somethings just don't make sense

I travel for work. I enjoy it deeply. We've covered that.

There's one thing, though, that's sort of driving me a little crazy.

I rent a car while I'm gone and maybe there's more than one person with me. Hertz generously provides a couple of keys for the car. Unfortunately, they do so on a completely unbreakable ring.

Please tell me, Hertz, what's your plan for the 2nd key? Do you think that I'll take the little bolt cutter that I've scooted past airport security and break it apart? Do you hope then that upon the return of my car, I'll get my fancy little acetylene tank out and weld the sucker back together?

What? You don't take an acetylene tank and personal welding kit with you when you travel?

So far, TSA hasn't asked more than a couple of questions. I just have to tell them I rent from Hertz and there's more than one person that needs to use the car. They understand my plight and the need for said tools without another sideways look.

Doesn't it work like that for you in airport security? What?!

Traveling

So my cool new job...can I tell you something?

Traveling is my favorite part!

It's kinda strange how the mundane everyday life stuff can get almost unbearable, but then you get on an airplane and you end up in a different place. A place that's clean. To a client who is going to end up with more when you leave then they have when you get there. A place that lets you...hmm...be. The pressure is completely work related and the living that happens outside of the work stuff is just what you make it.

I remembered this week while I was in St Louis how much fun my heart likes to have. It reminded me of this amidst a very upset stomach and a raging panic attack in the middle of training on Wednesday, but a felt completely alive in a whole new way. A way that wasn't actually all that new.

Softie is worried that I'm going to dive into the deep end of crazy, but honestly...it's been so long since I've felt this alive and this happy inside. Really. Really. Happy inside.

so of course, because I don't know exactly how to be happy? I feel completely crazy! Out of My MIND CRAZY!!!!

And that is your free bit of information about me today. You're welcome.

The arch!

Immokkalee

Softie and I headed south this weekend and participated in our first community service in MONTHS! I've been nearly dying inside without actively participating in activities that help people since moving to Florida.

A couple of weeks ago at church there was an announcement that anyone who wanted to was invited to join a group in Immokkalee, Florida to bring much needed supplies to the families of the migrant farm workers who live in that area.

I also thought it might be a good way to get connected with people at our church who like to do the same type of thing we like to do.

We arrived late on Friday night at the church where we were invited to stay in preparation for the next day's work. We were greeted by floors on which to sleep and, well, we didn't know that we were supposed to bring sleep gear. Softie slept in the car, but I braved it in the house with the women. On the floor. The Very Hard Floor. Thank goodness we were going to be handing out blankets the next day. Otherwise, it would have been a very cold night on that floor.

Here's a pic of some of our group getting ready to head out for the day's work. We started with a reading from Isaiah as well as a word that was given to one of the volunteers that God was going to show up BIG time for him.

When we got to the empty lot in the small town, we were met with a line of people that had already gathered in hopes of being fed and maybe getting some shoes. I think what they walked away from there with was so much more than just a full belly and some gifts for Christmas. There was some preaching and it was awesome to see and hear it being translated simultaneously into both Spanish and Creole so that most everyone would be able to understand the Good News of the Season of Christmas.

I snapped this photo of a little girl playing Duck Duck Goose while the set up was happening. She was so sweet and innocent looking. In this town where her future is so uncertain, it was sort of sad to see that in her eyes at such a young age.

As usual, the rest of the pics are up on Flickr. I hope you enjoy! We sure did!!

Fun with a friend

I made it to Chicago without any issues. The icy weather arrived the first night I was there. I worked from the hotel on Tuesday and by the time I needed to head off to the site, the 1/2" of ice had thoroughly melted. I had originally thought that the site was 4 miles from the hotel, but it ended up only being about 1 1/2 miles instead. I was glad since we worked late into the night.

All in all everything for work went very well. I was onsite the following day and there was no issues to speak of. YAY!

Then....I went over and visited with my friend since high school.

We had dinner with C's parent's at their house. Her brother was in town from Michigan with his wife and their two sweet little kiddos. I'd never met any of the little ones and hadn't seen anyone else in C's family in 9 years since her wedding.

I got to meet her daughter who is exactly the same age that Sweetie was when C met her.

It was an awesome time filled with sharing memories, food, stories, and making new memories. C and I stayed up until almost 2 am talking. What a treat!

I feel so honored to have had the opportunity to get together with her. Especially since they just found out that she and her little family will be moving to Barcelona, Spain in just a couple of months.

Oh, and yes, I told her about the shaving story. Initially, we spent more time trying to remind her of what visit I was talking about. Then I learned from her mom that there may be something even better than Cetaphil. Apparently, there's something with brown sugar that's just amazing for your skin.

I shared my blog with her too. Hopefully, she'll get one going soon too so she can share all about life in Spain.

Big Steps

I'm in Tampa. It's a busy time this week at work. We're progressing our fancy little project on to the next level.

Even though I haven't been here from the beginning of the project with this company, I was pretty closely related to the beginning of the project ~ just from the other side of the product. I feel quite a bit of pride about the progress.

It's graduation week for our team.

That means that it's almost time to take on a new project. I'm really looking forward to getting to take a bigger hand in what's coming. It's exciting! I can't wait!!!

lately

Lately, I've been really struggling for material here. I'm not exactly certain why this has occurred, but today, while I'm flying I hope to be able to remedy that. I might even work on some drafts mid flight in order to try and at least go back to making this place a little more interesting.

I have really been enjoying NaBloPoMo this year. Last year, it really felt like a chore sometimes, and then I failed.

This year, I am determined not to fail.

This past week, there have been several times where random silly things happened and I thought to myself, "excellent fodder. must remember." I don't capitalize in my thoughts...sorry Grammar Goddess.

Then, when the day came to a close and there was finally time for me to gather my collective thoughts and throw them out here, there was nothing. Sitting here in the airport, I am remembering a couple of little bullet points for your enjoyment.

• I had a Mazda 6 this week from the fine folks at Hertz. The key was one of those really fancy ones that doubles as an automatic unlocker/alert anyone who can hear my cry for help thingys. There was a shiny button on the one corner that, when pushed, popped out the key itself. This provided me with untold moments of pleasure. I felt like one of the guys on West Side Story with my switch key that sort of felt like a comic blade. I tend to fidget with anything in my hands as often as possible so I'm sure you can imagine how much flippage the key thing got this week. Once this week, in the midst of my flipping, I apparently hadn't cleared the airspace where the switch key was intended to be in time and totally nailed my index finger. My poor finger was numb and stinging for about 30 minutes after that. Way to go ME!

My second idea has just escaped me. So, I suppose there will only be one bullet point in this fine post. There will be more later!!