My mystery weekend was faaaaantastic! I'm still recovering my energy from a whirlwind tour of....
LAS VEGAS!
That's right, I guessed correctly. Paulo did everything he could to misdirect my intuition - up to and including getting my mom in on the deal. He gave her creative license to try and convince me it was going to be somewhere other than Vegas, and boy-o did she ever do a good job!
Paulo had previously inquired as to whether I had a passport, which I do. The night before our trip I went to retrieve it from the drawer where it always lives and IT WASN'T THERE! Paulo arrived in the midst of my frenzy and said that it would probably be ok if I didn't bring it. That morning, however, I received an email from my mom teasing that she knew where I was going and, "had I packed my passport?" I freaked out. I had visions of reaching the security gates at the airport or a border crossing and not being able to get through, thereby totally destroying all of Paulo's careful planning for our weekend. Not only was my passport missing, I didn't have a copy of my birth certificate so I couldn't even get in to Canada or partway in to Mexico. I drove to the local health department and got a copy of it, and then went home from work early to resume the search for my missing passport. Several upended bags of papers later I found it, stuck to another folder.
Assured that I was prepared for anything, I gave Paulo a relieved hug and kiss. We set off on our adventure. He took back roads to the airport (but I'm more familiar than he knew with the airport area, so I had a big grin on his face when we left the interstate). He checked both of our bags while I plugged my ears and looked the other way. I deliberately didn't glance at my boarding pass as I went through the security checkpoint. Then we had a nice dinner with several glasses of wine in the airport.
At the appointed time, we strolled out towards the gates. Cruising along, we reached the end of a terminal, which was empty but for one gate slightly behind us. Paulo turned us around saying, "Well, looks like the only flight around here is leaving for Las Vegas. Do you want to go to Vegas babe?"
He's the most amazing man I've ever met.
I'll post further details of our trip soon, but I have to mention one special little detail. He did, indeed, tell my mom where we were going the day before the trip. His message to her was a full itinerary of our trip, complete with both his and the hotel's phone numbers so my parents could reach us if I turned my phone off. How does he know to do those special little things that I don't even know to ask for? Ah well, I do the same thing to him regularly.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Mystery Weekend
In two days, I am being whisked away for a mystery weekend by the fabulous Paulo. Soon after our first full weekend together, he informed me that I should have a bag packed and be ready to hop in his car at 5:00 pm this Thursday. All I was told to bring was a nice dress and a swimsuit.
Since then, I've had the chance to model my 'nice dresses' for him and he picked one out for me to bring - it's not just a nice cocktail dress either. Of all the pretty things in my closet, he picked my formal gown for our dinner reservation. It's black mesh on the top, embroidered with vines and flowers in strategic locations, and the skirt is a slinky black velevet tulip. To accomodate this unexpected outing of my formal-wear, I made an emergency shoe shopping excursion last night with my friend Bonnie to pick up a pair of sexy black heels.
At home again, I began packing for my mystery adventure...5 pairs of shoes and 7 outfits later I decided I needed to haul out my big, international suitcase from it's hibernation cave under the bed. Now, I'm usually a light packer, but I usually know what I need to pack for. All of this ambiguity is making it difficult to pare down my packing list. I did, however, get another clue about mystery weekend when I mentioned I was packing. Paulo had to tell me that my toiletries should go in the big suitcase, otherwise Homeland Security might take them away for not being in 1 oz bottles stowed in a ziploc bag...We're leaving on a jet plane!!!!
Three Good Things:
1) I love good surprises.
2) Getting some quality time with Paulo, where we can sleep in and relax, will be lovely.
3) My new heels are 4" tall - I love being able to wear high heels and still not be as tall as Paulo...now that is sexy.
Since then, I've had the chance to model my 'nice dresses' for him and he picked one out for me to bring - it's not just a nice cocktail dress either. Of all the pretty things in my closet, he picked my formal gown for our dinner reservation. It's black mesh on the top, embroidered with vines and flowers in strategic locations, and the skirt is a slinky black velevet tulip. To accomodate this unexpected outing of my formal-wear, I made an emergency shoe shopping excursion last night with my friend Bonnie to pick up a pair of sexy black heels.
At home again, I began packing for my mystery adventure...5 pairs of shoes and 7 outfits later I decided I needed to haul out my big, international suitcase from it's hibernation cave under the bed. Now, I'm usually a light packer, but I usually know what I need to pack for. All of this ambiguity is making it difficult to pare down my packing list. I did, however, get another clue about mystery weekend when I mentioned I was packing. Paulo had to tell me that my toiletries should go in the big suitcase, otherwise Homeland Security might take them away for not being in 1 oz bottles stowed in a ziploc bag...We're leaving on a jet plane!!!!
Three Good Things:
1) I love good surprises.
2) Getting some quality time with Paulo, where we can sleep in and relax, will be lovely.
3) My new heels are 4" tall - I love being able to wear high heels and still not be as tall as Paulo...now that is sexy.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Quotable Quotes
A line from a recent email Paulo wrote to me:
"For people still in square 1, square 2 is an intimidating and "weirdo" place. But I'm sad to say, beautiful, you *are* a weirdo. How do I know? I did the math. :-) It turns out, we're both weirdos, but that's what makes it even better. "
I'd been filling him in on how weird it was to not be the first one to suggest doing things like take a weekend trip together, or meet close friends and family (i.e. moving from square one to two). He's invited me to visit his family with him in a few months, soon after his first nephew is due...I'm SO not used to being the one doing the agreeing instead of the asking. It's pleasantly unbalancing.
Three good things:
1) I'm getting what I asked for in a man - whod've thunk it?
2) Paulo's mom sounds like a really nice lady - I adore men who say nice things about their moms
3) I'm totally going to get my share of special weekends and time-off of work this summer, and hopefully past this summer as well
"For people still in square 1, square 2 is an intimidating and "weirdo" place. But I'm sad to say, beautiful, you *are* a weirdo. How do I know? I did the math. :-) It turns out, we're both weirdos, but that's what makes it even better. "
I'd been filling him in on how weird it was to not be the first one to suggest doing things like take a weekend trip together, or meet close friends and family (i.e. moving from square one to two). He's invited me to visit his family with him in a few months, soon after his first nephew is due...I'm SO not used to being the one doing the agreeing instead of the asking. It's pleasantly unbalancing.
Three good things:
1) I'm getting what I asked for in a man - whod've thunk it?
2) Paulo's mom sounds like a really nice lady - I adore men who say nice things about their moms
3) I'm totally going to get my share of special weekends and time-off of work this summer, and hopefully past this summer as well
Monday, May 19, 2008
My Trip to the Stratosphere
I spent the weekend on a cloud somewhere above number nine. I've met the man who I think has incredible odds of being Mr. Right - the full package, the whole enchilada, a truly amazing and good man. His nickname is going to be Paulo, which a website tells me is African for "place of rest." While I think the site is on the wrong continent, I like the sentiment.
I've had some great relationships in the past, but I've never felt so calmly ecstatic about somebody. I'm utterly crazy about him, but I'm not crazy in general because of him. At some point this weekend I looked up in to his tawny eyes and said, "You are absolutely believable." Which, to me, is much better than if he'd turned out to be unbelievable. I'm amazed at his existence, but find myself very ready and willing to accept that he does exist and that I fill that same void in his world.
We finish each other's sentences and each pleasantly shock the other by doing something in such a way that you'd swear minds had been read because it's so perfectly what the other is looking for...like how he left me a note written as a crossword puzzle when he left this morning after I'd gone to work, or how I said, without prompting from him, that it would be fun to get gussied up and sit behind him at the poker table so I could distract all the other players - something he'd talked about with a poker buddy in a 'wishful thinking' conversation.
I'm blissfully happy right now, and I'm taking the advice of my good friend Georgiana by soaking this all up to put in reserve for times down the road when life doesn't seem quite as blessedly perfect as it does right now. Because, let me tell you, Paulo adds an entirely new lustre to my already fantastic life.
Three good things:
1) He passed the test at lunch with some of my friends - essential
2) I'm so secure with him that I don't feel even a hint of desire to forget about the rest of my life in order to be with him
3) I think I have a healthy supply of schmoop (thanks to Geo this is one of my new favorite words) headed my way
I've had some great relationships in the past, but I've never felt so calmly ecstatic about somebody. I'm utterly crazy about him, but I'm not crazy in general because of him. At some point this weekend I looked up in to his tawny eyes and said, "You are absolutely believable." Which, to me, is much better than if he'd turned out to be unbelievable. I'm amazed at his existence, but find myself very ready and willing to accept that he does exist and that I fill that same void in his world.
We finish each other's sentences and each pleasantly shock the other by doing something in such a way that you'd swear minds had been read because it's so perfectly what the other is looking for...like how he left me a note written as a crossword puzzle when he left this morning after I'd gone to work, or how I said, without prompting from him, that it would be fun to get gussied up and sit behind him at the poker table so I could distract all the other players - something he'd talked about with a poker buddy in a 'wishful thinking' conversation.
I'm blissfully happy right now, and I'm taking the advice of my good friend Georgiana by soaking this all up to put in reserve for times down the road when life doesn't seem quite as blessedly perfect as it does right now. Because, let me tell you, Paulo adds an entirely new lustre to my already fantastic life.
Three good things:
1) He passed the test at lunch with some of my friends - essential
2) I'm so secure with him that I don't feel even a hint of desire to forget about the rest of my life in order to be with him
3) I think I have a healthy supply of schmoop (thanks to Geo this is one of my new favorite words) headed my way
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sick at/of Work
I'm sick today, and I was sick yesterday. Yet, I'm still at work :/
I feel like I should at least be putting in an appearance, so that when any potential reference checks happen the most recent thing in my bosses mind isn't how much I've been gone lately.
Oh, and I put together a training wish list last night in preparation for my, supposedly, imminent performance evaluation. Most of the training revolves around preparation for leadership roles in several projects that all government agencies of my type must do, but that we haven't been doing much on in my office. I'd like to do these projects, and if I don't do them here I'd like to be prepared to do them elsewhere. Besides, then I have "direction and motivation" checked off for my performance review. suh-weet!
Oh, and I just passed by the door to my bosses office. She's taking a nap on her couch, second one of the day. It doesn't motivate me to stay here, either today or in the long term.
I just hope I get over this flu (which makes eating a no-can-do) so I can eat the cute little brussel sprouts I bought at the farmer's market on Sunday. They're no bigger than my thumbnail!
Three good things:
1. At least from my end I'm prepared to have a strong performance review.
2. I am working on convincing myself that I don't/won't miss Charles, even though I do.
3. It's likely I'll lose a few pounds by being all sick and not eating. Hooray for the "I'm sick" diet.
I feel like I should at least be putting in an appearance, so that when any potential reference checks happen the most recent thing in my bosses mind isn't how much I've been gone lately.
Oh, and I put together a training wish list last night in preparation for my, supposedly, imminent performance evaluation. Most of the training revolves around preparation for leadership roles in several projects that all government agencies of my type must do, but that we haven't been doing much on in my office. I'd like to do these projects, and if I don't do them here I'd like to be prepared to do them elsewhere. Besides, then I have "direction and motivation" checked off for my performance review. suh-weet!
Oh, and I just passed by the door to my bosses office. She's taking a nap on her couch, second one of the day. It doesn't motivate me to stay here, either today or in the long term.
I just hope I get over this flu (which makes eating a no-can-do) so I can eat the cute little brussel sprouts I bought at the farmer's market on Sunday. They're no bigger than my thumbnail!
Three good things:
1. At least from my end I'm prepared to have a strong performance review.
2. I am working on convincing myself that I don't/won't miss Charles, even though I do.
3. It's likely I'll lose a few pounds by being all sick and not eating. Hooray for the "I'm sick" diet.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thank Goodness for Board Meetings
I just got home from a 6.5 hour meeting...yes, on a Sunday...of the Executive Board, which I sit on, for the non-profit group I'm a member of, which took place in a city 1.5 hours from where I live. Whew!!
I'm the incumbent (and, after today, re-elected) local events organizer; it's something I'm pretty good at and thoroughly enjoy. It's also something I'm rather uniquely positioned to do, in that I'm the only person living in my city who is willing to organize an event each year :) I also help with events in the main city, the one 1.5 hours from where I live.
We held our annual planning session today. I filled in as Secretary, since that position is vacant right now. We hammered out the strategic plan for upcoming events, membership development, fund raising, and outreach today. We're a hard working gang.
I think I appreciated this event more than I would have at other times in my life, since my week at work was frustrating. I'm not appreciated for my ideas or willingness to try new strategies at work; whereas I am valued for those things in this non-profit organization, and I needed the ego-boost this week. Monday brought the event of being told at work that my list of ideas collected from the staff for agenda items at staff meetings had to be pre-approved by my boss before anybody else could see it. I work for a control freak, I'm slowly going crazy...she doesn't trust me to run informal staff meetings for chrissake, and it's not like she's there to run them herself most of the time...hence, why we've only had 3 staff meetings in the last 10 months.
Here's the touchy part though - I want to leave, but I'm participating in the wedding of one of my co-workers (who I genuinely like) in August...and our boss is officiating the wedding. I really don't want to burn that bridge before the wedding unless I really have to. So, I'll just mentally and emotionally prepare myself to move jobs for now, and sustain myself on the appreciation I receive for my community contributions. And, who knows, there might be a miracle and I could get everything I want out of my position after explicitly stating my requirements at my annual review in June.
I'll also go to yoga!!!!
Three good things:
1. Being on a non-profit board is great for my resume!
2. I won't have an extremely uncomfortable day at my friend/co-worker's wedding if I haven't quit yet.
3. I'll be nice and distracted when Charles leaves in a few weeks. :(
I'm the incumbent (and, after today, re-elected) local events organizer; it's something I'm pretty good at and thoroughly enjoy. It's also something I'm rather uniquely positioned to do, in that I'm the only person living in my city who is willing to organize an event each year :) I also help with events in the main city, the one 1.5 hours from where I live.
We held our annual planning session today. I filled in as Secretary, since that position is vacant right now. We hammered out the strategic plan for upcoming events, membership development, fund raising, and outreach today. We're a hard working gang.
I think I appreciated this event more than I would have at other times in my life, since my week at work was frustrating. I'm not appreciated for my ideas or willingness to try new strategies at work; whereas I am valued for those things in this non-profit organization, and I needed the ego-boost this week. Monday brought the event of being told at work that my list of ideas collected from the staff for agenda items at staff meetings had to be pre-approved by my boss before anybody else could see it. I work for a control freak, I'm slowly going crazy...she doesn't trust me to run informal staff meetings for chrissake, and it's not like she's there to run them herself most of the time...hence, why we've only had 3 staff meetings in the last 10 months.
Here's the touchy part though - I want to leave, but I'm participating in the wedding of one of my co-workers (who I genuinely like) in August...and our boss is officiating the wedding. I really don't want to burn that bridge before the wedding unless I really have to. So, I'll just mentally and emotionally prepare myself to move jobs for now, and sustain myself on the appreciation I receive for my community contributions. And, who knows, there might be a miracle and I could get everything I want out of my position after explicitly stating my requirements at my annual review in June.
I'll also go to yoga!!!!
Three good things:
1. Being on a non-profit board is great for my resume!
2. I won't have an extremely uncomfortable day at my friend/co-worker's wedding if I haven't quit yet.
3. I'll be nice and distracted when Charles leaves in a few weeks. :(
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Fun Article
A guy actually sent this to me :)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080320/sc_livescience/cluelessguyscantreadwomen
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080320/sc_livescience/cluelessguyscantreadwomen
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