154. Zip Zoom Vroom

Now all we have to do is sell the '74 BMW.

Welcome our new baby. I'm pretty psyched. We both are, because now no matter which car is ready to pull out of the driveway is OK to go to work in and no fighting for the car that actually works. And I got the exact colour combo I wanted :-)

The Prius and Mini seem like the perfect combo for our needs. Didn't I say that a few months ago?

I won't say it.

But I'll write it: I was right. And that's the truth.

153. Orange is cool

Today is national orange day...my birthday!

At 5:30a I got my first present--my mac back from the shop. Ross had picked it up. And as my special treat he had purchased an orange case for it, so now it looks like an orange laptop instead of a white one. It is the coolest thing EVER.

Except for possibly the ginger-whipped cream-filled pumpkin cupcakes with chocolate icing they had at work today. One of my teammates runs a desert club and he baked these himself. I had two, because...it was my birthday.

Later, we went to the Christmas wonderland in San Jose and got crepes on the street followed by Mexican Hot Chocolate while we walked to my surprise outing which was a play that was absolutely HILARIOUS! We were right in front row center in a small theatre. It was a two-man show where each man played several zany characters living in a place called Tuna, Texas. They did such an amazing job!

I didn't even forget my lunch or my underwear. And I got to eat lunch outside (how many of you can say that in December?). All in all, it was a pretty good day.

152. Day Four and Back for More

At eBay, all the buildings are named after categories on the site. I work in the Toys building. This is our ground floor elevator, surrounded with blocks. We also have water-gun and pogo stick collections mounted in the hallways, and conference rooms named play-doh and hot wheels. Fun stuff.

151. Getting from Point A to Point B

Tonight I took my last drive in my BMW. Many of you have born hours of discussion about Evil Tra and the love of this car. I have spent hours wishing I didn't care. After all, it is just a way to get from Point A to Point B.

Never in my life did I think I could own a BMW. Certainly it was not the kind of thing I ever thought about, really. I just figured that was for really rich, successful people. Anyway, it didn't matter. It was just a way to get from Point A to Point B.

When I was young, on Sundays my father would take me to church and on the way home, we would stop at the car dealership. No pressure when they are closed, and he would look in the windows of all the shiny new cars. He just dreamed about those shiny new cars. He was from the age of real cars--back in the 50s and 60s when they all looked different and were recognizable. He could name any car you saw on the road.

My dad always waxed poetic about Cadillacs and Lincolns. But he always sang this song about a Mercedes Benz, "Oh Lord" he would sort of screech out, oblivious to the extent of his tone-deafness, "won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?" My dad loved cars.

I have worked hard and was gifted with reasonable amounts of intelligence and good luck. Some would call me rich. I know I am blessed. I managed to get myself free from credit card debt, from school loans. I bought property before I thought I could. I had a great husband, a great job, and a lovely house in the suburbs on a tree-lined street near two big lakes! But it was the car--when we got the BMW I felt like it was the one thing that made me feel like, "Hey, I made it." And I couldn't wait to tell my dad. I figured he would understand, and maybe even be a little proud. I had moved from Point A to Point B.

It was the day after my birthday when we got it, and we went straight from the dealership to Chicago with dear friends having a grand old time and a sleepover complete with a good brunch and lots of discussions. When my mom called we didn't hear the phone. It was the worst kind of message she left, and by that afternoon it was too late to tell my dad. I needed to get home, and all I could think about was getting from Point A to Point B.

I know it is not having a BMW that is my problem. It's THIS BMW. It's the car that made me feel successful and grown up. I've been waiting to tell my dad.

But I tell you what: for well over 30 years, my dad kept a little log in the car so he could track his MPG. I think he'd be tickled by the Prius too. However, I have to say I'm sure God offered him the Mercedes and he negotiated for the Caddy. And he's moving on, unfettered by earthy pursuits and comforted by the knowledge that he empowered people, and he was loved. Because after all, on this open road all that matters is the JOURNEY from Point A to Point B.

150. Day Two - Docs out the Wazoo

Day Two was long and I am in a sea of acronyms and strange stuff that I suppose any new person deals with. Everyone is great so far. And I have this MASS of documents to review already - my emails are flying in at break neck (break eyeball?) pace, and I'm not sure whether I'll catch up or not...

Tonight went to the BayCHI (That's the Bay area Computer Human Interaction) meeting which was all about Mass Interpersonal Persuasion and Facebook -- truly fascinating with BJ Fogg, an (the?) industry leader in persuasive technology, his co-teacher, and their students presenting their research projects.

I have to say: search facebook.com applications for "save the rainforest". For every 6 words you get right, you will save 1 foot of rainforest. It's a game that helps you learn vocab AND helps secure monies for the rain forest. This was developed by some students at Stanford...and was a highlight of the presentation tonight.

Ah, work.

149. First Day of School

Got the jitters like it was anyway... Ross wanted to take this photo of me on my way out the door.  It was the first day. What can I say? Lots to learn. Lots to do. And I got a cartoon Vespa on my badge. 

148. Oh Christmas Tree

Walked the "Grand Fir" home from around the corner. I was basically the seeing-eye-person for this walking tree.

And the house smells like Holiday now, and memory, and family, and Santa.

147. And then there were three

Well, we're Californians now -- and you can tell because...

We have a Prius.  

I have to say, I went into the whole thing figuring that it was purely intellectual decision -- with no visceral attraction to the car. I was won over by the smart interior design.

I may drive my BMW to my first day of work, just to savour it's bimmer-ness, but then she gets handed over to our buyer who came through at the last minute before we had to trade her in. 

Next up...the sale of the tragedy that is the 2002tii and the purchase of a used mini or some kind of electric car or the smart car... And we'll be fully revolutionized and living in the 21st century (you know, like, with cars that start).

146. A Googley Christmas

The theme of this year's holiday part was SpaceTime. There were three tents that were larger than your college graduation tent, no matter where you went to school. There were all manner of food, just like at the summer family picnic -- Spanish tapas, Indian samosa-inspiread, Chinese dumpling-inspired, potatoes...who let the Irish in?  Loud music, rides, and the Jetsons. What can I say?  There's just nothing like being part of it, I suppose.

And here we are. Space Station Google. Happy Holidays!

145. It's Shake-n-Bake and I helped!

OK it wasn't shake-n-bake, actually. Most of you will appreciate that I cooked three courses all by myself tonight! From scratch!

1. Salad of spring greens with avocado, onion & tomato.
2. Tamale pie from Moosewood cookbook.
3. Oranges with honey-orange sauce & slivered almonds.

Not too shabby! We had our neighbours over. And I think we're going to meet up every two weeks, and alternate whose house we cook at.

Now, that seems like a normal and settled kind of thing to do right?

PS If you don't remember that Shake-n-Bake commercial, I can't help it.

144. Floss

Dear fans, today I had my second dentist appointment in two weeks. Turns out I had cavities as well as a filling loosened and the same tooth cracked by my clenching my teeth (so really, for my health, people, don't stress me out!).

My dentist has scared the bejesus out of me. I have to say, I hadn't known really, exactly how this whole things works. And apparently I wasn't up to date on brushing techniques.

There is something you have heard before and if you're already on the bandwagon, good for you. If not: Floss. And also brush your teeth side to side, not up and down. It could save your heart, your baby, as well as your teeth and gums. Lordy. You don't want to have to get the full lecture with photos. Just do it.

143. Confirmed Disaster

for Tuesday 4 December


It's hard to say, "I told you so," when the person you told calls you up and says, "you can say, 'I told you so' because you told me so." It just kills all the joy of out it.

By the title and the first paragraph, you can tell things are going well with Ross's classic. Apparently the condition of the mechanics was slightly mis-represented, if not truly and neglectfully mis-represented. He took it to the shop where they fixed the starting problem but recommended that in order to function properly he lob another 5K toward the thing. And that's in addition to the dough he was already planning on shelling out for the new interior.

There is nothing worse than just having this whole situation plod on and on and on ad infinitum. We are still in (can you say 'back to square one') discussions about what the next steps are, but one of them will be selling this car in late winter or spring. I'm not anti-bmw2002tii at all. I'm really not. But I am anti-strange guy that I just know hasn't taken proper care of his car. There is no test for that. There is no equation. No logical explanation. But when you get the ditch-this-guy feeling...well, you should listen. And I told him so.

142. By the Grace of God

Someone has been calling the house every morning at 7am. They call and then they aren't there when I answer. Today, there was a call at 6:45a which was particularly annoying because I had tears streaming down my face because Philo had been missing for 24 hours.

When we decided over a year ago to let Philo be an outdoor/indoor cat, the funny thing was, we never got the courage to let him out. Too many dangers in the people world. But he longs to be free, to roam, to chase, and to do whatever it is that felines do beneath all the bushes and along all the fence-rows. In an effort to satiate his curiosity and expend his energy (read: detract him from busting up ever more of my stuff), we decided we'd go ahead and let him out.

Armed with an orange safety collar and nametag, and some flea meds, he quickly warmed up and set off about his adventure on Saturday and stayed out for three or four hours before returning home. Actually, he returned home three times, but just wouldn't stop playing.

Sunday morning, he was begging me to go out, and out of respect for Sunday-Morning-The-Way-You-Like-It (which is how I live MY Sunday mornings), I obliged. Off like a bullet he went.

He stayed away all morning, all afternoon, all evening, and by then we started getting worried. There are some busy streets and a train nearby--all hazards we'd considered before, but in the silence of a Philo-free home, the danger in our minds mounted and we were sad. We cried. We hoped that at feeding time he'd come home. He didn't. We checked outside about every hour last night with very little sleep and very, very heavy hearts.

So at 6:45a the phone rings. Cheeks wet and stomach in knots, I answer. Nothing at first. Same damn 7am caller! But suddenly then a woman says, "I have a cat here named Philo." I was so overjoyed! It was one of the sisters at the convent next door. He had apparently been roaming their grounds and fell into one of their window wells. Sometime in the middle of the night one of the nuns was awakened by none other than the very screams that wake us each night--for once his big mouth was useful.

And so it was that we lost our cat, and the Holy Sisters returned him. We have our baby back--thank God and Philo's big mouth.

141. Return of the blog (i'm a blob)

It's been 3.5 weeks since my last blog. Loads has happened. Here are some high(and low)lights:

* Surprised Ross with a trip to Vegas where we saw Penn & Teller, hiked in the Ring of Fire State Park, and played with slot machines, particularly a Frog Prince-themed one we liked for some reason.
* Hit RDU for my last trip to GSK which was bittersweet.
* Worked till the last minute (what!?), drank too many calories all week celebrating with friends, and had a nice big dinner party at Kath's on my last day.
* spent the day with Mom in Dulles before heading north.
* Saw Kristin & Luke & Jordan, and Kendra, Charles, Hannah, Alex & Owen up in VT where the time went too quickly and the weather was tres froid. Bought two treasures at Grannis Gallery -- yippee kayay. Some people gamble, I go goo-goo for gold.
* Did this dance with Ross where we had a car, didn't have a car, we had to have a car, then the car got sold from under us. So that car we said was ours isn't. But then he did buy one on eBay (which made me happy). We are still struggling to get it fixed up.
* Now we're selling my car, which was practically sold and then started making a click sound WHILE OUR CUSTOMER WAS TEST-DRIVING! What is up with our car karma??? Anyway, off to the shop this week so that maybe we can sell it -- count down to my work starting...
* Went for massage, dentist, physical therapy, etc. all week last week and also tried to read books, get organized etc...a real quest.
* Got a haircut. It is disturbing when you get your hair cut in a place where neither the staff nor clientele is young or beautiful. Except for me of course :-) But my cool guy stylist did a great job.
* Chores. Lots of chores this weekend.
* Let the cat out. Been fighting with him 'cause he wants to go out. And because his alternative is knocking everything down from everywhere. But today he didn't come home yet. He's MIA. We are getting pretty darn worried. Some tears have been shed. Keep your fingers crossed for Philo to come home...instead of say, hanging out on the 101 under a gazillion tires.