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muted and distant

Wires.Thursday now and Aruba is closer than ever.  Let’s do this.

At work we’ve got these wireless headsets we all wear when we attend meetings over the phone. Most of our meetings are like this, “virtual” that is, as the teams we work with are spread all over the country and globe. So, if I’m not listening to music on my headphones I’m likely taking a meeting from my boom-mic earpiece thing. Either way, I have something on my ear nearly all day.

We didn’t use to have these nifty wireless things, used to be tethered to the desk by a line from the headset to the phone. Sometimes I forget how awesome the wireless ones actually are, and take for granted the freedom to wander they grant me. I can get about 50ft out of the thing before the connection back to the home base unit in my cube gets spotty. This works out great for ducking into a close conference room when a conversation becomes from-cube unworthy (happens often, actually). Additionally, it’s just about the distance from my desk to the nearest bathroom.

Now, my philosophy about using the headset in the bathroom has changed 180° over the past year. Previously, I was a staunch no-bathroom guy. I sometimes have this odd thing about taking an item into a bathroom, like just crossing the threshold somehow soils it. But, as I get older this concern continues to fade. Heck, it’s just another room… it’s only that people poop in it and not elsewhere. With maturity, I’ve broken down a lot of those notions… I mean I’m only using those paper butt-protectors like 75% of the time now (based on a very complicated need vs. time vs. concern algorithm that exists in my brain).

Anyway, I now gladly wear my headset into the bathroom (only for quick #1s, as I typically have my #2s planned a little better and the situation can be avoided altogether). It’s nice to not miss a piece of the meeting I’m on, and I’m not nearly as rushed to get back to the desk when nature’s call can simply not be ignored (coffee; I blame the coffee). And yes, the headset does have a mute button on it – so of course I utilize that. And, with that sentence now down I’m ready to type the paragraph that sparked this entire blurb:

Since the bathroom is at the working horizon of the headset’s range, I often get worried that, as the connection strains over distance, somehow the muting will be lost in the air. I often blow softly into the mic, listening for the sound of my own breath in my earpiece, to confirm I really am muted. For some reason, pressed up against the urinal with people bearing down in the stalls around me, I just panic that the distance is going to magically un-mute me and expose my in-meeting bio breaks to the world.

Hasn’t happened yet, but doesn’t stop me from irrationally worrying about it.

Goodnight.

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not just for the clouds

Management.Was a gloomy day over nearer the coast, and not just for the clouds.

Paid a visit to the Bay area today, all about getting some business done. It really is a shame about that whole business and pleasure not mixing thing, sure could make working less of a chore at times. But, the sawmill has been good to me, so I’ll continue to give it my time and effort in hopes of some small convalescence. And, while it makes for good writing (or reading, I’m never sure quite how to put that) to talk about work like it’s awful and painful – it’s not really. It’s a good job and I enjoy it almost all the time. But, do me a favor and pretend you didn’t read that the next time I prattle on about the sawmill as if it were Abu Ghraib, OK? Thanks.

I was actually fairly unmotivated today. I sat alone in a crowded café and worked from the laptop with a cup of coffee and my headphones on. I bought these particular headphones because they are the full sized over-ear kind yet they are foldable like an Autobot and can be packed easily into my laptop bag. The only issue I have with them is that they have this fake graffiti all over them, like the flowing spraycan script gangs use in the subway. Tell you what, sitting alone all dressed up manager style with your laptop, a coffee, and these ridiculously childish-looking headphones on makes a guy a bit self conscious. I powered through though, so don’t pity me.

And, if I’m being honest, I wasted a few minutes watching a Youtube video of the resort we’re staying at next week in Aruba. Maybe hoping seeing the place through the lens of a fellow tourist could transport my mind there for a while. It worked fairly well, I have to say. I could almost picture Keaton and I floating lazily down the lazy river, digging and building in the sand, and splashing around in the pool.  Like I told my Mom today in an e-mail: If they called and told me I could go tomorrow I’d be on a plane.

I’ve decided I’m going in to get me a wax-job on Thursday.  I’ve also convinced Sharaun to come along and take some before and after photos.  And, since the wax lady seems really cool, maybe even some action shots to really make the story come alive.  Some readers seem to think I’m gonna cry like a little girl, but I have faith in my strength.  One way or another, I’m going through with it – so I’ll be as objective as possible when I rank the pain.  Should be fun.  Or not.

Until sometime later this week, from the precipice of our vacation, goodnight.

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sweetening

Sweetener.Mmmm… what a Sunday.

After church I browned a couple chicken sausages for me (and one for Keaton) and had a manly kinda lunch at the table alongside her.  I had designs on an afternoon bike ride to take advantage of the good weather, and was planning on a solo job with the iPod.  Plans changed, though, when Sharaun called Melissa and she mentioned she was looking to get out on the bike too.  We ended up teaming up and plotting a course on exploring one of the local trails neither of us had been on.

In the end we did a fifteen mile loop alongside a creek and turning around at the lake, after stopping for a granola bar and some water.  Was a nice leisure ride, paced under 10mph and mostly flat.  After getting back I told Sharaun we have to get her a bike so we can do rides like that; was great.

And, with the weather as great as it is, I’m firing up the grill for dinner.  Making something tasty over an open flame to continue eating in a way that makes the alpha-male in me happy: fried sausage, fire-cooked meat – you get the idea.

The couple days I spent at Shasta were brilliant.  Even though it rained for the first half of Friday, and despite the fact that I didn’t manage to wholly escape the trappings of work while there – it really was a respite.  Played some poker, some pool, dominoes, enjoyed the mountains and took a couple quick hikes around to check the place out… tossed some horseshoes and ate a lot of good food.  Actually, as the weekend before our coming nine day furlough in Aruba it served as a nice vacation “appetizer.”  And man, am I ready to be on the island and away from the recent madness at work.  More than you could know.

We didn’t get to do the fishing and boating planned as the coldfront and rain changed plans on the fly – but it didn’t really matter to me at all.  Like I said in my short entry Friday – I needed to get away from work (and even though I escaped the venue, the problems tracked me down, bloodhound style, and will being re-plaguing me first thing Monday morning). But, enough negative…

Just five more days of work and we’re off.  That, my friends, is enough to sweeten even the sourest week.  So, I’ll be heads-down for those few short days and this time next week you should get a nice Monday entry from the sands and surf.

Goodnight.

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runt away

Definitely doesn’t look like my cube, huh?

It’s not. I ran.

Had this trip to Shasta planned, but it couldn’t have come after a better day. Plan to hang out with some friends from church – no not awaiting the passing of some comet or anything – but fishing and just getting away. No wives allowed so it’ll be a steady diet of meat and carbs.

I’m ready for the weekend, and that sun peeping over that hill says that, for me, it’s just about to start.

See ya.

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self absorbed

Scales.Hi internet.  Sorry about not writing to you lately.  Here goes.

Rode my bike to work the past couple days. Not quite ready to say I’m “doing” it now… but I do have some mild intent to establish a routine, I suppose. For me it’s an easy way to get a few calories down on those days I miss the gym.

Unfortunately, I decided to start just as the weather is warming up – but the morning ride is still beautiful and cool. I bring tennis shoes and shorts with me, ad change before the brutally warm ride home in the afternoon. (Worse, the ride into work is generally downhill, whereas the ride home, logically, goes back up.) And so, when I get home I’m fairly slicked with sweat and winded – which isn’t that bad, since I’m home at that point, after all.

Anyway, with just two days down, I’m enjoying it – and considering the time difference between riding and driving is truly minimal for my short commute – I think I’m going to try and keep it up.  Today, by which I mean Tuesday even though it’s midnight now, I actually rode over 20mi – but that’s a story for another day… because… man… it is a story.

And, since we’re on the subject of exercise and sweat and whatnot – I feel compelled to bring up my progress towards my “Aruba goal.” We leave for a week vacation in Aruba in just a couple weeks, stopping in Atlanta overnight and meeting up with Sharaun’s folks – who are coming as friends, family, and babysitters – and then heading to the island. Believe me, I am looking forward to this like nothing else. Only a week more to go and we’ll be poolside for hours each day, playing on the beach with Keaton, and lounging around in hammocks with our bellies full. For me, the start of vacation made a convenient goal-date for my current weight-loss plans. Having started at a portly 250lbs near the end of January, I wanted to be down to 215lbs by Aruba.

Now look, I know, I sound like a chick… targeting a “vacation weight” and all. I guess I’m OK with that. (And, wait till you read the next paragraph if you really want to question my testosterone levels anyway.) Regardless of this, I’m extremely happy to say that, as of last week’s official weigh-in, it appears that my goal of 215lbs may be realized. Last I checked I was sitting at 219lbs with about two weeks left before we leave. In an ideal loss-per-week world, I will end up at 215lbs on the nose just before departure. I have to admit to you guys that, as odd as it is for me to talk about this kind of thing, I’m really happy with my progress thus far. And, without risking too much more of my manhood, I will mention that my post-Aruba goal is to get down to 200lbs by the 4th of July. Aggressive, to be sure, but I think ultimately doable if I work hard.

Now, as happy as I am with my Aruba weight, I’m still pudgy and as hairy as a yeti. As I’ve aged, these things have bothered me less and less. So much so, in fact, that during last year’s vacation in Mexico, I did nothing to alter my appearance – and simply rocked the body hair au-natural. And, honestly, even though I’m aware of it and just an itty-bitty bit self conscience about it, I didn’t give it much thought and it surely didn’t get in the way of my enjoying myself. But see, this time around… I feel like I’ve worked really hard to shed some pounds before we go… and having realized that goal makes me want to… address… the whole hair thing. I know it’s vain, but I’m totally planning on ridding myself of this hair pre-vacation.

Oh yeah, you read that right. And, since I’m a bloggin’ kinda guy… I figured I’d write about the “procedure” here.

Here’s what I want to do: I have tons of hair. My back, my chest, my shoulders… it’s literally a sweater. Again, I’ve come to embrace my hairiness, and it really doesn’t bug me as much as it used to. However, to complement my weight loss and just overall make me feel snappy, I want to get some work done before we go. No, I don’t want to go college-boy hairless, but I’d at least like to take care of the back and shoulders. Hopefully I can get this done without leaving an unnatural or abrupt “fire line” on the chest hair I’m not interested in removing… I guess that’s left to the skill of my “technician.”

Anyway… after I make the appointment and git ‘er done, I’ll post here about the trauma.  But for now, sleep is calling and I need to heed.  Sorry today was so self absorbed… but this is a blog after all.

Goodnight.

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some such nonsense

Batch.Keaton and I are alone tonight.

Sharaun abandoned us for a New Kids on the Block concert somewhere down south (uh-huh, another one).  She carpooled with some other New Kids freaks she met on the internet.  Did you know they have a whole social-networking site just for New Kids fans?  They do.

Actually, speaking of the New Kids… I have to admit that I’m impressed with their marketing.

First, they know their former tween and teen fans are now in their thirties, and have recognized they have disposable cash they are only too happy to burn to steal away from their kids and families and relive those boyband crushes, if just for a night (or… an endless string of nights, perhaps).

Next, they’ve really taken advantage of modern “marketing 2.0.”  Seriously, I would not give these guys credit if it weren’t due.  However, they use the internet to it’s maximum, they use text and voice messaging to cellphones, they use social networking – all these things to whip a fanbase into an excited cash-burning frenzy.  And, it works… it totally works.

Eh, but they still piss me off.  At least they make Sharaun happy.  I got this text from her around 10:30pm: “I touched Joe’s hand!  It gets better and better.”  Sheesh.

Anyway, with Keaton and I on our own for the evening I decided I’d take her on a “date” to one of her favorite places for dinner.  There’s a Ruby Tuesday so close to our house you can hit it with rocks if you aim right (and don’t throw like a girl, as I do).  Around 6pm we walked down there together, holding hands as we crossed the two streets on the way.  I had a wonderful time, and judging by the macaroni and cheese in her blonde hair, she seemed to enjoy it too.  Almost makes $20 for a salad and small bowl of macaroni and cheese seem tolerable.  Almost.

Goodnight guys, I’m not waiting up for Sharaun… they are gonna hang out after the show in hopes of meeting up with the “band” and going for waffles, or some such nonsense.

Love and kisses.

– Postscript –

Sharaun walked in the door and fell into bed about thirty minutes before I left for the gym this morning.  I start my workout at 6am sharp.

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portrait of an evening

One night in time.Hey Wednesday.  Nothing much exciting today.

5:00pm – The ranks begin to file out of the sawmill.  I opt to stay back for some later meetings.

6:30pm – Home at last.  Quick dinner of leftovers (don’t knock leftovers, I encourage Sharaun to take this simple and economical approach to dinner whenever possible, and I actually feel fiscally responsible eating food for more than just a single meal).

7:00pm – Sharaun leaves for her volleyball game.  I’m completely beat from a rough day at work and I’ve laid down on the couch after our meal (not typically at all for me).  Since I have Keaton now, I do some “cheat” parenting and put on a Backyardigans and she sat with me on the couch to watch.

8:00pm – I get dressed for the gym.  I have designs to head out the door the minute Sharaun gets back home.

8:15pm – We begin the bedtime ritual: Brush teeth; pre-sleep potty; get into that nighttime diaper (still haven’t been able to shake that thing); read a book, say a prayer, sing a song, and part ways with a kiss.

8:30pm – Sharaun’s home, and she meets me in Keaton’s room as I’m wrapping up.  I’m off to the gym.

9:45pm – Home from the gym after an hour on the machines.  Feel good, and consider trying to write a blog entry.  Nothing comes easy… so I decide to get some e-mail done instead.  For some reason, my thoughts on what e-mail I need to draft and/or reply to really crystallize nicely after an hour on an elliptical.

11:45pm – Done with e-mail and doing some small PowerPoint work, also chatted for a while with some of the Shanghai team for good measure.  Wonder again if I have a blog in me, but again nothing comes easy.  Start thinking about what I did today, mining for blog-fodder.

11:46pm – This blog is born, 11:50pm – written, and 12:00am-  delivered.

Goodnight.