preposterous transitions

Randoms.

The first Saturday in many weeks (months, probably) that I don't have work to do. Unfortunately, our friend is moving on Wednesday so we have to go help her move.  But at least I won't have to spend all day in front of this computer...

More snow. Sigh. It just doesn't stop this year.

Watching "In Treatment" (season 2) slowly, a disc a week. It's very compelling. I really like Mia though Masa hates her and refuses to watch her sessions. April is a bit whiney though I liked her early on. The last few episodes I've really been interested in Oliver and his parents. Man, that poor kid. I hate his parents at times, then I feel terrible for them. 

Doing some really fun stuff at work. Loving my job though I'm crazy busy.

Loving this Youtube song I heard mentioned on Slate's Culture Gabfest:

 

Thoughts.

Why does it feel that I have so much less to write about now that I am working full-time? I mean, it's not like I am working less than before. But if I let myself, I'd just write about work every day but that isn't interesting. 

Things going well. Liking it. Though I did get an email from another big international publishing about a meeting next week about a job. He's flying to Montreal just to meet with me! He's coming to New York for work (he lives in Singapore) and asked if he could here to sit down with me about working for this company (either in Singapore or from here). Of course, I can't take a job in Singapore but possibly part-time? I don't know. Anyway, don't want to say NO! And I'm sure it pays decently so I can perhaps use that as leverage for current job heheh...

Not that I want to quit my job. It's really great. Stressful. So many exciting projects I am working.

Sleep is hard but it's always hard at this time of the year. I think it's the lack of sunlight or vitamin D. Every January I have trouble sleeping...

That's it. Work travel on the horizon...I have to go and get Mad Men season 3 to give me something to do on the weekends...

 

E-book Readers, Christmas, and my so-called vacation

I`m a big fan of the book, the paper book I mean. But for my birthday, M broke down and got me a Kobo book reader. I did some shopping around earlier this month and this one seemed like the best one. The iPad at $600 is too much to just read books. I realize it does a lot more than that, but I don`t need an iPad and can`t really work on it to any large degree. So that seems out. The Kindle can only read Amazon books which is annoying. And Kobo is small and easy to use. Apparently it`s been a great success for Chapters/Indigo (Canadian book chain) so more and more newspapers & magazines (plus books of course) are being made available each month.

They are sold out of it so mine won't arrive until mid January. Something to look forward to.

Six days into my Christmas break and while I am getting some stuff done, I am not nearly as productive as I should be. I am doing a project for a UK publisher due at the end of January but it's hard to work on it when I am going into the office every day but having a hard time focusing. Out of 22 pieces I am writing, I have completed one. Sigh. I still have five or six more days of vacation left so now is the time to step up! 

In addition, I have two book reviews to write. One book is seriously slow going...this is going to be a trick.

And then I have two other companies asking me to do project work for them. I keep saying NO but then they ask if I can just do like 10 hours a month. And it's hard for me to say NO. But I think I have to. I have two emails sitting in my inbox now with detailed questions that normally I would answer with the expectation that the questions will turn into long-term projects. But now those emails just sit there and I can't even be bothered to respond (after saying NO repeatedly).

Christmas was nice. We had a great dinner with some good friends. I made a ham, soup and we just stayed up late drinking, eating, laughing, watching "The Princess Bride" and "Airplane!" Not very Christmas-y movies but the point was just to hang out and have a good evening. That it was.

Then Monday night and last night we had dinners to go to, seeing other friends who we haven't seen in a while. 

And in two more days, my 40th birthday. Big party and dinner at K&Y's house. I still can't get my head around the fact that I am going to be 40! I'm cool with it (some of my friends, I think, expect that I am going to have a breakdown but I feel great about it): what will the next 10 years hold?!

Winter, music, movies

Woke up to an icy wonderland this morning. So pretty! I wish I could stay inside all weekend and didn`t have to leave. But I do. Ah, well.

Stayed home last night--it was COLD. Watched "Un Prophete," an excellent movie about the trials and tribulations of a North African French kid as he tries to survive in prison. It's violent and shocking in some ways but so well acted: almost like that kind of cinema verite filmed by non-actors. But, nope, they are all professional actors...I had heard about this movie late last year but never managed to see it. So glad I did! It's really excellent and sure doesn't feel like it's over two hours.

 

And this amazing song I've been listening to all week. Her voice is fantastic.

 

So that's it. Nothing to report. Working like mad lately which will continue for another week at least. Then an entire week of at Christmas. A paid week!? Impossible to imagine!