Oh No, She Di'in't!

This morning I was up and at 'em at the normal time, even though this is one of my free summer Friday's off. My goal this morning was to get up and have my car serviced. While I was waiting on that, I headed over to the diner for breakfast. After killing about two hours there, I then headed back to the mechanic, hoping for an update for at least how long I can expect to be waiting. There were several things I know I needed done, and the rear breaks were one of them, knowing also that was going to take some time. As I waited in the sitting area, my reading was distracted by the television they had on.

The channel was turned to one of those tabloid entertainment shows, and I thus continued to get educated on The Spice Girls' Reunion Tour (presumably because Ginger Spice ran out of money), the top 10 summer celeb diet bodies (Jessica Simpson only coming in at 3), and the whole Larry King/Paris Hilton interview.

Like most people, I am oddly facinated by the celebrity culture. Not that I idolize like some, but just the fact that celebs can get away with so much baffles my mind, as if these people who are often the social and legal offenders are above the rest of us 'normal' folk. Because of this it shouldn't be so surprising that a few things that were mentioned in the interview really struck me dumb...maybe the blonde is wearing off?!

Hilton told King that she never expected to serve actual jail time...that her assumption was to be ordered a copious amounts of community service. I wonder what her idea of community service would have been? Educating the inner-city kids on the fashion of the season? Or perhaps how to multi-task by showing them exactly how to have a telephone conversation while also filming an adult video?!

Next up was when King asked Hilton if she was given a strip search. Her reply was, "Oh yes, all jails give strip searches...it was the most mortifying experience of my life!" Hmmm...so, now that she served 23 days (give or take with the early release...and we'll come back to that) in ONE jail, she is now an expert on all jails everywhere! Interesting. And she was mortified by a strip search? Are you kidding? Doesn't she do that sort of thing for fun? I mean, c'mon...that phrase has the word "strip" in it. I would think she'd feel right at home!

And of course the issue of the early release was brought up. Her defense on why she needed to leave the jail was due to medical issues...mainly claustrophobia. Now, don't get me wrong, I have a very good friend that suffers severly from claustrophobia, and I take it seriously. But how is a person who has only ever lived in mansions and estates know what it's like to be confined? I personally think that perhaps she's confusing claustrophobia with her own misunderstanding and lack of experience of what it's like to be in an average sized space. I have seen the inside of a county jail, and while the cells aren't a room at the, say, Hilton (ha-ha), it's about the size of the average NYC bedroom: small, but copable!

And lastly, King asked Hilton how this whole experience has changed her. She replied by saying she will never be the same again. She truly has seen the error of her ways and will never drink and drive again. To that, King says, "What about drugs? Will you ever use drugs again?" Hilton retorts that she doesn't use, nor has ever tried ANY kind of drug. I know you can't hear me, but to that I am laughing so hard I snorted!

I know, I know...I'm being completely silly and foolish. I have to stop walking around with my head in the clouds hoping and wishing for things that would never happen in a million years.

Earth to Carolyn! It's time to grow up and get real. Time to stop seeing things that aren't there!

Gawd! I can be so stupid sometimes!

Karma's Sense of Humor

I have totally and completely found the perfect man for me. Same taste in music, books, hobbies. He is even as much of a freak about loving the rain as I am! AND, he's a fan of star-gazing too!

*sigh*

And one more for good measure:

*sigh*

He enjoys picnics at the beach while waiting for a fireworks display. And lazy afternoons in a park reading a good book.

He does sweet things like having an email waiting for me when I get to work in the morning with a great song attached. Yesterday's had a clip of some guy giving random people hugs with a note that said, "just wanted to start your week off with a hug!"

Why, oh why, does my match have to live thousands of miles away, across an ocean on a completely different continent?! I feel like I'm living out a cheesy Chick-Flick romance!

Take that, Elle Woods!

Just got back from my lunch break where I was at the Union Square B&N (yes Moosie, the B-O-O-K store, sorry), which by the way is my favorite store ever! While I was there I proceeded to spend $60+ on review material.

For what, you might ask?

It's official...I'm taking the LSATs, baby! In September!!! And I'm heading to Law School...pending any upstanding law school establishment will take me, that is! :)

Oh yeah, oh yeah, it's my birthday, oh yeah!

Well, actually September IS going to be a busy month. I actually do have my birthday, then Vegas, then LSAT! *phew* Crazy time!!

So, this weekend commences Carolyn's Summer Beach Study Session! WooHoo!!!

So! Psyched!

The "More Details"

The Company I work for was acquired not so long ago by a larger company...as is the way of mergers and acquisitions. And now, as a result, I get to work with two other sister-companies; one in Chicago and one in the Hague, Holland. Initially at the onset of the first merger inventory responsibility of the Chicago company was transferred to mine in NY. Some of the Holland inventory responsibility was also transferred here, in the capacity of only what was sold in the USA. The remaining Dutch inventory that was sold internationally still remained with their company.

But now that there are massive changes and shifts, responsibilities and job descriptions are altering yet again. Editorial and Manufacturing are being outsourced to India and all inventory responsibilities for ALL parent company products are being centralized to my company's office in NY.

So that means learning how the foreign product operates and sells in foreign markets as well as the domestic market. And to do that, training must be provided by those that have previously dealt with it, i.e. the two guys that were just visiting from Holland: Ludolf and Jelle.

Ludolf is the Inventory guy, the one that I've dealt with in the past. It's his job responsibilities that are coming here because he was recently promoted and now working on other things. Jelle is the Manufacturing guy that I will now be working with to make sure our books and products are printed and in stock over seas. I really didn't have much interaction with Jelle in the past, so this training stint was extremely important to understand how things work over in the land of wooden clogs.

Aside from completely understanding each other on a professional level, we soon came to realize that there really wasn't much of anything we didn't have in common. Music, movies, TV, literature, politics, education, life interests, and the list goes on and on. Oh yeah, and our senses of humor are exactly the same as well, so it was basically one laugh-fest after another. After spending a scant few hours with each other, we already had our own inside jokes and silly looks.

After our first day of training, we all went out to dinner together. After dinner, they still wanted to see some of the sights NYC had to offer, so I took them into Times Square. We ended up at the Pig and Whistle Bar where the three of us were just talking about anything and everything for hours. It felt like we were long time friends instead of just having met for the first time that morning. It was a very odd, but 'butterfly in the stomach' kind of feeling.

After we were ready to call it a day, I was just expecting to put them cab and point them in the right direction towards their hotel. When Jelle asked me where I had to head to, and let him know it was about 13 blocks I had to walk the opposite direction, he wouldn't even let me walk on my own. He absolutely had to escort me to make sure I got there safely. And who said chivalry was dead! At least, it isn't in Holland...

The next morning, I can't deny that I didn't put a little extra thought into my wardrobe. After doing it up nice I felt so positive about myself, I was glowing. For the rest of the morning, there was more training, but it wasn't as boring as I thought is all was going to be. The shared looks and sly smiles were fantastic. It had me a-twitter!

While we were lunching, we were again in our own little world of shared fancies. When I learned he didn't have to be at work on Friday, I asked him why he wasn't going to stay an extra day or so. He said that he would have loved to, but the company had already paid for the plane ticket home and we all know what a hassle it is to change flight plans. So instead we talked about plans for future visits, discussing the possibility of me visiting later on in the year.

*sigh*

It felt so amazing to just completely click with a person, and I know it sounds insane...I can't believe a lot of it myself, but part of me feels like this is what people mean when they say, "when you know, you'll know." And for the rest of the weekend I joked around saying I had met my future husband, and endured the eye-rolls because it was just a fun thing to say and day-dream about. Hey, we all need something to day-dream about, and I am perfectly content with mine.

Comotose Training? Nay!

And why would it be when I have a gorgeous Dutchman from our sister company sitting across the conference table from me, looking me right in the eye and showing me certain procedures?!

Pivot Tables have never been so hot!

PIVOT!!!!

PIVOT!!!!

More details later! Yum!

The Windy City? Nay!

No longer the “Windy City,” I have renamed it “The City that Never Lets Go.”

After my 2:55pm flight was cancelled, I had a glimmer of hope that I would get on the 7:10pm to LaGuardia…alas, no such luck. Didn’t make it onto a plane until 9:45pm, which was then delayed another ½ hour on the tarmac…oh yeah, and it was flying into Newark. It was the only flight available last night unless I wanted to wait until 7:30am this morning to fly into LaGuardia. So, after 7 hours of shuffling back and forth in the AA terminal, here’s what I’ve discovered…

There are 15 bathrooms, 11 Starbucks, 21 book stores and 5 Mc’Donalds all in the AA terminal alone. And there is nothing entertaining to do at O’Hare except walk around in circles…for 7 hours…and annoy the people in Brookstone by asking them if the pillows and slippers come in matching fuscia because you absolutely HAVE to have coordinating bed-ware.

So finally, at 1:45 am, I get in the car (thank god for car services) and proceed to have one of the most frightening drives home! Aside from my driver that was playing Pac-Man with the dotted lines on the road, there are a whole bunch of OTHER crazy people on the road at that time of day. Finally pulling up to my apartment just shy of 3am, I nearly drop to the ground and kiss the pavement (except that there’s something gooey looking down there).

And just this morning, as I was getting ready for work (yup, still had to be in, but was just slightly late) I heard on the radio that O’Hare was rated as one of the best airports to fly in and out of…go figure. You can bet your butt they didn’t ask me MY opinion.

So, I am home. Finally. And sadly don’t even remember a lot of why I was going to Chicago in the first place. =)

Thus commences a day of comatose training and will be collapsing shortly after 6:30pm this evening! Hope I didn’t miss much while I was gone!

Out of the Darkness

This past weekend I was able to be a part of something so spectacular, and it has truly changed my life. Starting on Saturday at sunset circa 8:00 pm, I was fortunate to be a part of a 2,000+ person walk to help the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention raise awareness for this admirable cause. The Out of the Darkness Overnight walk led us through many areas and neighborhoods of the great city of Manhattan, and to see it at that time of day was truly magnificent. The evening was rounded out as I walked across the finish line at about 5:30 am after a very long and draining evening, but was heartfully greeted by so many people sharing the same experience.

Thanks to the support from many, I was able to do this; for myself, for my friends I have lost, for my friends that struggle through everyday, and for everyone/anyone else that has ever lost a loved one or struggle personally with depression and/or suicide. It is not an easy thing to stand up and take notice, and to support the people that do. As I walked the 20 miles, I had time to talk with many along the way, sharing stories and support with so many great people out there that have suffered so much more than I have. It was a miracle to see so many people put aside their life differences to come together for a single cause and support each other whether they were family, friend or stranger.

Thank you, to those, from the deepest part of my heart! The support you provided, however large or small, made all the difference and there is really no way I can stress that enough!

There are a few people I would like to thank especially:

Joe: thank you for being the very first person to donate and to recognize what this cause means to both of us. I looked for you, but there were just so many people! :)

Mr. Krebs: thank you for donating that balance for me to make my $1,000 minimum. You have always been such a great mentor and friend. Your ability to see the light in others is always an inspiration.

Sarah: Thank you so much for walking the entire 20 miles with me. It was so great to meet you and share that night with you. I really don’t know if I would have been able to last the entire distance without your encouragement and new-found friendship. See you at the Mermaid Parade?!

Louann/Allison: thank you for waking up early on a Sunday for breakfast! I know how much you enjoy sleeping in, but it was much needed!! :)

Monica: your text messages of encouragement and support throughout the entire night were such a help and constant reminder of all the great friends I have…and for breakfast, too!

Mom/Dad/Jess: family really means everything to me in this world. Thank you for your constant love and support…and for caring so much to make that emergency phone call to Louann! J I didn’t mean to worry you. Love you!

Eternally Grateful!

Here We Go Again

Doctor called yesterday. Tests came back hinky...Again.

*sigh*

Round Two of more exams, tests and whatever else. Yay.

If I didn't loathe doctors before, I sure do now...or at the very least my own body for not cooperating with my plan for a healthy summer.

Is this thing called 'life' every easy and simple? I am truly starting to think that concept is a myth.

A Becky Original

Branches of silver, ever entwining towards the heavens
Bare of leaves, but not of soul

Soulfully reaching toward stars of hope
Of hope and love as rain pours down

Raindrops that glisten, silver in the twilight
All expansive air of night

Where lovers join
Imperceptible where one ends and the other begins

Tendrils of silver branches
Reaching towards eternity

by Becky Du Poise; copyrighted material