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About this blog

Random musings on Romance

Entries in this blog

 

Spring forward, my ass

I dislike Daylight Savings.   No, really, I dislike it. I still don't see the point in it. Maybe for some there's a savings in electricity bills or some such thing, but honestly, just turn a light off every now and then. It helps.   The first couple days of the spring-forward instantiation, I'm always off time-wise. I wake up 'late' in my mind, even though it's my normal time to wake up. I mean, my body tells me it's 7 or 7:30, but in fact my clock says 8. It takes a couple of days for both my cat Bella and I to get right.   The fall-back one is even worse. Not only does it take me a couple of days to get back right again, but poor Bella is completely confused. What, it's time wake up, right? No, we don't have an extra hour, we have to get up now! I swear, that's what she's saying.   Regardless, it's a gorgeous spring day--yes, I know that the equinox isn't for another few days yet, but it feels like spring has already sprung here in NorCal. Time for some cleaning, to finish up a couple of projects, and to generally get work done. Cleaning the apartment is on the list, of course. I think I'll wait another week to replace the basil plant that decided not to take hold...I don't really feel like going to the nursery. But definitely spending time outside is in order...well, not quite yet. At 8:38am (according to my clocks) it's still barely above 50'F. I think frolicking outside can wait until this afternoon.

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Rebel Rebel

Been a while, I know. The end of the semester usually gets a bit rough. In this case, perhaps all the moreso because of the upcoming trip to the motherland. There seems to be an unending amount of things to get done beforehand, so that when I come back I'm not bombarded with a myriad of items requiring my attention. It's bad enough that when I come back, I'll have about 3 weeks to get everything settled for my move.   I have been reminded that I am honor-bound and duty-driven to come up with activities that I want to do while in Tuscany. Um, duh. I know this. I also know that while I will do some planning, I do not plan on doing all that much. Oh, a trip up to outer Milan to see the ancestral lands is definitely on the list. But while I have sent off a letter to my grandmother's cousin, I somehow doubt that I'll hear anything back...and if I do, wonderful. If not, well, I just want to go see it. Granted, it's preobably been built over, seeing as how what once was a podunk farming community 100 years ago is now a suburb of Milan. I know this. Maybe it's just that my overall energy level is down, but I just can't be arsed to do it.   I want to spend a couple of days in Florence, a handful in Siena. Beyond that...well, the pool at the villa looks nice.

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

The best is yet to come

Today is the beginning of...well, it's Spring Break for me, nothing huge. But it's still a bit of vacation time. There are no major plans this year, as the budget and smaller income has reduced my options. But at the very least I hope to go into San Francisco a few times and really enjoy myself. Among the activities:   --Going to the De Young Museum at the very least, as they have a King Tut exhibition that is supposed to be pretty good. Besides, I haven't gone there since they reopened a couple of years ago. --Going to the beach at least once, as the weather is supposed to be fantastic (after a rainy Easter Sunday). --Going to lunch with a couple of friends...perhaps even a larger get-together.   Oh, and the usual one: a bit of work. Not much, but something to finish up so that the end of the semester will run pretty smoothly.   And as we change the calendar over to April, I now start getting really excited for the summer. It won't be like any other summer I've ever had, that's for sure!

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Aruba Pictures Up

I finally had some time to work on some pictures from the trip to Aruba last month Every underwater shot is taken by my brother Matt, and the topside shots are either mine or my mom's. I still have a few more to add, once I work on them. Anyway, enjoy!

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Predictions and predilections

I have no idea why, but lately I've gotten into the habit of reading my horoscope in the morning. Actually, I have a clue as to why: I love to have a giggle in the morning. Seriously. Today's Yahoo! Horoscope for Capricorn:     Is it just me, or are those two statements a bit contradictory? I mean, things are going to go my way, but there could be a problem? Be cautious, but share the good times with others? Huh?   Can I share the good times with my cat? Or do I have to include the people in my life? Well, first that would include the 'good times'...or rather, me actually having good times. If things go right, they'll come in the summer, but as far as I know, I have no 'good times' right now.     And what kind of problems? Could you be a bit more specific? I mean, sheesh, how's a girl supposed to prepare if she has no idea how to prepare?   Who needs the morning comics?

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Manic Monday

Mondays are a different schedule than most. While I'm at home all day, I'm working--it's my day to do anything creative for whichever project needs the most attention, I have online office hours, and tonight I start up a private tutoring for a colleague's son. (Which reminds me, I need to create a document to tabulate the hours and invoice...crap, one more thing to do...)   This morning started out at 7...well, to be honest, it started out earlier, as Bella decided that she wanted me up and raring to go. Except that 7 is my time to get up, dear darling furry-butt, and I ain't a-movin' until my alarm goes a-ringin'. So she sat at my shoulders until my alarm went off. Eh, so be it...we had our morning cuddle, and then got moving.   7:30...my windows are open (have I professed my love of springtime in NorCal?), and I'm at the computer, checking the usual sites. I hear a neighbor chopping limbs or something--I should explain here that the neighborhood I live in is one of the original ones for San Jos

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Hazy shade of winter

Let me tell you, we've had an amazing couple of weeks recently climate-wise. Glorious spring-like, even summer-like (for here) weather, with sunny skies, slight breezes, and wonderful temps. My plants have honestly been thriving in this weather...come to think of it, so have I.   And now for something completely different: a week of rain, cold, and clouds.   It seems that winter has decided not to leave us just quite yet. We need the rain, I know this...but we're not on schedule to get much from this round of storms. Just dampness, which isn't exactly something I enjoy. Roll with the punches, I guess.   This week is quite an easy one, but today is still a 12-hour day. Leave the house at 8:15am, come back about 8:30pm. Very long day...but tomorrow all I have is my night class. Just have to get through today, and then I'll be home free, both this week and next (Spring Break week).   Next up on the list: ordering cannoli for Easter Sunday dessert.

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Rethinking business strategies

I went to my yearly exam in May, and yesterday got the 'Explanation of Benefits' from my health insurance company. If you've never seen one before, it pretty much outlines the charges sent in by the doctor, what the discout is for going to a 'network doctor', what the insurance pays, and what I pay. I just looked at the rate that my doctor charges...and I've decided that I must rethink my rates.   Figure that I got billed for an hour--between the time to get the vital statistics, the waiting, the exam, and then returning to my normal state, that's fair. The doctor charged $200. She charges $200 an hour?   Ok, I have more schooling than she does--at least for the doctorate part, as an MD takes 3-4 years and a PhD takes 4-8 years (8 in my case). But, she has to have malpractice insurance, which is quite expensive, whereas I have nothing of the sort. She does have to 'rent' her space--perhaps, as she might be a partner in her office--so factor in a modicum of costs there. But while she might charge me for an hour's worth of time, she probably can see 2-3 patients in an hour for yearly exams.   Still...she's still getting much more per hour than I am, I reckon. Hmmmmmmmmm...ok, this needs to change. I DEMAND EQUAL PAY!   Oops, sorry, forgot my place. Back to the books now *shuffle shuffle shuffle*

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Mr. Roboto

So here I am. I caved in. I am a weak individual who could not stand to be on the island anymore.   Which island, you ask? The one where people refuse to purchase let alone use some sort of PDA.   Yesterday I went into my cell-phone-carrier's store, wanting to ask some questions. After getting my answers, I also inquired about a notice on my account which declared that I was eligible for a big device upgrade. The guy looked up my account and, to his surprise, it was true. When I asked what I could get, he noted that I could get the most expensive devices for under $100. On top of that, I could turn in my old cell phone and get a credit.   Now, I have been holding out on getting anything like a Blackberry for a long time, citing my lack of need. But increasingly I'm noticing how much easier it would be to have my ever-busy schedule at my fingertips. Or, say, be able to text people without wearing out the buttons on my number pad. Or check email while out.   So I caved.   As I type this from my crackberry, I'm on campus, staring at a gorgeous scene of the hills, the sun, and the fingers of fog which want to linger. And somehow, I'm ok with this.

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

I got the sleepies...

I want to take a nap...I've been so revved up, I couldn't sleep hardly at all last night, and now I'm finally starting to crash...but I leave Austin today! I gotta find a hole somewhere to sleep for a couple of hours.   Usually when I travel, the 'time difference' (2 hours between California and Texas) affects me for a day, and that's it. But my body won't let me work on 'Texas time' at all...my stomach is still ruled by Pacific Daylight Time, and getting to sleep last night was damn near impossible. After watching the Golden State-Dallas game (which was a helluva game), it was like 12:30a local time. I stayed up to 1a, thinking that I had planned on waking up at 9...7 hours is fine.   Yeah, right. I wasn't even remotely tired. Neither corporally nor mentally. Wide awake, full of energy. But with the weather as crap-tastic as it is (probably the only major negative to Austin...outside of the fact that it's in Texas), I didn't want to go down the street to a couple of pubs. Besides, they were only going to be open for another hour...why get all dolled up for nothing?   So I tried to lay in bed...to no avail. 1:45 I got out of bed, turned a light on, and went on the computer. Talked to an old friend for a while, and then at 2:30 I tried again. I still couldn't go to sleep, but at least this time I was 'calm' enough to be able to lay still.   Any odds on what time I woke up?   If you guessed "7am," you'd be right.   I tossed until 7:45...but still was way way earlier than I wanted. And I had good energy, too...not like I was dragging ass. So I took my time in getting showered and ready for the day...pakced my stuff up...etc. Check out is before 11am, so I decided to go down at 10, check out, leave my bags at the desk, and go down a couple of blocks to an old haunt for breakfast...after all, Katz's never kloses! Then walked a couple of blocks to take the bus to campus in order to print off some material.   Now I'm sitting here...it's 12:20p CDT...I've done everything I needed to do...I need to be back at the hotel by 4 in order to catch my ride to the airport...and I'm bushed. Jeez...will the ups and downs end?   (Answer: yes, after a little bit)

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

 

Swing from a star

Today's Yahoo! Horoscope gave me a big chuckle:           I love the possibly disconnected and definitely disjointed comments. The plans for the day are to go for a bike ride, have lunch with a good friend, teach a private class, and then relax. That's it. Maybe there's something else in the offing that will be fortuitous. Or not. Spending money isn't much of an issue right now...I have none to spend, so it's not much that I have to worry about. Eh, we shall see.

docoflove1974

docoflove1974

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