The Thus Far Non-Summer of 2011

I find it hard to believe that it's been this long since I posted on my own blog, but apparently, it has been. Therefore, even if I'd like to post something witty or interesting, I don't have either, and will have to suffice for just a quick catch up on what the heck it is that's been going on with me since December. After which, I'm assuming, I will at a minimum post once a week, if for no other reason than that the weekly writer's group demands it, and my 'chapter in progress's with which I have been obtaining a weekly out are no longer cutting it.

OK, when I left off, it was December.
December was great, nice holiday with my neighbor downstairs and her darling three year old who all too glady opened everything I had in the house. I realized, it's better than the present, really, to watch how much joy kids get out of opening presents.

2011 work wise picked up where 2010 left off. We're busy. Very busy. So busy, in fact, that we hired a 'mini us', a smaller version convention manager. I love her. Her name is Bailey, and she's twenty-five, very fun, very not Utah conservative. She was hired on at a time when we had an actual office for her to 'live' in, but since that time, we've relocated some salespeople, so her 'office' is right outside my office. The place where my assistant sat, back in the better economic days when things such as assistants existed. Suffice it to say, I am more than happy to mentor Bailey in the world of, 'take this ridiculous contract and make it actually work,' and be her refuge from the , "is everyone in this office a gossip??' world that she lives in, in the hallway. I told her Friday: If you need to make a phone call, use my office. I am always more than happy to step out, and let you have that most craved of all things in the work world: Privacy.

Homewise: It is still me and Basil, she being the Dog Who rules My World, without question. She's a bit older than I had originally imagined, and when this was recently confirmed by the vet, made me a bit sad. Basil and I have, you could say, maybe five, maybe seven more years together and I for one plan to live a whole lot longer than that. Which makes that entire topic something I really don't want to think about.

Technology: My computer finally died. Finally and completely. So I went without, for a month. Just to see if I really did miss the Internet, or not. To see if I really even wanted a home computer. The result? I bought an HP laptop. With a built in camera, and moe capabilities than my mind can wrap itself around. I love it. Yes, I did miss the Internet. I missed being able to reach out to one of my sisters in Berkeley, and get an immediate answer to a technology question.

Technology II: I installed a wireless router. Gosh. Now I can surf the net when I'm sitting in the tub. Great. So long as I don't drop the laptop in the tub. And truly, so long as I don't accidentally hit the camera button, because I wouldn't want to blind anyone on the receiving end.

Technology III: I have an IPOD Shuffle and I downloaded Itunes. Might seem simple enough for people who are actual technology savvy, but for me, it was completely amazing. Still can't believe I have 20 CDs on something smaller than my work name tag.

Just Do It I: Having realized that if I didn't make a trip home soon, my parents were going to come up here and visit me again like they did last spring, I booked a flight home next month, which is fine because it's a very short flight, the drive from Sacramento to their place seems easy enough, and I took advantage of a low rate and booked myself an overnight stay in Placerville at a historic hotel filled with antiques that I've wanted to stay in since I was a kid, but...

Just Do It II: ...I was only planning to take one trip this summer, and that one's already booked, too. I am beyond excited, even willing to overlook the red eye flight out of here into Atlanta, and the 12 hour total journey. Too worth it. Me, in an all inclusive resort in the Virgin Islands, for an entire week. I have already shopped for the entire wardrobe, and it will fit in a make up case :). Still. For the money, it was perfect. Everything included, right down to my sailboat, my snorkeling gear, and my room, food, and drinks. The three pools are bigger than the zip code I reside in, and there's miniature golf, too. Best yet? It's three thousand miles away from home and I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get emails while I'm there. OK, I'm taking grief at work. I don't know who started it, but someone said, 'It's just like How Stella Got her Groove Back,' so now the closer we get to the date I have to go to work and hear, 'Hey, Mad's getting her groove back,' but that's OK, too. Maybe I am. And maybe that's long overdue, too. I promise to take the laptop and take a lot of pictures.

Well, that's that. I think I'm up to date. Otherwise, not much more has changed. I still work too many hours to fall in love, and love to sleep in late on the weekends too much to get out there and meet someone. My dog still rules my world, and my cats still keep my dog sane. Not entirely exciting, but it's not a bad way to be, either.