So where have I been hiding myself all this time? Ah, listing, never have you failed me...
*Experiencing the belly dancing, meat pastries, and mint tea of Marrakesh, followed by an excellent birthday gathering at Alison's. Although warning to all that playing Cranium with TJ alums is dangerous and bloody, especially when questions like "How many bits in a byte?" present themselves.
*Savoring and consuming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Hysterical quips, intense and fast-paced story with just the right balance of teenaged angst thrown in the mix. I'm still a little sad and taken aback about the character who died, fictional though they were. Hey, you invest a couple thousand pages in someone else's world, you get a little attached.
Note to self: Institute more British lingo into everyday vocabulary. All right then?
*Tarrying the Smithsonian American History Museum for the September 11th and First Ladies exhibits. The former was very powerful. It contained artifacts such as the megaphone that President Bush used to address the people of NYC at Ground Zero as well as some of the actual remains of the World Trade Center. The informational pieces ranged from the personal accounts of the fire fighters and clean-up crews to the various roles of dogs throughout the process from K-9 Search and Rescue to animal-assisted therapy companions. It was well done and respectful, although it did not include all of those that I would have liked to see honored, such as the nation's air traffic control who played a more heroic role that day than most people are aware.
It was a striking visit. One of the first displays was a collage of pictures of the burning towers, overlayed by the text of the times at which they collapsed. I remember exactly what I was doing during those times, remember initially being told about the crash and then that it would be known as the infamous date of my lifetime. And how very odd that only a year prior I had mused with others about just which date that would be. I feel that this experience was one of the first truly significant ones that connects me in a small way back to my parents' generation.
*Working. My new job is with a pager company. I answer the phone while the receptionist takes lunch and then update the phone directory in every useless format imaginable. But it pays and I have something to occupy me for four hours every day. Bonus that the people are very nice and that I don't scream for quiet. The phone hardly ever rings and the directory doesn't talk back. I don't much feel like I'm professionally contributing to society right now through what I've been assigned. Although I have been keeping the main receptionist company, which she seems to appreciate.
*Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. The ass-kicking, plot-losing, Matrix-ripping, symbolism-abusing Camp Cornball film of the summer. Wow. Good thing I was on a hot date to make it all worthwhile ;)
*Buying a new ergonomic bed. The day is mine! There may be a Boudoir Gala in the near future to celebrate...
Hm. It seems I became busy when I wasn't looking. Good. I'm getting my life back.
( 11:16 PM ) Meghan
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
The beach was lovely, even with the clouds, rain, and general gloom. My stubborn insistence on swimming paid off; I ventured out to the pool in 60 degree weather only to discover that it was heated. Ahhh. I also played video games, saw a concert ("From Boardwalk to Broadway"), ate probably a pound in samples of that stupid fudge, and flew a kite in the night sky by the sea. I even attempted beach Yoga that, alas, was rained out. Perhaps next year. I didn't get as much alone-time as I would have liked, but such is the way of family vacations. All in all, I had a nice time and I'm slightly more low-key than I was a week ago. Slightly.
And I have returned home, not only to all of you wonderful people, but also to a new job. Yay! After all the wallowing, whining, praying, begging, and persistent, annoying phone calls, I can finally say that I have to go to work tomorrow!
Hrmmm...ambivalence.
Wait. Money. Good.
( 11:20 PM ) Meghan
Friday, June 13, 2003
I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I don't know anyone who wanted to hear the oh-sad-unemployed-me-reflects-on-death spiel that would have been the likely result of the last few days. Many of you should know, however, that it is because of your comfort and support in realtime this past week that I didn't feel I needed the electronic outlet. Thank you.
Anyway, tomorrow brings a change of scenery. Off to Cape May for sand and salt-air and lukewarm, novelty beach fudge. Mmmm. But mostly swimming. I want to leave the burdens onshore and behind me for awhile.
( 2:08 AM ) Meghan
Saturday, June 07, 2003
My license to complain is hereby revoked. My grandmother died early this morning.
I have about a thousand things running through my mind, none of which seem appropriate for publication at this point. But word to all, I am okay, although still in the shock/denial stage.
( 3:10 PM ) Meghan
Friday, June 06, 2003
My extended family is irreparably insane. Oh, like this is new. I come to the same conclusion every year.
The Plan was to head up to New England to see my grandmother and help out the family because she is ill. This is no longer happening, for reasons unrelated to the following rant. But as an aside, my great aunt thought it fit to tell my father that the family was "concerned" about the idea of me coming up to help. She seemed to imply that I would have been too fragile to do anything and that in the family's "experience," it hasn't been a good situation when a health care professional tries to work with his/her own family.
What the HELL?! Right, because I have never had any experience with a sick/dying relative, I'm completely spineless when it comes to emotional situations, and I would certainly treat my family with all the professional boundaries of a client/worker relationship while inscribing my case manager status in gold-plated letters on their door. Do they think I'm f*cking nine years old with the kiddie version of a BSW who happened to be absent the day we covered ethics?
So glad I turned out...normal?
As if that hadn't been enough to enrage me, I get the following telephone call this afternoon:
Me: Hello?
Telemarketer: Yes, I'm wondering if you would be interested in a free assessment on the cleaning of your air ducts...
Me: No thank you, we won't be interested in that.
Telemarketer: Well, do you have a heat pump or an air conditioner?
Me: Look, I guarantee you, we won't be interested.
Telemarketer: Are you the homeowner?
Me: {sigh} I am speaking on behalf of the homeowner.
Telemarketer: Well, I seriously doubt that {hangs up}.
In a way, I'm really insulted. Do I sound that young and inexperienced? On the other hand, I got a telemarketer to hang up on me. Score one for the Megster. Heh heh.
( 10:32 PM ) Meghan
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Times' Square, lost in Queens, the studios of NBC
Rockefeller, Central Park, lots of gossip in the dark
Seurat and Egypt at the Met, a time we never will forget
Sci-fi moth and good cannolis, Anaheim has better goalies.
Pricey drinks and Thai-play, Lion King on Broadway
Chopsticks in Chinatown, mostly traveled underground
Liberty and Ellis Isles, watched the water for awhile
Poker night and Macy's store, we couldn't pack in anymore!
And we'll burn on and on and on...
( 1:18 AM ) Meghan
