Part 2 of 2: busy times

So we have just had Thanks Giving. This proved to be fun on lots of levels. First off I was able to work from Walnut Creek for the week, so no comute. A little frustrating when the internet was slow but lovely to roll out of bed, put the coffee on and sit around in my PJs. Sharon and I headed to Santa Cruz with Maddie and had Thanks Giving at Michelles. All the trimmings, turkey, pumpkin pie and walking on the beach. All quite lovely. The next day Sharon and I headed back to Walnut Creek to pick up Alex and then we went to the most lovely B&B in the Santa Cruz mountains. Claiming to be both dog and child friendly it really was. We had a fab room with a loft for Alex. Maddie was a charmer of course and thanks to Sharons commitment to her training she is turning into a lovely friendly lab. She's gaining weight rapidly as she grows from a puppy into her adult weight. The whole setting was idyllic. We had a private deck, although the whole place is fenced so Maddie could run free, and this included an out door jacuzzi. All three of us had a late night soak with bubbles and then lit the fire in the room. The other real fun bonus (apart from the most fantastic breakfasts) was the trampoline. Alex loves them and hasn't been on one often so I got to do a little teaching.......yes when I was 10/11 I spent a lot of time bouncing on a trampoline and can even do a few tricks. I haven't been on one for years but could still do sit downs, turns, backdrops and front drops - I wasn't brave enough to try the forward flips but it did all make me laugh alot. Sharon had never been on a trampoline so bravely had a go and perfected the sit down. Alex is 12 so he managed to give most everything a go, as only 12 year olds can. I also did a lot of driving around so that is good for my confidence and now I don't need to think about being on the right side of the road as much! We briefly headed back to Michelle's at the end of the weekend and she came for another walk on the beach with us before Sharon, Alex and Maddie headed back to Walnut Creek. How life has changed. For Thanks Giving last year I was staying in Santa Fe by myself while a visit was on at the ranch. It's nice to feel a sense of change and progress. Xmas is coming of course then Ruth's birthday in Spain.
Oh and on a health note working back in an office has me fixated on how to stay fit so I went and bought an exercycle. Days are getting darker earlier so I figure at the very least I can comitt to half an hour a day. I spent a happy few hours today putting it together and feel quite smug about the whole thing........of course that's only sustainable if I actually get on the bike every day......

Part 1 - busy times

Because it's been a while and I haven't updated I"ve broken this into two parts........one of which I wrote a few weeks back but hadn't posted! Work has been a rolling ride as the program figures itself out. Good learning and, while I am tired at the end of the week (with the commute making for an 11 hour day) I'm learning alot. It helps that I have generally taken a far more relaxed view of life - although I still have my moments. I really do need to start to think a little more about what happens next but in the mean time I'm rolling with it.
I've been having some fine adventures too. Last week Sharon, Alex (her son), Michelle and I headed off to the football. This was very fab and Sharon had got us seats very near the field and one of the goal lines. All the pomp and ceremony with brass bands etc etc and the game itself proved to be quite exciting. It was, however, raining, so we all ended up very sodden along with the other 80000 people who pack into the stadium. Michelle commented that we were looking at the population of Whangarei - although I did point out that more people in this crowd were likely to be employed! For the record "we" lost.
The day before we went to the Bee movie, which was quite funny (although not as funny as Shrek), it was light and entertaining. On Sunday we went dog walking and generally lazed around. Although I did spend an hour or so installing a new outside sensor light at Sharon's house - love playing with electricity!!! Not so much actually but it was kind of fun to figure it out.........I am easily entertained. Michelle and I drove back to Santa Cruz in the evening, after Sharon cooked a yummy dinner. All and all a fun weekend.
During the week Michelle and I went to a poetry reading by Adrienne Rich. This was amazing as both Michelle and I had been introduced to her political thinking in our first year at University. She is clearly a very smart, funny, insightful woman. After the reading we headed out to a very yummy Japanese restaurant.

Being on the 'b' team

So today United Airlines called me and asked if I was still interested in being a flight attendant. Actually they left a message on my cell - I deleted it, I guess my answer is clear. How odd to send such a definitive "thanks but no thanks" and then call back......on my cellphone. Oh well a few months does make a difference and I am in a different place and time (i.e. I guess I am not completely driven to be a flight attendant). As it is I am quite busy enough and reminded that life generally throws you where you are meant to go!

Last weekend involved a little adventure to Carmel-by-the-sea.......yes a really odd name but commonly referred to as Carmel. Imagine, if you will, Queenstown-by-the-sea. Sharon, Maddie and I spent a weekend adventuring. The beach really was spectacular and the town really as dog friendly as a dog lover could hope for. It's only about an hour or so from Santa Cruz - which did mean Sharon had to drive the hour and a half to Santa Cruz first, a big ask on a Friday night. I then drove us to Carmel.......in the dark and quite comfortably given I had been a little nervous about driving in the US before I got my license. We found accomodation that could accommodate Maddie.......it was "rustic" but not unpleasant and clean. She did manage to chew her way through the cord of the coffee machine (Maddie not Sharon) - before we realised - but she's little, it's forgivable. I confessed it to the staff and so far I haven't heard what the penalty is...........it's America, you should never assume anythings gone away until it has but they will be hard pushed to charge me much given the less than high end coffee machine! And I'm way more vigilant about following these things up than I was in NZ.

Job goes well. Every day I learn something new and get some insight into working in the US and for a global company. In terms of my skills it's an evolution not a revolution. I'm not sure what it looks like 12 months from now and I'm not sure that it matters........12months........or six weeks for that matter.......changes everything. I'm happy to roll with it and see what tomorrow brings (as long as I can pay the bills and then some!).

Diplomats decry State policy

Draw your own conclusions..........