Say My Name

After many months of listening to Diva Niece babble on and on, laying out her extensive vocabulary for all to hear (in innumerable combinations no less), she finally made me the happiest Auntie ever by uttering my name yesterday. And not just once, but several times. Now that's pure fabulousness....and fantastic timing, too, what with my departure for China (and weeks away from her) just around the corner.

As for China, just 5 days until departure. This trip offers a mixed bag of emotions: Frustration (not only for the many months leading up to it, but also for what is bound to describe every waking minute there); relief (that this event will soon be over); nervousness (that the event will be the success we're expecting); pride (when the event is an unequivocal success). I've never worked so hard, been so frustrated, experienced so many counter-cultural issues (and survived them), and still made the strides I've made. Crazy and amazing.

Pain in My Ear

A sure way to make me go crazy is to sit me on a conference call with some clients in China who are in a big room that echoes as they yell into the speaker phone, all talking over each other in Mandarin and English. Add a bunch of really loud Americans to the call and everyone talking over each other and my last good nerve is being stomped upon. Did I mention this has been going on for 2 hours and counting? (the agenda is barely touched) Last. Nerve. Is. Snapping...Painfully.

Thank God For Metra

For once I'm actually ahead of the curve. Because this news isn't heartening in any way.

Celebration of Me

I don't believe in celebrating birthdays. Never have since my disaster of a 20th, wherein everyone but The One Who Got Away forgot (16 Candles has nothing on me). So it's no surprise that I didn't acknowledge the day I started wowing the world this past Monday.

Others had a different idea. Like my FTF, who believes I deserve more than just a special day but rather a whole week. A Celebration of MoC. (Who am I to stop him?)

Like Rafferty, who knows the best way to toast to another year of me is Chinese take-out and Bacardi and Diet's--and this amazing present (caffe mug and matching "platter"), which I casually mentioned I adored when seeing it in St. Martin.

Or PR Waif and Ady toasting to me with fantastic Spanish wine and cheese fondue at The Tasting Room.

Like drinks with friends at one of my favorite neighborhood taverns during cheap beer night (yes, there is such a thing and it's fabulous).

Or CP in Sales, who thought a big lemon cake on Friday would be a nice way to end the work week--and toast to me. Nothing says you're awesome better than gobs of frosting.

And of course, the big finale, cocktails with my saucy gal pals last night in Roscoe Village.

And joy! My birthday present to myself. Because my trusty other broke during a drunken mishap in Milan. Me thinks I will adore this one even more.

Me thinks my FTF is on to something with this week-long celebration. For while other people believe they're celebrating my birthday, I am celebrating having amazing people in my life--and enjoying the little things.

Unfortunately, I picked up some sort of nasty spring cold Friday afternoon (it something going around?), so last night was a bit of a disaster because of my snuffling, puffy eyes, and icky cough. Things aren't much better today, but I think I've encountered the worst of it. To be safe, I'm sitting in and doing absolutely nothing today (my liver thanks me as well).

Weekly (Cryptic) Lessons

Have you ever had one of those moments where you wake up, as if out of a long and involved dream, and realize that you have been going through life- whether it was the last day, week, month (year(s)?)- on auto pilot? I recently snapped out of such a week-long state, and in my awakening realized that I had a fair amount of take-aways. For instance,

* There are a lot of flaky companies out there that position themselves as healthy and sane.

* You never realize how much you miss someone- even someone you know you will be able to see often and speak to even more than that- until they're gone.

* If you don't have an inside voice, save your comments until you're outside.

* Friends who have your best interest at heart still can royally fuck up a situation they don't have any business nosing around in. If said friends are drinking, the severity of the fuck-up increases exponentially.

* Forgiveness is hard because letting go of semi-justified angry feelings the moment you feel them coming on is hard. Festering under them, though, is completely unhealthy and can drive you to the brink of heartache and possible insanity.

* You cannot ever really fool the person who knows you the best.

* Misguidingly writing this person out of your life is usually a mistake. Better to allocate them to another life compartment. Because seriously? When you really need the person who knows you the best, they'll be there--regardless of anything that has recently gone down. And you'll be really, really happy they're there.

* Back-stabbing co-workers can be dealt with in feats of intelligence and relative sanity. Usually they're so self-absorbed they have no idea they've dug a deep hole into which they're about to fall.

* The grass isn't always greener. And if it is, make sure it's not a mirage.

* You can never have enough 2 cent stamps laying around.

* There is such a thing as the pre-birthday doldrums and even a lot of libations don't cure them.

* Cupcakes are edible happiness.

I can only imagine what lessons this week holds...

Surviving Cinco de Mayo

I've been limping around the past few days thanks to a little Cinco de Mayo accident wherein GBF (supposedly) accidentally pushed me down. My graceful spill kept my drink intact (not a drop spilled!) and provided entertainment for him, me, and our friends plus a few other nearby patrons. It also succeeded in bruising and spraining my right knee. Ah, the dangers of a long, hilarious night out with copious frosty beverages.

As for GBF, tomorrow is his last day with the company. I won't comment on what this means for the future work atmosphere or my daily office entertainment. But I will say we're all looking forward to celebrating his new employment elsewhere with several after-work cocktails. Not that any of us need an excuse to down a few libations...

Money and a Famous Last Name Don't Get You Everything

It appears as though one of the most overhyped, trashy rich girls is (thankfully) not getting a Get Out of Jail Free card. 45 days in the clink just might do her some good.

Quick Change

So it looks like I'm off to China after all. The owner of the company informed me that his righthand man's decision to cut me from the travel list was not only poor but also uncalled for and one he did not approve of or know about until this morning.

Though I feel a little better knowing that the owner appreciates my skills, I'm not sure what it says for his trust in the man that he empowers to make decisions in his absence. And I know how I feel about that.

In the meantime, I'm brushing up on my Mandarin.