Well That’s a First

I felt “off” almost all day yesterday. From brushing my teeth in the morning through the drive home at night, something just wasn’t quite right. It nagged at the back of my mind until, while I was making supper, a thought occurred to me.

Before I go on, I offer a brief bit of history. I got my first pair of contact lenses in December of 1988. And, I’ve been wearing them everyday for the last twenty years (with rare exception).

With that in mind, when I came up with a hypothesis about my off-kilter day, I quickly dismissed it. I’m a contact pro; no rookie mistakes for me. But by the third time the idea popped into my head, I couldn’t dismiss it. I tested out my theory, and much to my own amusement, it was spot on.

I had spent the previous twelve hours with my contacts in the wrong eyes: right in left and left in right. Now thankfully, that was a first.

What Happened to Those 41 Items?

Last year this time I was lamenting about how much stuff I had. 147 items to be exact. That was when I made the grandiose goal of reducing my stuff by 5% each time I moved. With this wonderful target in site I made a few runs to my local Goodwill stores, and several runs to the dumpster.

Now I’m down to 106. Perhaps I went overboard. Or, more likely, the crew who packed my belongings to leave California did a much more thorough job than the crew who packed me to return. Leaving: each pair of shoes was wrapped in packing paper before being placed in a box. Returning: a large glass vase was wrapped in a single sheet of paper, then placed in the corner of a box holding a whole lot of other stuff. Suffice it to say, the shoes made it in better shape than the vase did.

I haven’t even attempted to start a charity pile this go around. It doesn’t necessarily feel like I have any less stuff than I did a year ago, but it also doesn’t seem like I have anything extra. (And foils to that day I sorted my closet in Stamford! I really wanted to wear a green shirt today that I apparently decided to donate to the local charity. Word to the wise: never make these kinds of decisions while under an unpacking deadline!)

So I think I’m done getting rid of things. I’ll always be a perpetual closet cleaner, but no more full carloads of stuff to donate. I’m too busy trying to figure out what I can wear in place of that green shirt.

Taking Time Off

Turns out I live in a pretty amazing place. Wouldn't you know that now that I'm leaving I've finally spent just enough time in the city to declare that I'm absolutely, head-over-heels in love with Manhattan.

338 Days In Exile

It didn’t really hit me until I went back, but it’s been 11 months since I’ve been in California. My memory wasn’t wrong: the air really is softer there. But I’m not quite sure how I forgot Jacaranda trees (a lovely surprise) or lane splitting (a startling surprise). It does feel a little strange to be heading west again.

I’m happy to report that every time I go apartment hunting I’m a little wiser. This time around I ensured that I saw both an exact model of the available apartment I was investigating (not just the model that they show everybody), and the precise location within the complex. No more dubiously-named first-floor apartments for me. I’m sure there’s something I missed this time around, but at least the hot and cold water come out of the same tap. (I always double-check that one based on the less-than-ideal face-washing experiences of my first post-college apartment.) Who knows what San Jose will add to my list of items to watch out for?

I Care . . . Really I Do

It’s official: my inbox is almost under control. I have it down to half a dozen work-related emails and a whole lotta personal ones. So, if you are still waiting for a response to your note with the subject line “Merry Christmas,” you’re not alone. Actually, you’re in quite good company. Perhaps knowing you’re not alone will help you to not take it personally.

Not Exactly, but I'm Sure I'll Find it Somehow

Perhaps I Should Have Showed Up

Earlier this afternoon I ran into our CMO and he asked me if I would be attending the all marketing meeting today. I jokingly (of course it was jokingly, this is me) reminded him that I’m in business development for this rotation and I’m busy closing deals.

Fast forward an hour or two and I receive an instant message that says “Congrats!” I offer my thanks and then ask the obvious-to-me question, “Congrats for what?” As I discover through a series of IMs and emails, I received an award at the all marketing meeting. Apparently there were lots of nice things said about me. Lots of nice things that I didn’t hear because I had to be funny instead of asking if I should attend.

Let this be a lesson to you boys and girls . . . when people several pay grades above you invite you to a meeting, it’s best to show up. Trust me.