Caffeinated

I don't think I realized how caffeine-dependent I am until I decided not to have coffee this morning when I arrived at work. I could barely keep my eyes open. I still really want a nap. I think in order to be productive this afternoon, I'm going to have to make a Starbucks run.

[yawn]

I am taking the day off on Friday (no particular reason other than my last few vacation days will expire if I don't use them) , and it just hit me how much I have to do before then. I have a draft of a major project to finish up; a report I'm supposed to design, print, bind and ship that I haven't received yet; a lengthy conference call; and my monthly invoices to prepare. (In a small company one tends to wear lots of hats.) Now I REALLY need to go get that coffee!

Soundtrack of my day

A while ago, I started keeping track of songs that just make me smile when I hear them, and created what I refer to as my "happy playlist" on my iPod/iPhone. I've started listening to it in the morning on the way to work, while I work around the house, when I'm coming home from a bad day...it's amazing the difference it makes! Music has always had a big impact on me, so it makes sense. As far as what's on my playlist, I'm keeping it to myself because some of the songs are just goofy. And I wouldn't want anyone to laugh. :)

crazy day

A couple of weeks ago, I had one of the toughest, craziest work days in a long time, possibly ever. I had two major project deadlines at the same time--both of which involved writing, editing, graphics, printing, binding, Fedex... today, I am finding myself in that situation again, for the same two clients. What are the odds of that? I actually sort of enjoy the rush of kicking it into high gear and getting all of the last-minute stuff done. I'm not an adrenaline junkie in the typical sense...I guess I'm more of an "office-adrenaline-junkie."

story of my day

I just had someone print out a Word document containing photos, ask me to scan the photos, and make JPEGs of them so he could put them in another Word document. No lie.

"I don't want to keep my fork!"

Funny column by the Tribune restaurant critic today...he's finally been asked one too many times, "would you like to keep your fork?" No! I want a clean fork, thank you! You go, Phil.

Microsoft Strikes Again

So, someone in my office got a hand-me-down laptop from another member of the firm, and it fell to me to clean it up, connect to the network, set up email, etc. It took more than 10 hours, spread over 4 days, because it was so messed up and slow. Turned out most of the problem was that they'd bought the "home" version of everything, including Windows, instead of "pro." No big deal for many features, but I just spent half an hour discovering that a "pro" feature we use is available on the "home" version, Microsoft just renamed it, gave it a cutesy little logo and made it much harder to use! Stupid Microsoft.

Eek, someone just left the office swearing and mumbling. This isn't going to be a good day for somebody! I get to be here by myself all afternoon, so that "somebody" isn't going to be me. :)

Google Street View launches here!

Google's latest mapping venture, Street View, is incredibly cool and just a little bit scary. It just launched here in the city. In addition to Google's regular maps and satellite images, you can now get a street-level view. Here's where I spend my days:




I know privacy advocates are concerned because occasionally there have been identifiable people in the photos. (Which you can ask to have removed.) But I'm really excited about this. How cool is it that you can actually "visit" a neighborhood, see what it looks like, and get a much better sense of a place than you can with a map or satellite image? So far I haven't found myself in any photos, but I'm going to keep looking. Looks like most of the city and a few suburbs have already been mapped. If nothing else, this could prove to be a really fun way to waste time!

I have always been fascinated by the variation of social norms and practices across cultures. Take, for instance, the concept of "personal space." I'm rather protective of mine, as are many people, but I remember a display at the Indianapolis Children's Museum that showed how close people from around the world stand when they talk. And right now, I am sitting on the train next to someone who apparently has no concern for personal space whatsoever. No idea if nationality has anything to do with it. I'm squashed up against the window, and I'm struck by how uncomfortable I am. And not just by trying to fit myself in a third of the seat so I don't have to touch a stranger. Most of the time, people go out of their way to keep their distance. Anyway, this is no big deal, just something I find interesting.

Moving in slow motion

I'm having one of those days where I feel like I'm moving around slowly, in a fog. Like I'll see something, then it'll take my brain a second to catch up. It's the last day in a very long week; major deadlines at work this week. I didn't get home til after 8pm last night, and then I had to work at home, and went to bed at 2am, and got up at the usual time and started all over again. And no napping on the train, either--had to work then, too. But gigantic project #2 this week is now written, edited, illustrated, designed, printed, bound, and shipped out. Now I get to start on a few little minor tasks, clean up my desk so it doesn't look like a tornado went through here, and then move on to the next deadline. Which might prove to be difficult considering I'm totally unable to focus today! (Focus my eyes and my brain!)

I'm looking forward to going home and sleeping!! I wonder if anyone in the office would notice if I left early this afternoon? Most days, probably not, but I still wouldn't do that. :) A little too honest for my own good.

Another new iPhone user

I just found out my brother got an iPhone! Seems like he likes it a lot. What he doesn't know is that he is now the one person I know on the AT&T network. So I just might start calling him all the time for no reason. :-) Ha!