super year so far

while i am in absolute and total denial that it's almost may, and my 37th birthday, the year has treated me well so far .. is it terrible that i am sort of waiting for it to end tragically? i'm so black and white.

work has been superb ... it's like everything i've been working for during the past 5 years has finally come to fruition. all of the sudden, everything is perfect. and yet, there are looming clouds of change overhead ... one way or another i will have different responsibilities by the year's end ... i have to figure out how to anniversary the largest bonus i've received since 2001, and whether or not we're going to move. and if we move, will it be within california or another state? i really could live in chicago at a moment's notice. joe's job is flexible, so really, there are some big decisions ahead ... and if we stay, when am i going to find the time to finish remodeling the shack?

well, i guess that's enough pondering for one morning ... i'm off to kick some ass and take some names.

Working on a personal goal ... How long can I go without the IT department making me change my laptop password. It's been 5 years and almost 3 months. Serious security theater ... It's almost on par with the airports.

I did mention the issue almost 3 years ago and was told, "well, that shouldn't happen.". So, now it's a game.

Mariah Carey (or Cary?) this early in the morning may cause me to do harm to myslef or those around me

cough drops

seriously. this allergy thing is going to be the end of me.
just realized that i can't take most cough drops because they have citrus or red 40 in them. do we really need red 40 in cough drops? thank goodness for organic, no shit added, cough drops. but i will point out that the "good" ones are like 3x the cost of "regular" ones ... criminal.

i may quit my real life and become a lobbyist for the abolishment of red 40 in our food. if england has banned it, why can't we?

Lewis and Clark map is awesome.

remind me to tell you all about the dad/daughter situation at the dc hard rock last night

FYI. Security is tighter at the capitol than any airport through which I've flown.

Thanks a lot, Bin Laden. (Alan quote from "the hangover.")

I just sat in "the gentleman's section" in the house gallery. it was truly amazing to see "where the magic/bullshit takes place." Interesting fact, cameras, or anything else with a battery, is not allowed in the house or senate galleries. Why? Because in 1954 some Cuban Nationals, pissed about the Immigration bill, opened fire using guns that looked like cameras. The bullet holes ares still visible.

walking into a hotel room is like going on a blind date.

AND ... Train travel is so much more dignified. There's no boarding drama ... No luggage carousels ... No lost baggage ... You get to keep your stuff with you and it's easier on those who who are prone to sinus infections.

BUT ... There is no security ... No ID checks ... Easier but makes me a little nervous.

Another thing I didn't know about train travel is the immense difference in timing. There is no security to clear and you don't check your bags. No one cares how many liquids you have in your bags or if you're carrying a swiss army knife. You don't board until a few minutes before the train actually leaves, much like a subway, but you have to schlep your bags. But, I found out, last summer. That a red cap guy is your friend. If you sit in business or first, you have access to these guys and for tips, they'll take your bags and get you on the train early. Who knew? I know I'm rambling, but it's all so new and I'm super proud of myself for figuring it all out.

I can absolutely understand why people who don't travel often hate and dread it. Today, I'm traveling via Acela from Philly to DC ... this is my 3rd trip on an Acela, ever.

Having only been to the Philly station once, I was a little nervous about making it, on time and in one piece, at 5:30 in the morning from NJ. It's only a 20 minute drive, but it's crossing a state line so in my head it's a bigger deal than it should be.

I took a wrong turn as I got into the city. With my knowledge of Philly and GPS I made it to the station with plenty of time to spare.

But there were NO signs directing me to where I should leave my rental car. Again, because I do travel a lot, my instincts kicked in and I figured it out. But honestly, it wasn't easy. I was pretty close to calling travel, cancelling the ticket and just driving to DC. But I hung in there.

To be continued ...

I could get used to this ... Consumers are not allowed to pump their own gas in the state of NJ (the only other state like this I know about is Oregon) ... full serve pricing is the same as self-serve ... Love it!

too hot in the hot tub

really? 75 degrees and humid before 9 am in NJ? i would die if i lived here. perspective has changed.

I can tell you that the woman in 19A needs to get a clue. She's eating hard boiled eggs and very pungent pickles during the flight to dallas. She's topping it off with tomato juice. I may vomit.

i will admit ...

that 2,000 SMS's a month is a bit excessive ... that's an average of almost 65 / day based on 31 days / month

continued ...

Well, there you have it. The USPS is so broke that they've filed to abolish saturday delivery service, but they can't deliver an envelope 500 miles in less than 5 days?? Ah, I love the government.

I then asked the teller if I could have had the card overnighted to me at my expense ... She told me that was a really good idea. Duh.

It might be time to switch to Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, or the mattress.

I lost my debit card the first night I was in new orleans ... it just vanished ... I cancelled it immediately and ordered a new card after I made sure I was the last one to use it.

That was a week ago. Still having no debit card I had to go to the bank today and do an old school deposit and withdraw some cash. I'm leaving to go out of town again and am a little stressed about not having the new card with me.

I confirmed with the teller that a new card had in fact been sent out ... and to my address ... It went out SIX business days. She assured me that the "normal" delivery window is 5-7 business days and that I shouldn't worry.

SIX days? Certain that it must have shipped from india, I asked her from where the new cards come.

Ready for this? Seriously?

ARIZONA.

Obviously the next question was "how did it ship? Via mule?". She advised via USPS.

to be continued ...