I Just Flew In...

And, boy, are my arms tired! Ok, well, it's not from flying (though you could describe it like that), but from paddling!

Our friends were supposed to join my parents and I this morning, and we wanted to start early, but one was struck with a migraine (and I know first-hand that they're icky!) so we started without them, around 1030. We put in at Selby's Landing south of Jug Bay again, but this time went across the bend in the river to a little waterway called Lyons Creek. It was nice, but there were houses and docks lining the creek, so it was less of an escape. By about 1200, we were heading back towards the river and my friend called to say they were here! Yippie! We met them at the mouth of Mattaponi Creek and went all the way down to the landing by the bridge before eating lunch. My mother and I were pretty thoroughly exhausted. (Lyons Creek was very shallow and I couldn't use my foot pedals, and remember, my arms are starting out tired). Eating helped us and we paddled back to the landing, around 1600.

You heard right, 5.5 hours out there! That's the longest we've gone so far! My mother and I agree that we don't want to go some place were we can't land and stretch a bit. I'm glad we were out that long though, because it helps build stamina. I'm not saying I plan to hit a 10 hour paddle any time soon or anything! We calculate we probably went about 9 miles. Next time, I want to do that when I'm not sore from lots of swimming!

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming

In store today was a party at the home of some RenFaire friends who, you guessed it, had a pool!

By now, you've seen I have an interest in a few water sports, so maybe it doesn't come as a shock to you that I love swimming! I learned in my aunt's pool in California when I was very young, and knew enough from being self-taught to make Varsity Swim Team in High School. Did I mention I like swimming?

I was in the (heated) pool a lot today! Jumped in when my friend turned on the grill in a very Tim-The-Toolman way, got out and ate, jumped back in, got out and ate some more, jumped back in. By now, it was pretty late, so I changed clothes as if I wasn't going back in. The sun went down, the pool lights came on, and I had to get back in!

We're planning a long paddle tomorrow, and I know my arms are going to be screaming after that rigorous game of water-volleyball. It was a great night, though! And Faire starts back up again soon!!

I Know It's Bed Time!

I just had to say, you know that package I've been waiting for? It came yesterday, and it's just what I wanted, and I'll be happy to order again (and this time I'm prepared for how long it takes).

I worked harder than anyone should ever work on a Friday, so I think I've earned bedtime. I got the extra work done, and as soon as that's back, I'll get to the real stuff. (for those of you who think this is cryptic, it is!)

New things are coming up on my webstore in the coming month. 2006 calendars, a light switch cover, and *gasp* stamps! Keep your eyes open (link to the right -->), new things go up all the time! Support my store! Keep helping me justify the expensive design programs I bought!

Did you know it's ok to post comments below? There's a handy 'Leave Comment' link just for that purpose! I think you might have to have a free reader account with myblogsite to do so, but I just wanted you to know it's ok! And don't stay up too late!

Thou Shalt Not Pass!

GAH! This morning has been the morning from purgatory! (I'm not saying from hell, because I know a few things that could have made it much worse, but it was pretty bad.)

The day started at 0300 or so, quite a bit earlier than normally. If you live inside a building of any kind (and I hope all of you, gentle readers, do!), you know that there are certain ambient noises that you have grown accustomed to. While the noises themselves are no longer noticed by you, the lack of such noises is cause for concern. I was prematurely awakened by the sounds that my house did not make. That's right, that means the power was out (which made no sense, because all the storms came through last night, not this morning!). My mother was waking everyone in the house up so that we all knew the alarms wouldn't be going off in an hour. After about 30-45 minutes, it came back, so I reset my clock and tried to take another 30 minutes of sleep. I heard my mother get in the car and go to work, then I wondered why I heard the front door open and shut twice.

While I was exercising, my mother announced that she was still home because the driver's side windshield wiper flew off her car (not just the blade, the whole wiper). Then we heard there was an accident on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which is, you guessed it, the way I normally take to work. It's usually in enough traffic without an accident! I pushed my dad to leave the house sooner so we had time to go around it (not an easy feat; leaving sooner or going around the accident).

Well, we didn't really leave as early as I wanted to, have been wanting to, and I was attacked by a spider web that was between my car and a tree. A really big, really sticky one. So, off we go, not to the Wilson Bridge, but towards the Southeast/Southwest Freeway to go through town. Guess what? There was an accident on the 11th Street Bridge in that direction. So, we decided to take South Capitol Street to get to the other end of the Freeway. Not done yet! The traffic lights at the Douglas Bridge were not working. It was like Gandalf had drawn a line along the Potomac River and said, "You shall not pass!" When we finally got into Virginia, it wasn't so bad (1.45 hours later). I think it's redundant to say I was late to work, at this point.

And, to top it all off, we didn't sail last night! The race was canceled because of an impending storm that was supposed to hit right as we were scheduled to start the race. The storm did show up, albeit not quite at that time, so it's probably better we weren't out in it. We got to sit in the restaurant and mingle, though we stayed much later than I wanted to. I still got to bed around 2130, which isn't too bad.

Here's to a better drive home!

I'm Melting! Meellltiiinggg!

With heat and humidity making it feel like 110°F or more, it's easy to feel like you're melting! I can't wait to get to the boat today! I really hope it doesn't rain (although, the rain might feel really good).

Other than the oppressive heat and the fact that it's a glorious Wednesday and a friend is coming to sail with us, there's nothing to report today!

Grumble

I started my day feeling pretty good. I got up and exercised like I should be doing, and went to work feeling pretty energetic (as compared to other days, I'm not bouncing off the walls or anything). I even had my annual review this morning, and instead of worrying about it (there was no preparation to build me up to it anyway) I walked in bright and confident.

My review wasn't bad, I scored 3.4 out of 5, with average in most areas and above in the rest. And a 38 cent raise is coming my way this year. Yippie!

So, why say grumble?

Well, I'm suddenly feeling tired and my stomach is hurting. I placed an order with an online store on the 5th and haven't heard anything from them yet. This isn't encouraging, because shopping from the store supports something I'm involved in. I'll have to track down a calling card and call them about it, I guess.

In any event, I guess I'll go make some tea and get back to work or something. :P

Not Fair!

I still have to do those silly things that I don't like for the rest of the week!

This morning, I will be training a new employee to help her with her phone skills. I like doing this because it doesn't matter how much work I get done!

Did I tell you that my work still isn't done? They've added a new assignment that I must complete first, and it has added to my confusion. I hope to have this done in a few days, but even without EverQuest, I'm still a little pressed for time.

I asked for August 1st and 15th off last week, but haven't heard anything yet. I hope I know soon, so I can plan my days.

The Waves Be Rolling!

It was so nice with the lower humidity this weekend. That's probably why we spent so much of it outside in the world.

We went to the Severn River in Annapolis today. We didn't get very far nor stay out very long, when you think about it, because the water was much less calm than what we're used to (specifically what my mother is used to). I think next week (weather permitting, of course), my friend's wife will be joining us again and we'll probably do something nice and calm like back to Jug Bay. Then we'll have to practice getting in from the water (you know, if you fall out, you'll want back in!), and my mother really doesn't want to do that. But we understand that it's necessary.

Just Like the Bee

Let me tell you what we had in store today!

First, sailing! My Dad and I joined our captain for a weekend race. There was great wind (though it would have been nice if the course was a tad shorter) and I remembered to put on sunscreen, which is something we normally don't worry about in the evenings.

After that, it was off to the Nats' game. They played a great game, and won 4-2 over the Astros, breaking a bad losing streak! I hope we go to another game soon, it's really very fun.

Tomorrow, it's more 'yaking!

Wish It Were Mine

Today is one of my coworker's last days. I'm sorry that she's leaving (and going to Florida without me) but I'm happy that she's getting out.

I'm not completely happy here either, but it's impossible for me to find a new job. With this ghastly commute, I don't have time to go on interviews. Unless they are in the same regional area as the office, which will defeat the purpose.

Today is my last day as an EverQuest Guide. I am very sorry that I had to leave, but lack of sleep is getting to be a problem, and EQ is the only thing I could stand to stop doing right now (and that's barely, at best.). I might have the time to return in November when the Renaissance Festival is over, but we'll see.

Logging out last night was a very hard thing to do. I had wanted to be alone, but some of the others were online, and I think it was a little better that way.