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prev home archive next Momentary Thought And now I've got that Jimmy Buffet song stuck in my head. High/Low High: We got a lovely, sweet letter from Michael. Also, I am damned proud of Lance Armstrong. So much so that I actually *cried* during the coverage on CBS Sports. Low: Okay, so we put off painting the house until *next* weekend. Hey, at least we bought the supplies! Current Obsession Buying Marie a certain book I've had my eye on, and the audio tapes of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" series to listen to on the way to San Diego in September. I'm nothing if not an advanced planner. Grin Source Jen, yet again. I'm a poet! I didn't know it! Singing Changes in latitude Changes in attitude Jimmy Buffet Storyteller Bio Dramatis Personnae Who I Read Recipes |
Going Up:
Going Down:
My Stairclimbing Adventure a short story by Laura Charon My job involves a lot of siting. Sitting at my desk, sitting in a meeting, sitting at a workstation. I can hack about three hours of it at a stretch, and then regardless of what I'm doing I have to get up and move. The longer I sit the faster asleep my ass gets and the more I feel like I'm growing in a horizontal direction. Since this is the direct antithesis of my desire to, if not grow in a *vertical* direction (which I'm afraid is beyond my skills, unless it involves pins, rods, and uncomfortable surgery-type things), become less in the horizontal arena (read: girth), I get up and walk around. Now, walking demands a destination. And since, in this day and age, all the things I need (except the bathroom and perhaps a bottle of water and maybe some chip... er, bananas, unless I get a cabana boy to take care of the latter two) are at my fingertips, I have few destinations. Oh, I could check my mailstop (and I never get any paper mail, so the admin might as well take my folder out of the cabinet), or go to the cafeteria and grab a snack (not recommended due to my girth-lackening intentions), I have to make shit up. Buy a card at AcronymCo's on-site store. Do a circuit from my desk, through the cafeteria, out onto the patio, over to the breezeway, back in the building, and back to my desk via the "back way". Carry a folder or something to make it look like I'm full of purpose and drive. What I'm wearing on my feet directly effects the choices I make and the routes I take. The above two can be accomplished despite whatever towering machinations of shoe architecture I have strapped to my ankles, and in about five minutes. However. On the days that I'm wearing tennis shoes... I go on a Walkabout. There are seven main buildings on AcronymCo's campus, and they're all connected via walkways, breezeways, passthroughs and corridors. I've worked here for coming up on six (boggle) years, and I know all the whyto's and wherefore's comprising the maze I work in. I work in building five. I walk over to building six, and climb up the flights of stairs to the fourth floor. Going up, I can usually keep up a pretty good pace until the third floor. Then my hop, by necessity, becomes a gasping drag on the handrails up the final two switchbacks to the fourth floor. I emerge from the stairwell gallantly trying to mask my gasping for air as a refreshing "Whew! Aren't I glad I didn't take the elevator!" But because of my red face and perspiring upper lip, I doubt I'm fooling anybody. I go across the floor and hit the stairwell at the opposite end of the building. Going down, my legs feel rather noodly and I absently ponder how long it would take someone to find me in this seldom-used stairwell, should I take a header off the third floor landing. I emerge from the stairwell rather more quickly than my ascent, and find myself in the back maze of passageways that contain the labs in building six. Out again, past the lobby, and back up the original stairwell for another climb up to the fourth floor. And back down again. Two circuits of that is all I'm good for. I head back to building five, through the cafeteria, out to the patio and across to building four. A long, long passageway past "The Zoo" (the manufacturing floor - thus called because the area is lined with large windows from which passerby's can watch the technicians at work, like monkeys in a zoo exhibit), and around a corner to building three's cafeteria. Another pair of slightly less long corridors, past the print shop and (former) shipping dock, through an office area and along a passthrough that connects to building two. Then a quick jog, right, then left, then left again, and I'm below building two's lobby. Then I turn around and head back the way I came. The whole trip takes about twenty minutes if I'm hustling, and it's an excellent way to get a minor workout in when the temperature's 112 outside. And with conveniently placed water fountains by each bathroom that I pass, I don't even have to carry a water bottle. I might even get to the point where I schedule these walks into my day, if I can remember to wear sneakers. And explain to anyone who looks at my schedule what the hell a "walkabout" is. Eh, I think I'll stick to winging it. |
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Michael's Update Box
I sent him off a "Hello? Write us, would ya?" letter today from work, as we haven't heard from him since his phone call. Then when I got home and checked the mail, of course, there was one waiting for us. Wednesday July 25th (I think), Hey, guys. Needless to say, I've been REALLY busy. That's why I haven't written in a while. I'm up North at Camp Pendleton now getting my butt kicked by 18 hour, non-stop, working days in the mess-hall. I don't even get a break because of being in charge of the bakery section. Oh well, enough of my whining. I'm stepping it up a notch by being here a week early. Too bad I won't graduate early. Man I can't wait to see you guys. K (Calvin's sister) wants to come (to his graduation), too. I hope she does. I want as many people to come as possible. Here's a rundown of my new day. 03:30 a.m. walking into chow hall to set up bakery. 03:45-04:00 eat. 04:00-10:45 Baking and cleaning with maybe a bathroom break. Maybe. 10:45 lunch. 11:00-3:30 Baking and cleaning, same as before. 3:30 eat dinner. 3:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. same as before. 8:00-9:00 back to house for hygiene and clean up. Maybe a letter like today if I'm lucky. :) Then lights out at 9:00, if we're good sometimes 10:00. :( That's the usual until Saturday. It's called Team Week. Ugh!! Anyways, I miss you guys so much. I want you guys to send some pics of the motorcycles, if you would for me. Send some of the Ninja (Calvin's prior motorcycle) and all too. Heh, if you can find any of the Hurricane then send them, too. On a different note, I don't think that "Boot Camp" really hit me or sunk in, if you will, until about two days ago. I was looking through my mail and I started to cry to myself because I realized, finally, that my life is going to be much different now. I.e. I won't be able to wake up with you guys in the house anymore. It made me want to be 17 forever because I never really realized how important it was to me to be around you guys. It is really strange that I'm not there with you all. It almost feels like I'm not as much a part of the family. *Sigh* Man, I don't think I EVER realized what I had. Oh, well, that's life I guess. Write soon, I really need to hear from you again. I love you so much. Love, Michael p.s. I hope you are proud of me. I'm actually working hard for once! :) |