DLand - Must .. Stay .. Connected ...

I crawled around in the ceiling again yesterday at work. Ooo Ooo Eeee! Bossman and Dan said repeatedly that whatever I did up there was not covered by workman's comp. They made several official protests that I not crawl up there to get the boxes that we needed. And the fact I can still type today is proof that I didn't fall through the ceiling and break my arms. That or I started typing this post last night and have painfully pecked out every letter with a paper cone strapped to my forehead. Picked up the Mac from Bossman's last night. In my copious spare time (hehe) I am going to make marvelous movies with it. Mac's are appliances more than computers, but occasionally they are cool appliances. I love my new fridge. I can't upgrade the processor in it either, but it still has lots of neat features.

I'm installing (well, having installed) cable at the apartment. Mostly for the internet access, but also for the television. This phone modem internet connection is giving me hives. I don't know how I ever did it before. But I must have internet access at all times. Resistance is futile. You will be connected. I feel like I should have coax cables coming out of my arms and RJ45 jacks at the base of my neck. Although, I suppose the real deal would be for me to have wireless connections installed under my skin.

I really have become spoiled by the things I have here in Tidewater versus the mountains of Blacksburg. I can go to multiple electronics stores within a few miles of each other. Dan was complaining that he has to go to Roanoke - a 45 minute drive - to get to a store that sells a cable modem. We suggested Radio Shack in Blacksburg but that brought on a whole rant from him. He said that if he were poisoned and Radio Shack sold the antidote, he would not set foot in that store but take his chances with death. Mostly because Radio Shack would ask for his zip code and telephone number before they would sell it to him or even speak to him. He also complained that they are a computer store yet fill out paper sales tickets. It's insane, I tell you. No aging football icon or Lois Lane actress can change those things and suddenly make an incredibly crappy store hip and modern.

Well, I'm off to my house to check on the mutt and black goddess and then to get back to work. My paper cone is starting to bend so I should quit while I'm ahead. Have a good evening, y'all.

DLand - Leather and Ice

Got a great car tonight at the Hertz rental. Never underestimate the power of the #1 Club Gold card. It's a great feeling to see your name on the board and get in your Volvo with leather interior and Neverlost system and 5 speed automatic transmission. Someone at Hertz loves me. I also lucked out tonight and got a bulkhead seat on the plane. The flight was on a 757, though, so I had a big space in front of me where the exit is. And I had the coolest flight attendant in the jump seat facing me. He was all chatty about his job and his family and anything that came to mind. He really cheered me up.

He plays hockey with his son. They live in Ft. Lauderdale, and are of course big Panthers fans. But flight attendant guy says he still prefers the Red Wings, and just ignores the goalie. And his son just got a new pair of DeFoe leg pads (with the stars on them and everything), so he's the envy of all the hockey youths in southern Florida.

The neatest thing, though, was that he takes his skates with him on trips. So on long layovers, he plays hockey! This just amazes me. He starts rambling off to me all the best hockey rinks up and down the east coast. It is just phenomenal. He said that the guys on the ground crew in Philly reserve U Penn's rink from 11-1 so that employees can play in between shifts. Absolutely fascinating.

I had never imagined that someone would expend that much effort to play a sport while travelling. I could see running or something solitary. But he goes through great pains to organize his flights around hockey schedules that are hundreds of miles away. He even said he's considered joining a league in New England. The insanity. The devotion. The giant grin on his face as he described this all to me.

I guess just because you're not at your house, doesn't mean you stop living.

DLand - I'm Back, Really I Am

Yes, I know, it's been a while. I've been sporadic at best in my updating. But time has been something I don't have a lot of lately. I hope, however, you'll be hearing a lot more from me. And this time maybe with a little something extra. Remember, folks, the 10 o'clock show is completely different than the 7 o'clock show. I have lots of stories to tell, but first everyone deserves an update. The biggest news by far is that on Monday, March 18th I moved out of the house. It's a long, long story - the majority of which will most likely be covered in this forum to one degree or another. And if you had to read this paragraph to find out, I'm truly sorry I didn't tell you personally first. But if you have particular questions, no inquiry is too personal or opinion unwanted. I have no reservations about telling my simple life. Hell, it might even increase my d*land "ratings," as it were. As I told Bossman the other day, I would tell my fascinating story to the Airborne Express delivery guy if I thought he would stand still long enough. Bossman has been incredibly hip about the whole thing. He's proved to be not only my best boss ever but also a very good friend. All of you who I've talked to have been fantastic. I can't thank you enough for listening to me drone on and on and also for your words of advice and support. All of you rock.

As far as technicalities and administration, I spent the first week on my brothers' sofa. I now have a cozy little apartment of my own thanks to my parents (they have several rental properties). My dog Sarah and Isis the beautiful black goddess cat have come with me and they provide a fair amount of company - interested and attentive, if not very articulate. This humble abode is a mere three blocks from my parents' house and that has afforded me a lot of previous unreaped quality time with them as well. Momma and Daddy are fabulous. Really, all of you should be jealous that you don't have my mom and dad as your parents.

I have not left forever. And this is not a new thing, at least not for me. These issues have been recurring over and over for many years. I got to the point where I could no longer be the girl who cried wolf saying "I can't live like this." So now, it has become a reality. There are certain things I need from SweetPea before I can go home. And there are certain things I need to do for myself before I can go home. And we're both working as hard and as fast as we can on them. So far, so good. But I'm an optimistic person at heart. I expect this to last a couple of months and we can go from there. But always going forward and never, ever, ever going back.

I have just recently acquired a phone line at the new pad and this has been a life saver in keeping me connected to "the world." I don't actually talk on this phone line - good grief no. But it is the cheapest, fastest way to get me online. One thing I've learned about myself is I can't stand to be without internet access. 24 hours without checking CNN.com or my email and I start to get the shakes.

Today I'm off to New England for a short business trip to one of our clients for training. I have not flown in forever and it's feeling a little weird. I didn't book my hotel or car until last night and never did get around to calling for first class upgrades. Just not enough time in the day. So I'm back in coach class again. What a way to come back to business travel. Ugh. I did sit across from an adorable toddler, though, who made airplane noises the entire time we landed and sat next to a girl (I say girl, she was probably my age) who didn't know what the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel was. She couldn't imagine a bridge that long. Her best comment was "what's so important over there that someone would want to drive 13 miles across the ocean to get to it?".

I have so much more to say, but have to force myself to categorize it. Otherwise, I'll just end up rambling like some hyperactive child. Stay tuned, guys and gals.