I didn't mention in my first post how great it's been to be nearer my family again....so here's my 41 year old version of a shout out up north! Parents, cousins, aunties and uncles are all nearby, and it's good to know I'll be able to spend time with them for the holidays and other random occasions.
I’ve been enjoying morning walks near Lake Michigan since I’ve returned. I live only about two blocks from good ole Michi gami. Every morning is pretty, but one particular morning was super-fantastic (not the picture shown). I’ll try to use my adjectives. I have a lot, but it’s hard to find them on demand and they're not the poetic variety.
So! The sun was doing its thing, making its way up and around. This morning there were both dark clouds and white fluffy clouds, somewhere between cirrus and cumulonimbus, the only types I remember from meteorology class. Um, why is weather called meteorology? Meteor? Anyhow, the clouds. So, the colors reflected on the clouds were pink and purple, a little orange. These colors also sat right on top of the lake, of course, such that when the many geese and ducks took off, their wings splashed up pink water. There were also cute little ducklings practicing flying around in circles nearby the tribe. Because some of the clouds had moisture in them, the Milwaukee skyline had a rainbow. I also saw fish breaching. I know typically this term is only used for whales, but I think I’d like to apply it to smelt, bass, or perch in this case. I don’t remember this phenomenon of fish jumping out of the water….has anyone else seen this? They like to see sunrise, too? As the sun progressed, there were streaks of pink and yellow shooting from behind the clouds. The air was warm, a non-speedy wind was blowing, and I almost felt like diving right into the lake myself.
I envy ducks, by the way. Fly, swim, walk. What an awesome mode-of-transport trio.
Oh, I had two major realizations as I walked the lake. Often, the ducks are lined up in a row. Also, the duck and the goose are typically together on the lake. You know what I’m thinking about, right?
Been super busy since I’ve been back. I started my new job at ASQ (where I worked 1991-2004) at the most intense time of year for the quality award I work on (final assessment of site). This is a new department for me, kind of separate from ASQ since it's contract work with the Dept. of Commerce. I was booking 7 hotels for meetings, signing contracts, making sure specs were on target, cutting checks, and trying to learn new processes and people. I’d be working on one meeting, and someone would call me about another. Hotels, government employees, award examiners, cost centers, details details details. Hard to keep it all straight – I had to keep asking myself what city I was in since they were in different places across the US. I got heartburn and headaches from it. UCLA wasn’t exactly that intense. It was mostly boring, or frustrating. Us peons weren't actually empowered to learn and grow, and actual hard work usually occurred only because of woefully inadequate processes or poor preparation based on woefully inadequate processes (the good part-at least I got to dabble in class-taking there and healthcare didn't cost an arm and a leg). I did enjoy being busy here, however, and really am enjoying my colleagues. We have a lot in common and a lot of laughs. There’s not an oppressive, painful quiet like there was in my previous job. Important. Good.
I’ve been enjoying morning walks near Lake Michigan since I’ve returned. I live only about two blocks from good ole Michi gami. Every morning is pretty, but one particular morning was super-fantastic (not the picture shown). I’ll try to use my adjectives. I have a lot, but it’s hard to find them on demand and they're not the poetic variety.
So! The sun was doing its thing, making its way up and around. This morning there were both dark clouds and white fluffy clouds, somewhere between cirrus and cumulonimbus, the only types I remember from meteorology class. Um, why is weather called meteorology? Meteor? Anyhow, the clouds. So, the colors reflected on the clouds were pink and purple, a little orange. These colors also sat right on top of the lake, of course, such that when the many geese and ducks took off, their wings splashed up pink water. There were also cute little ducklings practicing flying around in circles nearby the tribe. Because some of the clouds had moisture in them, the Milwaukee skyline had a rainbow. I also saw fish breaching. I know typically this term is only used for whales, but I think I’d like to apply it to smelt, bass, or perch in this case. I don’t remember this phenomenon of fish jumping out of the water….has anyone else seen this? They like to see sunrise, too? As the sun progressed, there were streaks of pink and yellow shooting from behind the clouds. The air was warm, a non-speedy wind was blowing, and I almost felt like diving right into the lake myself.
I envy ducks, by the way. Fly, swim, walk. What an awesome mode-of-transport trio.
Oh, I had two major realizations as I walked the lake. Often, the ducks are lined up in a row. Also, the duck and the goose are typically together on the lake. You know what I’m thinking about, right?
Been super busy since I’ve been back. I started my new job at ASQ (where I worked 1991-2004) at the most intense time of year for the quality award I work on (final assessment of site). This is a new department for me, kind of separate from ASQ since it's contract work with the Dept. of Commerce. I was booking 7 hotels for meetings, signing contracts, making sure specs were on target, cutting checks, and trying to learn new processes and people. I’d be working on one meeting, and someone would call me about another. Hotels, government employees, award examiners, cost centers, details details details. Hard to keep it all straight – I had to keep asking myself what city I was in since they were in different places across the US. I got heartburn and headaches from it. UCLA wasn’t exactly that intense. It was mostly boring, or frustrating. Us peons weren't actually empowered to learn and grow, and actual hard work usually occurred only because of woefully inadequate processes or poor preparation based on woefully inadequate processes (the good part-at least I got to dabble in class-taking there and healthcare didn't cost an arm and a leg). I did enjoy being busy here, however, and really am enjoying my colleagues. We have a lot in common and a lot of laughs. There’s not an oppressive, painful quiet like there was in my previous job. Important. Good.
{Does anyone have a follow-up to healthcare costing an arm and a leg? I can't quite come up with a good sarcastic ironic remark about that - something about not being able to afford the care it would take to replace the arm/leg you lost from it in the first place....um...}
I'm happy to have gotten through the last few weeks relatively unscarred. I think it all went well considering new job and new place to live. The place I’m living is working out temporarily. It’s not a place I’d want to be in the long term, which I hate to say out loud for fear of the hex curse, but it’s OK for now. I have three roommates, who are rarely here at the same time. It’s a cool old place, but has many features not for me. In the interest of not venting too much negativity, highlights include dimming lights when you turn stuff on, noisy heat, stained carpet, too much crap everywhere, a shower with a curtain that must be beaten into submission, a toilet that splashes, (the bathroom is very old-I've never hated a room more). There's more. It's kind of like LA for me....good place to visit, I'm honored to know great people, don't want to live there.
I'm happy to have gotten through the last few weeks relatively unscarred. I think it all went well considering new job and new place to live. The place I’m living is working out temporarily. It’s not a place I’d want to be in the long term, which I hate to say out loud for fear of the hex curse, but it’s OK for now. I have three roommates, who are rarely here at the same time. It’s a cool old place, but has many features not for me. In the interest of not venting too much negativity, highlights include dimming lights when you turn stuff on, noisy heat, stained carpet, too much crap everywhere, a shower with a curtain that must be beaten into submission, a toilet that splashes, (the bathroom is very old-I've never hated a room more). There's more. It's kind of like LA for me....good place to visit, I'm honored to know great people, don't want to live there.
So. Therefore. Thusly. I’d like furniture and a brand new comfy bed with pictures of friends and family on the wall and bright sunny rooms. I don’t want to settle in too hard and accumulate a bunch of stuff in this limited space (and before I know where I’m going to be living longer term), so am living from boxes and bags for now. I have a solid vision of what my living space will look like, all new-ish and quiet with parking, and near Michi gami. But for now, I can walk to work, to the lake, and am in a good spot with nice people. All in good time…
I don't have a super smart comment about the arm and a leg healthcare comment... however, I was thinking about the place you lived in in China, I'm pretty sure you hated that room more. At least you don't have a squatty for a toilet eh?
ReplyDeleteLove the blog!
Kat
Too Much Crap sums up my decor. I've said "yes" to the question of "would you like" too too often.
ReplyDeleteI really loved this line: "There’s not an oppressive, painful quiet like there was in my previous job." Especially now that I sit at your desk and am experiencing/enduring the painful quiet that is the air I breathe.
ReplyDelete