SFU

That title has double meaning.

Last night was the final episode of Six Feet Under.

This morning, reading the post-mortem comments on the HBO message boards, I am appalled at how many people do not know that a slang term for "cry" is "bawl." And that a slang term (one of many, admittedly) for sexual intercourse is "balling." Post after post goes on about how they are "balling."

I can't stand it. It just gets on my last nerve.

Is English a second language for all these people?

Oh, crap! You don't suppose they really ARE balling???

Sailing Away on eBay!

My first round of items closed this afternoon on eBay. I got $2,300 for an item I was praying would sell for $1,500! Then some goober paid $9 more than (new) retail for the second (used) item. The third and fourth items were inexpensive and sold for my asking price, which was a good deal for both parties. I am totally amazed.

Now, I just hope the winners will actually pay for the items. The guy who bought the expensive item has only bought six other things. But, so far, he's got good ratings.

I'm going to see Clay in Atlantic City for a double-header at the end of the month. I was kind of dreading the trip because I didn't feel I could afford to gamble any. Thanks to eBay, I can feed my habit.

Now, I'm thinking about what else I can package up and move outa here! How about a cat that pisses on the carpet? I'd put a real low reserve on her!

Roller Coaster Ride

Good gracious, what a month I'm having!

I started out on a peak after a really good interview at an exceptional company (see August 4 post). I followed up with a thank-you. Not a peep did I hear from them.

Sliding down the valley of despair.

Just as I'm approaching the valley floor, something unpleasant happened at the office, and I sunk even lower. Decided to sell my house and get the hell out of this place.

Hit the bottom!

The next few days were a series of ups and downs while I explored my options and tried to make decisions about what I might want to do with the rest of my life. I ordered moving boxes. Started putting things on eBay.

Yesterday afternoon I got an email from the potential new employer. They are tied up with a big annual project that has distracted them, and they are not going to be able to move forward on filling this position for another 2-4 weeks. Woo-HOO! They like me. They really like me. They'll be back in touch when they're beyond this phase.

Back on top!

NOT FIVE MINUTES LATER, I swear to God, a headhunter called and inquired as to whether I would be interested in a middle-management position in a nonprofit organization working in the same general area of interest. They dropped enough hints that I figured out who it is. I'm not crazy about the idea of working for them, but they seem to have tons of money. It might be a good place to ride out the remaining years of my working life. So, this afternoon we're going to talk in more detail.

That was amazing. I've been so down so long. Suddenly, I get TWO "ups" in a short timespan. I feel 100% better.

I really want the first job. It's in a part of the metro area that holds a lot of appeal. The other job is in a not-so-nice area. But, I think it has the potential for offering a much better salary. So, who knows. All I need is seven more productive years, and I can retire. I can put up with anything for seven years. Don't want to...but I can.

Of course, if neither job works out, I've now got a headhunter on my side. This is good.

Updates as they occur....

One Woman's Trash...

I moved to the East coast from Texas nearly 6 years ago. I had been a single mom (read, "poor") for quite some time, and for the most part, my worldly goods were a little, er-uh...shopworn. So, I brought very little with me. I lived in an apartment for the first two years, and then I bought a house. A fairly roomy, three-floor, three-bedroom house with a den and finished basement. In four short years I have managed to totally fill that sucker from floor to rafters! How does this happen???

For one thing, it's FWS...Four Wardrobe Syndrome. I am struggling with the realization that I will probably never get back into the size 10s, and I might as well bag them up and send them to the Goodwill. That'll take care of two closets.

And then there are the old hobbies. I'm big into hobbies. When I take up something new, I do it full force. And then, I usually realize I'm no good at whatever it is, and the expensive junque just gathers dust. In an attempt to deal with this illness, yesterday was eBay day! I dug out several things that were left over from old hobbies. A couple of them were released painfully, but they've got to go. The good news is I've got $1,400 worth of bids this morning! And there are six more days to go! Woo-HOO!

There are a couple of thrift stores near here. Maybe if I bring a bag of clothes several times a week, I can painlessly get rid of a lot of the stuff that's not worth putting on eBay. There's so much of it.

I swear! Never again! I will stop my wicked ways.

I will.

Of Tourists and Fireflies

Last night was one of those nights I'm glad I live near Your Nation's Capitol. During the summer months various military bands have free concerts in one place or another several times a week. My favorite spot is the West entrance of the Capitol Building. So, a friend and I met for dinner after work and then walked the half-mile or so to the Capitol to take in the concert.

The forecast called for 65% chance of thunderstorms. I guess the odds were too great for whatever band was scheduled. They never showed. (Nor did the storms.) Not wishing to turn right back around, we lingered a while and made ourselves comfortable on the wall at the base of the steps. We appeared to be the only locals in the vicinity.

Tourist-watching is great fun. One of my favorite tourist-focused activities is to take pictures of entire groups in front of assorted monuments so that everyone from their group is in the picture. They are always so astonished that someone in this big city is actually friendly and helpful. I sometimes think they also worry that I'm going to sprint off with their Canon, but a quick assessment of my physical attributes MUST put their minds to rest right away.

Anyway, we watched tourists and talked about mutual acquaintances until deep twilight. The red "eyes" on the top of the Washington Monument started blinking eerily. Fireflies came out of hiding among the cannas and shrubbery - my favorite moment of any summer evening. From that vantage point, you can see the entire length of the Mall and can just make out the Lincoln Memorial. It was quiet. No sirens. No loud groups. Just peaceful and beautiful.

Band or no band, it was a delightful evening. In fact, I'm almost glad they didn't show. I need to do such things more often. How about you?