Personal Observations

I've had the rare calm to step outside myself and observe. I have made the following three observations in the last 12 hours or so. I don't know what it means, just that it is.

1 - I like to think that I'm flexible, and generally I think that I am. However, I think I have the freedom to be flexible because I'm generally around people who think similarly to me. So the things they may choose are more likely to be in the realm of things I like. When I'm with people who's interests aren't as close to mine, then it's much harder to be flexible. I'm sure this is true for a lot of people, I was just struck by it this week.

2 - I tend to be a pretty cuddly person, but only when I've invited someone into my bubble. If I haven't invited someone it bothers me A LOT when they step in very close. Especially if they're chewing gum or smell like stale cigarette smoke (and yes - there are two specific people I'm referencing).

3 - Sometimes it takes sitting with someone from Michigan to remind me the reasons that I didn't feel like I fit there, and I do feel like (on certain levels) I fit here. Things like being in a diverse city (even though I feel like Denver's pretty white) that has tons of opportunities for creativity if I would just open my eyes to them.

I'm sure there's a lot more to observe, here's to having the space to see it in myself.

Hoop it Forward

It's a real club. I'm not joking, and their hula hoop was the first one I've ever been able to keep up (twss). What am I talking about? Glad you asked.

I had a lovely weekend - I got a killer haircut from Tauna at Moxie. The last person who was doing my hair abruptly left the salon I was going to with no forwarding information, and so about 2 1/2 or 3 months ago I was left without a stylist. I went to another guy at that same salon, but it wasn't the same, and just as I was in real need of a cut he went on vacation leaving me to try someone new yet again. And let me tell you I am so glad I did. I wanted to go short for summer, which I am hesitant to do after a couple of really short cuts, and after explaining that, and what I wanted I walked out of there happier than I've walked out of the salon in a really, really, really long time. Plus, I can walk there from home, so at this point I'm 97% sure that when I need to another appointment I'm so calling.

After that I putzed for a while. Had the longest most detailed house tour that I've ever endured, and Sunday afternoon went with Sheralee to Jazz in the Park. I must say that I can not believe I haven't been going to these events since I moved to Denver. They are THE perfect way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon/evening and I can not wait to spend more Sundays in the park. (Am I getting to the point of this story...?) As we were walking home we walked past a group of people who were hula hooping (is that a word?). We commented to each other that we've never been able to hula and one of the guys overheard us and let us try his hoop. After we rocked it (I mean tried it) he said - hey you can have this if you want it. Strange. So we asked a few more questions and it turns out he's in a group called Hoop it Forward - they go to parks, create hula hoops and give them away. I may just join this group because it is quirky and sounds like a random way to meet people. And now that Sheralee has a hula hoop, I'm so practicing every day.

Feeling OLD

So I've had a number of moments where I felt OLD this week!

1 - Did you know that you can't get an operator by dialing 0 anymore? I knew you couldn't from a cell phone, but now you can't even from a landline. For your reference 411 gets you an operator on the cell phone and 555-1212 gets you an operator from a land line.

2 - Last night I was out until 11:00 and I didn't know what to do with myself. I was fine - not tired at all, but I would like to have gotten more sleep.

3 - We have a new intern on my team and I really believe he needs to pull up his pants. There is no underwear showing, but his belt is halfway around his butt and his shirt is just about untucked. I'm not sure who should tell him this but he needs to know that no one will take him seriously until he pulls up his pants. My friend at work and I have nicknamed him Sir Pantsalot.

Thankfully I've had the distraction of learning to play video games as a diversion to help me feel a bit younger. Well - except for the part where Brain Age told me my brain age was 50! Just cause I'm not that great at Rock, Paper, Scissors. I am getting pretty good at the crosswords though - and I'm certain that if I had Tetris I might be skipping work. The cute little Nintendo is fun :)

Heeeey Readers

I no longer have a computer at home. Wah wha. The truth is that I've had a computer at home much longer than I really should have and so now I'm on the craigslist hunt for a used macbook or powerbook in decent condition. Based on the posting I'm seeing it shouldn't be too long before I find something that's just right. Maybe I can find someone who wants to barter a brand new one for a car...

One Small Step for Southpaws

Recently I've had the opportunity to become a brand enthusiast for Nintendo. Really. As part of the opportunity I will get to have a party for my friends in about 3 1/2 weeks and I get to try out the handheld Nintendo DS from now until then. Those of you who know me personally probably know that I'm not a gamer - I vaguely remember Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt from playing at friend's homes and that's it. I got my cute little Nintendo DS yesterday - it's black and it's a little blinged out, and in the 15 minutes I've started playing it so far I am so impressed that it has a feature to make it easier for us lefties to use! The game asks if you're right handed or left handed and then if you're a southpaw like me, the screen flips so that it's easier to play. Genius.

Perhaps Time is Coming to an End

Well - not in the apocolypse, end of time sense - rather I believe my time having Stanley the cat as a roommate is almost over. On Saturday I was in and out of the house and on two occasions when I came back in Stanley hissed at me. Hissed loud and with a really menacing look. It made me uneasy - like he was going to come bite me in my sleep or something. I've been thinking that we were making progress - he doesn't run right under the bed when I get up in the morning any more, he hides elsewhere until I'm moving around too much and he can't handle it. I thought that was a good sign, and then the hissing.

Anyone out there have their antisocial cat hiss at them?