Sunday, December 28, 2008

working mans blues

Christmas is over and work is dying down. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come back and see everyone while they were with their families and whatnot but I'll be able to return for "Christmas" next weekend. It's been a few months since we've returned and I'm looking forward to seeing whoever will see us.

The wife and I made a brief, spontaneous visit to her folks house xmas day. I didn't have an extended break where I got to sleep in and lounge around the living room or even a few hours of time to reset my psyche this year, but christmas day was good. We had some wine and cheese, a good dinner and time with the in-laws - not to mention a brand new bike trainer. The day was capped-off by a sleepy drive home to resume my early morning routine. This is a hard time of year for people who do what I do. You work tirelessly in effort to create (or create the illusion of) what can be described as 'dream christmas' for those more fortunate, while you yourself work sixty hours a week with no break, no time for reflection, no 'holiday season' to speak of. Christmas becomes something achieved for others, and taken away from you. I'd like not to do this next year. Now, I don't want to be all negative; I describe it in this way because the experience, the feeling is unexpected. I'd certainly rather have it this way than the way it was before this job.

Soon friends should be returning to the city and I can resume this season as normal. I'll be working new years day, but I'll try to stay up past midnight and find something to do this new years eve.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

In a few hours it will be official...

...I have gone the entire day without pants.

It's winter now and I've wussed-out and stopped riding to work. I feel a bit guilty about driving the car everyday, but I justify using it with the rational that: a) public transit is more expensive because I already own the car and b) the CTA is unpredictable and when I already wake at 5:30 each morning, getting up nearly 45 minutes earlier would be no fun at all and would most likely adversely affect my quality of life.

Xtina is waiting to hear back from her top-pick school. We were supposed to know by now. We don't know and it's making us nervous and crazy. There is no more nintendo wii to take my mind off the everyday. sigh.

I finally finished reading 'Blink' which I bought for seven dollars at powells books in Portland. The book was worthwhile. I miss Portland. I'll now start reading 'The Ghost Soldiers' until another book distracts me from it until its' due date.

I've recently acquired 'Belle and Sebastian: the BBC sessions,' which is great if you haven't heard it yet. I brought me back to those college days when I first heard Tigermilk. I also got the new Deerhunter album which I like much more than I thought I would - I typically lean towards music much more straightforward. My favorite new album is definitely Neil Young's 'Sugar Mountain: Live.' I can't believe it hasn't been released until now. I ordered 'They Shoot, We Score' from Yo La Tengo's website yesterday. It was the first cd I've ever purchased online and will probably be the last.

I'm hungry and I've already eaten too many cookies: the only prepared food in the house. Xtina doesn't get home until eight. What to do... What to do...