IPOD
RADIO
Hooray! Today is my last day at Cisco. 
Next week I'll just be at home, slugging and taking it easy, so if anyone wants to hang out.....
Not much else to write. Just very relieved and ready to walk away. No plans for the weekend yet.
Love and hugs to you all.
Next week I'll just be at home, slugging and taking it easy, so if anyone wants to hang out.....
Not much else to write. Just very relieved and ready to walk away. No plans for the weekend yet.
Love and hugs to you all.
Four more days at Cisco (counting today). Hardly slept at all last night. I was, for once, uncharacteristically (of late) perky last night. Slept until midnight then woke up at least once an hour after that until 5:00 when I just couldn't get back to sleep. I feel like I've had way to much caffeine (haven't had any), my stomach is kinda queezy, I'm jumpy, pulse racing. Bleh, but I am definitely AWAKE! 
Hopefully I won't burn out too quickly today.
Injured my wrist this weekend (but the sex was well worth it! ) so a friend told me about this great exercise. Take a dowel rod about 2' long, drill a hole through the center, run a string through that and tie it. On the other end of the string attach a weight (start off light like a can of soup or a bottle of water). Hold the dowel in both hands, one on either end, and extend it straight out from your body, arms straight-ish, parrallel to the floor. Now wind the string up, when the weight hits the top, wind it back down then up again the reverse direction. Repeat. Do this 5 min a day and it'll strengthen your muscles and tendons in your wrists, hands, forearms and shoulders. Okay, I can only do this for 2 min at a time right now, but I'm working up to the full 5 min.
Fought with the dweeb that is supposedly running the tech centers at Cisco. Afterwards I had to ask myself what the hell? Why do I even care? I'm outta here. Renewing my "I don't care" attitude, cause I'm in the Aloha Suite. Today my replacement starts, poor git. The same dweeb wants us all to go out to a pub after work on Thursday to have a few drinks. Ummm....are you coming? Then no. Not only no but HELL NO, ASSHAT!
I really don't like that guy.
Anyway, that's about it for me. Anyone want to hang out with K_Rex and I this week give us a jingle. Oh, and I'm off all next week too. Hooray!!!!!!
Love and hugs to you all.
Hopefully I won't burn out too quickly today.Injured my wrist this weekend (but the sex was well worth it!
) so a friend told me about this great exercise. Take a dowel rod about 2' long, drill a hole through the center, run a string through that and tie it. On the other end of the string attach a weight (start off light like a can of soup or a bottle of water). Hold the dowel in both hands, one on either end, and extend it straight out from your body, arms straight-ish, parrallel to the floor. Now wind the string up, when the weight hits the top, wind it back down then up again the reverse direction. Repeat. Do this 5 min a day and it'll strengthen your muscles and tendons in your wrists, hands, forearms and shoulders. Okay, I can only do this for 2 min at a time right now, but I'm working up to the full 5 min.Fought with the dweeb that is supposedly running the tech centers at Cisco. Afterwards I had to ask myself what the hell? Why do I even care? I'm outta here. Renewing my "I don't care" attitude, cause I'm in the Aloha Suite. Today my replacement starts, poor git. The same dweeb wants us all to go out to a pub after work on Thursday to have a few drinks. Ummm....are you coming? Then no. Not only no but HELL NO, ASSHAT!
I really don't like that guy.Anyway, that's about it for me. Anyone want to hang out with K_Rex and I this week give us a jingle. Oh, and I'm off all next week too. Hooray!!!!!!
Love and hugs to you all.
Getting back from the beach was a huge relief. I'd had my fill of dogs, in-laws, snippiness and not getting any good sleep. We have been mostly slugs since getting back. We've gone to bed at 9:00 most nights and still tired in the morning.
Next week is my last week at Cisco and I'm so so so happy about that. I am trying my hardest to just not give a damn about all the petty shit happening around me, and just walk away when it gets stupid, take a slow walk around the building or something. Then it's a week off for me from the 6th to 10th. Yay!!
I've gotten the bug once again to get a better camera than what I have, a true digital slr. Anyone have any opinions one this? I'm looking for one that can mostly be set to automatic and get decent pics, but that I can also fuss with when I want a particular shot, adjust exposure, focal length, add lenses to, etc, but for a reasonable price since I'm not going to do any professional photography. Any opinions on this would be welcomed.
Mmmm, not much else going on right now. I miss you guys like crazy. Lots of love.
PS. if you are on LiveJournal, please add me as a friend, I'm there as chriskesler.
Next week is my last week at Cisco and I'm so so so happy about that. I am trying my hardest to just not give a damn about all the petty shit happening around me, and just walk away when it gets stupid, take a slow walk around the building or something. Then it's a week off for me from the 6th to 10th. Yay!!
I've gotten the bug once again to get a better camera than what I have, a true digital slr. Anyone have any opinions one this? I'm looking for one that can mostly be set to automatic and get decent pics, but that I can also fuss with when I want a particular shot, adjust exposure, focal length, add lenses to, etc, but for a reasonable price since I'm not going to do any professional photography. Any opinions on this would be welcomed.
Mmmm, not much else going on right now. I miss you guys like crazy. Lots of love.
PS. if you are on LiveJournal, please add me as a friend, I'm there as chriskesler.
Moonrise, 9:44pm. Sure, it's not a full moon but I might be able to get some good shots nonetheless. The wind is howling, blowing loose debris about, pushing against the side of the house, gusting over and around it. I grab my camera and tripod and head out.
The wind is blowing harder than I thought, almost like a living thing, pushing against me, hard. It's chilly, dark. The wind is loud, making it difficult to hear anything but it's shriek. Occasionally something larger than a grain of sand hits me, but nothing major. I trudge onward, only a block, to the boardwalk. Fourteen stairs up then a long stretch, another set of stairs, twenty this time. It's even darker. Those irrational fears from childhood, of the darkness, basements and monsters, and more rational of real monster that exist come to the front of my head. I push them aside and refuse to have the moment spoiled.
Sea oats are whipping back and forth at the crest of the dune, more a sandy sea wall held in place by time and vegetation. That is still above me as I have not yet climbed those last twenty stairs to the top of the dune. The wind is less down here, not so violent. Still there, but more willing to give me warnings rather than scream at me. I know at the top will be a different story. I mount the first step.
As my head comes even with the top of the dune the wind renews it's attack, proving to me my folly. I continue up and hit the top. Thirty feet to the end, and a drop of twenty feet down is before me. A moment of vertigo hits. I grab the rail.
I look out upon a dark and angry ocean. There will be no moon tonight. I know this from the instant I look out upon the sea. It is rough, whitecaps as far as can be seen. Down the steps in front of me to the beach the water surges up only a few feet shy of the final landing, draws back, then tries again. It knows that later tonight it will be able to strike at the steps. It's patient.
Very few lights show along the beach, most behind the dune and do not spill out onto the ocean. Those that do are far away, casting no light in my direction. The wind is really pissed now, 50 mph gusts, sustained of at least 30. Sand stings as it hits, the wind is cold and relentless. I stand up at the top of that peak, on the walkway, leaning against the rail, telling myself "Just a little longer. The moon might find a break in the clouds yet." It doesn't, and I know it won't.
Still I stand there, mesmerized by the scene before me. The violent waves pushing up to the shore. The dark scares me. I am exposed. Again the fears come out of my hind brain and push to the front. Some thing could grab me from behind. Some thing could come from the ocean. The wind picks up on my unease and begins to play tricks. It strikes a hard blow against the rail, making it vibrate as if a heavy hand had just grabbed it while climbing those stairs. I glance nervously side to side. A noise starts to rise, moving close. Something is coming!
I laugh at myself. Childhood monsters do not exist (as far as I know) and the real monsters are unlikely to be anywhere near this place. I settle again, watching the ocean, wishing I had a way to capture the image, a picture of the roiling sea.
Finally I give up and leave the thin strip of beach not yet under the wave to the wind and the ocean. I head back, starting at a noise here and there, the wind chasing me back, pushing against me as if eager for me to go.
The doors locked. They know I went out to the beach, why would they lock the door? Fortunately there are five other doors to try and one of them is unlocked. Everyone has gone to bed. I glance at the clock. I'd been out there for over an hour. No wonder they thought I'd already come back in.
I think this one thing will stay with me for a while. The amazing beauty of those wave roiling in to the beach in the darkness, the whitecaps creating their own light, enough to let me see the by.
ps. I picked up the album by Lenka and can't seem to get Trouble is a Friend and Dangerous and Sweet out of my head. Love her voice.
The wind is blowing harder than I thought, almost like a living thing, pushing against me, hard. It's chilly, dark. The wind is loud, making it difficult to hear anything but it's shriek. Occasionally something larger than a grain of sand hits me, but nothing major. I trudge onward, only a block, to the boardwalk. Fourteen stairs up then a long stretch, another set of stairs, twenty this time. It's even darker. Those irrational fears from childhood, of the darkness, basements and monsters, and more rational of real monster that exist come to the front of my head. I push them aside and refuse to have the moment spoiled.
Sea oats are whipping back and forth at the crest of the dune, more a sandy sea wall held in place by time and vegetation. That is still above me as I have not yet climbed those last twenty stairs to the top of the dune. The wind is less down here, not so violent. Still there, but more willing to give me warnings rather than scream at me. I know at the top will be a different story. I mount the first step.
As my head comes even with the top of the dune the wind renews it's attack, proving to me my folly. I continue up and hit the top. Thirty feet to the end, and a drop of twenty feet down is before me. A moment of vertigo hits. I grab the rail.
I look out upon a dark and angry ocean. There will be no moon tonight. I know this from the instant I look out upon the sea. It is rough, whitecaps as far as can be seen. Down the steps in front of me to the beach the water surges up only a few feet shy of the final landing, draws back, then tries again. It knows that later tonight it will be able to strike at the steps. It's patient.
Very few lights show along the beach, most behind the dune and do not spill out onto the ocean. Those that do are far away, casting no light in my direction. The wind is really pissed now, 50 mph gusts, sustained of at least 30. Sand stings as it hits, the wind is cold and relentless. I stand up at the top of that peak, on the walkway, leaning against the rail, telling myself "Just a little longer. The moon might find a break in the clouds yet." It doesn't, and I know it won't.
Still I stand there, mesmerized by the scene before me. The violent waves pushing up to the shore. The dark scares me. I am exposed. Again the fears come out of my hind brain and push to the front. Some thing could grab me from behind. Some thing could come from the ocean. The wind picks up on my unease and begins to play tricks. It strikes a hard blow against the rail, making it vibrate as if a heavy hand had just grabbed it while climbing those stairs. I glance nervously side to side. A noise starts to rise, moving close. Something is coming!
I laugh at myself. Childhood monsters do not exist (as far as I know) and the real monsters are unlikely to be anywhere near this place. I settle again, watching the ocean, wishing I had a way to capture the image, a picture of the roiling sea.
Finally I give up and leave the thin strip of beach not yet under the wave to the wind and the ocean. I head back, starting at a noise here and there, the wind chasing me back, pushing against me as if eager for me to go.
The doors locked. They know I went out to the beach, why would they lock the door? Fortunately there are five other doors to try and one of them is unlocked. Everyone has gone to bed. I glance at the clock. I'd been out there for over an hour. No wonder they thought I'd already come back in.
I think this one thing will stay with me for a while. The amazing beauty of those wave roiling in to the beach in the darkness, the whitecaps creating their own light, enough to let me see the by.
ps. I picked up the album by Lenka and can't seem to get Trouble is a Friend and Dangerous and Sweet out of my head. Love her voice.
**sigh**
K_Rex is mad at me.
**sigh**
I didn't even do anything wrong. Oh well, it happens and it'll pass. It's just...unfortunate.
K_Rex is mad at me.
**sigh**
I didn't even do anything wrong. Oh well, it happens and it'll pass. It's just...unfortunate.
Last day at the beach. We leave tomorrow morning. I am so ready to leave. The relaxation has been nice,but I'm done with all the togetherness, done with the three dogs, done with them pooping and peeing all over, done with not being able to sleep. The friggin dogs wrestle all the time so in the morning, bright and early, they start wrestling, waking me up, they continue the entire friggin day, so napping is next to impossible. And when they do stop, K_Rex's parents wander around on the floor, which is right above our bedroom so we can hear the clumping. **sigh** I'm ready for home and quiet. And no dogs.
I miss my birds.
Feeling a tad sad today, but I'm sure that's just being tired. Feeling a bit anxious, but that's just anticipating work on Monday.
Got some great plans for your weekend?
I miss my birds.
Feeling a tad sad today, but I'm sure that's just being tired. Feeling a bit anxious, but that's just anticipating work on Monday.
Got some great plans for your weekend?
It's done.
I called my grand-boss and resigned. He asked for two weeks after my vacation, and I really can't blame him for that. I agreed because I didn't want to screw him. He gave me a chance after my two year hiatus when nobody else would, so I owe him at least that much. In a couple of days it should sink in, but for now I just feel panicky.
Storms are rolling in to the beach, should be nice. We nt down to the ocean today, the water is cold so I only waded out to my waist before fleeing back to the house. Hung out in the pool for a while, but that was boring. Meh, just feeling out of sorts right now, no worries.
Love to you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, if you have a LiveJournal account, please add me, chriskesler, as a friend.
I called my grand-boss and resigned. He asked for two weeks after my vacation, and I really can't blame him for that. I agreed because I didn't want to screw him. He gave me a chance after my two year hiatus when nobody else would, so I owe him at least that much. In a couple of days it should sink in, but for now I just feel panicky.
Storms are rolling in to the beach, should be nice. We nt down to the ocean today, the water is cold so I only waded out to my waist before fleeing back to the house. Hung out in the pool for a while, but that was boring. Meh, just feeling out of sorts right now, no worries.
Love to you all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, if you have a LiveJournal account, please add me, chriskesler, as a friend.
It's done.
I called my grand-boss and resigned. He asked for two weeks after my vacation, and I really can't blame him for that. I agreed because I didn't want to screw him. He gave me a chance after my two year hiatus when nobody else would, so I owe him at least that much. In a couple of days it should sink in, but for now I just feel panicky.
Storms are rolling in to the beach, should be nice. We nt down to the ocean today, the water is cold so I only waded out to my waist before fleeing back to the house. Hung out in the pool for a while, but that was boring. Meh, just feeling out of sorts right now, no worries.
Love to you all.
I called my grand-boss and resigned. He asked for two weeks after my vacation, and I really can't blame him for that. I agreed because I didn't want to screw him. He gave me a chance after my two year hiatus when nobody else would, so I owe him at least that much. In a couple of days it should sink in, but for now I just feel panicky.
Storms are rolling in to the beach, should be nice. We nt down to the ocean today, the water is cold so I only waded out to my waist before fleeing back to the house. Hung out in the pool for a while, but that was boring. Meh, just feeling out of sorts right now, no worries.
Love to you all.
Good news! The beach house has wireless. Yay!! I can now update and keep in touch.
The house is really nice, it has two main floors elevated above a parking space. Those floors have really nice decks, screened in porch and stairs connecting them all. There's a decent pool and we're about a block from the beach. There's four rooms, we have one with a queen bed, and are all good sized. lots and lots of windows so if it gets cooler tonight we can open up. Huge living room and kitchen area. Outside showers and changing room. All in all a sweet place. Haven't hit the beach yet, most of us are napping right now. The drive was five hours and even K_Rex was getting snappish.. I'm trying to find a way to boost the wireless signal to see if that will help with the file transfer rate......pics load way too slowly
......but I'm not sure that will resolve it.
Ike passed through Houston without too much damage. My parent lost part of a fence that Mom, K_Rex and I put up a few years ago, and a small tree in the front yard, but that was it. I'm going to call them later tonight and make sure all else is good, but sounded like, from the voice message, it was.
Late Friday I got an email from the Lutherans with a copy of the offer letter that was mailed out to me. The Pay is better than I thought, which makes me happy. It was too late to contact my grand-boss to resign, so on Monday I'll call him and resign. Hopefully I can give my two weeks and one of them will be this week I'm on vacation, but we'll see. I want to take an extra week off after Cisco and before the Lutherans. Anyway, I think the risk is very low that I have to wait for the actual signed offer letter. In practice I should wait for the signed offer, because that is a legal binding document, but I think I can trust them not to hose me over. And if they do, at least I'm out of Cisco.
Anyway, I'm trying to decompress right now and start enjoying. It is sunny and mid-80's outside. I wish you all could be here with me to hang out and have fun.
Love you all. Have a great weekend.
The house is really nice, it has two main floors elevated above a parking space. Those floors have really nice decks, screened in porch and stairs connecting them all. There's a decent pool and we're about a block from the beach. There's four rooms, we have one with a queen bed, and are all good sized. lots and lots of windows so if it gets cooler tonight we can open up. Huge living room and kitchen area. Outside showers and changing room. All in all a sweet place. Haven't hit the beach yet, most of us are napping right now. The drive was five hours and even K_Rex was getting snappish.. I'm trying to find a way to boost the wireless signal to see if that will help with the file transfer rate......pics load way too slowly
......but I'm not sure that will resolve it.Ike passed through Houston without too much damage. My parent lost part of a fence that Mom, K_Rex and I put up a few years ago, and a small tree in the front yard, but that was it. I'm going to call them later tonight and make sure all else is good, but sounded like, from the voice message, it was.
Late Friday I got an email from the Lutherans with a copy of the offer letter that was mailed out to me. The Pay is better than I thought, which makes me happy. It was too late to contact my grand-boss to resign, so on Monday I'll call him and resign. Hopefully I can give my two weeks and one of them will be this week I'm on vacation, but we'll see. I want to take an extra week off after Cisco and before the Lutherans. Anyway, I think the risk is very low that I have to wait for the actual signed offer letter. In practice I should wait for the signed offer, because that is a legal binding document, but I think I can trust them not to hose me over. And if they do, at least I'm out of Cisco.
Anyway, I'm trying to decompress right now and start enjoying. It is sunny and mid-80's outside. I wish you all could be here with me to hang out and have fun.
Love you all. Have a great weekend.
Not sure how often I'll be able to update or check in for a while.
Currently I am waiting for the offer letter from the Lutheran Family Services, they want me to work for them. YAY!!! As soon as I get the offer letter I can give my two weeks at Cisco and then I'm outta here! I hope I get it today so I can resign tomorrow on my way to vacation. That would be sweet, oh so sweet.
Oh, and on Saturday I head to vacation at Corolla Beach, NC. It's a 5 hour+ drive down there, but we'll be staying there the entire week. So it'll be me, K_Rex, her sister, our friend Beth, K_Rex's parents and three dogs. So no, there wil not be a lot of alone time for us, and not sure how often I can get away to check in. And then there's dogs...... And stress from the parents...... But I won't be at work.
Anyway, just wanted to check in and let you all know what was going on and why I've gotten all quiet lately. I still love you all.
Currently I am waiting for the offer letter from the Lutheran Family Services, they want me to work for them. YAY!!! As soon as I get the offer letter I can give my two weeks at Cisco and then I'm outta here!
I hope I get it today so I can resign tomorrow on my way to vacation. That would be sweet, oh so sweet.Oh, and on Saturday I head to vacation at Corolla Beach, NC. It's a 5 hour+ drive down there, but we'll be staying there the entire week. So it'll be me, K_Rex, her sister, our friend Beth, K_Rex's parents and three dogs.
So no, there wil not be a lot of alone time for us, and not sure how often I can get away to check in. And then there's dogs...... And stress from the parents...... But I won't be at work. Anyway, just wanted to check in and let you all know what was going on and why I've gotten all quiet lately. I still love you all.
OCTOBER 2008