Monthly Archives: March 2004

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Blog Down, Meet Up

Blue Cave (what we call our temporary room we’ve taken over at work since we are called “blue shirts” and don’t have our own office.)

Everyone wants me to blog, but I have been so focused on work lately that I feel I have nothing to say. But I guess I’ve been doing a few other things lately.

Most of you know by now that I’m obsessed with BookCrossing and have been releasing and catching books for myself and others. I love it. So last week I went to a BookCrossing Meetup. A Meetup is a meeting organize through a site that helps bring groups of people together with similar interests. Check it out. As for my meetup, it was a diverse group of people with different interests, but I found it extremely enjoyable since we swapped some books and talked about what to read and what to not bother with. I brought Chris Peters with me and was proud to have him at my side. Every time someone pulled the ol’ “there’s this book I read about this guy written by this person,” Chris would know exactly what they were talking about. That was very cool.

Then I met Phil of Phillustrations. Awesome guy and easy to talk to. He was the only veteran of the meetups so he sort of led us in our discussions a bit. Check out his site because he produces some creative art.

Then I got an email from Phil about a Seattle Bloggers Meetup, so I caught that one earlier this week. That was a little overwhelming just because it was twice as many people. Also, with the Bookcrossing meetup we all have books in common, but with the bloggers the only thing we have in common is that we sit in front of a computer and type crap for other people to read. Otherwise the content is completely different. Some are political blogs, others techie, a lot are personal like mine, and on and on. It was nice to know Phil because it helped me ease into conversation with the others, but at first I felt like an imposter. Since my blog is really just for my friends in essence, why would I go to a blogging meetup to see people whose blogs I’ve never read and who I never expect to read my blog?

On the contrary, that is exactly why I would go. Once I chatted it up with some of these characters, I found myself eager to get home and read their blogs. I may even add a few to my blogroll soon. I found myself wondering what they would think of KB or Johnny’s blog, or anyone else’s for that matter. And furthermore, if any of them became addicted to Johnny’s blog, what would they expect to find upon meeting him for the first time? If I had read some of these blogs before the meeting, what would my impression have been of the writers? I did it in reverse. I met the people first and then wondered what their blog would be like. It’s a interesting blogging cosmos.

So I ask all of you with blogs to pause for a minute and picture what you think you might look and act like to those who don’t know you apart from reading your blog. And conversely, what do you think of those whose blogs you read, but don’t know. Christy might be a good one for this since she reads a lot of your blogs but doesn’t know any of you. It was interesting to hear who she liked reading the most. It was not what I expected.

But now I’m just rambling.

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Revolve This, You Bastards

Earlier this week I attended a training for work that was located at one of our buildings in Tukwila. Since I managed to get myself unbelievably lost and arrived an hour later than I would have had I just taken the exit I had initially thought was right, I found myself rushing through the sliding doors unaware of my surroundings. I did note that many people in the lobby were looking oddly at me, but I assumed this was due to my young age and being a brand new unknown employee.

Fast forward to the end of the day. Glad to be leaving I headed towards the front doors again and this time noticed that in between the sliding doors was an evil foreboding revolving door, and on each of the sliding doors was a sign that read “Conserve Energy: Use revolving door.” Well for those who know me, I have a slight fear of revolving doors. I think I am afraid that someone will come up behind me and either try to ride in my “wedge” thereby encroaching on my bubble, or they will push too hard and not give me enough time to safely exit on the other side. I am also of course absurdly afraid it might stop working as I’m trapped in the middle (or maybe an older sister would trap me) and there I would be, like an animal caught in a trap for everyone to stare at through the glass.

Needless to say, I try to avoid the doors when I can, but I also try to pretend my fear isn’t there. I’ll usually just forge ahead and get it over with, always relieved to arrive on the other side just fine. So here I was facing a dilemma. Now aware that the staring earlier in the day had been due to the fact I, a healthy young thing, had used the electric sliding doors instead of the revolving door, I found myself forced to do as they asked.

And so I pushed forward into the door, holding my breath and cursing the woman who had appeared from nowhere behind me and was definitely pushing a bit too hard for my comfort level, then spilled myself out on the other side. Safe and sound. As I walked away from the door towards the parking lot, the electric sliding door was triggered by my weight and opened as if to laugh at me.

So I ask you this, whose energy were we conserving? Certainly not mine.

(Sidenote: I tried to see if there was an actual phobia for this and all I could find was another poor soul who had tried searching for the same thing to no avail and therefore decided to name the phobia herself. She calls it “Orbitagoraphobia.”)

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Excuses, Excuses…

So should I start to defend my absence? Max came to visit. Many get togethers. New job. Commuting to Everett (ick). Lack of computer time. On my feet all day (argh). Personal and Professional meetings. Moved my sister into Scott’s place last weekend. Moved Tonja into her place last night.

But the truth of the matter is, every time I sit to write I can’t think of anything to say. Brain…so…exhausted…

I’ve even slacked a bit on the reading of blogs. A former co-worker pointed out a few things he read on the blogs and I said, “What are you talking about? Have I missed that many days of blogging?” Even HE had blogged, which I thought he hadn’t done for months.

So hopefully I’m back for a bit. This morning my sister and I woke up with the decision to REALLY finish this house. The cupboard doors and drawers apparently require a third coat of paint, the bastards. We also realized that the unpacked boxes in the living room have now become furniture for us. “Oh are those my boxes? I thought that was the coffee table.”

Besides, as soon as I can get this part of everything over with, the sooner I can start on my wine cellar. I know. It’s sound so hoity-toity, but really it’s just a dirty tiny room under the stairs in the basement that used to have the fuse box in it and old tools. I’m going to spruce up the wood and put in wooden racks for wine and start a collection. Christy!!! Aren’t you proud of me!? I’m also going to join the Eberle wine club because I drank the last bottle of Zin from them and I cried over the loss. And remember, Christy, how they gave me all Chardonnay when I had wanted some of the Viognier? So anyway, do you think I should join the wine club or just order what I want?

I know everyone has stopped reading at this point. But hey! It’s a blog entry, so stuff it.