Burnout

Do you ever feel burned out at work? maybe that's a dumb question, but I'm feeling that a lot lately. It's not just because it's our busy time of year. I like doing the out of the ordinary stuff that I am working on for our upcoming event. It's the normal responsibilities of my position that I've been doing day in and day out for the past 3ish years (have I really had this same position for 3 years?) that I simply have no desire to continue doing.

Anyway. I'm wondering if any of you ever feel the same way. What have you done to make it better? how have you rejuvenated your work self or regained enthusiasm for your job? Honestly, sometimes I feel like I just don't want to work anymore. I wish I could quit and read and crochet and cook all day...but, that's not really an option seeing as I'm not independently wealthy. So, I really would like some suggestions. Lay 'em on me!

Tricksy

I think my smoke detectors are playing tricks on me.

Monday night the one in my bedroom started chirping in the wee hours of the morning waking me from a sound sleep. I tried to go back to sleep, but the intermittent chirping kept waking me up. (I was extra irritated that this happened because I just checked them all and put new batteries in them a couple of months ago.)

I got out of bed and tried to find a package of earplugs that I swear exists in my home somewhere--but with no luck. Finally, I decided to take refuge on the living room couch. In there, with the bedroom door closed, it was a little quieter. And soon after I was settled on the couch it stopped altogether. I was tempted to go back to my bed, but for some reason I thought that if I went back in there the chirping would start again--as if the smoke detector could also detect my presence in the room.

I stayed on the couch all night and the smoke detector stayed quiet. In fact, I haven't heard a peep out of it since. Let's hope it stays that way for a good lon time.

not doing so hot

looks like I'm already not doing so hot on this "blog everyday thing." But I'm gonna keep trying.

Question: if I writ etwo entries today, does that make up for missing yesterday? I don't know if I will do two today. I'm just asking.

Challenge accepted

Ok, so I know I'm accepting this challenge a couple of days late, but better late than never, right?

In honor of, and to get into the proper spirit of, Halloween, I began the month of October by reading a story by one of the most wonderfully creepy authors I know, Edgar Allan Poe--and I just might make that a tradition.

Instead of reading one of Poe's popular and widely read pieces, I chose one that I'd never heard of before--and was pleasantly surprised by a delightfully satirical story which appeals to the morbid sense of humor. To give you just a little taste, here is an excerpt from Poe's short story "Never Bet the Devil your Head" that I found particularly amusing. To give a little background, the main character has just finished lecturing his friend, Toby Dammit, about the dangers of his careless use of the phrase "I'll bet the devil my head".

"Finally, setting his arks a-kimbo, he condescended to reply.
I can call to mind only the heads of his discourse. He would be obliged to me if I would hold my tongue. He wished none of my advice. He despised all my insinuations. He was old enough to take care of himself. Did I still think him baby Dammit? Did I mean to say anything against his character? Did I intend to insult him? Was I a fool? Was my maternal parent aware, in a word, of my absence from the domiciliary residence? He would put this latter question to me as a man of veracity, and he would bind himself to abide by my reply. Once more he would demand explicitly if my mother knew that I was out. My confusion, he said, betrayed me, and he would be willing to bet the Devil his head that she did not.
Mr. Dammit did not pause for my rejoinder. Turning upon his heel, he left my presence with undignified precipitation. It was very well for him that he did so. My feelings had been wounded. Even my anger had been aroused. For once I would have taken him up upon his insulting wager. I would have won for the Arch-Enemy Mr. Dammit's little head--for the fact is, my mamma was very well aware of my merely temporary absence from home."

Maybe I'm a big literature nerd, but I thought that was SO funny! It takes a minute to get used to the archaic language, but it's worth a read.

What's your favorite Poe story or poem?

Good meeting

So we have these meetings at work once a month that we call the "Brown Bag Lunch." They happen during lunch (obviously) upstairs in our big breakroom. During said meeting two of the executive types from the company talk to the group about what their department does, is doing etc. and then they open it up to questions.

Today at this meeting I received a crisp new Tewnty Dollar bill--just for sitting in the front row! How cool is that?!

And afterwards they always serve little desserts. Is this not the most gi-normous chocolate-covered strawberry you've ever seen?

Ok, so maybe it doesn't look that big in this photo, but it was like, the size of a plum! That's big for a strawberry!

Veggi-saurus Bex

ok friends. I need your help. Seriously. I want you to comment on this one. Last night my mom and I made a pact. And you all know how sacred mother-daughter pacts are so I need y'all to help me keep this one. Mom and I agreed to do a Raw Foods Cleanse for 10 days. 10 days! did you hear that? 10 whole days.

Today is day uno. it's not even over yet and I feel like I'm gonna die without my beloved carbs and such. We agreed that we get to have nuts and lean protein (i.e. sliced turkey or chicken), but I'm already running out of ideas about what I can eat. I've basically been eating straight fruit (a pear, a nectaring, cherries, strawberries) and a large helping of baby carrots today (ok, I cheated and had a slimfast type shake for breakfast, but I didn't think I could stomach straight fuit first thing in the am). I also had some sliced turkey and a handful of almonds. Two problems already arising, though: 1. I cannot get full and 2. I think I'm already developing a canker sore or two.

So here's what I'd like from all of you--any and all ideas you have about different fresh fruits and veggies and/or combinations thereof that I can eat raw...and where is the best place to buy them (i.e. inexpensive, but good quality)...enough ideas for 10 days worth of meals.

and...go!

The Frustration that is Boys

Here's an actuall converstion I had over IM with a friend of the male persuasion the other day (his name has been omitted, not really sure why, but I thought it would be mean to reveal his identity):

Him:
hi
what you doing tonight?

1:31pm Rebecca:
um...nada so far. Unless laundry counts.

1:32pm Him:
yay!
i hear there is a multi stake thing up the canyon

1:32pm Rebecca:
oh, really?

1:33pm Him:
thats the rumor

1:34pm Rebecca:
are you going?

1:35pm Him:
yes and institute

1:36pm Rebecca:
ok...

1:43pm Him:
nothing much

1:45pm Rebecca:
yeah. So, were you telling me about the activity as an invite? or just because?

1:46pm Him:
you should come too!

1:48pm Rebecca:
well, thanks for the invite.

1:48pm Him:
:)

1:51pm Rebecca:
what is this activity exactly? Where up the canyon? What time?

1:52pm Him:
i believe its at the dell no idea what time

end of conversation (imagine me throwing my hands up in frustration). Am I wrong to be annoyed by that? Why can't guys ever just give a direct invitation? Can anyone tell me why? Seriously, people!