You know when there is more to get done than you can possibly accomplish (my normal state of existence), and the shorter weeks are looming, but you can’t quite kick yourself into the higher gear. That’s where I am today. Actually this could probably be any day in December.
I can’t even just take it home because I have too much to do there too.
So I guess it is time to get to that to-do list and contemplate what the correct combination of caffeine and inspiration would be.
We managed to find a few clothes to wear (see previous post). Nothing fancy, but one of the Christmas colors, so we blended well. We met our friends and enjoyed an evening with the Seattle Mens Chorus and their special guest Jennifer Holliday. She was the Effie in Dream Girls, 25 years ago. She apparently has lost 200 lbs since then, but she also talked about getting divorced several times, so I wasn’t sure if she meant her weight or her husbands’ weight. In either case she can sure belt out a song.
But, to me, the real show was still the Mens Chorus. The basics are a chorus of roughly 175 men. Gay men. They have been around for 25 years and are wonderful singers that can be serious at times, but know how to poke fun at themselves and the situations that exist here, across the country, and around the world.
This show was a true Christmas concert, with many standards. There was even a small sing-along for the audience. The printed the words for those of us that had not been caroling in a while, and turned up the lights. So we are all standing and singing along with Winter Wonderland.
Sleigh bells ring, are you lint’nin’?
In the land, snow is glist’nin’,
A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight,
Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland.
Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird,
He sings a love song, as we go along,
Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland.
In a meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown;
He’ll say, “Are you married?” We’ll say, “No, man!”
At which point the audience lights went out, the singing stopped, and one of the groups on stage was holding a sign saying, “Legalize Gay Marriage – Keep your promise Joe Biden.”
Lights came back up …
Later on, we’ll conspire,
As we dream by the fire,
To face unafraid, the plans that we made,
Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland.
Since an unmarried couple has about 1000 less rights than a married couple, such as being able to visit a loved one in the hospital or act on their behalf, this can be more than just a minor inconvenience.
Anyway, off my soapbox for now. It was a great show and we had a good time. Next step – finding a ride to work in the morning.
So yesterday I went out and stimulated the economy a bit. Kind of a fun, not quite cold, not sunny kind of Seattle day. Had fun at a couple of stops interacting with the working folks.
Today was focused on coffee, paper and relaxing, maybe some work, … until I remembered that it is the season.
And, oh yes, we have tickets to a show tonight. A show that I really want to see, and we are meeting some friends, in fact they were potentially stopping by for dinner before hand. (This is the season when we actually seem to have a social life of sorts)
Hmmm, maybe sweatpants aren’t going to make the grade all day today. One thing I definately don’t have is clothes for going out on the town. Each time I think I will really go get some nicer clothes, and then I don’t. Tonight will be no different I am sure as I am motivated to work on things inside the house, but not to head out into the world.
Today is also a typical Seattle day – only the wetter kind.
OK – it finally dawned on me that it really is December and perhaps I should look at Christmas things.
Carl noticed it earlier and has a pretty good Christmas shrine going. (That is what we call the revolving set of items that live on our mantle.
So – time to hit the streets – do a little shopping and a lot of walking. I guess my brain is still not completely focused on the “season”.
We actually got to sit down and eat dinner tonight. A few friends are in town for the day, so Carl made a stir fry and we ate and talked. It was so nice – such a small thing can be so nice.
Then we watched Rey’s friend win for the third night on Jeopardy – what fun (for him too). Turns out he had digitally communicated with Rey (the expert at that time) on how to go about the audition. Needless to say, Ben is now the expert.
When I graduated from MSU, well, a few years ago, and then from CSU, half a dozen years later, I had to start looking for a job. My tactic was to figure out where I wanted to live, find the want ads and yellow pages and send out a bunch of letters. Except for the want ads, which were fairly scarce, these were mostly cold calls. My rate for the first two trials was about 100 letters to 3 interviews to 1 job. The last time I had to look for a job I probably sent out a few dozen letters, but I think they were all in response to ads. I seem to recall I had 3 interviews that resulted in 2 job offers. Of course, the second job offer didn’t come until I had actually started work at the 1st offer. That was 21 years ago. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but I have only had 3 “professional” jobs.
But this is not really about me. Rey is soon to graduate and has been looking for internships in the minor league baseball arena. I told him to be ready to fill the world with his resume and letters. So he listened intently (I imagine) and sent out two. Of course, they both called him and interviewed him over the phone.
The first one has offered him an internship for the 2009 season (March – September). This is the Tennessee Smokies near Knoxville. The second one is still in a wait and see pattern. Pretty cool, and exciting. We are proud parents.
[Oh – and for those that watch Jeopardy regularly – the winner of tonights game – returning champion tomorrow, is one of Rey’s friends from high school. ]
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