Now what's the point in opening up the store if you give the goods away

It's so much worse than I thought. I told you recently about how I've been giving a free show to all the people in my building as they head out to their cars at night. Well... it gets worse.

I was over at a friend's place last night, when a good friend commented on my peep show post. What did he say, you ask? "Honey, I told you over 500 state employees can see right into your office window. I can see you clearly from my office."

Really? Not only have I been giving a free peep show to everyone in my building, but everyone in the 15-floor office building directly behind the parking garage? Now, I'm all about exhibitionism, but this is a bit much.

I... ummmm... *sigh*

Most of the time, I cycle to work. This isn't news. At my office, there's a lovely locker room for me to shower and change clothes in. I think this is fabulous. In the evenings, however, I don't go down to the locker room to change. Oh no, it's three floors below me. I simply close my office door, close the blinds, and change.

No longer.

Today, as I was preparing to give a presentation, someone pulled me aside. "Cary, I really need to tell you something."

"Sure, what's going on," I inquire.

"The blinds. Your blinds. They don't work."

"Ummm... what?!?"

"You were wearing dark underwear last night, right? And you have a white towel hanging on the back of your door."

*blank stare*

At this point, the realization hit. For the past six months I've been changing clothes in my office in the evening as everyone leaves work, walks out to the parking garage behind my building, and gets in their cars. The parking garage that my office windows face. All these people. There must be hundreds in my building. Walking out to the garage. Not realizing that they're about to get a show.

You have chairs for those too?

A friend of mine is a staffer for a member of the Texas legislature. Earlier today I stopped by his office to say hi after a meeting, and found him in discussions with the "furniture people." Apparently, his boss was unhappy with the big, comfy chair for his desk. The big leather chair with the seal of the State of Texas across the back. The one that no less than three cows had to give their hides to make. Yeah, he wasn't happy with it. It's not large enough.

So, my friend was in talking with the furniture people. "My boss is looking for one of the high-back chairs. I've seen them in other offices."

"Yeah, I can get one of those for you," the furniture lady stated. "We actually have two models of that chair. They are basically the same, only one is larger than the other."

"Well, which one would you suggest for my boss?" my friend asked.

"Well, that all depends," the furniture lady said. "How large is your member?"

I had to leave.

I will not let my personal tragedy interfere with my ability to do good hair.

Stress [stres] -noun

-physiology. a specific response by the body to a stimulus, as fear or pain, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.

-physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension.

Apparently I'm stressed. This isn't really news to me, but waking up in the middle of the night with a pounding/racing heart and then not being able to return to sleep is a new development. Well... over the past couple of weeks, I guess. It's that age-old "life" thing that's getting in the way of me living my life. Funny that.

So, what does this mean? Better living through chemistry. Hopefully this will stop the middle of the night panic attacks (which is apparently what the waking up with a racing heart is). My only question is, "Can I chase the meds down with an Old Fashioned?"

grumble, grumble... groan, grumble...

I'm at the office. It was a beautiful ride into work this morning with the sun rising slowly as I entered downtown. The kettle is on in preparation for my morning tea. I have "Addicted to Base" playing.

Yet, tired does not even begin to describe how I'm feeling this morning. I have to say, this early rising so that I can make it into the office at a decent hour is causing me to go to bed at a respectable time. I mean, I stayed up till 11pm to watch Project Runway (how the HELL did Kenley not go home last night?!?!?!?) and I'm paying the price for it now. Really? 11pm is too late for me?

*le sigh*

I have a decision to make.

I started a new job today. Yes, with less than one year in my last position, I was recruited to another legislative position as the legislative session begins to loom in the not-too-distant future. To answer the question in the back of your mind: Yes, I am that good.

So, as I left my last position, I had to turn in my Crack-berry. It was more challenging than I thought it was going to be. Even today, four days after turning it in, I find myself reaching for it to check my email. However, all may not be lost. I was informed today that if I wanted one, I could get a Crack-berry in my new position.

If I want one.

I feel myself about to cave into temptation. The desire to check for new email messages is strong. The want to play a game of Brickbreaker is overwhelming. The ability to surf the web on the tiny screen of the cute little PDA is so... compelling.

Help me Obi Wan Kenobi... you're my only hope!!

Visit to the Coast

Yoakum, Texas. Population: 5,731

Goliad, Texas. Population: 1,975

These are the locations that comprised my business trip today. I know, I know, glamorous. Don't you wish you had my job? Thankfully, the day has ended in Corpus Christi, Texas. Population: 277,454. A city with an Omni Hotel. That overlooks the bay.

Now, there was this tiny, almost insignificant, little storm called Hurricane Dolly that slammed into the Texas coast yesterday just South of here. Which has resulted in a rather wet and windy trip. But, it's all worth it. Tomorrow I head out into the gulf for a weekend diving trip. Here's hoping I'm not susceptible to sea sickness.

Drunky-McDunkville

Transportation Conference. Full of engineers and lawyers. And a few politicians thrown into the mix. Sounds exciting, doesn't it?

Well, I can't really say that I've actually been attending too much of the conference. Gabbing, schmoozing, drinking. That's more my style at these things. So yesterday, when I faced the prospect of a 16 hour day with my co-workers, the last 10 of which were spent drinking, I was up for it. I am, after all, a professional drunkard.

What I wasn't really up for was the 10 hours of drinking in a full suit while it was 85 percent humidity.

Homo-say what?

As I was getting ready to leave work today, I went back to my desk to get my "street" clothes so that I could ride my bike home. As I'm gathering my things, I say, "Hrmmm... now where did I put my clothes?"

My coworker pipes up, "Now that's not something you hear everyday at work."

I. Am. Doomed.

I started a new job on Monday. I'm still working in downtown Austin. I'm still associated with the legislature... just in a different fashion. And apparently it's a job where I need to be reachable in many different ways at all hours.

I was given a Blackberry today.

I don't know how I feel about having this thing attached to my hip. Vibrating every time I get an e'mail. Going off when co-workers begin some IM chat conversation about where we're gonna go to lunch. My boss sending me messages when he gets into the office... at 6:30am.

I have found myself checking it frequently. Making sure that I'm not missing anything from my boss. Gotta ensure I make that good first impression.

There's a reason they call it the Crack-berry.