Have you ever had a pain or ache that just would not go away? My tooth (the one associated with my former dentist and his receptionist/floozie/wife) has created a nice, throbbing pain that I can't take my mind off of. I think it actually is contributing to a form of mental disorder - my attention span is half of what it normally is (sure, go ahead and laugh), I am obsessed with trying to figure out how to remedy it (without actually going to a dentist), and I now only eat on the left side of my mouth. Freak I am, yes.
After a nice long weekend back in CT to see good friends and watch over my condo being packed and moved, I returned to the office with a killer headache and a boss who decided to be Chatty Cathy for the first time. Honestly, what I mostly heard him say was, "We should start to think about throb-throb-throb, and maybe you could throb-throb-throb. The sales meetings throb-throb-throb..." And I was trying really hard to listen. After getting 3 dentists' names, I found one who could take me tomorrow, the first dental appointment I've ever really looked forward to.
Tomorrow I head out for a few days near Denver where many of the sales and R&D folks are based. No time to ski, but plenty of time to figure out to do it next time. Too bad the only person I know will be in CA.
Friends, I don't wish this tooth pain on anyone. If was as boring a posting as I'm afraid it was, blame the tooth. Ha! NATHAN
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Fifty-fourth posting - list
I’ve passed the week hump. They didn’t give me anything in celebration – no pen, no dumbbell, no preacher curl attachment – although my car just arrived from CT on a flatbed truck, so I get to see Little Pepe in a few minutes. License plates outside of OR, WA or CA are a rarity. Even more rare will be my Ithaca is Gorgeous sticker.
For those of you who were asking, the good things so far about my job:
Gym has the best equipment money can buy
Casual atmosphere but still performance-oriented
Not as many Type-A personalities as NYC area
My admin is smart, helpful and efficient
The businesses I manage are ripe with opportunity
Great cafeteria
Cool environment
No one expects me to do anything but gather information and ask questions.
The bad things:
I still don’t have a stapler
I’m in a wide open cubicle
Fewer cynics and super-strong personalities (as far as I can tell)
Just because it’s not raining inside doesn’t mean I forget that it’s raining
Average indoor temperature feels like 60 degrees
Company makes the most popular bikes for Spinning but doesn’t offer Spinning classes (yet)
That’s all for now. No update for you on housing, although I did see what seemed like a great place yesterday, although it was a little too far from shops, bars, restaurants. If I have to settle, I’ll do it after a couple of months of looking…
Have a great non-rainy weekend. NATHAN
For those of you who were asking, the good things so far about my job:
Gym has the best equipment money can buy
Casual atmosphere but still performance-oriented
Not as many Type-A personalities as NYC area
My admin is smart, helpful and efficient
The businesses I manage are ripe with opportunity
Great cafeteria
Cool environment
No one expects me to do anything but gather information and ask questions.
The bad things:
I still don’t have a stapler
I’m in a wide open cubicle
Fewer cynics and super-strong personalities (as far as I can tell)
Just because it’s not raining inside doesn’t mean I forget that it’s raining
Average indoor temperature feels like 60 degrees
Company makes the most popular bikes for Spinning but doesn’t offer Spinning classes (yet)
That’s all for now. No update for you on housing, although I did see what seemed like a great place yesterday, although it was a little too far from shops, bars, restaurants. If I have to settle, I’ll do it after a couple of months of looking…
Have a great non-rainy weekend. NATHAN
Monday, January 23, 2006
Fifty-third posting - search
I spent my first weekend here house-hunting. I also joined a gym (2 blocks away), ran around the neighborhood a couple of times, and found a great diner than served blue-corn pancakes. Yum (Byways Cafe). I've also sampled more than a few of the region's terrific wines and beers. Double yum.
Fortuanately, I have added to the number of people I call friends. We can add Heather, with whom I went to b'school, as well as Barbara, the owner of a great little place near me called Two Wings. It's actually the first restaurant in the area, which until a few years ago was a quirky, industrial, warehouse-y type place, but with a recent infusion of good urban planning and smart investment, has become a quirky, industrial-looking, warehouse-y, lofty, great restaurants and REI/Whole Foods/Adidas/Powell's Books kind of place. I dig it so far.
Anyway, I was at the restaurant (Two Wings) a few minutes before seven and was the only one there. I had a book (can't eat solo w/o one), and made friends with the bartender, who was cute but I didn't catch her name (tattoo on her hip), and also the owner (Barbara). The bartender got busy when other diners showed up, so Barbara and I chatted about the food industry, restaurants in Oregon, locally grown produce, challenges, highs, lows, and so on. Turns out that she goes to CT every summer to teach cooking at a sleep away camp in Kent. I had Jerusalem artichoke soup and great burger for dinner. Triple yum.
Most of the weekend was househunting with Stepanie, my realtor, who talks like a Real World watchin', surfer chick with no qualms about stating her opinion. I like her and trust her judgement - so far, at least. I won't bore you with details about the housing market, but of the 18 places I saw, 2 were pretty good, but I didn't love any to make an offer. The style of many of the houses are great - bungalow, craftsman style, with lots of wood, simple layouts with 2-3 bedrooms and 1 bath. Also, every house must be painted 1 of a choice of 8 colors, which range from pine green to mustard to blue/grey. In even the crappiest neighborhoods, most of the paint jobs looked good, though.
There are a few interesting areas (Beaumont, Hollywood, Mt Tabor, Hawthorne, Alameda), and I even looked at 2 places right next to the famous Kennedy School, but one was too new and had a "great room" where one didn't belong, and the other was more of a crack house than a residence. Not that I have anything against crack houses...
Have a great weeks, folks, and I'll keep you updated. NATHAN
Fortuanately, I have added to the number of people I call friends. We can add Heather, with whom I went to b'school, as well as Barbara, the owner of a great little place near me called Two Wings. It's actually the first restaurant in the area, which until a few years ago was a quirky, industrial, warehouse-y type place, but with a recent infusion of good urban planning and smart investment, has become a quirky, industrial-looking, warehouse-y, lofty, great restaurants and REI/Whole Foods/Adidas/Powell's Books kind of place. I dig it so far.
Anyway, I was at the restaurant (Two Wings) a few minutes before seven and was the only one there. I had a book (can't eat solo w/o one), and made friends with the bartender, who was cute but I didn't catch her name (tattoo on her hip), and also the owner (Barbara). The bartender got busy when other diners showed up, so Barbara and I chatted about the food industry, restaurants in Oregon, locally grown produce, challenges, highs, lows, and so on. Turns out that she goes to CT every summer to teach cooking at a sleep away camp in Kent. I had Jerusalem artichoke soup and great burger for dinner. Triple yum.
Most of the weekend was househunting with Stepanie, my realtor, who talks like a Real World watchin', surfer chick with no qualms about stating her opinion. I like her and trust her judgement - so far, at least. I won't bore you with details about the housing market, but of the 18 places I saw, 2 were pretty good, but I didn't love any to make an offer. The style of many of the houses are great - bungalow, craftsman style, with lots of wood, simple layouts with 2-3 bedrooms and 1 bath. Also, every house must be painted 1 of a choice of 8 colors, which range from pine green to mustard to blue/grey. In even the crappiest neighborhoods, most of the paint jobs looked good, though.
There are a few interesting areas (Beaumont, Hollywood, Mt Tabor, Hawthorne, Alameda), and I even looked at 2 places right next to the famous Kennedy School, but one was too new and had a "great room" where one didn't belong, and the other was more of a crack house than a residence. Not that I have anything against crack houses...
Have a great weeks, folks, and I'll keep you updated. NATHAN
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Fifty-second posting - Oba!
Today was a big day for me, kids. First, I started my new job (more later). Second, I started my new “life” in the Pacific Northwest (more later, too). And third, I started watching this season’s American Idol. I offer no apologies for being a big fan, and I am proud to be one of the millions of show’s admirers. An early favorite of mine à Gina Glocksen, from the Chicago tryouts.
A friend asked that I cut these postings down a bit (A.D.D. problems?), so here are a few highlights from New Job Day I:
- I spent most of the day in New Employee Orientation. My favorite part was when the HR manager told us for the 3rd time how she could watch the Sexual Harassment video over and over because it’s so funny. Wow.
- My company has a full-size football field in the back, with stands. Of course, through the rain, it was a little tough to see, but it was clearly impressive.
- Being a fitness buff is by no means a requirement for employment. At this point, I would also venture to say that more than a handful of folks here could use a trip or two to the company’s world-class fitness center. Probably no different than most companies, just surprising to me.
- The company is located is Vancouver, Washington. Today I heard a nickname of this very family-friendly burg with a somewhat hick reputation – Vantucky. I wonder if that’ll work for other places (Flori-tucky, Minneapol-ucky?)
Just one thing to note about Portland. For dinner, rather than making it myself, I splurged on a great restaurant across the street called Oba! One travel guide remarked: “a serious dining room serving one Latino concoction after another… and a bumpin’ bar scene with trendy clothes and high pitched revelry.” Dinner was Haitian pulled pork with corn cakes, and dessert was the most indulgent carrot cake (stuffed with some sort of crème fraiche). My bartenders were Paul and Jamie, who are, at this point, my only friends in Portland. It may have been because they gave me dessert and a crazy vodka/mint drink on the house – although I think it didn’t hurt that it was Jamie’s first day, too, so she and I could share first day “war stories,” and that I figured Paul was more of a food guys than a bar guy, so we talked menus… Definitely a place to return to (and a 90 second walk from my place).
So far so good. NATHAN
A friend asked that I cut these postings down a bit (A.D.D. problems?), so here are a few highlights from New Job Day I:
- I spent most of the day in New Employee Orientation. My favorite part was when the HR manager told us for the 3rd time how she could watch the Sexual Harassment video over and over because it’s so funny. Wow.
- My company has a full-size football field in the back, with stands. Of course, through the rain, it was a little tough to see, but it was clearly impressive.
- Being a fitness buff is by no means a requirement for employment. At this point, I would also venture to say that more than a handful of folks here could use a trip or two to the company’s world-class fitness center. Probably no different than most companies, just surprising to me.
- The company is located is Vancouver, Washington. Today I heard a nickname of this very family-friendly burg with a somewhat hick reputation – Vantucky. I wonder if that’ll work for other places (Flori-tucky, Minneapol-ucky?)
Just one thing to note about Portland. For dinner, rather than making it myself, I splurged on a great restaurant across the street called Oba! One travel guide remarked: “a serious dining room serving one Latino concoction after another… and a bumpin’ bar scene with trendy clothes and high pitched revelry.” Dinner was Haitian pulled pork with corn cakes, and dessert was the most indulgent carrot cake (stuffed with some sort of crème fraiche). My bartenders were Paul and Jamie, who are, at this point, my only friends in Portland. It may have been because they gave me dessert and a crazy vodka/mint drink on the house – although I think it didn’t hurt that it was Jamie’s first day, too, so she and I could share first day “war stories,” and that I figured Paul was more of a food guys than a bar guy, so we talked menus… Definitely a place to return to (and a 90 second walk from my place).
So far so good. NATHAN
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Fifty-first posting - tour
Two down, one to go. Tonight marks the third leg of my "farewell tour." What I love about these has been the chance to say good-bye to people I will miss -- the same reason I have dreaded each one. Thursday was a happy hour in CT - and the evening finished with someone (not with us) singing the absolute worst karaoke I'd ever heard. I tried to think of that as a sign of something, but nothing came to mind. Last night was my last dinner group. The theme was British - UK, and we did our best for a Friday night. The hosts had a great big house for it, and these were some of my closest friends in the area. Truth be told, it was self-serving of me to encourage this group to form, but I don't think any of us (after 6 dinners) has any regrets. Oh, for those of you looking for a good single malt Scotch, try 14 year Oban. Ummm...
This afternoon a friend asked me whether I was psyched about moving West. I told her that I truly was, although I'm trying to hold back on freaking out with excitement because it sort of seems too good to be true. The Pacific Northwest fits my outdoor interests, the new job is in the cycling/fitness industry, the company is smaller and (hopefully) less burdened by bureaucray, and real estate (and life overall) is more affordable. What's not to like?
I also told her that in the battle of my Heart's excitement vs. my Mind's too-many-practical-things-to-think-about, my Mind always wins. Fortunately, I think they're both right this time.
Have a great weekend! NATHAN
This afternoon a friend asked me whether I was psyched about moving West. I told her that I truly was, although I'm trying to hold back on freaking out with excitement because it sort of seems too good to be true. The Pacific Northwest fits my outdoor interests, the new job is in the cycling/fitness industry, the company is smaller and (hopefully) less burdened by bureaucray, and real estate (and life overall) is more affordable. What's not to like?
I also told her that in the battle of my Heart's excitement vs. my Mind's too-many-practical-things-to-think-about, my Mind always wins. Fortunately, I think they're both right this time.
Have a great weekend! NATHAN
Monday, January 09, 2006
Fiftieth posting - LoL
Friends, I am writing to you from my spankin’ new laptop. It’s smooth and sleek, and fast as lightning. Most of you know I am moving West for a new job soon, so why a new laptop now? During my last day of work, two thieves burglarized my condo and took my 7 year old laptop (which is about 100 in technology years). I have tried to read some symbolism into the act, but with the way things have been over the past few weeks, nothing should be a surprise.
First of all, though, Happy New Year! At this point, there may be enough days under your collective belts to project this year as one of fortune, fame, disappointment, big change, little change, etc. Mine will absolutely be a year of changes.
I spent Christmas with my family in Oklahoma and witnessed the beauty of a niece and nephew who still believe strongly in the munificence of Santa Claus. I also got in a couple of training runs with my sister and brother in law. My parents don’t really know what to make of our recent interest in fitness – besides a little soccer, neither of us was a particularly athletic kid. In fact, I distinctly recall my mother’s attempt at comforting me after a challenging lesson at tennis camp: “Don’t worry; you just don’t have good large motors skills like your sister. You are better with small motor skills – like surgery.” Gosh, I felt immediately better – wouldn’t any 10 year old? And what does surgery have to do with small motors, and why would my sister want to stop playing with Barbie and play with large motors?
After returning to Connecticut, I spent a few days trying out gyms in the area. I’d always heard about the famous Fairfield Country Ladies of Leisure and wanted to witness their daytime rituals. I learned that mid-morning seems to be the best time for observation at fitness center – it gives LoLs a chance to greet Nanny upon her arrival at home, read the last half of People magazine (“such trash!”), and have a quick manicure at the local spa before showing up fully coiffed and ready for a session with Lars, the Swedish personal trainer. The LoLs are in Spinning classes, on treadmills and elipticals, and at strength machines and even free weights – all eyeing and trying to outrun/ outpace/ outsweat the other. Truth be told, not a single one looked friendly or sociable, so I continued my observations objectively, without interrupting their rituals.
I ended the week with one last day in the office. I could have counted the number of people there on one hand, and with the exception of a nice send-off lunch, I spent the day looking forward to the evening’s plans for cocktails. The night was fun (and the unranked Sooners beat #6 Oregon in a satisfying Holiday Bowl), but I returned home to a key broken off in the lock of my door. After unsuccessfully knocking on my neighbors’ doors (trying to wake the near-dead) and calling the two people who had keys, I phoned the police. Two officers arrived shortly, removed the key part, and we entered to find drawers open, files strewn across the floor, boxes overturned – and both my laptop and an empty giant purple Raisin Bran duffle bag missing. With a few celebratory beers in me, however, I was simultaneously trying to find what was missing and not breathe on the officers.
One of condo board members (the black turtle-necked lisper) showed up and reminded us of the new security cameras, so we headed to the computer in the board room and searched the files. The lisper whizzed through them and found two suspicious people entering the front door at 11:43AM (after 3 mins of trying) and then leaving with a filled giant purple Raisin Bran duffle bag through a side entrance at 12:08PM, followed by another board member (the quiet, meticulous secretary). The police report was filed, and I left the next day for a long relaxing weekend in Vermont, and returned to have another lock installed.
Those of you who’ve been regular readers of this blog have accompanied me through my trials and tribulations with finding, buying and renovating my condo. With the ink barely dry on the sixteen thousand documents I signed last July, I put my condo on the market on Friday. I cleaned my place and removed photos and most personal items, trying to leave a nice and homey impression with 712 sq ft of perfectly hospitable (and buyable) condo. I brewed hazelnut coffee (nice smell, and covers up what may have been left of the ripe combo of geriatric stench + curry), played classical music, and tried to remember the tips people gave me about selling. It seemed to work: after an open house on Friday, and two days of viewings, I started the day today (Monday) with four offers. Now it’s just wait and see.
Today I may try another gym across town and see what it’s like being a Lad of Leisure…
Have a great week, mi amigos, and Happy Birthday to my friend Dave … Dave Matthews, that is, who turns 39 today. NATHAN (congrats, Boo, on your half-marathon)
First of all, though, Happy New Year! At this point, there may be enough days under your collective belts to project this year as one of fortune, fame, disappointment, big change, little change, etc. Mine will absolutely be a year of changes.
I spent Christmas with my family in Oklahoma and witnessed the beauty of a niece and nephew who still believe strongly in the munificence of Santa Claus. I also got in a couple of training runs with my sister and brother in law. My parents don’t really know what to make of our recent interest in fitness – besides a little soccer, neither of us was a particularly athletic kid. In fact, I distinctly recall my mother’s attempt at comforting me after a challenging lesson at tennis camp: “Don’t worry; you just don’t have good large motors skills like your sister. You are better with small motor skills – like surgery.” Gosh, I felt immediately better – wouldn’t any 10 year old? And what does surgery have to do with small motors, and why would my sister want to stop playing with Barbie and play with large motors?
After returning to Connecticut, I spent a few days trying out gyms in the area. I’d always heard about the famous Fairfield Country Ladies of Leisure and wanted to witness their daytime rituals. I learned that mid-morning seems to be the best time for observation at fitness center – it gives LoLs a chance to greet Nanny upon her arrival at home, read the last half of People magazine (“such trash!”), and have a quick manicure at the local spa before showing up fully coiffed and ready for a session with Lars, the Swedish personal trainer. The LoLs are in Spinning classes, on treadmills and elipticals, and at strength machines and even free weights – all eyeing and trying to outrun/ outpace/ outsweat the other. Truth be told, not a single one looked friendly or sociable, so I continued my observations objectively, without interrupting their rituals.
I ended the week with one last day in the office. I could have counted the number of people there on one hand, and with the exception of a nice send-off lunch, I spent the day looking forward to the evening’s plans for cocktails. The night was fun (and the unranked Sooners beat #6 Oregon in a satisfying Holiday Bowl), but I returned home to a key broken off in the lock of my door. After unsuccessfully knocking on my neighbors’ doors (trying to wake the near-dead) and calling the two people who had keys, I phoned the police. Two officers arrived shortly, removed the key part, and we entered to find drawers open, files strewn across the floor, boxes overturned – and both my laptop and an empty giant purple Raisin Bran duffle bag missing. With a few celebratory beers in me, however, I was simultaneously trying to find what was missing and not breathe on the officers.
One of condo board members (the black turtle-necked lisper) showed up and reminded us of the new security cameras, so we headed to the computer in the board room and searched the files. The lisper whizzed through them and found two suspicious people entering the front door at 11:43AM (after 3 mins of trying) and then leaving with a filled giant purple Raisin Bran duffle bag through a side entrance at 12:08PM, followed by another board member (the quiet, meticulous secretary). The police report was filed, and I left the next day for a long relaxing weekend in Vermont, and returned to have another lock installed.
Those of you who’ve been regular readers of this blog have accompanied me through my trials and tribulations with finding, buying and renovating my condo. With the ink barely dry on the sixteen thousand documents I signed last July, I put my condo on the market on Friday. I cleaned my place and removed photos and most personal items, trying to leave a nice and homey impression with 712 sq ft of perfectly hospitable (and buyable) condo. I brewed hazelnut coffee (nice smell, and covers up what may have been left of the ripe combo of geriatric stench + curry), played classical music, and tried to remember the tips people gave me about selling. It seemed to work: after an open house on Friday, and two days of viewings, I started the day today (Monday) with four offers. Now it’s just wait and see.
Today I may try another gym across town and see what it’s like being a Lad of Leisure…
Have a great week, mi amigos, and Happy Birthday to my friend Dave … Dave Matthews, that is, who turns 39 today. NATHAN (congrats, Boo, on your half-marathon)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)