So I haven't had the best day. My brain is moving at about half of its normal speed, which is already borderline roadhogging, so it's a wonder I made it home at all.
I had a sluggish day at work: yesterday morning I flung out 10 news stories for the website in half a day and felt pretty pleased about it (there are many things you can write about Australia not being in a recession). Today, in the same period, I managed to plod to five, scratching desperately for any angle that hadn't been overused by the mainstream press.
Then I was supposed to pump through a one-page report on the China Australia Business Congress I attended a couple of weeks ago for the magazine and it seriously took about 2.5 hours instead of half an hour.
Then I held back a sneeze and felt my eye pop. It was weird.
So I got sniffly and my head fogged up so I dismissed myself for the day (at about 4:30pm mind you, so not that much of an early mark) and shuffled homeward.
I'd brought with me a package to send to my friends in Finland as it is their wedding anniversary soon, and also I haven't sent them gifts I bought from my recent trip to Japan, and also there's a birthday thrown in there. So I went to the post office and found a suitable tough bag to put the shoebox of stuff in, paid for the bag and the postage and proceeded to address it.
I'd forgotten to bring the address. I thought I had it in my diary but apparently that was last year's diary. I even remembered most of the address, right down to the spelling of the street (no mean feat in Finnish) but could not for the life of me remember which number was the street address and which was the apartment number.
So I trudged home in the rain, parcel under arm, knowing it would be another day late to the post. I felt like shit, particularly because it wasn't really raining or even drizzling, just that really annoying spitting that doesn't justify an umbrella but gets everything damp anyway.
At the intersection before my place I got annoyed at a young chap in a hoodie dawdling down the footpath, dithering about whether to cross the road, only when I got closer I saw it was an old lady hunched into her fleece jacket stepping carefully around the wet spots on the footpath and I felt ashamed for even contemplating saying something nasty like "sometime today might be nice".
I got home, was pleased to get home, ate two choc fudge cookies without thinking about it (had previously vowed to eat healthy on account of being on the brink of having a cold). Cursed self. Had half a glass of juice with vitamin C in and a large mug of honey and apple cider vinegar 'tea'. Made and ate a big salad while reading Speakeasy #10, at which point my mood lifted considerably.
I don't remember the natural remedies to treat an oncoming cold, just the tricks to soothe a sore throat. Amazingly the lurgy I have has not carpe jugulum just yet so I feel a good sleep tonight may throw it off.
I will be SHIP SHAPE for this coming long weekend. Because I DESERVE the long weekend.
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
04 June, 2009
20 October, 2007
Into, Out of, The Blue
Well, my previous entry was all about young writers at the TINA festival. I had fun but the social side was a bit sad. I just don't think I'm cut out to hang out with avant garde wordsmiths because I'm just not cool enough.
The opposite happened last week when I went to a conference in Hobart. Not only did men outnumber women 4 to 1 (that's my guesstimate, it might have been more), most of them were quite a bit older than me so I was considered somewhat exotic.
As a result, I had an excellent time down south and, believe it or not, cannot wait for next year's conference! It also meant that I could observe my readership at close range and gather ideas for the next few issues.
The surprise element was getting to know one guy (who I've met before) on a more personal level. I shall call him Fry for reasons only known to my esoteric brain. Prior to the conference I never really appreciated Fry's work talents or social quirks and then suddenly there he was, this brand new person to whom I'd never opened my eyes.
I then spent the evening meeting with a couple of guys on the bow of the pre-dinner cruise ship, fighting the cold wind together. One was from Townsville, thus unaccustomed to the low temperature, and the other one was from Melbourne so perfectly at home with it.
Unfortunately, neither were on my table at the dinner but there was a spot of eye candy sitting across from me, very clean cut, classically handsome and beautifully dressed (I later learned he was one of the keynote speakers for the next day) - ooh caliente!
The next day I ran into Mr Melbourne at the last keynote speech and we exchanged business cards, which was more of a formality than a particular wish to see him again (on my part, anyway) as I was cut by the news that not only did Fry have a girlfriend, she was travelling with him at the conference.
However, waiting at Hobart airport, I ran into Mr Melbourne again. He seemed keen to talk to me (I should add that there were no direct flights back to Sydney; my itinerary read Hobart-Melbourne, Melbourne-Sydney) but we found out we weren't sitting anywhere near each other. I was down the back so I said he should wait until the plane loaded up because there might be seats near me.
The plane took off and then I saw him looking around for me. There was a seat next to me but it took me about five minutes to decide whether I wanted him to come up. As most people who know me personally know, I have a tendency to attract all sorts of freaks on all sorts of transport (did I ever tell you the one about the Elder and Sister of the Latter Day Saints on a plane to NZ?).
Anyway, I figured, it was only an hour's flight so I waved to him and he came up and I chatted to him for an hour. It was nice. Sure, he invited me to go skinny dipping in his front yard the next time I happened to be in Melbourne but apart from that it was all very pleasant and I actually wouldn't mind seeing him again. Too bad about the great distance between us.
Okay then, so just this week gone I spoke to Fry over the phone trying to get some info for the mag from him (a legit call, I was not trying to manufacture anything though the fact that I'm being defensive says something, doesn't it?) and I mentioned that I heard that his girlfriend was the person going around taking all the photos of everyone at the dinner and said that I thought they were just as good as the professional photos. He then said that it wasn't his girlfriend, it was his ex-girlfriend and they were just travelling together.
What am I supposed to think now? I really like him but he's technically a client and I don't know enough about him to know whether I should pursue something or just let things grow organically (or not, as it were). I have, to my misfortune, reached a point of fascination and it has all come out of the blue.
[P.S: I had a feeling that by the end of this entry I would resort to calling myself either hormonal or boy crazy but I've surprisingly been quite measured this last week, so measured, in fact, that I didn't throw myself at Felix Riebl when I went to his sustainability session. Just as well - I found out he has a girlfriend. I like Ryan, anyway.]
The opposite happened last week when I went to a conference in Hobart. Not only did men outnumber women 4 to 1 (that's my guesstimate, it might have been more), most of them were quite a bit older than me so I was considered somewhat exotic.
As a result, I had an excellent time down south and, believe it or not, cannot wait for next year's conference! It also meant that I could observe my readership at close range and gather ideas for the next few issues.
The surprise element was getting to know one guy (who I've met before) on a more personal level. I shall call him Fry for reasons only known to my esoteric brain. Prior to the conference I never really appreciated Fry's work talents or social quirks and then suddenly there he was, this brand new person to whom I'd never opened my eyes.
I then spent the evening meeting with a couple of guys on the bow of the pre-dinner cruise ship, fighting the cold wind together. One was from Townsville, thus unaccustomed to the low temperature, and the other one was from Melbourne so perfectly at home with it.
Unfortunately, neither were on my table at the dinner but there was a spot of eye candy sitting across from me, very clean cut, classically handsome and beautifully dressed (I later learned he was one of the keynote speakers for the next day) - ooh caliente!
The next day I ran into Mr Melbourne at the last keynote speech and we exchanged business cards, which was more of a formality than a particular wish to see him again (on my part, anyway) as I was cut by the news that not only did Fry have a girlfriend, she was travelling with him at the conference.
However, waiting at Hobart airport, I ran into Mr Melbourne again. He seemed keen to talk to me (I should add that there were no direct flights back to Sydney; my itinerary read Hobart-Melbourne, Melbourne-Sydney) but we found out we weren't sitting anywhere near each other. I was down the back so I said he should wait until the plane loaded up because there might be seats near me.
The plane took off and then I saw him looking around for me. There was a seat next to me but it took me about five minutes to decide whether I wanted him to come up. As most people who know me personally know, I have a tendency to attract all sorts of freaks on all sorts of transport (did I ever tell you the one about the Elder and Sister of the Latter Day Saints on a plane to NZ?).
Anyway, I figured, it was only an hour's flight so I waved to him and he came up and I chatted to him for an hour. It was nice. Sure, he invited me to go skinny dipping in his front yard the next time I happened to be in Melbourne but apart from that it was all very pleasant and I actually wouldn't mind seeing him again. Too bad about the great distance between us.
Okay then, so just this week gone I spoke to Fry over the phone trying to get some info for the mag from him (a legit call, I was not trying to manufacture anything though the fact that I'm being defensive says something, doesn't it?) and I mentioned that I heard that his girlfriend was the person going around taking all the photos of everyone at the dinner and said that I thought they were just as good as the professional photos. He then said that it wasn't his girlfriend, it was his ex-girlfriend and they were just travelling together.
What am I supposed to think now? I really like him but he's technically a client and I don't know enough about him to know whether I should pursue something or just let things grow organically (or not, as it were). I have, to my misfortune, reached a point of fascination and it has all come out of the blue.
[P.S: I had a feeling that by the end of this entry I would resort to calling myself either hormonal or boy crazy but I've surprisingly been quite measured this last week, so measured, in fact, that I didn't throw myself at Felix Riebl when I went to his sustainability session. Just as well - I found out he has a girlfriend. I like Ryan, anyway.]
08 July, 2007
Firewish granted!
My friends, I have been honoured. I have a six-week payout and, it seems, all the time in the world to contemplate my burgeoning future. Even better, a chance to talk to my (former) MD about the worst of RA without personal reprisal.
I'm seeing a counsellor tomorrow (I made the appointment prior to retrenchment) so will ask how to handle things without stepping on toes. After all, I'll still need a good reference.
So... I think I will spend a couple of weeks tidying myself up, updating my CV and generally sorting out all my loose ends before returning to the employment fold. I predict I'll be ready to start again in early September (I want to go to Melbourne at the end of August/beginning of September). In the meantime I'll be feeding off the payout and freelance work.
I'm free!
(Thanks firewish fairy!)
I'm seeing a counsellor tomorrow (I made the appointment prior to retrenchment) so will ask how to handle things without stepping on toes. After all, I'll still need a good reference.
So... I think I will spend a couple of weeks tidying myself up, updating my CV and generally sorting out all my loose ends before returning to the employment fold. I predict I'll be ready to start again in early September (I want to go to Melbourne at the end of August/beginning of September). In the meantime I'll be feeding off the payout and freelance work.
I'm free!
(Thanks firewish fairy!)
27 February, 2007
Not a good time
12:17am is not a good time to start working on one's CV. I really don't know what I'm doing. I don't actually want a new job, but I don't feel I can stay where I am, sweet as it is. My time is almost up. It is pouring outside and I can hear the rain crashing down through the trees outside my window.
I am debating the merits of including a 'career objective' on my CV. At the moment I have "To work in a meaningful environment that values high quality written communication skills and provides a collaborative space for new ideas and directions." It sounds kind of wanky but it's true. The problem with where I am now is that no one listens to me. I don't want to rule the roost, I just want to know why I can't do things. It sucks because for the most part I know there's no reason why I can't. This frustrates me. All right, time to go to bed.
(Too much My Chemical Romance. Mae Mae made me watch their DVD doco thingy as they are her new obsession).
I am debating the merits of including a 'career objective' on my CV. At the moment I have "To work in a meaningful environment that values high quality written communication skills and provides a collaborative space for new ideas and directions." It sounds kind of wanky but it's true. The problem with where I am now is that no one listens to me. I don't want to rule the roost, I just want to know why I can't do things. It sucks because for the most part I know there's no reason why I can't. This frustrates me. All right, time to go to bed.
(Too much My Chemical Romance. Mae Mae made me watch their DVD doco thingy as they are her new obsession).
01 February, 2007
The Beautiful People
It's a Beautiful People pash-fest. Apparently The Bear and The Chief had a pash session at drinks last Thursday (while I was off doing Sydney Festival stuff... how dare they?). Apparently it was all 'harmless fun'. I knew it had to happen sooner or later, people that good looking are magnets - they can't resist each other. I also like knowing something that I'm not supposed to know.
Anyway, Mae-Mae was really affected by it, despite the fact that she's in a long term relationship and has no interest in The Chief (at least she didn't the last time I checked...). Basically, she wanted to know why guys like The Bear so much (this is the third guy from work who has made a play for her). I replied "she's fun, she's intelligent, she's pretty - what can I say?". Mae-Mae seems to understand all this on a cognitive level, but not yet on an emotional level.
I tried another tack. I told her that The Bear is a 'canary'. You know how canaries used to go down the mines to see if the mine is safe? The Bear is like my canary - the guys who fall for her aren't going to come near me, and I'm okay with that. After all, she's saved me a lot of time because I don't spend it chasing someone who isn't worth my while. Add to that the fact that The Chief supposedly has a girlfriend - I wouldn't want to be his if he's going to call pashing The Bear 'harmless fun'.
Anyway, I've seen them together since, at afternoon coffee yesterday and at lunch today. I mentioned this and was told (by someone who didn't know he had a girlfriend) that that has been happening for a while. Hmm. This one is definitely none of my business; I'm staying out. But it's nice to know how the real world works.
Anyway, Mae-Mae was really affected by it, despite the fact that she's in a long term relationship and has no interest in The Chief (at least she didn't the last time I checked...). Basically, she wanted to know why guys like The Bear so much (this is the third guy from work who has made a play for her). I replied "she's fun, she's intelligent, she's pretty - what can I say?". Mae-Mae seems to understand all this on a cognitive level, but not yet on an emotional level.
I tried another tack. I told her that The Bear is a 'canary'. You know how canaries used to go down the mines to see if the mine is safe? The Bear is like my canary - the guys who fall for her aren't going to come near me, and I'm okay with that. After all, she's saved me a lot of time because I don't spend it chasing someone who isn't worth my while. Add to that the fact that The Chief supposedly has a girlfriend - I wouldn't want to be his if he's going to call pashing The Bear 'harmless fun'.
Anyway, I've seen them together since, at afternoon coffee yesterday and at lunch today. I mentioned this and was told (by someone who didn't know he had a girlfriend) that that has been happening for a while. Hmm. This one is definitely none of my business; I'm staying out. But it's nice to know how the real world works.
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