Saying yes...

Leggo My Ego...

One of my *bestest* friends in the entire world has started a blog. Or... she started it a few months ago, but has finally come out of the closet. Odd considering Babs is a writer... a writer with a book being published by Random House. It's not like the woman has to worry about stringing words together... and yet she does. She still fights the dreaded beast called doubt. She and I have shared endless emails on this very subject. We blame our Midwestern roots and parents who thought ego was a dirty word, unless of course, they were polishing their own.

Today Babs has a post up about the wonderfulness of ego in academia... a place she's worked as an editor for long time, but still isn't quite an insider even though she's more aware of the nuances and quirks than the insiders themselves...

Academics are funny people. They claim to be egalitarian and unaware of status and position in life. But alas, they are the first in line when egos are handed out. They just have the added baggage of not being able to EMBRACE their ego. Ambition is a dirty word. And yet, the entire structure of academia is built on competition and ambition. Tenure, publish or perish-- how is that not competition?

Any of you academics care to weigh in?? You know who you are. Don't make me name names...

There is so much I could say about Babs, a post I could write about every one of her posts, but my head is on "visual" mode today, so just do me a favor and go on over, welcome her, and read... read them all... there are only 5 or 6 and all are worth it. Add your 2 cents. Add your favorite Risk strategy. Even if you're not an academician... go over anyhow and check out her blog. I love it already, it reminds me of her emails, or talking with her after many drinks on a Saturday night, while our non-competive spouses are discussing and dissecting why they didn't win the latest game of cards, but how they would have had they really wanted to...

Go say hi. DO IT! I know few people follow outlinks anymore, but do it anyhow... even if just to flash your own ego. :) And, if I'm not mistaken, Babs has flashed a bit of hers. It's about frickin' time!

Hey Babs... what are you again?? A proofreader??? :)

Says More Than I Ever Could... Well, Maybe Not.

The video below is dedicated to my favorite Miss Jane. Her dreams are becoming a reality with her showing on May 1st. Anyone in Minneapolis, please stop by.

I've been following MJ for over two years now. Finding her blog was one of those serendipitous meetings. She hasn't always had the easiest of paths, but she never lost her focus. I can't believe she's finally done it... and yet it was obvious there was no other choice. I wish I could see it.  Miss Jane!!! I'll be there in spirit! Break a light bulb!

As a Courtesy, We've Removed the Late Fee on Your Zero Balance...

All is well in credit card land. Grizzled, as usual, took care of it. He didn't tear anyone a new one, but made sure a letter was winging its way to us, saying not only did we owe nothing, but we owed no late fee for owing nothing.

I could have made the phone call, but Grizzled is much better with this type of thing. He does not back down and uses logic. Those two skills leave me when on the phone with any business-type person. I am suddenly back in the 3rd grade and am trying to please the teacher. Not only would I have not gotten the situation cleared up, but I probably would have sent them extra money to hold in case there were new, "unforeseen" charges on our zero balance.

Credit Card Person: "Ms. Jennifer?? I'm sorry, but we cannot keep your account open with no money. How do you expect us to make money if you keep paying off your balance. We charged you a late fee because you've been late in using your card. We have a new plan for people like you... send us a $5,000.00 retainer fee to keep your account open, any interest that is made on said monies will also be kept by us. We'll also have to charge you a monthly fee for managing these monies, this fee cannot be deducted from the $5K. If you do use your card, balances will also not be deducted from the $5000.00 fee, but will need to be paid in full... n'kay??"

Me: "Sounds like a plan! I'll cut the check!"

Of course, had the credit card person called me, Sir... well, that would have been a different story. I might have torn him a new one.

Grizzled is also much better at dealing with telemarketers. While I prefer to ignore the 800# on the caller ID, Grizzled tends to view it as a challenge. Can he make the person crack. Can he make the telemarketer want to hang up. His usual game is telling the person that he'll listen to them if they don't read from their script.

Grizzled: "Ok, Steve... I know you're trying to sell something and I can appreciate that. We all have to make a living, but really, why don't you treat me as a person and really talk to me? I'll tell you what... I'll listen to you if you don't read for your script. The minute I notice you're reading, I'll give you 3 seconds before I hang up. Deal?"

Steve: "Blah, blah, blah.... blah, blah, blah, blah...."

Grizzled: "Steve? You're reading... I can tell you're reading... you've got 3 seconds... one, two... Ok, that's better..."

Steve: "Blah, blah, blah."

Grizzled: "Oops! I think you're reading again, aren't you Steve??

Steve: "Blah, blah, blah..."

Grizzled: "Steve... you obviously can't stop reading... I'm going to have to hang up now. Have a wonderful evening."

I've witnessed this scenario lasting anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. I always cheer a little bit for the person who is really giving it their all, especially because I know Grizzled isn't going to buy anything anyhow. But me?? I would probably have been a different story. They would have had me at hello... unless they had said, "Hello, Sir!"

Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Bend Over and Exhale

Today's interesting conundrum: Grizzled opens a credit card bill from a credit card on which we owe no money. It says, $0 balance, $0 minimum payment, $29 late fee. I kid you not. This came after last month's, $0 balance, $43 minimum payment. I'm almost tempted to let this one slide just to see if we get charged interest on the late fee, but I know better. I almost feel sorry for the poor person who is going to be talking with Grizzled this morning. No... the poor person who will be listening to Grizzled this morning.

Stop... Let Me Catch My Mental Breath

About a week back, I mentioned a recurring fantasy of mine... taking approximately 6 weeks off and then coming back, with no time having passed, but me, having all the benefits of 6 weeks off. In the comments, Karla asked why this had to happen outside of the normal framework of time... why couldn't I just take 6 weeks off in real time. Well, she knows why I can't take 6 weeks off, but even if I could, it still wouldn't be the same.

There are days when time is going so fast, when things are changing at breakneck speed, that I feel like I can't catch my mental breath. I can't hold onto a thought that will act as a ballast in a rough sea of change. I think what I want, maybe even more than catching up on my reading, my unfinished projects, my sleep...  is to just have my head catch up with my life. If I slow down enough to catch my mental breath and have my thoughts become fully anchored in my head, I'll snap out of this calm to find that life has once again sped on without me. My children will still be growing and changing, my parents will still be aging, needed permission forms will not be filled out, weeds will have once again conquered the garden and beloved projects will be inching ever closer to becoming moot...  and I'll still need to be running, wondering what it was that I was thinking two minutes ago that gave me such peace and balance only to find I am once again behind.

My mind feels like a rumpled bedspread, all twisted and tied up with sheets. I want to be able to pick it up by the corners and snap it out and let it slowly settle back into place... but I know it will only be temporary. I'm going to have to crawl back in there and the jumble will continue...

Tagged like the endangered species I am...

Bill Stankus has tagged me with the following meme... since it's raining out and my current plans have been canceled, I guess I'll answer. Bill, I thank you for the diversion.

1. What are your current obsessions?
Fully remembering what I've almost remembered and then not forgetting it later.

2. Which items from your wardrobe do you wear most often?
Jeans and paint-smeared t-shirts.

3. What's for dinner?
Fresh asparagus from the garden and, per the eldest lamblet's request, pork schnitzel. May the force be with me.

4. Last thing you bought?
A book.

5. What are you listening to?
International History Channel

6. If you were a god/goddess who would you be?
Hmmm, Ganesha might be fun... removing obstacles and all. Plus, a trunk could be interesting.

7. Favorite holiday spots?
Depends on the holiday... but usually revolves around seeing people I love.

8. Reading right now?
"The Gary Snyder Reader: Prose, Poetry, and Translations"

9. Four words to describe yourself.
Creative, funny, nice, moody.

10. Guilty pleasure?
Naps

11. Who or what makes or made you laugh until you’re weak?
Many people or things make me laugh, but no one does it like Scott.

12. First spring thing?
New birds on the block.

13. Planning to travel to next?
My hometown, to pick up a kiln.

14. Best thing you ate or drank lately?
A spinach/scallion omelet that Grizzled made from an old family recipe. Also... a glass of water in the middle of the night. Nothing tastes better.

15. When did you last get tipsy?
Last weekend.

16. Favorite ever film?
That's too hard to answer. I have too many. I can't narrow it down to one.

17. Care to share some wisdom?
Floss.

18. If you could change one thing in your life what would it be?
Same as most people probably... I wish I knew then what I know now.

19. What scares you?
Not figuring it out before my time is up.

20. What are your blog turn-ons and turns-offs?
I like blogs that are creative, that make me laugh, and where the blogger shares something about their inner-workings. Or... any that cause me to successfully procrastinate when the urge arises. As for turn-offs... unnecessary meanness... and... any that don't allow me to successfully procrastinate when the urge arises.

One Rule:
They say you've got to answer all the questions, change one and add one ... but... wouldn't changing one really be not answering one and if you're not answering one, aren't you then breaking the rule??? And, if you're changing it, are you not really adding one? I'm so confused... I think this is my last question.

I'm not going to tag this time, but will allow you to tag yourself should you so choose. ZRM- if you do this, you've got to do yours as an xtranormal film.... n'kay?

Stream of Consciousness Part II

Sun + warmth + leaves = :-)

Stream of Consciousness

Whenever I hear this song, I think of parochial school... of course, I could be wrong.

Pfffft!

Apparently no conversation is sacred.  (lol...)

Update:

The zombie takes another victim...

R.D. Ray Takes a Sick Day

You know what it's like. You're sick, sick enough to stay home, but you're an adult... you should be able to power through. Still, there's something nice about being taken care of. It stirs up memories.  Read all about it at R.D. Ray's over here...

In the meantime... when sick, what are your comfort foods from your childhood?? Do they still do the trick? What other desires well up deep from within when sick?? And, better yet, if married or living with someone, is your significant other willing to perform such duties? I can be the queen of TLC when those I love are sick, but once Grizzled starts going a little too Sarah Bernhardt on me... I tend to shrink back. Really, is blowing your nose that dramatic??

Go visit R.D. Ray. He's sick (but that's why we love him!). He could use the company.