Time Lapse

Today I was driving on Boulder and saw a young man crossing the street in a riding outfit. Had the khaki-colored riding pants, boots to his knees and carrying a helmet/hat. Having recently watched Kate and Leopold my mind began to wander about him being out of place, perhaps lost in time from another era and then, as if on cue, he took off his shirt. I was sure, then, that the more appropriate allusion would be Collin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the BBC Pride and Prejudice. Perhaps this little man was lost and needed help. My light turned green and it didn't seem appropriate to continue to stare, slow down, or stop. I suppose I will never know if he was searching for his hole in the time continuum.

Grapes of Wrath

So, last week .... the last week of my job, by the way...
I come into my office. Things are different - it has been cleaned! My cheap boss was paying his lazy son to clean the office on the weekends, which meant, grime, dirty carpets and dust. I'm afraid it wasn't enough for me to make time to clean my own space....so it was a noticeable difference. My boss had hired someone to come in and clean. It was as I settled in that I became annoyed. This clock was moved, that plant completely relocated, this magazine placed here, that file placed there. She clearly took the liberty to get creative... and then, as I am rummaging around for some paperwork I see that she placed a raisin on a stack of filing. She picked the raisin off the floor and put it on my stack of files. Why? Did she think I needed it? That it would go missing? It was so strange to me. She clearly had her own opinion about appropriate placing of my things but left the raisin. Very Strange.

Window Pain

I was so excited when I moved into my new office. Bigger, built-in shelves and a huge window. I'll be honest - I had visions of scenes from "My Fat Greek Wedding" where the average woman was snatched up by the attractive man who occasionally passed by her window. Perfect - it'll be like the pet shop at the mall. I'll be one of the puppies in the window.
Love has not found me on Kiowa street. Harsh reality has. As of late, it's been transients chilling out on the bench right outside my office. There is one guy in particular. He wears a big winter jacket, even in the hottest of weather. He's in his own world - rolling his own cigarettes...every now and then he'll hop up and start dancing - he's got rhythm. I've tried to connect with him through the glass but he doesn't make eye contact. Too bad, I thought we could create our own gesture jargon and chat through the window.
Today, it has been a bit more tragic. There is a guy who is blind and appears to be mentally unstable. He was here a couple weeks ago. I saw him in the afternoon out there at the bench until I left for the day. I was concerned when I came back the next day to find him still sitting. People walked by and offered him things: drinks, food, money. He refuses help. He became increasingly agitated so I called the police dept, moments later to discover some volunteer EMT recognized him and had called as well. The paramedics came and took him off. I was surprised to see him again, today.
Moments ago a belligerent drunk came and sat next to him and yelled at people as they walked by. It was horribly entertaining and I found myself unable to pull away from the reality show I was watching. What would he say to this guy? How will she respond? Oh, look at the teenagers snicker as they pass. I only wish I had a volume knob.
-jlt

Cabin Fever

Long weekend! Love it!
CT and I had company over last night - we grilled some steak, sat on the porch, drank some wine - it was perfect out there. This morning I woke up and got packed up to head into the mountains. I took off windows on the Jeep and headed up 24. I got all giddy inside, driving through the mountains, hair blowing crazy in the wind. I've got to get up here more - it's crazy to live in Colorado and rarely leave the springs - no wonder I want to move - I'm not taking advantage of the treasures here. The cabin is perfect - I did some lounging outside, reading, napping, and internet searching already today. I'll make dinner and then maybe play some atari - woohoo! Hopefully at sometime, go kayaking or hiking. Right now I think I'll play a little John Denver....
-jlt

27?! How did it happen?

I had a good day on the 25th. Took the day off of work - it used to be one of those things you could bet on - you get your birthday off - supposed to be a perk of the job. But lately, the office enviroment is so severely tense and abusive you don't dare assume anything. "Hey, Hoss, I'm going to take my birthday and tomorrow I'll come in early and leave early." I like to say things matter of factly - in fact, my co-worker just brought that to my attention yesterday, I have a professional voice that indicates I'm not asking, I'm informing... when did that happen?
"What?" he says in a grunt. I keep my stance, "I'm taking Thursday off, it's my birthday and I'm leaving early tomorrow." 180 out of there before he can question my intentions. I suppose if he had a problem I will discover it soon enough.
I had breakfast on the porch - the made over porch - it is so perfect now, new carpet, plants, clean. And then mom and I went to ParkMeadows. Mom said I could shop for an outfit - unfortunately times have changed and we weren't at Kohl's. I did get some pants for work and some summer tanks. However, I DO NOT recommend clothes shopping on one's birthday - there's nothing to celebrate when standing in a small closet, harsh lighting and horribly honest mirrors. Next year I think I'll go spa. Get pampered some.
Then went to dinner with the family and friends. That evening, talking to a friend, I had a wrinkle in time experience. I've known her for years - who would've thought when we were friends at 18 that we'd be sitting around and talking about how life was at 24, 25? When did 24 and 25 become "years ago?"
-jlt

old maids

late spring is always an interesting time for us. Ct has a April Birthday, JT has a May and I have a June birthday. Every year the age we gain is more and more severely OLD. It's tragic really. JT, myself and a friend were dis"cuss"ing tonight the grey area that our ages have put us in... too old for partying and not a place where marriage and kids are an option. It's weird... so we find ourselves singing Whitney Houston in a Starbucks at Briargate Bluffs. =-)

I hope that this year is a rockin' one and I don't mean in a rocking chair. Happy Birthday to you. We, along with the red-headed stepchild, are also glad that you came out your mother's "haree vahina" on your journey.

Love you!

I can see clearly now

I woke up Friday morning - ugh - I hate mornings, never enough time, moving slowly. I go to put in my contacts. I didn't wear them the day before, I wear them too much and always get scolded by the eye doctor about oxygen and blood vessels. I open the case and my contacts are nowhere to be found. What? I look through the medicine cabinet, maybe I grabbed the wrong case...no, I can't find another one. I call CAT at work: "hey, can you see?"
"yes"
"hmmmm, my contacts aren't in my case, did you maybe put mine in?"
"no, if I had yours in I wouldn't see anything...is the bathroom trash still there? I threw a case away yesterday...."
CAT is going through this big purge, throwing things away, de-cluttering. I disgustingly dig through the trash, a contact case...not mine. I'm becoming angry at the possibility of her purging my stuff... I dig some more, nothing. I look again in the medicine cabine (this will happen 4 more times) in my make-up bag, on my dresser, in her room...nothing. I am down on the ground, looking under the claw-foot tub, around the radiator, could it have fallen and rolled somewhere? Time is ticking, I will be late for work. I know I should throw on my glasses, but now I must find the contacts. I feel like I'm losing my mind... I've been wearing contacts for over 12 years (how did I get so old?)and this has never happened. I see this as a reflection of my life, of course, and get emotional - I'm losing my mind and now I have to go to work and I'm unhappy and I'm single and geesh I've been wearing contacts for years and I'm old....
I go into my room to slap on my make-up..... wait a second.... I can see? I jump up close to the mirror... sure enough...there they are...my contacts are in my eyes! Oh my lands! It is crystal clear: I am losing my mind! I am going crazy! I'm a freak!
-jlt