I love that you can embed Instagram photos now. Happy technogeek here Unless you’re on WordPress. Apparently the iframe code gets kicked out. Meh!
I breezed up into DC this weekend to catch up with some friends, talk to some former coworkers about a project that could be really cool if I do end up getting to work on it, and have dinner with my aunt. The last there was the one I was looking forward to the most. My Aunt Laurie has been in the news industry for a long time, and she has some amazing stories. We were talking about the Paul McCartney concert she went to, and she shared a story about a project she worked on some years ago with him, when he first started his environmental efforts and wanted to tour the Everglades.
That project was cool in and of itself, but the piece I especially loved was an aside she told about her sound man at the time, Saul. Saul was an older gent, and when he heard that my aunt was going to work on a project with Paul McCartney, he asked her for a favor. Saul had gotten his start on the Ed Sullivan show, doing sound and stage work, and shuffling the acts out the door when they were done so they wouldn’t get mobbed. The Beatles had their American premiere on the Ed Sullivan show, and Saul managed to get autographs from George, John, and Ringo before they left, but he missed Paul. Aunt Laurie was hesitant to take on asking Paul McCartney for an autograph, but Saul just asked that if she felt like he was a nice guy and might do it, that she’d try.
The day progressed, and at the end of it, Aunt Laurie paused and then told Paul about Saul and his story. Before she could even ask, Paul McCartney said, “Well, we’d better complete the set, now, shouldn’t we?” And he scribbled his name and a note to Saul. Class act. And in my opinion, my aunt’s pretty classy herself for asking.
Anyway, that picture up there was one I snapped in the restaurant where we went to dinner. Apparently, Aji Nippon has been a favorite of my aunt and late uncle for years – and it really is some excellent sushi! That picture is from when they took Ted Koppel there – the Koppels are on the left, and my aunt and uncle are on the right.
All in all, it’s been a successful trip, and now I’ve got a three hour drive and some projects to crank out when I get back to Fort Lee, but for now let’s talk about what’s going on…
Currently…
In…Washington, D.C., enjoying a Hyatt Regency at the moment. See the above for just what I’m doing up here 
Reading…The Balance Myth by Teresa A. Taylor. She kind of goes along with my career-woman-and-love argument from earlier this week in saying that we are all making a mistake, thinking that we need to choose between a career and family. Instead, she talks about all the different ways she has worked to bring them together and integrate all the aspects of her life, and tells stories of some of the mishaps that happened leading to her learning experiences. Loving it so far!
Writing…nothing at the moment except this blog. I finished my project paper before I headed out up here, and while I’ve got scribbled outlines and flow-charts for a couple professional papers, I haven’t started on them. That’s on the to-do list for when I get back down to Fort Lee.
Listening…to the clink of silverware and plates in the dining room where I’m getting breakfast, to the sound of coffee being poured, to muted conversation, to the rustle of newspapers. I feel transported. Staying in nice hotels always makes me feel like I’ve gone back a couple of decades.
Thinking…that I’m finally getting used to being uprooted. As Foursquare reminds me, this is my seventh week of living in hotels, and that’s the longest I’ve been in a long time without a place to call my own. I feel comfortable in it, in knowing that all my stuff will more-or-less fit in a bunch of suitcases. There’s something very liberating in not having a lot of stuff. I’m thinking about ways to carry on that freedom when we do finally move back into our Hawaii house.
Smelling…coffee and syrup. I’m draining my first doppio espresso of the day. There will be more. I can be awake and wired or I can be a zombie – I don’t have an in-between setting. I just have to drink coffee until the brain turns on. And eat pancakes, thus the syrup.
Wishing…that I could not pay attention to the news, but I’m at a point in my career and in my life where I feel like I’ve got a responsibility to stay informed. Still, I don’t want to talk about the Zimmerman trial or controversy or any of it, I don’t want to see all the hateful messages and commentary from both sides. There’s so much hate out there right now, and if I didn’t believe that hate begets hate before, I do now because I’m seeing it happen all over social media. I don’t want to join it.
Hoping…that…just hoping.
Wearing…work out stuff. I do have fashionable things in mind for my day, but I went for a run prior to the much-needed espresso and I just haven’t gotten around to clothes yet. I’m getting kind of obsessed with this whole working-out thing lately. That would be just jim-dandy if it were actually whittling my waistline a bit more. I just have to keep at it.
Loving…taking this time out to stop and drink coffee, to spend time with friends and family, that my aunt is right here in town and we could catch up, that my mom was up in Quantico this week and we could spend time together, that my husband and I have been able to talk for an hour – or two – every night we’ve been apart, that the time is going quickly by and we’ll be on our way westward to our next home and a little more resolution about the future.
Wanting…one of my classmates started up an exercise plan for her office based on an article she read that traumatized her about the relationship between sitting too much and heart disease, and now that’s traumatized me as well – oh, and I included the link so y’all can be traumatized, too – so I think I want one of those ergonomic kneeling chairs, or an attachment for my desk so I can work standing up.
Needing…for nothing at the moment. It feels strange to say, because I’m always setting goals and always chasing dreams, but I don’t need for anything.
Feeling…like I have a responsibility to enjoy this day. I’m feeling very anti-negativity right now.
Clicking…on nothing for the rest of the day except maybe a blog or two. I’m taking a break.
What’s on your mind, currently?
