CafeChatNoir

We often point out how territorial animals are, but I’ve come to the conclusion that humans are just as bad, if not worse. Sure, we may not go around peeing on every mailbox in the neighborhood, but once we consider something or someplace to be “ours”, we are not easily inclined to give it up, regardless of the reason.

When confronted with something, be it a person or situation, that may be trying to scare us off, there is a choice - walk away or stand your ground and keep what we feel somehow belongs to us.

The choice is dependent on how important said territory may or may not be. But it is as much, if not more, influenced by our desire to simply keep what we have, regardless of it’s intrinsic importance.

So, you stand your ground. You refuse to yield. You keep what you started with. Sometimes in the big scheme of things, it may be meaningless. But, in the small scheme of things, the here and now, it can be the most important thing in the world.

Walking away may be the path of least resistance, but sometimes you need to find your fight and bring it out front and center.

Life is short.

Live hard.

Play hard.

Take no prisoners.

Have no regrets.

I’ve spent the past couple days working on the “five year plan” - both financial & personal - not that I actually expect that things will be anywhere near what I’m plotting out at the moment cause so much can happen in 5 years, but it gives me a little bit of focus, which is always a good thing. 5 years puts me just shy of 40 (ick), but there are definitely some things that I want to have in place/done/whatever by then, as I can’t help but consider that to be one of those “turning point” years where I’ll want to have certain things in place for other things. Overall, I think what I’m plotting out can be done, but as things change as they always do, there will likely be some tweaks along the way.

So, I guess I don’t have any real resolutions to speak of for the year (I suck at keeping them anyway), but I do have plans, so that’s something, right? :)
– Plow through a few more classes.
– Get this house really, truly organized.
– Keep up with the tris & running (training kicks off again on Thursday - shooting for hitting 80% of planned training) As far as races go, just try to do as well if not better than last year and keep having fun with it. (The fun is the more important part.)
– Get the townhouse sold (so, so close!)
– Finish off the damned estate (again, SO close!)
– Spend as much time outside as weather allows.
– More photography - try to get out and find something interesting at least once a month.
– Travel somewhere I’ve never been before - could be anywhere, just somewhere new.
– A couple long term (yet fairly specific) financial goals (this is part of the 5 year plan)

It’s human nature to want to know what is going on. With the advances in communication technology over the years, we have gotten to the point where we can often get the news as it’s happening. The problem with this is the lack of complete information.

This morning is a good example. When I got up, a plane had been diverted to Boston on it’s way to Dulles because a 60 year old female confronted an airline crew, while having in her possession a screwdriver, matches, vaseline (none of which she should have been able to get on a plane) and notes referencing al-Qaeda in English & Arabic.

By the time I left to go to the gym, it was a 59 year old woman that just had a big honking panic attack and apparently got into it with the crew. None of the above mentioned items were actually there.

The arrest in the Jon Benet Ramsey case - right now they’re so desperate for things to talk about, it’s getting absurd. The suspect has been described on more than one occasion as a “second grade elementary school teacher” - as opposed to those second grade high school teachers, I guess.

As much as I like knowing what’s going on, I wish the media stick with the facts that they can actually confirm for the moment and bring in the details later when those can be confirmed. Leave the rumors out - I’d rather wait to get the entire story. They may want to take a cue from the Boulder County officials who are holding off on their press conference until tomorrow.

I hate it when I have so much rattling around in my head that it effs with my ability to sleep.

Today’s (well, technically yesterday’s) events have me pretty down. Thrilled they caught it ahead of time, but it just reinforces the fact that it’s just never really going to end, and there’s not really anything I can do. Sure, I suppose I could go enlist in the Army, but I’m pretty sure I’d die 3 days into basic, so that may not be the most practical response. I guess I just don’t like the idea that the best we can do is just hope we can stay a step ahead of things.

Maybe related, maybe not, I can’t tell for sure, but I’m also feeling totally single tonight and not in my usual “I like being single” way. Meh. However, Snoopy is doing his best to remind me that I am not just single, I am Single with Cats. Um, thanks buddy.

I got a voicemail the other day from the kennel - they were checking in to see how the critters were all doing and to see if they’d enjoyed their vacation. Unfortunately, the connection mangled the name of the specific person that called, so I sent an email to them letting them know I could tell they’d obviously had a fine time cause they were all so relaxed and happy and mellow when they got home, and thanking them for taking such good care of them. I got this response from the GM:

Thanks you so very much for taking the time to send this note to my team. I will be sure to pass on your notes to the staff that do not have access to email. It is unfortunately a rare treat for them to get a note of thanks so please accept my thanks on their behalf and we look forward to see all three of your babies again in the very near future.

Old Towne Pet Resort - simply awesome.

It’s sad that when someone does something very well, it’s rare that anyone says anything.

At least 50 people have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in central Baghdad, Iraqi security officials say.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5048116.stm

OK, I don’t claim to have an in depth understanding of what on earth is going on over there right now beyond complete chaos, but this is downright bizarre. 50 people rounded up and taken off, mainly employees of travel agencies and their customers, by persons wearing Iraqi special security forces uniforms. Interior ministry is saying it was definitely NOT “officially sanctioned.” (This sounds much less like “kidnapping” than “just go get those people and bring them in.” I can’t see how you can “kidnap” 50 people in the traditional grab & dash sense.)

First, it sure seems that everyone and their brother has access to some sort of “official” uniform of some branch of the Iraqi defense/security forces. Second, what the hell do you want with a bunch of travel agents? The agencies in question don’t even do big time international travel - in country or to Jordan or Syria. (Granted, it has been stated in the past that insurgent forces are coming from these two nations among others.)

So - do we have a group of breakaways who actually do work for the security forces and have decided that they will take matters into their own hands as far as determining who is going to/from Syria and Jordan and why, in some attempt to stem the flow of insurgent activity?

Was it something that actually WAS sanctioned, for the same reasons?

Or, do you have a group of people who got hold of some uniforms, decided this was a good place to hit and are just looking for money?

Forever Pregnant - Guidelines: Treat Nearly All Women as Pre-Pregnant

New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves — and to be treated by the health care system –as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon.

Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control.

OK, this has struck an ugly nerve with me this morning. Granted, for the most part it’s just taking care of yourself in general - and that’s certainly not a bad thing. If you’ve got a chronic condition such as asthma or diabetes, you should be taking care of that ANYWAY. They’re going on the whole “so much can happen between conception and when the pregnancy is confirmed” track and as such, you should always act like you may have just gotten knocked up and don’t know it yet.

Dear feds, while the attempt to reduce me to nothing more than a baby making factory is admirable to some I’m sure, I don’t feel the need to be treated as though I could get pregnant any day now, and I don’t like the direction I see this going. No more alcohol - can’t do that if you could get pregnant. Stay out of those smoky bars, even if you’re just having club soda. No more carpaccio, brie, caffeine, or deli meat… (There goes my chicken sandwich for lunch…and Starbucks’ profits are gonna tank if I can’t get a latte anymore…) What about all those women training for Ironman Florida in November? Should they really be doing that level of training if they could get pregnant?

Can you tell this annoyed the crap out of me this morning?

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

Senate Panel Recommends Abolishing FEMA

So in the process of this whole abolishment & rebuild & reorg, nothing is going to get done because no one is going to know who is supposed to do what, and god forbid something else happens, it’s going to be even worse. Stock up on your own supplies and have your bug out plan ready…

Today is the running of the National Marathon & Half Marathon here in DC.

They only set the date for today’s races last November. I never really saw much in the way of any press for the event, and they limited it to 5,000 runners in total. You had to have a qualifying time to enter, ranging from a 9m6s pace for a previous 10K to a 10m18s pace for a full marathon.

I heard on the radio this week that the city is losing an estimated $60,000 on the event. The race started at 7AM, Metro opens at 7AM - they made no arrangements with Metro at all, because of the free parking at RFK. OK, fair enough on that, but at the same time, how easy is it to drive to RFK when there are going to be detours and such already getting started before the gun goes off? And yet, they encouraged spectators to use Metro - well, if the runners can’t get there via Metro for the start, how are the spectators going to get there on time?

The time and participant limits were imposed due to “permit issues”. I know they were very desperate to get this race on after the DC Marathon debacle in 2003, where it ended up being canceled right at the last minute, so I am sure they bent over backwards on any permit requirements just to make this happen. But I’m honestly not sure how they can continue this as an annual event right now if they truly want it to be a successful event. With only 5,000 slots, tight qualifying times, very little press and not much in the way of making it easy for folks to be at the start, I’m just not sure how you really can attract people to it.

Just a quick comparison to some other distance races in the area:
– Cherry Blossom 10 miler - 10,000 runners, 14 minute pace limit, Metro opens early.
– Army 10 Miler - 24,000 runners, 15 minute pace limit, Metro opens early
– Marine Corps Marathon - 30,000 runners, 14 minute pace limit, Metro opens gawdawful early.

In one of the press releases, they stated “The local running community has been asking for a spring marathon, the National Marathon will provide this outlet” - and how many in the local running community has a 4:30 marathon under their belt to be able to participate? Of the 18,846 runners that finished the MCM, only 7,184 had under a 4:30 time. The DC area is ranked as the third largest region for runners, and yet, they’re keeping a lot of them out on this one.

The three races above all have to get permits, they all go through DC, they all require road closures and such - and yet they’ve managed to make them open to more runners for a longer period of time. I’d say the folks at the National Marathon need to talk with the other local race directors and find out what the big secret is to putting on a race that can be enjoyed by a lot more people. Granted, the comment that the race director “is working to ensure that the National Marathon is a ‘runners race’” may just be his way of saying “We only want the Boston qualifiers coming to our race, so stuff it.”

And as it turns out, they only got ~2,000 runners in total for the races. OK, so they only had from November to promote it, but that is still four and a half months that you can put out a BIG blitz and let people know about it. They say they want this to expand, but they’ve got to make some changes - get the word out, get more people to run, work with Metro, and change the course - running through Anacostia and the Navy Yards isn’t “scenic”…

It will be interesting to see if they can get it together for next year - I’d probably give the half a go if I could get a qualifying time between now and then.

– You’d think if you’re so flattened by the day that you have to stop and actively try to remember if you’ve had dinner, you’d be able to sleep.

– Reason #368 that the iPod has been a good purchase - it makes housework slightly more tolerable. However, Martha Stewart is still not losing any sleep over my existence on this planet.

– I seriously wish I had a better grasp on what is going on in the minds of men.

– Why do I have to be 33? I don’t feel 33.

– I’ve walked, run, swim, biked, and rowed for training 98 miles since July 30th. It feels like that number should be higher…

– I didn’t realize how much I really missed hockey until it came back. I’m soooooooo happy. :)

– There is a disturbing lack of red wine in this house.

– I cannot believe there are still two workdays left this week. Please, PLEASE let me make it to Friday with some tiny bit of my sanity intact.

– I really hope I can fall asleep here soon…

Did a Starbucks run this morning, to celebrate the fact that it’s Friday. Something I’ve noticed is how many people are there in the mornings. Not doing the grab & dash like me, but sitting and lingering… Reading the paper, chatting with folks. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but how do they find this free time in the morning? Same with the folks I see out running or biking on my way to work… Are there that many people around that are either unemployed or don’t have to be at work until 10 AM?

Granted, that will be me next week since I’m on 11-8, but other than those weeks, I can’t say I’ve ever had a job where I really had the extra time in the mornings to do stuff like that…

How much is it costing to put on each of these concerts?

From what I understand, tickets are free. So, you’ve got a ton of money flying out the door, none appears to be coming back in…

And this is helping solve global poverty how?

How you’d say something to someone else on the internet you’d likely never say to someone in person.

I’m generally quite good at slamming my foot in my mouth, so I try to be careful with things that I post in forums - often I will just skip a thread entirely if I know there is no good way to voice my thoughts without trampling over someone else.

Thread in another forum today - someone asks a question, within about 3 replies I can see where this is going. I ignore the thread as I’ve really no desire to watch the train wreck that is sure to ensue. Sure enough, via a link in a new thread, seems that in 6 hours, harsh exchanges have been made, someone is crying, and words have been said that probably would have never been said in person, even if all parties were drunk off their asses.

What is it about the internet that removes all restraint? I know there is the anonymity factor, but still…

Lord knows I have my catty moments, but some of the things I read just boggle my mind.

Note to all: I should probably be cut off from posting after 1/2 a beer, as I start to wax philosophical. Or what passes for it in my mind… Continue at your own risk.

Tonight’s question is: Why?

Why do we keep going? What is it about us as humans that we keep going?

Consider all the times the average person has a decent kick in the teeth in life. Loss, hurt, general upheaval to outright betrayal.

To be honest, when I think about it, you’d think there would be a LOT more major freakouts going on in the world. Instead, we keep getting up and going at it again. Either we’re quite optimistic, or just not terribly bright.

Me? I truly can’t decide if I’m strong & optimistic, or just a complete friggin’ moron…

Mind you, this hasn’t happened for 26 years, so it’s not like I really know how it works from watching it happen a lot…

– Do you have to pay the Vatican City clerks office a name change fee?
– New passport?
– Do you end up with dual citizenship since you’re now the Head of State for Vatican City?
– This whole “Papal apartment” thing. Is it a studio? Two bedroom? Loft? Are utilities included?

2004, you can kiss my cute ass. Finished it off by gorging on Chinese food, listening to Bob Newhart, and falling asleep well before midnight, and then waking up at midnight, seriously considering getting into the car and driving about running over people who were shooting off fireworks. (When the hell did that become a tradition, anyway? Yes, I am officially old.)

2005 started with sleeping in, coffee at Jamie’s General Bean and breakfast at Payne’s next door (terrific throwback greasy spoon in Centreville.)

Finally got a rolling pin last night, and all is right with the world. Bread is on the first second rising cycle, and hopefully will be done and cooled by the time I have to leave for dinner for Grandma’s birthday. (She’ll kick my ass if I’m late, even with fresh out of the oven bread…) I’d forgotten how delightfully violent making bread is! I have no doubt that there is flour on the ceiling. :-D

Some good news coming out of the tsunami - and proof you need to pay attention in school and listen to your elders:
Elders’ Sea Knowledge Spares Some Thais
“The elders told us that if the water recedes fast it will reappear in the same quantity in which it disappeared,” 65-year-old village chief Sarmao Kathalay told the paper.
British ‘angel’ saved hundreds from tsunami with classroom knowledge
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl saved the lives of hundreds of people in southern Asia by warning them a wall of water was about to strike, after learning about tsunamis in geography class, British media reported.

And here come the resolutions…

– Get the house more organized. I’m getting better, but still need a lot of work. The house is OK, but it really needs to get to a point of “a place for everything and everything in it’s place.” Right now it’s more of a “everything at least is stacked up somewhere…” That is just gonna take plain ol’ time & discipline…

– Get me more organized. I suck at time management. I somehow am able to get what must be done, done - but there is so much more and if I had my act a touch more together, I could accomplish a heck of a lot more. I can’t help but think that possibly a tiny less time spent on my butt reading things on the internet may help, but that sounds awfully extreme… ;)

– Take more photographs. I’ve got a great camera and I need to take it with me more places.

– Do more creative stuff. I’ve got it in me, just need to take the time and DO something with it! More beading, knitting, sewing, painting, all of it.

– Read more books. 2004 was probably a lifetime low for books read for me. Must not let that happen again!

– Take advantage of having good cooking tools and cook more!! (That’s already in progress, wheeee!)

– Get back on the exercise wagon to offset the effects of the abovementioned good cooking tools.

– Bed before 11 on school nights. 10 would be ideal. Seriously. If you see me posting after 10, yell at me.

– Just be a better, kinder person in general, despite the fact I am surrounded by dumbasses sometimes. ;) Nah, seriously, just gotta keep paying it forward for the good fortune that I do have, even when it seems like everything sucks.

– Figure out a way to create a 30 hour day, and then decide how I will spend my Nobel Prize money for the discovery. :-D

– Addition: No more sitting my butt down at the computer when I get home unless all the other stuff is done.

– Addition 2: Keep the finances under control. Came out ahead last year (thanks to the market not screwing me, which helped), and I need to continue that.

– Addition 3: Maybe quit smoking this year? Would be a good idea in general, but you have to *want* to, and I can’t say that want has been there yet.

May 2005 bring you and yours nothing but the very best.

…that can add up to a good day.

– Good weather (5 degrees more would have been perfect, but definitely good nonetheless)
– That warm fuzzy that comes from doing good things
– Getting dirty & sweaty & muddy
– Long hot shower to get rid of the dirt, sweat & mud
– Naps
– Good wine
– Splurging for extra icons

Tomorrow is getting things in order for the ladies to come work their magic. May take some time to get my sweaters and such a tad more organized as the weather is getting cooler and it would be good to know where they all are. Definitely time for a pantry clean-out here very soon. I think there may be canned goods in there from when I moved in…

Addendum: The wine had not been stored on its’ side like it should have. I noticed after pouring, there was a ton of cork dust in it. Easy fix - pour from glass A to glass B with a coffee filter in between. Does knowing this make me a lush, or just knowledgable about how to deal with sediments in wines? :)

You’ve no doubt heard of Mrs. Kerry’s foot in mouth action when she said she didn’t think Mrs. Bush had ever had a “real job.”

OK, apparently the First Lady had been a teacher & librarian. To be honest, I didn’t realize it myself.* Nor would I expect Teresa Kerry to know the resume of Laura Bush - I just mainly thought of it as kinda of a dumb thing to say in general and didn’t think much more of it. She did apologise and Laura Bush came back saying no apology necessary. A civil end to what I considered a relatively minor public faux pas.

Apparently, a lot of women are pissed about the comment. Not because Teresa Kerry didn’t know Laura Bush’s work history, but because it was taken as a slam against her SAHM time. That was one thing that had never even come to mind when I heard what she had said.

Now, do NOT misunderstand me - being a stay at home Mom is a full time, real job - ain’t no two ways about it. I certainly wouldn’t argue that for a second.

It just never occurred to me to read that far into what she said and to be offended by it…

*I know Hillary Clinton was a lawyer, Jacqueline Kennedy was a photographer, and Nancy Reagan was an actress. That’s it. I probably deserve some sort of flogging for that…

No, no, it’s really not as morbid as all that, I’m certainly not planning on shuffling off this mortal coil anytime soon, but I’m low on sleep and my mind is in overdrive, which leads to bizarre questions rattling about my head.

I know I’m not going to be famous for anything I’ve done or dramatically change the world, and my obituary will likely not have any notable achievements in it, and I’m OK with that. I am content with having an impact on my world, small though it may be.

I want to be known in my world for being kind and generous, thoughtful and caring. For at least trying if not always succeeding in being able to be a source of support for others when needed. For being positively goofy over animals and small children. To be thought of as a genuinely good and decent person.

I hope I am achieving that.

Only two days of work this week. I am sooooooo glad I scheduled this, cause I am so ready for the break.

Quilt show today was fun - all vendors, but wow, so many gorgeous vintage quilts. One silk Victorian w/all paper backing and frankly, the backing was more interesting cause it was all from household paper scraps - you could see handwriting, postage marks, all sorts of cool stuff. We walked out of there feeling very sewing inept, but filled with all sorts of dangerous ideas. :)

I’m so damn tired tonight, again for no good reason. Even took a nap this afternoon to boot, but I am pretty much down for the count this evening, and probably should have gone to bed at least three hours ago, and I caught my second wind, which will leave me wrecked in the morning.

Reading another forum earlier today, post from a gal who has gotten dumped and isn’t particularly thrilled with the whole “alone” prospect. Understandable. Thing is - alone is easy. It’s alone combined with the rather hideous pain of rejection that’s hard. BTDT more times that I can count.

Just finished critter blankie #6 this evening. The finished edge has some variations in the tension because Target was being a brat and trying to run off with the yarn as I was trying to do it. I think I have just enough yarn left for one more. Snoopy has finally decided they aren’t toxic and is snuggled up on one right now. I guess I’ll have to make a couple more just for them.

Have been feeling a grand lack of purpose in my life recently. Do need to do something about that I suppose… But first - sleep.

Summer’s over. :(

Didn’t even get to the pool this year, much less out of town. Don’t get me wrong, the other seasons are nice and all, but summer is my very favorite.

As is my tradition, each Labor Day I stop and think about what I want to accomplish between now & Christmas. Sort of like New Year’s Resolutions, but without the January 1st hangover. So, here we go:

– Be more patient with, well, everything & everyone.
– Keep up the exercising.
– Try my hand at a larger knitting project for myself.
– Keep the house in check. This will require more diligence with the cleaning service only coming around once a month vs every two weeks.
– Do some serious decluttering & organizing around here.
– Keep watching the budget like a hawk. I know that if I actually pay attention to it, then I don’t spend stupidly, which frees up funds for things like dinner out with no guilt. :)
– Cooking real food again. With the cooler weather approaching, cold sandwiches just aren’t gonna cut it anymore for lunch & dinner. Time for chili & soup!
– Get more sleep. Which given that I’ll have to get out of here earlier tomorrow with school starting up again, I’d best go work on that right now.

Niters all.

Starting with, what is it with cats & yarn, anyway?

Why does politics have to be so divisive?

Why can I only remember to get the trash out 1 out of 3 times they come around?

Why do people treat each other like they’re disposable?

Will I ever progress past a plain knit stitch?

Will I ever have kids?

Did they ever get the phones transferred at work today so I can move to my new desk?

How many more hurricanes are we gonna see this season?

Are my new glasses gonna be spiffy or am I just kidding myself?

When did we turn into such a throw-away society anyway? (Says the woman with the disposable contact lenses…)

When will my next real leave-town vacation be?

Why can’t folks just be decent to each other? Is it really that hard?

Why am I up so damn late?

It’s been a very good two days of chilling out, and I still have ANOTHER weekday off and a weekend to boot. This was exactly what I needed - I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo relaxed.

I am having one of those contemplative evenings, fueled by relaxation, nice summer weather and a Corona with lime. I’ve got a pretty darn good life. (I find it’s easier to see this clearly when I’m relaxed.)

I have a family that I get on with very well and they know they can call when they need something. Mom & I went for dinner after the airport last night (flight was an hour late - asked her if she still thought the Metro was such a grand idea - she was glad I met her at the gate), and just talked and laughed and had a good time. Tomorrow I’ll be ferrying little bro to the airport as well.

I have a job I really, really like. While the pay is not tremendous, it is enough, and the benefits (such as more vacation time than I seem to be able to use) are quite good. I have good coworkers. (A few losers, but they leave me alone and the good ones really make up for them anyway.)

I have a roof over my head and a carpeted floor under my feet. I don’t have to worry about how I am going to get my next meal. I have a reliable car that gets me from point A to point B and has enough room to help people move. (OK, that last part is a mixed blessing, but…)

I have two very sweet cats that I love to pieces. They even tolerate my very bad singing.

I’m dating a very spiffy guy, even if he does have too many damn books to move. He also has a cool dog and a HAMMOCK - now there is a tool for doing nothing. :)

I have good neighbors, and even though my country is spectacularly screwed up in some ways, it’s still a good place to be.

In short, my life fairly well rocks. The problem is it is so easy to lose sight of this with the numerous annoyances of day to day life. I need to work harder on seeing through those.

And I have beer. :-D