This and that:
I worked about 50 hours last week. This is not impressive by the standards of some. It is mighty impressive by standards of mine. As is the fact that I went in to work today–Sunday–just to get caught up on things that should have been done earlier but weren’t.
Something that happened on Friday that cut into general productivity but was cool nonetheless: I got to visit Cartoon Network HQ in Burbank to help host a sale of our artwork for their employees. Didn’t get much business, but it was fun to get out of the office and see a place that I suppose not many get to see.
I did not make it to the gym even once last week. Back to it tomorrow morning. I hope.
I’ve put 115 miles on my new scooter since I bought it a week ago yesterday. I love it. I’ve been riding it even in nasty weather and enjoying the heck out of it. Happily, the nastiness ended last night, and we’re back to the December mildness that contributes so mightily to Southern California’s appeal.
I am riding my new scooter only semi-legally. I caused a small-scale manhunt on Tuesday morning by disappearing to the DMV without letting enough people know where I was. Now I have my California driver’s license–again, finally–and a motorcycle learner’s permit, which allows me to operate the scooter legally during daylight hours, which at least covers half of the time during which I actually operate the thing. This week I’ll take a three-session riding course, the successful completion of which will get me my honest-to-goodness motorcycle license.
My mother came down from Ventura County on Saturday with all of my possessions in the world that weren’t already here or in semi-permanent storage in the family house in Washington. They stack very nicely in one corner of the living room. I live a pretty stripped-down existence still, I’m happy to be reminded. I was to have started tea practice with an Urasenke group in Los Angeles at long last, but I was feeling overloaded and wanted to take full advantage of Mom being in town, so I ditched the practice in favor of shopping and eating and visiting. I found, with the help of Yelp, a very well preserved mid-century eatery called Frank’s: original signage, booths and floors. Pristine. We braved the Saturday crowds over at Media Center and wandered around IKEA, where I did not find a bed I liked enough to buy on the spot. But Mom and I bought a hazelnut chocolate bar and shared a 50-cent hot dog. Then to Target, and then to a local Chinese restaurant that I’d known I had to visit since first spotting it a few weeks back–because it’s called “Joy Feast.” The food was passable, but I’ll probably eat there again just for the name.
Two nights of good films on DVD, courtesy of the Academy Award screening copies that come to the house: A Serious Man and The Hurt Locker.
I’ve had no reading time, no writing time. But I did spend an hour this morning editing video: still working on my July trip with sister and brother-in-law to see glaciers. And I’ve been designing a set of beer labels for friend-and-home-brewer-of-note Steve, who’ll be sending selections of his brews out to friends and family as Christmas gifts.
I think that’s all. Oh–except for the Christmas decorating. I’ve taken some holiday initiative and strung up some lights inside the house and out. Nobody else seemed likely to bother, but everyone seems pleased with the festive atmosphere. I’m already planning next year’s enhancements. It’ll be festiver. I love being in a house again.
Right, then. Going back under. More will be reported when there is more to report.