I actually have good news about snow (and then I'll shut up about it, I swear!). The big snow mound by the parking garage in my apartment complex? Gone today. This is momentous in that it had been there, nonstop, though varying in height and girth, since December 5, 2002. And today, gone. I am taking it as the sign I've been looking for that spring is truly here. Rejoice!
Even more important news: Geoffrey and I have set a date. For the wedding, that is. Monday, October 6, 2003. So it shall be (as long as the New Zealand folks still have that date open). We freaked ourselves out tonight when we realized that that date is 6 months from Sunday, which is really only one day from today. But freaked out in a good way. So next is kinda hard stuff like booking our flight and place to stay (we already have it picked out, though, just have to set it up with them). But after that comes fun stuff like me looking for some kooky dress, having my friend Sharon make some jewelry for me, getting our rings and starting to think about our vows.
Opinion poll: What should Geoffrey wear? We're thinking a tux might be a bit much, especially since I probably won't be in a traditional "wedding" dress -- just something white and long and pretty. So ... a suit? Shorts and sandals? A gorilla suit?
In case you are an avid follower of Geoffrey's blog, you should know he is having some difficulty with it. It wouldn't let him post for a couple days, we don't know why. I think it is because he has exceeded his weight limit in that he himself is so fat that his very words, even, are fat. But he thinks it's something else. I shrug. I think he Webmasthtered it and it is better now, but if anyone knows what to do -- speak up. Just don't bring any food or Geoffrey will eat it up.
Beautiful day yesterday, we went to the tidal basin by the Jefferson Memorial, where all the cherry trees are, and poked around. Rented a paddleboat and took in the sun and scenery. I even got a small tan, which means I went from "absolutely blinding" to "very white." Gorgeous.
Small ripple of hope at work today. My boss said he wanted me to be co-chair on the "style" committee, which pertains not to what people are wearing (too bad, 'cause that'd be way fun) but rather to how we spell certain words at our particular paper, what we do and do not abbreviate, capitalization, etc. Considering the last two committees I've been on (Web site, war desk) have gone nowhere, I am not getting my hopes even remotely up that this will be anything that will cross my consciousness ever again. Side note, kinda bitchy but true: The other "chairperson" is this good-hearted but pretty, well, dim woman I sit next to who is always asking really dumb questions about .... our style. So not too excited about working with her anyway, on the off chance we ever did have some work to do on this committee. So there you have it. Guess I should be glad my boss has faith enough in me to even pretend to assign me so many and so varied opportunities -- too bad nothing ever comes to pass.
That said, found out about a little opportunity I am mulling, on the D.L. of course. The Student Press Law Center, a watchdog and working non-profit that fights for the rights of student media and is located just over in Arlington, has a fellowship opening. The position has you editing their 3-times-yearly magazine, really being in charge start to finish of the content and design. It's a rare fellowship that offers a decent salary (though a good chunk less than what I'm making now) and health benefits. Only for 11 months, though, starting this September and ending August 2004, so not sure what'd I'd do after that. But I would love the job so much, I think. I'm excited at even the tiny prospect of having a job I'd be so passionate about, something where I can really make a difference and do some good. We'll see, I figure I'll apply, and worry about whether I can deal with the pay cut and the dead end in August 2004 if I actually get an offer. One catch: They're looking for "recent college graduates," and, alas, I wonder if I'm too old. That hurts. Owwww.
LISTENING TO: HOT HOT HEAT is pretty good. I like their song "Bandages" that's on the radio, but the whole album is pretty good, too.
Stacy - 10:53 PM
Wednesday, April 02, 2003
I feel as though my posts are getting to be all the same. The two recurring themes are:
1) It's snowing and I hate it.
2) My job sucks and I hate it.
I can't imagine that these themes are at all interesting to read. And yet here I go again. I promise, though, to try to find new themes next time, so please bear with me.
1) It snowed here this week and I hate it. It didn't stick, though. Just one last (I hope!) blast of cold and then finally spring here, which I hear is the loveliest time to be outside and looking around in this town. The cherry trees around the tidal basin were a little late this year, but are finally out, and man, it really is pretty. I think Geoffrey and I are going to check it out tomorrow.
2) My job sucks and I hate it. War now is in full swing, which is my paper's bread and butter, of course. But it's as though it's never happened before and it was a total surprise, which of course is untrue since this one's been building since, oh, November or so. My suspicions about that whole "war desk" idea being a sham were confirmed. First by the fact that the war happened on my days off, but I didn't get called in like everyone else AND they kept telling me they didn't need me when I called in. Then when my boss actually apologized to me about building us all up for the war desk and then nothing happening with it. So all that studying and reading books about freakin' Iraq and wondering if my schedule and job were going to completely change were all for naught. I'm just a page monkey like I've always been. Not the biggest deal in the world, if the alternate to the "war desk" plan had been a suitable one. But the alternate plan was no plan. We're flying by the seat of our pants, which is a swell way to uphold my paper's tradition of covering the war better than anyone else. I hear about people at other papers who had so much better plans laid, and are therefore producing so much better papers, makes me mad. But, as is always the refrain in my workplace, there is nothing I can do. Nothing ever changes. Which is why I want to bail. Badly. But not much in the way of options, especially since I think Geoffrey and I both want to live here a little longer. So I'm looking around, but not too hopeful. If nothing comes up I guess I'll stick it out here a little longer and try to ignore the feeling of my brain and my skills getting soft from lack of stimulation and, really, lack of giving a shit about this paper.
OK, now that those subjects are out of the way, what else? Geoffrey and I are still looking for apartments. Nothing's really grabbed us yet, but we still have lots of time. Probably more looking tomorrow.
Thinking of learning HTML. Seems like it could be useful in job hunts present and future, and it seems like fun, too. I already do a lot of coding (though for typesetting, not for Internet) at work, so I kinda get the idea. And I'm such a whiz at bolding and italics and links already, how hard can it possibly be? :)
Wedding update is we think we're going to commit very soon to the folks in New Zealand. We've talked to the embassy here and found some Web sites to check out the business, and nothing bad turned up, so I think we're in good hands and we still really love the idea of a simple ceremony there.
Went to a live show last week, first in a while -- too long. It was a band called Slobberbone, very rockin'. Lots of fun, though I was a little deaf afterward. Lots of good shows coming up here this summer, including Lyle and Kim Richey and Willie Nelson. Not sure if I can bear getting tickets for Willie again. He cancelled last time, breaking my poor little heart, and I hear he's been pulling the same thing as recently as a few weeks ago. So might not bother this time, we'll just see. And then there's Merlefest. Should find out in a few days if I can go, as my boss is allegedly working on an April schedule soon (amusing, yes, when one considers that today is April 2). If I do get to do it'll be for less time than I would like, I'm sure, but even if I can make it for just one day it'll be SO awesome, good for my soul. Keep your fingers crossed!
Sorry again that I seem to be stuck in a sucky snow/sucky job theme rut right now, will try to pop out of it. Hopefully there'll be no more snow to bitch about anytime soon. Job is more likely to stay with me, unfortunately, but I am trying my hardest to make the best of it.
LISTENING TO: UNCLE TUPELO/Anthology. What is wrong with me that I didn't buy this before? I've wanted to ever since it came out, just been forgetting. Oh, but I'm obsessed with it now. There's a reason Uncle Tupelo is considered by many the fathers of alt-country, is such an elusive thing can be fathered. Oh, it's heaven. Also listening to the new one by THE BE GOOD TANYAS. Kind of a neat album, except for a truly hideous cover of "House of the Rising Sun."
Stacy - 12:19 PM
