I am trying to analyze which of those I do most here on the blog. I always hope it’s kvetching, but it often does seem to devolve into whining and bitching.

I bitch about the admin guy all of the time – especially to Mr. Random, who in a highly entertaining way can also do a spot-on impersonation of him.

I whine about a lot of things, because I guess deep down I want someone to go “oh, poor Random Kath . . . there, there now.” I mean, in a way it’s human nature to want to have your misery validated. Who wants to think they are paranoid for no reason? Who doesn’t want some love shared their way?

One thing that I do not do a lot is complain. If I see something wrong, I try to fix it myself. If I go to a restaurant and there is a little puddle of schmutz on the table, I’ll just get a napkin and wipe it off myself – I’m used to cleaning up myself and other people – it takes more time to flag down a busy person and make them get a wet towel to wipe off a little spot. I’ve been on the other side in similar situations and no one is perfect, so I try to cut others some slack. If I can’t do it myself, I ask for help – then half the time people take over the task anyway. . .

~ Time passes ~

Oh, I’m back. I went away for a while – not that anyone would have noticed – to participate in Mr. Random’s good-bye party here at the Random Non-profit. I was the one assigned to keep Mr. Random busy until the party, which was pretty easy since he had to show me a few office procedures this morning and that activity took up over an hour. He was very surprised! I took many pictures, however I was not able to immortalize the look on his face when he walked into a room full of people with balloons, confetti and silly string. He received many cool going away gifts and started choking up when he was asked to give a speech. I started crying too . . .

This day has been quite surreal for the both of us, and I don’t think either of us will fully realize that he isn’t working here anymore until a couple of weeks from now. A chapter of his life is ending and a new one is beginning – very scary and exciting stuff!

I guess today is a lame posting day – I’ve been pretty low on sleep – but I’ll try to do better next time . . . But my Question of the Day is this: Of kvetching, whining, bitching and complaining, which of those do you find yourself doing most often?

My Throbbing Brain

I hate going a week between posts, but I’ve been trying to get a lot of work done before the Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

I have a huge headache though . . . I’m pretty sure it’s stress . . .

My first night of subbing last week went really well – everyone was really responsive and seemed to get a lot out of the class. I don’t know how well I’ll do tonight, although the adrenaline does do wonders for my teaching abilities. I can feel flat out horrible, but somehow seem to get it together long enough to last 2 hours . . .

I will try to update you on Mr. Random’s last day at the Random Non-profit as soon as I can . . .

Enter Messenger with Two Heads and a Hand . . .

Last night I went to see “Titus Andronicus” at the Shakespeare Theater Company in DC. (http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/details.aspx?id=97&source=l)

It definitely wasn’t a play for the kiddies – lots of blood and gore, more like a slasher film really, but with a slightly better plot and spoken in iambic pentameter. It is a play I highly recommend reading before you go to see it, if only to (a) be able to follow along a lot easier, and (b) know when the sick and bloody parts are coming so you can turn your head away.

It was great (if queasy) fun to watch. When I saw “Coriolanus” at the Kennedy Center, some of the people sitting in front of me noted that before someone in the play would get stabbed, he or she would always be found wearing a white shirt or dress. “Titus” definitely proved that rule . . .

I am truly enjoying the Shakespeare project that my friend, J, and I are doing. It is so much fun to read a play, get to see it performed, and then be able to discuss it later. The last two plays have been rather expensive, but worth it. I enjoy being a theater-goer and I hope to be able to continue the streak – there are a few more plays left in the Shakespeare in Washington series, plus some other plays coming up later in the year that look really interesting. If I can see one a month, I would be quite the happy camper . . .

That reminds me – the DC Fringe Festival is coming up in July! I don’t think that I’m going to volunteer this year, but I do want to buy a several play pass so that I can go see more than one performance. If you have a Fringe Festival in your community, I say GO! It’s a great way to see a lot of the performing arts for very cheap prices . . .

It’s been a long week, but I just wanted to share my Theater experience with the world. I start my two weeks of ESL subbing tomorrow night, and I was at a conference for most of the day today, so I better go to bed soon before I pass out from exhaustion . . .

Coming Up for Air

I haven’t dropped off the face of the Earth . . . It’s been super busy this week - there’ve been a few new developments in the Random Household that have kept my attention . . .

The first announcement . . . Ta-Da! Mr. Random has found a new job and is leaving the Random Non-profit! The new job is a very exciting position in the field that he is currently going to graduate school for. It is not much more money, but it has a lot of potential for growth. He will also be working in the downtown DC area, but in a not very Metro accessible section, so we will need to work out how were are going to handle our work commutes.

We are both very excited and very sad. Mr. Random has worked here for more than a decade and has a lot of history here – he was working here when I first met him and this place has been an integral part of his make-up. You can say in a way that he grew up here. But we both know that this place is not good for anyone, and that it was time for him to move on. It will be weird not having him walk into my office every few hours, or having lunch with him, or just checking in with each other during the day. It will be weird to everyone else because he was the person on staff who had been here the longest and he just knows all and has always been around . . .

The staff is planning a big shindig for his last day – everyone adores him and wants to wish him well, they know this is a great move for him. I am trying to keep minimally involved, so as not to accidentally spill the beans about something. I will let you know how it goes – his last day will be the Wednesday before Memorial Day . . .

*****

The rest of what is going on is just random stuff. Both my boss and our admin person are out most of this week and all of next week, so I am the only one in the department having to respond to everything and go to umpteen meetings – also meaning that I can’t get MY work done. I’ll probably have to come in on Sunday and do some catching up. This would not usually annoy me SO much, but the admin guy very slickly did not let my boss know that he would be gone for two whole weeks . . .

You see, he told my boss in February that he needed the two weeks off for a vacation with his parents, but she told him then that he couldn’t have the second week off, because she was going to be first, at her daughter’s graduation in Illinois for a few days, and then traveling on work visits to some of our sites that next week, and she didn’t want me to be here alone for a long period of time. He then insisted that his parents had already paid for the tickets (mind you, this guy is 29 years old), but my boss said, “well, you are just going to have to work that out yourself.”

Now, a normal person would have taken that as “No” and not gone on vacation. However, I can see how there was a teeny-tiny bit of wiggle room in that last response – but still! So on Wednesday, when I was meeting with my boss before she left to see her daughter, talking about the things that I would have to cover in her absence, and then I also mentioned that admin guy was going to be gone all next week too. “Oh, no – he’ll be back on Monday,” she said. Um, no . . . he told me he’d see me in two weeks. She looked stunned for a moment and said, “What?” Then we both ran into his office to check his calendar, and sure enough, he marked that he would be gone until the 21st. My boss was livid and we have to figure out now what we are going to do when he gets back . . .

I’m already ticked off because he left a huge project sloppily done, which I then had to spend all day Tuesday redoing and sending out. I also have to do all of the follow-up that he is not here to do. We had moved this particular project over to him for this quarter, since I was taking on a few larger projects, but it has turned out that I still have to shepherd this thing through myself. Arrgh!

*****

I also just found out that I will be subbing for some evening ESL classes in the next two weeks. I had decided not to teach over the summer, but I told folks I would be willing to sub . . . and of course, they actually do need me to sub. Why, the nerve! (just kidding) It actually shouldn’t be so bad – the main teacher will have already made up lesson plans, so all I’ll have to do is show up. Knowing me, however, I might think up a few little fun things to supplement each class – but that won’t take much time. I was going to miss teaching a little anyway, and this will allow me to get it out of my system before my brain gets fried again . . .

*****

Going to see another play next week, too: Titus Andronicus, which is one of Shakespeare’s most violent plays. It will be very interesting to see how all the blood and gore will be portrayed – I may spend half of the play looking through my hands . . .

Just a whirlwind of activity going on the next few weeks . . . what will you guys be up to?

The Random Vanity

Finally . . . Here are pictures of the new bathroom vanity that it took us forever and a day to get installed.

The bottom picture is of the new mirror we bought to match the dark wood of the cabinet. It is still in the "packaging" because we need to still buy special wall screws in order to install it. We don't want it crashing down on the Random Cat one day while we're out . . .

Also, you might be able to make out Yours Truly in the mirror. I had to stand in the shower to take the pictures . . . our bathroom isn't very big . . .

Do the Limbo Rock!

I can’t wait for this week to be over. Tonight I’m going to see the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Kennedy Center, which I have been looking forward to ALL week. However, the rest of the week? Ugh.

Mr. Random has a final exam on Saturday and also has a final project due, so he is beyond stressed out right now. I just try to stay quietly out of the way . . .

I’ve been having mini-anxiety attacks every morning this week. I am trying to figure out why – is it that I just need some time off? There’s nothing too horrible happening at work at the moment, although a lot of things do weigh heavily on my brain – too much to do and no motivation . . .

Last night I had choir practice and I hadn’t been in two weeks. I felt like I really didn’t need to be there, my allergy was affecting my throat, and I wasn’t really feeling the songs. It was very disappointing – I was hoping to be very happy to see everyone, but there was something missing that I could not put my finger on . . .

O Spring! What am I looking for? What am I waiting for?

I’ll try to be peppier next time. I’m just in an odd mood today, but I wanted to say that I’m glad you all come by and comment. It does perk up the day a bit . . .

Let's Dance Around the May Pole

It’s May already! April went by so quickly . . . too quickly. There was a project that I meant to finish last month, which I had not yet started on. I definitely have to finish it this month or else I won’t have certain options available to me in the Fall . . . options that might be able to get me away from the Random Non-Profit sooner, rather than later . . .

My thoughts today go out to all those folks who lost their businesses in the fire at the Eastern Market on Capitol Hill yesterday. As much as I disliked the place, it was a DC icon and many folks loved its traditional ways. I was reading in the paper how for many years people wanted to upgrade the place, but the community wanted to keep it the same un-air-conditioned, un-improved building. In being resistant to change, those intentions may have contributed to its destruction since the place did not have sprinklers. I do hope the building can be saved and the place is rebuilt – I would definitely go to a new iteration of the Market.

I had a very lovely weekend. On Saturday, my friend J and I went to Goodwill and I found an awesome sweater for $4 and some great, comfy jeans for $6 (and these jeans are usually a LOT more than that!) I also saw a Michael Kors long grey pinstriped-skirt for only $5, but darn it! It was too small. It was spring cleaning day, so the Goodwill parking lot was full of cars and people dropping off clothes, furniture, books and other stuff, so I should go back in a few weeks and see what other goodies I might find there . . .

On Sunday, I went to visit my Grandmother out in the boonie-ville part of Virginia. She is always very happy to see me and Mr. Random, and this time I brought a homemade tuna casserole for us to have for dinner. She lives alone and doesn’t cook for herself much anymore, so she mostly microwaves dinners. She really enjoyed the dinner, which made me very happy. I wish she didn’t live so far away – it is an hour and a half drive down – otherwise I would be able to do more stuff with her.

I am overwhelmed with stuff I don’t want to do. Ugh! It is much too nice outside. I am lacking motivation . . . other than the need to get paid. What do you all do to pick up your spirits? I need some ideas fast . . .