January 2004 Archives

Last night I journeyed up to the Pleasant Hill Red Cross center to donate platelets via a process called apheresis. I received a call from the Red Cross on Monday saying that I was a match for a little girl in the Oakand Children's Hospital. Of course I had to do it.

Apheresis is harder than giving whole blood (something else I try to do as often as I can). It takes about 2 hours or so. While it's not as draining as a regular donation (you get most of your blood back), I still find it very tiring. I get so cold sitting in the chair, even with the electric blankets and the hot water bottle in my hand. My arms hurt afterwards - I can barely bend them, they are so stiff. And the needle sites are sore for a long while.

But I know that my discomfort for a few days is NOTHING compared to what the poor folks who need this are going through. And so I'll do it again. For as long as I'm able to. It really is the least that I can do.

I had the most wonderful time at the Sunol Regional Park on Sunday with Erik. We totally lucked out weather-wise. Saturday was cold and foggy, as was Monday. But Sunday we had blue skies and it was nice and warm in the sun.

The hills were such a lovely shade of green. We didn't see any wildflowers, so we'll have to go back in a few weeks. I remember the lupin last year and it was just gorgous. Whole hillsides were purple.

Besides the wonderful company and good feelings of moving and using my muscles (which, truthfully, are more than enough to make me happy), I felt such a sense of peace, of oneness, of connectedness, out on the hills. I felt alive. It was glorious. We listened to the birds. Gazed up at the sky through the oak tree branches. I realized how much I miss being out in wild spaces. I need to be there. I need to connect with the earth.

I can't wait until we get to go again.

I just found out that Bob Keeshan died today. How very sad. First Fred Rogers last year. Now Keeshan. Boy, if Big Bird kicks the bucket I don't know what I'll do.

I remember that I watched Captain Kangaroo, and I remember that I liked it. But I can't actually remember any of the skits or sayings they used to have. I certainly watched Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, Sesame Street, and The Electric Company more. "Hey You Guuuuuuuuys!"

But I feel a certain connection to Captain Kangaroo since Keeshan gave the commencement address at my college graduation in 1996.

I think what saddens me the most is all the children that will never know the kind of programming he and others of his generation did. Kid shows these days are so different. Even Sesame Street is so flashy now.

This not sleeping thing is really, REALLY getting old. Since Monday I've gotten roughly 19 hours of sleep. I should have gotten 36. I'm still falling asleep shortly after I get into bed, but come 1 or 2 am I wake up. And then I'm up. Sometimes until 5. Sometimes for the whole rest of the day.

I thought that eating better would help (I've been back on program for almost 3 weeks now). I feel physically better, but it hasn't seemed to make a difference in staying asleep.

I'm slowly adding back an exercise routine. Carrie and I are walking together every Saturday morning. We had our first yoga "class" last night (meaning, the two of us doing a video together in my living room). We're going to make Thursday evening our yoga/stretching program night. I've added to that a walk on my own Sunday mornings. And I'm going to do the exercise video Tuesday mornings as well (hey, I'm up anyway, right?). I thought for sure the increase in movement and activity would help with the sleeping. But again, no such luck.

I've thought maybe it's that I need more aerobic exercise - that walking just 2 days a week isn't enough. But I really don't know how to fit more in. There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. I also have a tendency to go at something full force (e.g., diet or exercise program) and overload myself and then drop it because it becomes too much. I'm trying to SLOWLY add the activity, so it's not as much of a shock to my system or routine. Maybe when it's lighter at 6 am (and a bit warmer (yes, I know I've become a cold weenie)) I'll be able to rouse myself out of bed and up on the road before work. We'll see.

My therapist is having me keep a log now of my moods, my sleep, any and all medications I'm taking. I'm also including the days I do exercise. I'm already keeping a diary of my eating via the WW journal. She's hoping that we'll be able to discover some type of pattern.

I sure hope so. Because this really sucks.

Don't Microsoft lawyers have enough to do without sueing 17 year-old boys?

Do they really think people are so stupid as to confuse that site with theirs? *sigh* It's depressing how litigious our society has become.

It's January 17th and I bought fresh, purple hyacinths today. They smell heavenly. The kitchen is full of their heady scent already.

I LOVE winter in California.

Yay! My good friend Mags asked me today to help out with the Birds of a Feather (BOF) sessions that will be going on at the IA Summit in Austin next month. This is really exciting. I'll be helping Peter Boersma facilitate the session on IA Tools, Deliverables, and Applications. Peter is the whiz-bang IA of EzGov over in the Netherlands.

I'm so excited for the Summit this year. I'm glad I'm going a day early so I have time to catch up with folks. Everyone is going to be there. It should be a blast! Oh, and I'll probably learn something too. *grin*

I've heard of potato powered clocks, but a potato powered computer? How do people come up with this stuff?

It's been about four years now since I used a Macintosh regularly for my job, and I tell ya, I do miss it. Something about the design of those machines. Yum!

I was pleasantly surprised today to discover that Apple has put their "1984" commercial up on their site (I'm sure they did it awhile ago, I'm usually behind the curve).

I love this commercial. I don't ever remember seeing it on TV (I believe it only aired during the SuperBowl in 1984), but I did see various bootleg copies that were floating around the web. I'm debating watching the SuperBowl this year just to see if they air it again.

What I don't understand is why did they add the iPod? Do they really think it will boost sales to have the woman using one? They should have left well enough alone.

Oh well, it's still a great ad. Reminds me that I need to read "1984" and "Brave New World" again soon. Mmmmmm.... soma.

Last summer and fall I was feeling frustrated at work. I felt like all I was doing was maintaining things that had already been built. Such as vocabularies, product lists, updating site blueprints, etc.

It's only the second work day of the new year and I now find myself an important cog in bunch of big, meaty, hairy projects (meaty and hairy? eeew!).

I guess you have to be careful what you wish for.

It's always a bit bittersweet to pack of all the Christmas decorations for the year. There is such joy and excitement in opening up the boxes and remembering all the stories behind the different ornaments. They are like old friends returning for a visit. It reminds me of my early childhood and the excitment and anticipation of the Fat Jolly Old Elf's visit.

We put up our tree and decorations very early this year - right after Thanksgiving. Usually we wait until at least the first weekend of December. But I was eager to start the festivities sooner rather than later.

Now I've reached the point where I just want my living room back. We had to move the couch to fit the tree in the corner since we bought the new entertainment center. All the little stuffed animals and ribbons and candles tucked in the bookcases here and there and on tabletops are just adding to the clutter that screams at me.

So I'm taking everything down, packing it up, boxing it away. To keep it safe for next year. It's a bit sad since it marks the end of the holidays, but is also refreshing. Like wiping the slate clean, making everything fresh and clear for the New Year.

And at least here in CA we don't have another 3 months of everything being gray and bleak (such a stark contrast from the red and green). The spring flowers will be here soon (folks have already planted their pansies) and everything is getting greener by the minute.

I can't believe that 2004 is here already. The year has gone by so quickly. New Years isn't a holiday that I usually celebrate with a lot of fanfare. Except for the one year that I went to NYC with Erik, Tom, Cliff, and I forget whom else. We crashed a HASH party on the lower west side. Oh, and Erik wore my prom dress and I a tux. It was fun. I've never seen that city more friendly than that night.

This year C and are going to be low key (per usual). He insists that it's just a random day. We're going to see Return of the King (2nd time) at 8 tonight. Last year we spend New Years at the movies with Erik and Yojo - saw Gangs of New York. Maybe this will become our New Years tradition - going to the movies.

Whatever your tradition is, enjoy, be safe, and I hope you are looking forward to the possibilities of the brand new year ahead.