Just Another Day in the Office

Greetings from my remote office- Starbucks! Thank goodness for their prevalence!

Wait, You're Back? Really?

If it weren’t for the fact that I don’t currently have internet where I am living, this all would have gone up on a blog weeks ago.  Every little thing that has happened lately, I have put mental pen to mental paper and have written something amusing, witty, and memorable- for myself.  But since having moved- and sending out my “new address!” e-mail, many people have written back to me and said, “Congrats on the new job! Are you doing a blog on it like last time?” Well, if I had time to respond to those e-mails (thank you by the way!) I would have originally said, eh no.  I have to work on nailing my new job- priorities people!  But all these e-mails and suggestions and messages got me to thinking about how much I do miss writing, and what funny and interesting observations I really would like to write about.

So, that being said.  Patent Pumps are back.  Let’s lay some ground rules though, shall we?

Will the boarding passes be back too, you ask?  Well yes- sort of.  Instead of two wheels taking off and touching down on tarmack, I’ll be spending a little bit more time in my own wheels, driving about on turnpikes, tollways, freeways, country roads, you name it.  And by my own wheels, I mean my new company car.  More on that later.

What about all that anonymity like last time? Are you going to come up with codenames and aliases for people in your adventures?  I don’t know… guess you’ll have to read to find out!

Is this just going to be about your job again? I work enough and don’t really want to just read about someone else’s workload…. No way.  I’m broadening the scope a little bit.  I’ll be updating from the road, between applications (*hint hint*), before, during and after adventures.  All work and no play makes Jane a dull gal!

I promise to update as often as my schedule allows, as long as you promise to be an avid reader.  My pumps are back off the shelf, and actually, literally at the cobbler as we speak getting re-heeled.  Time to break in the patent pumps again- here we go!

Patent Pumps Field Guide to Strange Household Visitors

And by strange household visitors, I don’t mean those house guests who stay as they pass through town, nor am I referring to estranged relatives who overstay their welcome and eat all your food.  I am referencing those unidentifiable creatures that crawl in corners, hang from the ceiling, and buzz around the rim of your cocktail in the evening.  What, you don’t have cocktails in the evening?  Well, you might consider mixing yourself a stiff drink after the bugs you came across in my new house. 

There could be a handful of reasons why the weirdest bugs in the state of North Carolina inhabit my house.  One, my charming little duplex was previously inhabited by the oldest woman in the city of Burlington.  Just kidding- but really, the property hadn’t been cleaned or really lived in in a long time, and then I came along.  Being an older home, it’s got its character and charms, and lots of quirks; and I think some of those quirks are bugs.  Primarily though, I think my infestation problem is due to the beautiful oak tree that stands in the middle of my porch expansive. 

What I’d really like to know is what type of bugs they are, not even really how to get rid of them because honestly, there are not too many (and I need the company).  They are just the strangest looking creatures I have ever seen.  And when one makes an appearance- be it the bright red, fuzzy spider, or the clear amoeba-like centipede with brown hairs- it’s like a stand-off in the middle of the kitchen floor, to see who is going to move first. 

The following are techniques I’ve found particularly useful (because my boyfriend does not live with me and is not here) to kill bugs:

• Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and stomp on the little (or sometimes big) guy
• Go to work and hope he’s gone by the time you’ve returned
• The humane method, collect him in a cardboard moving box and escort him outside with his other friends
• And finally, look up to the ceiling and think, why on earth have I not gotten a dog yet? Don’t they eat things like this?

All four are effective methods, although the latter makes me homesick for my parent’s dogs, and then I start thinking about home, and my dad’s great cooking, and I am immediately sidetracked at the question: what shall I make for dinner?

More on cooking for one later. An by later, probably when I get back from Fall Travel season!

What I Love About Being Home

I have a post from earlier on titled, "Things I Love About the Road." Well, now it is time to tell you about the things I love about being at home. Ready?

• Having a drawer, for anything, like jewelery, make-up, crafts, junk, etc. Everything I need is right where I need it to be.
• Ready access to my entire wardrobe. I know, you're thinking, "Really? This is what you're excited about?" But you try living out of a suitcase for a year, and then tell me how much you missed your favorite bright blue suede pumps that you couldn't take on the road with you...
• My bed is probably far superior to yours, and rivals every hotel bed I slept in in the last year. It is like sleeping on a cloud and I am so happy that I get to sleep in it every night.
• Having the same parking space, every time, and always knowing where my car is, ie. outside by the mailbox.
• The familiarity of it all, like the smell of the house when my dad cooks, or the way my room feels after a hot day in the sun.
  
• They are going to think I'm fibbing, but being home with my mom and dad is awesome. They make me realize how lucky I really am. And, although I haven't quite grown accustomed to their TV preferences, I at least stick around for Jeporady and Huell Howser and watch with them.
• Two words: Free. Laundry.
  
• Getting dressed for work in the morning because a.) I have my entire closet to chose from and b.) I can ask those who are home (mom, dad and dogs) which outfit looks best. I only change like, two times in the morning. Ok, maybe three.
• Ready access to good wine, and the right people to drink it with.
• The Dogs, I'm finding, will never respond to me when I talk to them, but it is so nice to see them wagging their tails at me every morning when I wake up.
• Proximity to family and friends in California is pretty grand because we are all in the same state, or I guess I mean, I'm in the same state. Visits to San Francisco or San Diego are much easier than before, and thankfully, much more frequent!
  

It isn't an easy transition being home, I will tell you that much, but I am thankful to have a wonderful, loving place to come home to. My patent pumps happily sit on a shelf in my closet, and are happy to trot down to Sylmar every once in a while, when I wear them to work.

Happy Belated Birthday, America!

Yes, I know this photo lacks any sign of patriotism, flashy Americana, hot dogs or fireworks, but I will tell you, it oozes Wild West, and captures the wilderness of a part of America I do love so much. Lucky me, I got to spend Independence Day with all of my favorite people (minus the Little Bug of course, who is having the time of her life in Washington State), at the Kern River, where I captured this serene scene. There's nothing better, in my opinion, then being outside and spending time with your family and friends- if the weather is good of course. Although the trip was far too short, I soaked up the sun, lounged in the icy creek, and learned quite a bit about fly fishing. In fact, did you know that on July 4th, you don't need a fishing license? Thank you Department of Fish and Game!

The patent pumps did not come out for this trip- instead, I sported sandals and yes, do I dare say... Crocs!! I swear, they are only for camping!!!

Long live Elon!

A view of those gorgeous brick paved walkways I was telling you about...
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Practice Patience

Practice patience- something I’ve learned to appreciate in the last year for certain. Patience while you wait for a delayed flight. Patience while you wait for lost luggage to arrive. Patience to hear back from people you need information from. Patience to see people you’ve been away from and want to be close to. Patience to find the next job, the next path, the next direction.

Dear Reader, THANK YOU for being patient with me! More than a month has passed since my last update and the Patent Pumps have been ALL OVER the place. Indiana to California, to New York, and then back to California and off to Indiana again- it never ended. Except, it did. About three weeks ago, and it was an awfully bittersweet ending. The unexpected passing of my grandmother took away my focus from The Organization, and as I once again crossed the country to return home to be with my family, I knew that this ending was anything but the ending I had desired for this year long experience on the road. Despite being away from my family at the end, and the horrible pain I was feeling from the loss of my grandmother, I never felt more supported by The Organization than I did in those last few weeks. Sisters from across the country reached out to me in love and support. My family was not just at home in California, but spread out across the country- connected through our sisterhood, wisdom, and devotion- and I did not feel alone.

On a lighter and more cheerful note though, my last trip to Indiana (well, for a while at least) was rather marvelous. My last day in the office came and went, and although I did miss my other Patent Pumped traveling companions, it was time to turn in my bag and patiently wait for my next big adventure. While waiting though, I spent the week sprucing up a friend’s house in Fishers- mulching, weeding, landscaping, etc. It may not sound exciting to you, but it was fun to get a little dirty and “play house” for a week. I ventured to Indiana’s oldest bar, The Slippery Noodle, in downtown Indianapolis, for great music and dancing and met up with my best friend for a truly wonderful night.

Sad to leave Indiana and present company at the end of the week, I flew down to North Carolina for two weeks to spend time at the Beehive and celebrate Elon Graduation with all of my friends. It was surreal to be back for the week- strange to think that a mere year ago I was there receiving my diploma- but wonderful to share in the moment with all of my friends who were graduating. Not only did I discover that I am really missing the brick paved walkways of Elon, but I am also missing the Carolinas. A stint in Raleigh during my visit made me think seriously about moving to the capitol city. Perhaps I will have to wait patiently until an opportunity arises for me to move back there- it is a definite possibility.