Holidays...

Remember, some people get socially overloaded during the holidays. Sometimes the best gift you can give them is quiet.

30 Day of Thankful - Day 10

I got questioned tonight.... digging at me to the core.  Why am I the way I am?  I am thankful for people that dig...  They make me think.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 8 & 9

30 Days of Thankful - Day 8: Laughter, people that appreciate my nerdiness, and learning new words... even if they're made up.

I laughed a lot yesterday.  I think the point in the trip where everything becomes hilarious is creeping in on me.  It's infinitely better than the point in the trip where everything becomes annoying.  :)   I honestly can not remember what I was laughing at, but I know there was a ton of out loud laughter.  And I'm beginning to realize that I tend not to laugh out loud.  This is something I'm trying to change... because seriously, I love to laugh.

I also made a ton of Doctor Who references.  I really really try and contain my nerdy when I'm around people that I know don't like what I like... but today I couldn't.  And at about reference number 10 I decided to make as many references about daleks, the TARDIS, time travel, sonic screwdrivers, and not blinking as I possibly could.  I lost count.  It was amazing.  And even if the coworkers only humored me about appreciating my nerdy, I know I truly have friends that like that about me.  I like it about me.

We've been trying to teach the people from Louisville words from California that they can take back with them.  Here are a few that came up:
Bomb.com (or just adding .com to any word... the response to this was, "I think I will need to educate the Kentuckians... I'm going to need to add .edu instead") 
Perfect (one guy uses this word so much that we've resorted to tallying them every day... it's fun)
Hyphy?
Thizz?
Hella?  (apparently these last 3 are primarily Bay area/ Nor Cal words... oh well)
Suckfully (this is one that I've been promoting for awhile... I don't think it's catching on)
Swow (super wow... of course)

Again... laughter.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 9: Confidants, the ridiculous, coffee, and hot water.

I am so thankful for people I can confide in.  And, inversely, people that confide in me. 

So much about the ridiculous I love.  People are weird.  And I love that.

Coffee... isn't this self explanatory?  I don't sleep well... coffee wins.

And a hot shower saved me today.  I was so cold, and so just... in a funk.  Hot water washes away the grim. 

30 Days of Thankful - Day 5, 6, & 7

30 Days of Thankful - Day 5: Generous friends, getting to explore new places & walking in the rain.

On Saturday morning I was picked up at my hotel in Berkeley by one of my college friends, driven to San Francisco, and treated to amazing breakfast follwed by spa and massage time at Burke Williams.  She said it was for my 30th birthday (which was about 7 months ago)... and really, how could I refuse that?  I gotta say... it's nice to be on the receiving side every now and then.  I am so thankful for the generosity of my friends.

After SanFran it was off to Walnut Creek to spend time with the former roomie.  It was wonderful.  It was a bit rainy, but that didn't stop us from hitting the cutesy town.   She's new to the area as well, so walked all over the place, exploring new places to eat, made note of new shops that needed to be hit, and making new friends.  She's going to do well there. 

30 Days of Thankful - Day 6: Honorary Family, First fires of the season, and apartment sitters.

My former roommate has become an honorary member of my family.  I can yell at her like I would yell at my family, I can be grouchy or silent and she won't get upset, and I can talk to her about anything.  She's been to our family gatherings so much... and finally the roles were reversed.  I got to spend time in Brentwood at the C Family residence and hang out with the parents.  It was so chill.  That's just lovely.  It was cold and rainy, and we built the first fire of the season.  Such a great Sunday. 

Before I left I had some problems with a smell in my garage.  Maintenance didn't think anything was wrong, but it still worried me.  And mostly it worried me because I wasn't going to be home for weeks.  And what ifs plague me.   I am thankful for the guy, I am thankful for the arrangement.  No matter how unorthodox it may be, I have to admit having the contact set my mind at ease.  I just need to decide how to handle it in the future.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 7: Creative outlets, beating the odds, and catching up.

It seems I've forgotten how many friends I have in the Bay area.  It's kind of funny!  So tonight I had dinner with an exgirlfriend of one my friends.  I met this girl years ago, and I wasn't sure about her at first.  I think I have that reaction towards most of the girlfriends.  But after spending some time with her, I realized how cool she was.  We got along really well.  And after the breakup, I stayed friends with her.  How could I not?  She's since moved from San Diego back to the Bay area, and just happens to work down the street from where I'm staying.  It was wonderful to catch up... and I am so thankful that against the odds we've remained friends.  We talked about how even though we're numbers people, we can still be creative.  She has her own little DIY blog at http://www.brittanymakes.com/.  She built the site herself, as well as just about everything she blogs about.  It's inspiring. 

I know good people.  I am thankful for that.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 4

Today we had a heated debate.  The question was brought up at about 2pm and we talked about it for the rest of the workday.  (Granted, we did leave at 3 o'clock... but still)  It got pretty intense.  It followed us outside.  It held on even through dinner.  It was amazing.

The topic was this:  Sport? Not a Sport?  And then we proceeded to throw out candidates.  Gymnastics.  Dance.  Figure Skating.  NASCAR.  Curling.  Fishing.  etc. 

Incredible. 

There was 5 of us.  We all had quite different views on what was sport, and what was competition and where that line is drawn.  If there's a line at all. 

Today, I am thankful for differences of opinion, the ability to debate these differences, and the ability to end in laughter and mutual respect. 

Love.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 3

I don't have any pictures or visual aids today.  Today I'm tired.  After a night of listening to people complain, aka protest, against capitalism and debt... I went to work exhausted.  The MG is acting up.  Soo today....

I am thankful for prescription drugs and a job.  And coincidentally, at the moment, a job auditing prescription drugs.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 2

I'm working in Oakland this week.  Today was the General Strike. 

This whole Occupy movement doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.  I mean, aspects of it are interesting, and I understand the reasons for the most part.  But I also think the way most people are trying to protest is kind of stupid.  And a "General Strike" just in general?  Seems pointless. However, "When in Rome..." right?  So, I actually went down to where the protest was going on tonight. 

In light of it all, today I am thankful for freedom, and free speech, and excercising ideas for change, even if and when we don't all agree. 

30 Days of Thankful - Day 1

A friend of mine suggested that we all take part in 30 Days of Thankful, and I believe this to be a very, very good idea. 

Today I am thankful for:

New Music.  (The Decemberists, Long Live The King ep came out today),

12th floor office windows that look out onto the San Francisco Bay, and

Coworkers that bring me lattes at 2pm.  (and for the latte)