I feel bad for not writing more often these days. Seems like I'm only capable of weekend recaps full of heavy boozing and 80s Music Fridays, which is a meme that I just can't seem to resist. I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things again, these things always goes in cycles.

( click to read all the bullet points )

I love my car, though probably not for any of the reasons that matter. It belonged to the second season of new VW Beetles produced in early '99, the batch with the highest number of complaints for faulty parts and poor workmanship. My car has suffered it all: oil consumption problems, several recalled parts, jerky automatic windows, odd plastic parts that have broken off and been replaced several times, automatic locks that work on and off based on the alignment of the stars, windows that have fallen in just because, fuses that blow repeatedly...and so on and so forth.

Given all that, I can't seem to part with it. It's the first car that I bought all on my own. And for some reason, I just love the color (see photo - car and cheetah print sweater go well together don't they?). But I'm finally ready for something bigger...with four doors...and lots of trunk room...and more horsepower.





Poll #882204 For the Love of Driving
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 54

The replacement for my beloved VW Beetle should be a:

Apparently I don't know enough about cars. You'd highly recommend:

I almost died Monday morning on the way into work. 

Hay fever this season has been horrendous.  My allergies keep me up at night and I'm constantly blowing my nose throughout the day.  I finally went to see a doctor after three months of dousing myself with over the counter anti-histamines and decongestants, on top of spraying Febreeze all over the apartment.  Advertised as being able to kill 75% of airborne allergens, I don't believe it's done anything except make the apartment smell like lilacs. The doctor prescribed stronger meds and nasal spray.  Gross.  It's Nasoncolyx or some other derivative of Nasonex.  I hate the bitter back drip.   However the rewards are worth all the disgusting bits, as I am no longer a mouth breather. Hurrah! 

There is one small setback , as with most quick fixes, the new meds pretty much knock me out. 

So on Monday morning, despite the cold shower and sprint to my car, I was still half-asleep.   I drove to George's cafe envisioning a double dose of espresso...hell, possibly even three and a slice of banana nut loaf.    And as with all other mornings, I stopped across the street and made a u-turn towards the opposite side.  But in my handicapped state, I forgot the tres importante step of checking my blind spot. 

A truck in the next lane came barreling down the street and screeched to a halt (a smoke and hissing from the radiator kind of halt), as I clenched the wheel all wide-eyed.  It stopped about a foot away from hitting the driver-side door.

Needless to say, I was wide awake by then.  :/

Last week I started at LJ.

On day one, I missed the 8:55 train into the city and had to sprint for seven blocks with my laptop bag and leather jacket. Needless to say I arrived red-faced, sweaty, and short of breath. I then hobbled from foot to foot in the lobby area to do the sneaker to heels switch. One of the Ops guys gave me a curious look as he entered the building.
     "Uh. Hello!" I croaked, waving with one shaky hand while balancing myself with the other. He nodded, still staring as though I was a rare bird found only in the Amazon rainforests. Apparently my efforts were totally unnecessary since most of the team didn't even arrive until after 10am. Bah..
     On day two, I decided to drive and try my luck at street parking. My plan seemed totally doable when I discovered a couple of streets had two hour parking instead of meters. Absolutely totally doable, until I became distracted by pages and pages of FAQs and forgot to move the car. Bah! The SF Dept. of Parking & Traffic slapped me with a $50 ticket.
     On day three, I decided to do the daily parking thing at a nearby garage. I was told the garage would accept cars until 10am. But well, that was actually 9am. And it was 9:45 when I rolled in there. I drove around muttering profanities for a good ten minutes until I miraculously found non-metered, all day, street parking just a few blocks away. Which was awesome...minus the fact that I just happened to be lucky that morning, and spaces are never available unless I arrive at the break of dawn. Bah!!!


Besides the one downfall of no longer having garage parking at work, the new job has many great perks and happy, passionate employees. On Friday, we celebrated (well really the team celebrated, I just clapped mostly) the recent ad launch with bottles of champagne and lots of picture taking. It was good champagne too - Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin - not the $10 bottles you get in the chilled section of Safeway.


***


I'm trying to absorb as much information as I can, but there's just so much that it's hard to get my head around it. Already I have ideas forming but most if it is scattered about and I really can't put anything in place until I get more situated. Plus, henrylyne says new employees shouldn't really be doing anything for the first week. ;)   It feels good to be excited about work again. I'm looking forward to when I can finally make real contributions to the team.

Until then, I'll just be reading docs and enjoying the free snacks in the kitchen.