Hi there.
Ms.Type-A-With-A-Whip-and-About-to-Crack-Leave-Me-Alone.
It's the other half of your personality here (you know, the rational, objective half of your Gemini?) Both Fate and Karma were having a discussion about you the other day and are a bit concerned. They thought it might be appropriate that I put bits and bytes to info-superhighway and remind you of a few things before you take the wrong turn at the fork. And you know what I mean. You need a good rearrangement of your perspective, and given your proclivity to lists, let me put one together to help you drive for the rest of the year mmmkay? The depression is bad, yes, but it's not going to get better unless you take steps to remedy. The life-problem-solving fairy is not scheduled to show up at your door with her magic wand and make it all nice and neat, so get in there, roll up your sleeves/grab that broom and get to work:
Solution A. Liver destroying meds. (Not really an option but I'll put this out there for shits&giggles)
You'll be 'happy', but potentially foggy, not quite yourself, and well, if you like to play the cancer or other terminal disease roulette, go right ahead. But the 'easy way' has never been your style...
Task B. Get to the gym more.
You know it works, you're just lazy. Cut it out. One hour a day. Every day. No excuses.
This plus your usual daily cocktail can help the worst of the demons away. Proof exists.
Task C. Change the daily environment.
You know that much of this stems from being shackled to by the chains of 'the man' (no, not the CEO, the *other* one...) Get rid of those shackles. You are halfway there. Crawl out of that pool of inertia! Here's a hint: Stay for the transition. The experience gained while painful, will be interesting. Map out your exit strategy, and start to work that plan NOW. Not after. That means no more putting off the meeting to revamp up the CV. Get on it, get it done.
Task D. Finish the current education project
Stanford. 4 letters to add to your CV and an expansion of opportunities to help you with C(above). It's a few weeks, a chance to stimulate the grey matter, and a few dollars. In short, a win-win.
Task E. Make some time for the fun stuff.
Stop sitting around and pondering wistfully as you hear another tale from one of your previously overstressed colleagues about how they've taken up basket weaving and how much fun it is. You managed glass-blowing last year, and the artistic muscles haven't been exercised since then, what are you waiting for? Oh and while you're at it, there are a NUMBER of places to take windsurfing lessons here in the lovely Bay Area.
Task F. No more gossip sites for you!
Waste of bits, waste of brainwaves, contributing to the whole media frenzy feeding upon itself thang, and in the end, who gives a flying fig?
Task G. Finish up the castle.
You've made grrrreat strides, but it's not all done yet. Still a bedroom, bathroom and entry way to finish. You've got it all mapped out. Just make the time, get the quotes, get it scheduled, and get on the path to getting it wrapped up. Just think! Shoes in their proper places. A silver staircase. A nice glass door for the bathroom.
Task H. Go do the checkup rounds.
This is where your laziness is most evident. You need your fangs and fur checked (as well as some key internals). Stop procrastinating.
Task I. Get that tattoo.
You talked about chopping off your mane, and you finally did that. You've talked about dying it platinum (still waiting), and you've talked about getting that tattoo on your ankle. Any day now?
As you are so fond of saying, 'it's not rocket science'. Nope. It's not. But maybe putting this down where you can see it and be reminded day to day will force your OCD-self to get checkmarks to all of the tasks except for the first in the list. Go to it Ms.Type-A!
Sincerely, Your Alter-Ego (aka Professor McG)
Ear rings and nose rings are pretty common in S. Asia. So if a half a billion + women are doing it then its sort of become mainstream. However, as you said it can be taken too far like certain African tribes where they keep stretching the neck with rings. A couple or three rings could be a fashion statement but once you start stretching the neck it has to be an obsession.
There's a girl in the next street who has flaming red hair but then a teen can get away with anything. Even with sunglasses on its bright. It will give your co-workers something to talk about if you do it...
Posted by: SFGary | July 01, 2006 at 05:44 PM
Piercings. Nope. Not the style of this duality. Well, ok, I'll cop to having two of them, one in each ear, but you know, they're for earrings, and not those huge stretchy-put-rings-in-your-ears-so-you-try-to-look-like an-african-bushman type. No. Just normal, ear piercings so I can slap some gems on the 'lobes.
Now, as to the question of having the 'tude. Ohhh yah. The 'tude is there alright. Platinum is actually a restrained step. Real 'tude would be dying it flaming red. Or pink. Hee.
Posted by: The CTO | June 29, 2006 at 10:23 PM
Good choice! also as a friendly reminder let me warn you against tongue, eyebrow or cheek piercing, its just as bad...
I think platinum hair is a winner if you can pull it off. Do you have the right 'tude for it?
Posted by: SFGary | June 29, 2006 at 06:02 PM
Ok so mebbe the tattoo idea can be shelved and we concentrate on the platinum hair thang. Hee.
Posted by: The CTO | June 28, 2006 at 11:13 PM
oh the joys of surfing, you never know where you go...lemme say something about your list.
Task A: I am not sure if you are referring to alcohol but in my case they will have to jail me before I give up my vino, there's nothing better than a glass or two or may three or four of a good Zin and watch the fog roll in.
Task B: Yes, got to get that workout in, there's nothing like a good endorphin rush. But then who am I to give advice, here I am typing away while I should be on that dang elliptical.
Task C: There's nothing more liberating than getting out of a work situation that sucks the life out of you. A resume takes 15 minutes of hard thinking, so hop to it.
Now if I can get my company up and running soon I don't have to go back to a cubefarm
Task D: Good idea.
Task E: Also a great idea, what's stopping you? I used to be a fun guy but something happened in the last few years and if I don't watch out I might be that boring guy everyone dodges at parties...
Task F: Good God! gossip sites...no comment.
Task G: Its the journey, not the destination, in my view. My motto is if you can do something today, you could do it better in a couple of weeks. I am currently researching the relationship between dust and the body'd ability to build up immunity.
Task H: Another good idea. Sad to say, I am one of Kaiser's best customers, even the doctor wants me to be more regular in my visits.
Task I: Tattoo! Uhhh, why?
Posted by: SFGary | June 28, 2006 at 07:14 PM