Weird Science

I ate a very early breakfast as if I were working today and then had a light snack before I was completely ready at 10am for meeting Bridget at 10:30am at the Museum of Science and Industry which just miles from where I live. She called me when she was passing downtown Tampa which was my signal to leave the apartment.

Her son talked up a storm while we were in line getting our tickets. A bit of outrageousn laced his stories as soon as he found out he had a receptive audience: me. Bridget was warning me about him talking all the time and I replied that I could talk to kids all day. Kids are fun especially in an environment such as this kind of museum of exploration into some cool science. We were in time to be seated up close for the magic show. One of the themes at the exhibit was on Magic.



We meandered the different levels where we explored The Universe (solar system) , Disasterville (hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, etc.), Magnets and Your Body exhibits to name several. In between, we ate lunch and saw an IMAX film Wild Ocean. I forgot that the IMAX at the museum was not like other IMAX installations. This was dome-like where you could get almost a full globe experience. I knew I was going to be queasy after we sat down. Bridget was too and her son was a bit scared by the whole thing until he saw giant projections of dolphins swimming across the screen.

We ended up outside in the mini butterfly garden exhibit enjoying some of the flora, pretty butterflies and creatures in the pond. By this time it was after 4pm and we were all tuckered out. Bridget still had to drive home across Tampa over the bridge to St. Petersburg. Full day for all of us.

Cabal was ready for a walk when I got home. It was very hot outside and very bright. We couldn't wait to get back in. I called Bridget after she got home and thanked her for coming over this side of the bay. She said her son commented that he was going to miss me and asked if I was part of the family now. Oh my God -- how sweet! After the call, I began to upload the photos from today, but forgot that most of the cooler pics I took with Bridget's camera of she and her son.

In the middle of uploading, I received a surprising text from Dan asking if I had any dinner plans. I texted back not yet and that I just got home from being with Bridget and her son. He text back that his refrigerator broke and he had some steaks he had to grill and that he had already talked to Jeff/Tawny who were coming over and if I would like to join them. Dan said that Jeff could pick me up on the way and dinner was around 7pm. Hmmm... I said sure and asked if I could bring anything, but he replied that Jeff had the extras all figured out to round out the meal. Took out a box of couscous anyway and sliced off two tablespoons of butter for the recipe. I wasn't going to assume that Mr. Bachelor had butter. Ha!

The repair guy came while we were making the sides and replaced a part within 15 minutes. Dan marinated some expensive cuts of steak in a new machine that made them tender in minutes before putting them on the grill outside. They turned out very good and I am not a big steak eater. I told him at the table that he was on the approved list for making steaks. He can cook very well when I choose to give him enough credit. (Meanie AGOL!)

Later Dan shared his vacation pics on his big screen TV from when he visited his family in New York a week ago. Tawny and I prepared dessert and watched some more TV. I had extra entertainment with Dan's Siamese cat who always hides when other people are around. The cat came to investigate me and in a totally unexpected thing -- let me pet him for a very long time and on different occasions. I thought he was Cabal as demanding as he was for my attention. SingSing even butted his head against my other hand as if to say, Um -- HELLO -- you have TWO hands. I found myself using my left hand to scratch up and down his back while my right hand scratched behind his pretty head. Tawny teased Dan that he would have to get longer nails now.

We were home before midnight and I was very tired from a very full and fun day. The two beers I had at Dan's weren't helping me either, but I still enjoyed some hot jasmine tea before I went to sleep.
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Weird Science

Sprinkles Day

It felt great -- great to have a day I could claim as my own...

I dropped my handbag and planner in Michelle's salon before going to the boba smoothie shop to get our favorite flavors. The owner was flirting with me. I wasn't sure at first and I can be aloof to such things, but he kept at it. This is going to sound bad but I am not generally attracted to other Asians. He was cute and had a muscular build, but I had no desire to play "sticky rice" as my cousin in LA has described to me.

Two hours later, I felt more like myself after having my roots retouched and general shaping of my hair through Michelle's expertise. Hello, Shallowville! We had some good laughs. It was made bittersweet by Michelle's recounting of the new man she was dating. He seemed her dream come true, a spectrum opposite from her ex-husband. Little details of his whereabouts don't seem to add up lately and she suspects him of dating another woman while dating her. Gosh, I hope she's wrong or she will never trust another man again. I think he forgets that she is wicked smart and can add timetables, too. Here's a hint gentlemen: Over explaining yourself can be a sure sign of guilt.

Made a quick stop at one of my clothing stores. I bought more workout gear on clearance. Four workout pants, two matching windbreaker jackets, one tee shirt and a pair of trouser socks came to a whopping $44. My casual pants usually begin at $55 at this store. These were past the end of the season items from last fall. The store was in full swing for late spring and early summer. Yoga style pants that were $45 were on sale for $4.99. I was super thrilled enough to call Angie in LA to brag about my deals.

My next stop was to get my nails done and check off another box on my Shallowville list. The old man from a few months ago was my nail tech today. He was talkative. I asked him what he had done when he lived in Vietnam. He said he had been an electrical engineer and a lieutenant. Age had been his enemy so he switched to doing nails when he got too old as he said. It was an easy profession to get into coming into the States. We also discussed the Vietnamese restaurant I have been frequenting which he approved and was able to make some other recommendations around the city.

The afternoon dissolved and I found myself hustling to get home so Cabal could be walked, fed and played with before I jumped in the shower. Tawny was having a party tonight with our friends. A couple who used to live here were visiting and staying with them a couple of days. It got loud as the libations were consumed. I had the best time. The only portion that bothered me was the push from the couple visiting for me to consider Dan as a dating option. He's a decent guy, Sarah. Why aren't you guys dating? I never disputed that he was a decent guy and quite frankly, he is a wonderful catch for a single girl.

There must be a rift in the space-time continuum somewhere for this subject to be coming up lately. Have they ever considered that he may not like me? It was as if it was my doing we were not together. Maybe I don't want to be with him either after all the BS in between the 10 years we've known each other. Just because we get along and seem to have this special rapport, doesn't mean we're dating material to each other. Of course, seeing us demonstrate this rapport tonight didn't help. Any dates we've had have been stilted with him not saying a whole lot back. He clammed up. As much as I love to talk, I can't keep the conversation up the whole time; I need feedback. I know our close friends mean well and only want to see us happily enjoying the same kind of happiness they have. Still, I was able to leave the party with a comforting feeling from an evening with great friends topping a day with Sprinkles-filled activities.
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Sprinkles Day

Testy Tuesday

My workout buddy's under-the-weather feeling lingered today so it was to be me and the other crazy hamsters. I looked forward to the time away from my two flat screens . This excitement lasted until I walked into the locker room. Something was amiss and the feeling magnified when I walked into the gym where I expected to be the only one or at least the only female. No, a more mature lady was already on an elliptical machine who normally comes in much later.

The room didn't have the right feeling even as the other hamsters trickled in. I weathered the weird vibe and rushed back to my cube to eat my lunch. Of course, news that my department's seating arrangement was to be uprooted again in two weeks to make room for the marketing department from the other building didn't help any. Yeah...loud Marketing and quiet Finance, a marriage made in heaven. Sigh.

Myrna picked me up for dinner so we could catch up a little and uplift both our spirits with laughter...When I checked my e-mail after, I had received an invitation to a St. Valentine's Murder Mystery party from my friend Dan. The guests are assigned characters and recommended costumes. It is set to be in the Roaring 20's during Prohibition to include gangsters and flappers. Should be fun in two weekends to play the part of Roxanne Redlight.
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Testy Tuesday

My Big Fat Greek Dinner

Imaginary calorie counting. What does that mean? It means I ate a smart breakfast, no lunch, and a smart afternoon snack in preparation for the zero calorie Greek dinner I was going to partake in with my friends. Can you see where imagination would have to be employed?

We celebrated Kathy's, her sister Cindi's and Jeff's birthdays at The Acropolis Greek Taverna. It was one of the most fun dinners I have ever had. We seated 11 people which meant that I had to agree to taverna or family style dining for a set price (excluding alcohol) when I made our reservations. They brought us a little bit of everything from appetizer to desserts to share. Our table was covered from one end to the other of the following courses:

1. Greek salad
2. Saganaki (cheese flambe)
3. Spanakopita (spinach pie)
4. Four Mediterranean dips with pita bread (cucumber, eggplant, hummus, salmon)
5. Fried smelt (fish)
6. Calamari (fried squid)
7. Grouper (fish) over veggies
8. Beef and Chicken Kebabs
9. Lamb and Orzo
10. Plates of desserts
11. * and during hedonistic delight in consuming the obscenely delicious food you could order drinks like cola, water, tea, regular coffee and/or specialty coffees included in the price. Most of us had alcohol in addition and the mixed drinks were fabulous! I had a Kamikaze.
    

The atmosphere was definitely for fun. There was live entertainment with a musician, the waitstaff dancing arm in arm like a weaving centipede around the tables at different moments, belly dancing and birthday music sang in a Greek techno dance theme several times. It got loud with the Opa!(s), the clapping during the belly dance and general din of the crowd.

Paper napkins tossed are all over the place by the staff. OPA!


Dan got tagged. There are more pictures of him dancing with the belly dancer, but we won't go there. It was great!


Just another course...


Almost got too full for this...I said almost!



This was worth it all. We were laughing, drinking, eating and more laughing for almost four hours. I would love to do it again!



Oddly enough: My old friend Sam from high school sent me a note from classmates.com this afternoon. I am so pleased he wrote me. He is full blooded Greek. His summers were spent in Greece and he would come back sporting a dark golden color. Sam still lives in Wyoming and is a power lifter. Now if only our other pal John would contact me, we could have our trio back. Through Sam, I learned how to drink ouzo and enjoy my first real Greek food. I remember laughing a lot in class and outside of class when he was around. If he's reading this: I also remember what you and John gave me for my 18th birthday (or was that graduation?). Let's just say it could give quite the buzz.
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My Big Fat Greek Dinner

Playing Santa

Shopping cart in hand, I walked towards Dan in the store where he was waiting for me a little after 9am. After our good mornings, I told him two things: 1) How shamed I feel that my words from nine years ago has brought us here and 2) How proud I was of him and have never been more proud of him until that moment. Dan never forgets anything and I know he values me and what I think. After telling him how I felt, I didn't wait to see the look on his face for fear of my eyes filling with tears. I think he was feeling it, too, and knows me enough to switch gears and start joking with me. Great friends pay attention.

Dan kept teasing me that all we had were girls to buy for and accused me doing it on purpose so we didn't have to buy boy stuff. After looking at the shopping list, five girls (16 yrs, two 11 yrs, 10 yrs and 1 yr) were indeed girly with the exception of one who wanted more masculine toys. I actually would love to buy boy stuff, but other people in our company beat us to the angel tree last week.

I outlined a plan of buying one or two articles of clothing and getting two or more of the other stuff. For example, one girl received an outfit and her CD player, a CD and some nice brand batteries for her new CD player. I let Dan choose the higher ticket items or gave him choices. Wouldn't let him skimp on the batteries though so he picked ones with an oversleeves of pink for supporting breast cancer. I made sure we bought batteries for all the toys that needed them. We even bought a girl a set of gold earrings and a bracelet. It wasn't about having set limit on each child, but a nice set of gifts.

Then there was gift wrapping. We have to bring the gifts unwrapped, but I wanted to make sure that they got gift wrapping, boxes, ribbon and a roll of tape for each child. The baby toy set we got requires an extra roll so she got two for her toy, clothes, shoes, etc. Dan did an AGOL No-No by picking out drab rolls of gift wrapping. Christmas is supposed to be magical so we need wrapping paper that has foil or Mylar. Shiny for magic. You should have seen the look on this man's face when I explained my reasoning. I am used to seeing the look for years because I try to stun him at every turn. He picked a really pretty one out and a matching metallic ribbon while I put the rest I had already gathered in the cart. Poor thing.

We're not done shopping yet even after going to another store. Dan assured me we had time and he would complete the rest this next week when I began to get concerned about not having everything. We will give the ones we have already completed on Monday and meet again to combine his additions to mine since I am sorting and putting everything together. It will be several bills well spent.

It was lunchtime and I asked him to meet me at this Italian place up the road. We scarfed our breakfast/lunch combo of pizza and stromboli while we discussed our shopping expedition and my interview. He was happy for me and gave me encouragement. It was about 12:30pm when we parted ways. He, to finish remodeling his bathroom with upgrades and me, to resting from an exhaustive week. For a few hours, I was able to suspend my feelings on Christmas. It was heaven.
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Playing Santa

Interview with an AGOL

Fog greeted me at 4:30 this morning when I walked my dog. I haven't been listening to the news at night for the weather forecast so the mist came as a surprise...

Arrived at work earlier to get breakfast downstairs to eat at my desk while I reviewed information for my second interview. Boss was surprised to see me upon his arrival and Bridget, too. He allowed me out of vendor a meeting this morning so I could have my second interview. I'm lucky he's generous.

With my corporate logo stamped notebook, pages of printed info and my cell phone, I sat in my car and waited for the call. Using my car as a private office was much easier and was able to focus more. The phone rang and I began to detail what I had learned since my first interview on servers and related architecture. Almost gave myself a headache trying to make the technical terms flow easily from my mouth. She was more impressed with me and my gumption, as she calls it. She like that I used my resources to learn in an efficient and unique way. The subject of relocation came up, but I tried to get a compromise of splitting my time between here and Atlanta, Georgia. I still have another set of interviews with two other people prior to my being flown for the final interview with the Big Kahuna (CIO). So far, so good. Wish me luck on the next set!

Remember my buddy Dan and the angel tree from yesterday? He's done very well for himself and today he finally showed me his most recent acquisition (about three years ago). It is a special edition Dodge Viper. It was previously owned and to date has less than 7000 miles on the odometer. The guy who sold it to him didn't realize what a collector's item he had because Dan got it for a very reasonable price. Bridget and I ogled it for several minutes and almost died of sexiness when we sat in it. I was on driver's side and she was on the passenger side...Bridget needs to see his 1969 Chevelle Super Sport, too. That is a beautiful car.

Vroom! Vroom!


This special ACR (American Car Racing) edition has leveler tubes installed next to the headlights for perfect balancing. Can you believe this?


Dan and I will be meeting up tomorrow at 9am to buy five different girls of ages from 1 to 16 most of their wish list. He's a brave soul to take me shopping. This should be a fun activity and for a moment make me forget how much I despise the holiday. Yep, we'd better go early.

Worked late and called Myrna on the way home. Teased her about missing out on Myrna Minutes because her mother had been visiting for two weeks. She picked me up later for dinner. I was so tired and tried to perk up with four cups of coffee during our meal. Nope. I was asleep soon after I got home. Sad.
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Interview with an AGOL

Necessary Evils and Darling Angels

Necessary evils. That's what some vendors are to me. My nemesis vendor from September met me and my boss at our other building down the road. Luckily for all, he brought two smart reinforcements. The meeting went well and I had new eye candy during the meeting. I know - it is shameless, but he was about 6'3", early 40's, professional, had this sexy deep voice, charisma, held eye contact and knew his stuff well. Can't tell you how that combo is rare...but I digress.

Met my second homework buddy in one of the conference rooms where we spent the next hour and a half discussing server architecture. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. I was very thankful for the lesson and he was impressed by my booking a conference room so he could explain things on the whiteboard and by the kinds of questions I was asking. I only hope it pays off.

My long-time friend Dan stopped by my desk and asked, Play Santa? Huh? He then explained about the Angel Tree in the reception area. Oh, yeah - now I remember! Our company is participating in buying gifts on behalf of the Safe Child Coalition for children in the state foster care system. A tree is decorated with stars bearing the child's name, age and their Christmas wish list.

Let me backtrack about nine Christmases where Dan and I worked together in a different company...Back then I had a serious chip on my shoulder and I was very broke that season while Dan waited until he had 6-8 live paychecks before depositing them into the bank. He was a different man at the time and less aware and took pride in his not having to work paycheck to paycheck. I was angry, resentful and gave him a tongue-lashing about generosity. I told him that if I had his fluidity, I would take every goddamn angel off the lobby tree and buy all the kids gifts so they could have a good Christmas. It was not nice, but he needed a dose of reality. Poor Dan, I've been his second conscience for about 10 years.

You remembered that? I asked. Yes, he replied. Why? He gestured to his heart and said, Because it got me right here. Oh, God. I felt shamed by my temper nine years ago. Before I could digest it, he wanted to make arrangements to get several stars and for me to help him shop, but he would pay for everything. How could I say no? I told him we would firm up plans tomorrow for this Saturday.

Meanwhile, the rest of the afternoon was bust because our financial application was down for a few hours. I left early to meet Kristey after work at the mall. When I got home, I was so tired but felt the pressure to study for my morning interview before calling an early evening. Whatever it takes, I guess..
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Necessary Evils and Darling Angels