due to illness.

Vacation was great but I woke up with a monster head-cold the day we flew back, so no updates or stories until I feel less like warmed-over-death.

For Christmas specifically, but in general as well. This week has been a race and I’m not exactly winning.

But, at this point, my bags are packed, the two unfinished knitwear gifts are in my carryon to be dealt with on the plane, and what’s done is done. Can’t do more than that.

Things are going well, overall, and I know once I get back from NJ I’m going to have to hit the ground running in order to catch up with the various tasks waiting for me here, but again: it will all get done, eventually.

Now I have to run because I’m already behind the 8-ball this morning.

Have a happy holiday of your choice!

Even if I did want to leave about mid-afternoon on Saturday… it wasn’t the event, it was my stamina. I apparently have none. Noted.

There were tournaments… which I saw none of. There was Art-Sci… which I saw one of (THANK YOU IZZY!!!). There was court… which I saw from under a bus at first, but it’s all good! Mostly, though, there was much socializing and chatting and just being around really fun people for a little less than 48 hours.

Master Octavio’s Pelican elevation was truly something to behold, and I do think some of the pictures I got are quite good. Now I just need to get them OFF of the computer and onto a disc and into the gallery. The non-Vigil the night before was nice and relaxed (again with the socializing and chatting and such) with a nice warm and fuzzy haze provided by MC’s Eggnog… mmmm

Of course, there were several incidences of ‘excuse me, what did you say?’

One was when the word ‘tapas’ was heard as ‘topless’… It was just that sort of weekend.

Probably the best part of the event, for me at least, was realizing that I’m finally starting to click with more than just a few people. For a while now I’ve been working on my ‘ability’ to be around and aware and not only stick to a few people I know best. Basically getting over the wall-flowerish tendencies when sans-wingman. It’s a good thing, and led to several interesting conversations with a variety of people I might not have talked to otherwise. I don’t feel as much of an outsider now (though I never felt excluded or ostracized, just that I wasn’t really meshing with the group as a whole as much as I could have) and I’m learning more and more of what makes the Society tick.

I realize I’m doing a horrid job of explaining the above, oh well, just know that (if you were there and are reading this) the event was awesome on several levels and I was more than glad to be a part of it.

No, you don’t misunderstand, that’s not abundant excitement you hear.

It’s not that I’m not looking forward to this event, it’s just that I really would rather sleep for 48 hours, have a light lunch, then sleep for another 12 or so. Not helping was the overwhelming feeling of ‘ick’ I felt when I woke up this morning. I’m not a good sick person to begin with, eventing while sick I do not see me being any better. But enough whining!

The bags are packed, the baskets ready and the food prepped. Things are ready for me to just toss into the car after work and head out to site. It’s going to be fun!!! (did I convince you?)

In other news, I finally completed my 101 in 1001 list (the list, not the tasks) and now can start ticking them off. Granted, I padded it with a few things I know will happen anyway, but I still have to actually do them/make it there/order them that sort of thing so they totally count. I was hoping to be able to cross off the 2004 reconcilliation one but, uh, yeah… Dec.04 is proving to be a real bitch. Today will be day 3 of trying to figure out why the numbers are not matching the way they should. Joy. But I’ll get there, honest.

My wine cart came into the office yesterday! It’s Mom’s Christmas present to me, a rolling liquor cabinent basically, and I think some of the guys here at the office are going to do the putting together bits for me and I can just take it home next week . Yay for early presents. Obviously this one will NOT be going to NJ with us!

Oh, and speaking of the impending travel. I have found out that the plan is to drive up to NYC Friday night and spend the night actually in the city. Supposedly our hotel is 10 blocks from Times Square, 10 blocks from the Empire State Building, 10 blocks from everything… which is cool! We’ll get to do touristy things that evening and then go collapse with a view of the city. Expect pictures… eventually.

I really need to get around to doing the actual shopping part of my Christmas stuff soon. Yes, folks, I am supremely unprepared for this holiday and it’s very strange that I’m not more worried. Of course, all my local friends that thing they might be getting gifts from me? Yeah, New Year’s baby. It’s the new Christmas, didn’t you hear? I might even be ahead of the trendsters and extend the fun until 12th Night. Who knows. (seriously… it’ll be after I get back and possibly then some, I’m sorry, think of it as stretching the holidays out 🙂

The knitting gifts are, definitely, going on site with me this weekend, and I will work on them whenever I have a free sit-around-and-chat moment. Which could happen a lot or not, I’m still not sure. I’m thinking tonight at least will be mostly sitting on the porch for a while. But I could be very, very wrong. Still, the sweater and scarf will travel in my basket for easy access through the weekend, hopefully adding inches to it as possible. These I really do need to get done by the time I pack on Wednesday night! Don’t ask how many inches are left… I don’t want to think about it!

I know, I did it to myself… but this is how order is kept in the world, no? Things go incredibly well, things go to hell, then we settle somewhere in the middle.

I could go into what happened at work, but it wouldn’t matter. I’ll just say, of one co-worker: that boy’s pasta just ain’t done! (nothing sticks…)

I could bemoan the techinical difficulties, but why? I fixed them, so there’s not a problem now, but at the time it was just one more thing crowding my poor, beleaguered brain.

I really didn’t want to do any of the things I needed to last night, but did them anyway. Once the wheels were turning I did manage to settle down and enjoy part of the evening (especially the 1.5 hour call to Mr SoCal… ‘he makes me laugh’… I feel like Jessica Rabbit…)

Perhaps what is really getting to me is the length some of these projects are taking. I want instant gratification. I want to be able to start something, finish it, and move on to the next. I want to give freedom to all these ideas trapped in my head. But there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to do all of what I want. Time management is going to play heavily in 2007 I predict!